CARIBOU, Maine — With Thanksgiving and Black Friday over, members of the Caribou Fire and Ambulance Department have decorated High Street and Bennett Drive with stockings, Christmas trees, and candles. Even Santa Claus can be seen on his sleigh above the fire department.
Caribou Fire and Ambulance Chief Scott Susi said Wednesday that the department has put up lights in Caribou for well over 25 years, and that all the volunteers get together to decorate the city in one day.
Just four years ago, the city changed every bulb in every ornament to LED, which Susi said has cut roughly three quarters of the costs associated with the decorations. In total, the chief said there are 850 bulbs lit up throughout the city.
In the future, Susi said he would like to see the lights continue up Sweden Street to Caribou High School and also go down South Main Street, so travelers would be greeted by Christmas lights no matter which direction they drive into Caribou.
“I think business owners really appreciate it,” Susi said. “It makes your community feel pretty welcome, and it’s something we stand behind every year.”
The department began decorating telephone poles on Nov. 24, the day after Black Friday. The city’s Parks and Recreation Department also will host its annual Santa’s Workshop and gingerbread house decorating event this Friday, Dec. 7 at the Rec Center beginning at 6 p.m.
The Caribou Downtown and Main Street Team will host a Holiday Shoppe in which families can purchase and wrap affordable Christmas gifts the following day in the Caribou Rec multipurpose rooms.
The City of Caribou also will once again collaborate with Micmac Farms and the Presque Isle Farmer’s Market to host a Holiday Farmer’s Market from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Dec. 15 at Micmac Farms.
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- Anyone traveling by the Caribou Fire and Ambulance Department at night will be greeted by Santa departing on his sleigh in addition to lit up ornaments including Christmas trees, stockings, and candles on both High Street and Bennett Drive. (Chris Bouchard)
