CARIBOU, Maine — Hundreds came out to the Caribou Wellness and Recreation Center on Friday, Dec. 7, for the city’s annual holiday event, which featured gingerbread house decorating in the gymnasium and a workshop featuring Santa and his elves in the multipurpose room.
That program was followed by a holiday shoppe and craft fair, also hosted at the recreation center, on Saturday, capping off the city’s events for 2018. Planning for 2019, however, already has begun, with Caribou Marketing and Events Coordinator Christina Kane-Gibson planning to host a Winter Carnival, ideally incorporating Northern Maine Brewing Company into the event.
Hundreds of families came out to the Caribou Wellness and Recreation Center on Dec. 7 for the city’s annual gingerbread house decorating and Santa’s workshop event.
(Chris Bouchard)
“There aren’t many details yet,” she said. “I use January as a time to get all my ducks in a row, so I get a mini-break. It’s not a lot of time, but this is a nice way to cap off 2018.”
The Holiday Shoppe, according to Kane-Gibson, features a plethora of inexpensive goods, ranging from candles, Bath and Body Works lotion, tools, and jewelry, among other items offered at prices ranging from 25 cents to $3. She said the purpose of the event is to allow kids to buy presents for their parents and siblings and even wrap them.
“I’ve been shopping for Holiday Shoppe items since last Christmas,” she said. “Every time I saw an item on sale I bought it.”
Kane-Gibson and recreation center staff were helping to move items in preparation for Saturday’s event during the Friday festivities, with the coordinator indicating that there were so many items offered that the storage space looked like a warehouse.
In terms of overall organization, Kane-Gibson said the Dec. 7 and 8 festivities were a “labor of love” that required a great deal of help from community members, organizations, and local businesses.
Sleepers and Farms Bakery donated the products to make the gingerbread houses, with Farms Bakery making the gingerbread. Hannaford also donated gingerbread cookies which were assembled into cookie kits for the workshop aspect of the event. Caribou resident Barb Aiken and a crew of volunteers also worked through the week to assemble 250 gingerbread houses so they were ready for decorating as soon it started at 6 p.m. Friday.
Jack, Dean, and John Gibson decorate gingerbread houses at Caribou’s Dec. 7 holiday event, which featured Santa’s workshop along with gingerbread decorating.
(Chris Bouchard)
Members of Caribou High School’s JMG (Jobs for Maine Graduates Program) were among the biggest sources of help for the Friday and Saturday events, in addition to nearly every other event hosted by the city in 2018.
JMG Specialist Dr. Valerie Waldemarson said she and her students see considerable benefits when they partner with the city to host large events such as the annual halloween program and the Caribou Marathon. For Santa’s Workshop, about 20 students volunteered, with many dressing up as elves and working directly with Santa Clause to help kids and their families make cookies and reindeer food in the multipurpose room.
“We try very hard to collaborate in any event the city of Caribou offers,” Waldemarson said, adding that the opportunity allows her students to not only experience community service, but to learn valuable people skills while building relationships in the community through face to face interactions.
As far as community reactions are concerned, Waldemarson said that in three years of involvement with Caribou events, she finds that each event exponentially improves over time, with the city offerings getting “better each year.” She attributed much of this success to Kane-Gibson’s efforts, and how she is able to help all of her students get involved.
“Christina finds ways for kids to be involved,” said Waldemarson. “She is really good at finding opportunities for all levels of ability. Students with special needs have a place here; there’s a place for everyone here.”
Kane-Gibson also complimented Waldemarson and her students for putting in the effort to ensure the city’s events go the extra miles in terms of what members of the community are offered.
“Everyone is so proud of their little constructions and projects here,” she said. “It’s a heartwarming event. You can just see all the smiles.”
