Rumford firefighter Ed Carey works from the fire ladder to help place the garland and lighted wreath over lower Congress Street on Dec. 14. The new holiday decoration was purchased by Beautify Rumford with funds provided by the Poland Spring Community Benefit Fund and the town of Rumford. Farther up the street, the fire department installed the town’s new “Season’s Greetings” banner. Bruce Farrin/Rumford Falls Times

RUMFORD — Santa will be back in town Wednesday evening spreading Christmas cheer, escorted around town in a fire truck, followed by other town of Rumford department vehicles.

The Santa parade will begin at 5:30 p.m. From the Central Fire Station on Congress Street, the parade will go right on Bridge Street, right on Rumford Avenue, through the Rotary and straight to Somerset Street.

From there, a right on Erchles Street, left on Clachan Place, left on Lochness Road, a left on Maine Avenue and straight on Rumford Avenue.

Then, a left of Cumberland Street, a left on Lincoln Avenue, a right on Hancock Street, left on Loudine Avenue, left on Bernandine Street, a left on Fontaine Avenue, a right on Tasker Avenue, left on Somerset Street, and a right on Lincoln Avenue.

From there, a left on Knox Street, a right on Maine Avenue, left on Spruce Street, then up Falls Hill before a right on Prospect Avenue, a right on Virgin Street, a left on Chaplain Street, straight on Forest Avenue, a left on Linnell Street and finally, a right on Prospect Avenue.

Due to precautions to stop the spread COVID-19, there will be no meet and greet with Santa following the parade.

Also that evening, beginning at 4:30 p.m., T&T Headshop, 72 Congress St., will be offering free hot chocolate and Christmas cookies to the general public, and offering a place to warm up and chat with friends before, during and after the parade. They will also be introducing a new pop-up style Mexican/BBQ food service, merging Mexican cuisine favorites with classic BBQ style smoked meats.