CARIBOU, Maine — While Caribou’s Arts and Crafts fair was canceled this year due to public safety and social distancing requirements amid the COVID pandemic, the city has plenty of safe Halloween events lined up for the month of October.
Caribou is holding a Halloween decorating contest until Oct. 15. The contest, which is part of a partnership with the city, REMAX North and the Par & Grill, will feature two categories: residential and business, with prizes in each category being a $100 Par & Grill gift card for first place and a $50 card for second place.
A scavenger hunt will start on Oct. 15, with the city providing clues for residents to drive around and solve a puzzle based on the decorated homes and businesses. The winner of this contest will receive a $50 gift card.
“It’s a way to make the town look spirited for Halloween and to get people out and spend time with their families,” said Caribou Marketing and Events Coordinator Christina Kane-Gibson.
And on Oct. 9, the Micmac Boys and Girls Club of Presque Isle will host a “Reels on Wheels,” or drive-in movie screening of Hocus Pocus at Spruce Haven at 6:30 p.m.
For Halloween, Kane-Gibson said the city will host a drive-through trick or treating event at the Caribou Wellness and Recreation Center.
“Trunk or treat events were listed as high risk, so we decided not to do that and to instead put our candy in bags and wear gloves as we hand the bags to trick or treaters as they drive through,” said Kane-Gibson. “We’ll all be wearing costumes, cranking up the music and having a lot of fun.”
And next door at Teague Park, the Boys and Girls Club will host the “Walk of Fear” at Spruce Haven, which will comply with social distancing by picking up and dropping off small groups of people at the site and transporting them back to the park after the walk. The van will then be sanitized before the next group is picked up.
“It’s kind of neat how they’re doing it,” she said. “They’ll drive you to Spruce Haven and on the drive they’ll let you know about what’s been going on in the woods.”
Kane-Gibson said she was told by the organizers that the “Forest of Fear” will not be as scary from 5 to 7 p.m., but that travelers are advised to “bring a diaper” for the 7 to 10 p.m. iteration of the event.
Anyone interested in learning more about these events, or obtaining a registration form for the Halloween decorating contest, can call the Caribou Wellness and Recreation center at 493-4224.
