The holidays are jingling right along and there are plenty of Christmas happenings taking place right here in the greater Caribou area.
The holiday cheer kicks off at 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 5. The second annual Snowman Parade starts out of the Downtown Mall and heads up High Street to the Caribou Wellness and Recreation Center, where Santa’s arrival is slated for 6:30 p.m. following his participation in the parade. The Wellness Center will be the home of Gingerbread House decorating and a Santa’s Workshop, plus Santa will be in the lobby for pictures. To register for the Gingerbread House Decorating, call 493-4224 and for more information about the parade or Santa’s Workshop, call the Caribou Area Chamber of Commerce at 498-6156. Lineup for the parade starts at 5:30 in the Downtown Mall parking lot.
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| Photo contributed by Shelley O’Rourke Those helping out with the sled raffles include, from left, Diane Allen, Kimber Noyes, Sandy Carson and Committee Chair Shelley O’Rourke. |
Lunch with Santa will be served up at the Post 15 American Legion Hall on Sweden Street in Caribou on Saturday, Dec. 6; hosted by the Ladies Auxiliary, Santa will arrive at 10 a.m. and lunch will be served from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. The meal includes a hot dog, drink, chips and donut holes for $2, and the Auxiliary members will also raffle off two sleighs full of toys to two winners. The event will feature activities like reindeer-food making. Tickets for the raffle can be purchased around town at the Holy Rosary Church, Reno’s and Cary Medical Center. Tickets are three for a dollar. Proceeds from the lunch will benefit the Hope and Justice Project, while the proceeds from the raffle will benefit homeless veterans.
Elf Pal Academy will be hosted by The Aroostook Paranormal Investigation Society and the Limestone Recreation Room on Saturday, Dec. 6 from 1-3 p.m. at the Limestone Recreation Center at 93 High Street. The event is offered for no charge (as directed by Santa) and will offer instruction on writing letters to Santa, craft and card making, cookie decorating, games for the elves and there might even be a special guest to the event. All participants receive an award, and interested folks can RSVP by calling 325-4791.
On Saturday, Dec. 6, “The Christmas Star” will be presented at 1 p.m. at the Francis Malcolm Planetarium in Easton. Folks are encouraged to enjoy a warm, holiday-enhancing investigation of Christmas traditions in general, and the “star” of Bethlehem in particular. Reservations can be made by calling 488-5451 or emailing info@francismalcolmsciencecenter.com. Admission is $3.50 for adults, $1.50 for seniors and students. Members are admitted for free.
New Sweden’s annual school Christmas Concert and St. Lucia Celebration will take place on Friday, Dec. 12. The evening kicks off with a traditional Swedish Meatball Supper served from 5 – 6 p.m., featuring Swedish meatballs, mashed potatoes, rye bread, peas and carrots, Christmas cabbage and rice pudding (and a drink). Donations for the event can be made at the door, and festivities take place following dinner; event organizers described that St. Lucia symbolizes sharing with others and bringing in light and hope, which is why their students have an opportunity to participate in the event which fosters the spirit of giving. A non-perishable food collection will also be conducted, with items being donated to the local food pantry.
The Caribou Choral Society will present its 38th annual Christmas Concert “When Christmas Comes to Town,” on Sunday, Dec. 7, at 3 p.m. at the St. Thomas Church in Madawaska; Friday, Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. at St. Mary’s Church in Presque Isle; and Saturday, Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. at the Holy Rosary Church in Caribou. All are welcome to attend as the concerts promise to lift your Christmas spirits.
The local shopping event “Caribou Hometown Christmas” takes place on Thursday, Dec. 11 at select shops in the area. Organized through the Caribou Area Chamber of Commerce, the event is conducted from 5-8 p.m. with merchants offering special sales, deals, door prizes and refreshments. It’s the favorite event all year for Director of the CACC, William Tasker, who says that he loves to see all the business people in town working together. An updated list of participating vendors and additional information can be found by visiting the chamber’s Facebook page.
Caribou’s school band will perform their concert on Tuesday, Dec. 16 at 6:30 p.m. at the Caribou Performing Arts Center.
Students of the Limestone Community School will be presenting their band and chorus concert on Wednesday, Dec. 17 in the auditorium.
Caribou’s school string ensemble will perform their concert on Friday, Dec. 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the Caribou Performing Arts Center.
A chorus concert will be held at the Caribou Performing Arts Center for grades 4-12 in Caribou at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 22.
On Dec. 23 at 9 a.m., third- through eighth-grade students of the Caswell School will present the play “T’was the Night Before Christmas,” which is open to the community. Following the play, a ham lunch will be served for $2.25. Folks who wish to attend from outside the Caswell community are asked to RSVP by calling 325-4611.
Come the holiday, churches will be conducting their special masses, including a special Christmas Eve Worship Service featuring a family-oriented communion and candle light service held at the Gray Memorial United Methodist Church in Caribou at 4 p.m.
Contributed photo by Sandy Swan
Members of the Woodland Community School Elementary Chorus (third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students) performed the song “God Bless the USA” during the K-6 Thanksgiving Concert on Nov. 19, with sixth-grader Ethan Albert assisting on the drums. Featured in the front row are, from left, third-graders Lilly Bray, Hannah Landeen and Jilian Zeigler, Abigail Page, Delaney Crouch, Emma Butler and Charish Brown.
