CARIBOU, Maine — With Maine Gov. Janet Mills’s office’s Moving Maine Forward Plan announced earlier this month, Caribou is moving forward with its annual City Wide Yard Sale, which takes place throughout the city May 14-16.
“We were super excited when the governor announced her plans,” Caribou Marketing and Events Coordinator Christina Kane-Gibson said. “By the time the City Wide Yard Sale rolls around, most travel restrictions should be lifted and our outdoor gathering capacity will increase by 75 percent.”
And though restrictions will be eased, she said the guests and hosts are still encouraged to be safe amid the pandemic.
After guests sign up, they will each receive an 11- by 17-inch poster to place in their yard reminding guests to socially distance, wear masks and use hand sanitizers.
“Safety protocols will still be in place as long as mask mandates are in place,” she said. “We hope people will be monitoring their sales and that shoppers continue to mask up.”
Earlier this year, Kane-Gibson said the outlook for the city’s annual events, such as Thursdays on Sweden street festival and the Caribou Marathon, was uncertain, but now the city is tentatively planning to hold both events.
“We are moving ahead, but will also continue to monitor the situation,” she said. “If COVID-19 does have a resurgence we will push pause again and figure out a way to modify the events. But we are really hopeful that the positive trend will continue.”
If all goes well, the city will hold Thursdays on Sweden, a bi-weekly event that features live music, vendors from around The County, special guests, and plenty of family-friendly activities, on seven dates: June 3 and 17; July 1, 15 and 20; and Aug. 12 and 16.
The Caribou Marathon would be held on Sept. 18 and 19.
“I am just so ready,” she said about the likely return of community events this year. “Now, more than ever, after the challenges of 2020 and early 2021, it’s really important to bring back the community spirit, and I think people are ready for that.”
