CARIBOU, Maine — The state’s most northeastern city held its annual “Caribou Cares About Kids” parade last Friday, celebrating Caribou’s 50th year as a city.
Numerous members of city departments, businesses, and even the City Council made an appearance at the long-running parade, with elaborate floats decorated to celebrate the city’s golden anniversary.
Members of the Parks and Recreation Department judged each float and declared first through third place winners later that night, with Pines Health Services getting the first place prize, the Warehouse Bar and Grill receiving second, and Cary Medical Center coming in third.
The winning float had a hero theme, and featured an inflatable Batman and Spiderman with a wooden Superman on top, next to the words “Happy 50 B-Day Caribou,” written in the style of an illustrated, comic book sound effect. The float walls featured similar illustrated sound effects, such as “Boom!” and “Wham!,” over a city silhouette and red, Ben-Day dot sky.
The parade also featured appearances from United Veterans of Maine, Mayor Gary Aiken, Frontier Girls and Boys, and Burger Boy.
Caribou Cares About Kids has recently been incorporated into an all-encompassing “Caribou Days” event, which is kicked off by the parade, but features a variety of activities for attendants of all ages.
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- Cary Medical Center’s float honoring Caribou’s semicentennial won third place during the Caribou Cares About Kids parade on Aug. 4. (Christopher Bouchard)
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- The Warehouse Bar and Grill won the second place prize for best float celebrating Caribou’s 50th year as a city during the Caribou Cares About Kids parade on Aug. 4, 2017. (Christopher Bouchard)
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- A Caribou Fire truck drives through Bennett Drive, sounding its horn to the delight of onlookers during the Caribou Cares About Kids parade on Aug. 4. (Christopher Bouchard)
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- United Veterans of Maine President John DeVeau, right, hands out bracelets during the Aug. 4, 2017 Caribou Cares About Kids parade. (Christopher Bouchard)
