ROCKLAND — Friday's rain might have dampened the Festival of Lights tree lighting gala, but you couldn't have asked for better weather for the parade on Saturday, November 26. A hearty, small crowd turned out Friday, November 25, with umbrellas in hand to see Santa and Rockland City Councilor Valli Geiger throw the switch and illuminate the tree.

New this year is the use of laser lights. Gordon Page, director of Rockland Main Street, Inc. said the strings of lights that were used in the past have given way to modern technology.

"The string lights were high-maintenance," he said." If you lost one bulb, you lost the whole string. That and people would climb the tree and step on the lights. We were constantly doing light repairs. The new lights are laser lights. The tree is lit from three sides and as you can see it illuminates people in the crowd, as well."

Saturday saw a craft fair at the Elk's Lodge in Rockland. The parking lot remained full all day as people shopped for Christmas gifts.

Saturday night was the big event, the Festival of Lights Parade. Twenty-five bright and well illuminated floats traveled up Main Street turned around and came back down. An overflowing crowd lined the sidewalks the entire length of Main Street.

It made for a lot of photos and we hope you enjoy looking at them.