Tasty tradition has been a seasonal staple for 25 years
CARIBOU, Maine — A crowd of parents and children large enough to rival the attendance numbers for Thursdays on Sweden filled the Caribou Wellness Center gymnasium while even more waited for a chance to get in and decorate a gingerbread house on Dec. 2, 2016. Cars began parking at the Learning Center and, when that lot was full, many began parking farther away and walking.
Gingerbread decorating has been a Caribou holiday tradition for over 25 years, according to Parks and Recreation Superintendent Gary Marquis, and it always draws a large crowd.
According to Marquis, signup began three months ago and within two weeks over 100 people were on board.
“We don’t have enough tables,” Marquis said. “We have close to 300 people that are signed up just for this and about 70 on the waiting list.”
The capacity for the gingerbread event is 200, and everybody after that is put on a waiting list. Around 7:45 p.m., names are called off for those who didn’t make it and then kids and parents waiting in the lobby can enter the gym and begin making their gingerbread house.
Between gingerbread decorating and Santa’s workshop, an event taking place simultaneously in another part of the Rec Center, Marquis said they expect to see about 700 people.
“You have 200 that signed up which means there are about 400 to 600 in the gym, because they come with their families. Santa’s workshop is going to draw 150 people easily, so we’ll have close to 700 people in the building tonight.”
Not only have the events been free to attend for a quarter of a century, but all the food, tables, racks, and gingerbread house decorations are donated to the Rec Department by generous sponsors and volunteers.
The Sleeper’s donated the candy, frosting, decorations, and trays. Farms Bakery donated the gingerbread, and community member Barb Aiken put together the gingerbread houses with a number of helpers.
“Barb Aiken has been a huge help,” Marquis said. “We don’t have to worry about the houses at all. She comes in and organizes all the volunteers. They work throughout the week to make the houses and spend several hours doing it. They’ve been cooking the houses in a room in the Rec Center for the past week, and it just smelled fantastic in there.”
Taking place the day after a significant snowstorm, the roads in Caribou and surrounding communities were safe for travel.
“The roads are good, it’s a beautiful night, and it’s a nice evening to have everybody out here,” Marquis said. “It’s always been a well-attended event like this. We just can’t give it up; it’s awesome to see the kids come out and put these houses together.”
Desiree Ketch attended this event for the first time last Friday with her daughter Chloee Chisholm, her relative Bobbi Jo Robbins, and three of Robbins’ children.
“This is our first time going,” said Ketch. “It’s good that my daughter’s enjoying herself, and it’s good for us. It’s a very nice turnout and we need events like this here for the kids.”
