CARIBOU, Maine — For the second year, the city of Caribou invited two special guests to join in the celebrations during the annual Christmas tree lighting.
Mother-and-daughter reindeer team Belle and Baby Belle, also known as “Santa’s Reindeer,” visited with local families throughout Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning at Lyndon Square. They were also there Saturday evening when Santa Claus rode up in a Caribou fire truck and helped light the city’s Christmas tree.
Caribou Fire & Ambulance hosted the city’s annual Christmas tree lighting on Saturday. (Melissa Lizotte | Aroostook Republican)
Belle and Baby Belle’s visit came about due to last year’s collaboration between Caribou Fire & Ambulance and the Winslow, Maine-based Pony X-Press, a traveling petting zoo. Last year’s event was so successful that the Caribou crew knew they would try to bring everyone’s four-legged friends back again.
“Nothing symbolizes Christmas more than Santa’s reindeer,” said event organizer and volunteer firefighter Scott Michaud. “The kids loved seeing them last year and have been really excited.”
Mother-and-daughter reindeer team Belle (left) and Baby Belle, also known as “Santa’s Reindeer,” visited with families in Caribou last weekend. (Melissa Lizotte | Aroostook Republican)
Amanda Obar of Caribou brought her 5-year-old son Kaston, who was hoping to pet the reindeer.
“It’s cool to see animals that you don’t normally see up close,” Amanda Obar said.
Siblings Aspen, 7, and Tristen Merchant, 11, weren’t sure which of Santa’s reindeer they were looking at, but that didn’t stop them from guessing.
“Maybe Dasher,” Aspen Merchant said.
Their mother, Kylee Merchant, said that regardless of the reindeers’ names, seeing them was the best way to get into the holiday spirit.
“Whether you’re young or old, this is something that brings Christmas joy at a time when we most need it,” she said.
