CARIBOU, Maine — Santa Claus is hitching a ride with the Caribou Fire Department and making an appearance at the Caribou Wellness and Recreation Center on Dec. 1.
He is scheduled to arrive at 6:20 p.m. and make appearances at two holiday events.
Santa’s Workshop, which will involve making Christmas crafts, reindeer food, and writing up a Christmas wish list will take place at the same time as the gingerbread house decorating, being held 6-8 p.m. While both of these activities are free, parents need to call in advance to ensure having a table for the gingerbread house decorating.
As of Nov. 24, Caribou Marketing and Events Coordinator Christina Kane-Gibson said more than 240 people already had signed up for the gingerbread house decorating.
“We’re full and have about 35 on the waiting list,” she said, adding that Santa’s Workshop does not require any calls in advance, and that Santa will be giving away mittens and scarves to children.
While it may appear that the gingerbread decorating event is already booked up, Kane-Gibson said names are typically called off the waiting list once one group finishes decorating their gingerbread house. Even with a large waiting list, she said most people usually have a chance to participate.
“It’s not too late to call,” she said, adding that the recreation center’s number is 493-4224.
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- Parents and children patiently wait in the recreation center lobby last year for a chance to decorate a gingerbread house during Caribou’s annual holiday event. According to Parks and Recreation Superintendent Gary Marquis, about 700 people attended the Dec. 2, 2016, event. (File photo/Christopher Bouchard)
Farms Bakery in Caribou provided the gingerbread houses and Sleeper’s store donated frosting and candy for decorating. In addition, Hannaford donated gingerbread cookies for children visiting Santa’s Workshop and members of Aroostook RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program) made the mittens while local citizen Norma Shaw made the scarves that Santa will give away.
With hundreds of people on the guest list, Dec. 1 will be a big night in the city, and Kane-Gibson said it wouldn’t be possible without the help of several volunteers.
“Barbara Aiken, who is Mayor Gary Aiken’s wife, has been recruiting volunteers and preparing for the gingerbread house decorating since July,” said Kane-Gibson. “She has amazing people come in and help assemble the houses. In Santa’s Workshop, Caribou High School JMG (Jobs for Maine Graduates) students will dress up as elves, and of course we have the wonderful rec staff come and help with every event.”
Together, these volunteers ensure everything “goes off without a hitch,” Kane-Gibson said.
Children are encouraged to bring Christmas wish lists, but a wish list making station will be available in the workshop for those who don’t bring one.
“We have an express mailbox that goes straight to the north pole,” Kane-Gibson said.
The marketing and events coordinator said that at the end of the day, she wants to make sure to provide children with “a really cool Christmas memory in Caribou.”
