Santa’s Reindeer help Caribou kick off holiday season

CARIBOU, Maine – For the third straight year, Santa’s reindeer stopped by Caribou for a visit with local families.

Not long after the festivities began at Lyndon Square Saturday afternoon, children crowded around the pen, watching the two reindeer and trying to guess which of Santa’s reindeer they were.

“Probably Prancer and Comet,” said 8-year-old Reagan Caldwell of Caribou.

When asked who he thought the reindeer were, Reagan’s brother Ryder, 5, could only say, “What she said.”

The siblings visited the reindeer along with their grandmother Kathy Kirkbride and cousin Chase Schurwater, 8, both of Caribou.

This year marks the first time that Kirkbride and her grandchildren have visited the reindeer, who came to town thanks to Caribou Fire & Ambulance and local business sponsors.

“It’s great that they get to see the reindeer up close,” Kirkbride said.

In addition to seeing the reindeer, children who stopped by Lyndon Square also took pictures with Christmas-themed cardboard cut-outs and at the famous Caribou statue. Many people came back that evening to enjoy the city’s annual Christmas tree lighting with Santa Claus.

Sisters Aliza, 3, and Aria Guerrette, 9, of Caribou couldn’t quite guess who the reindeer were but enjoyed their yearly visit just the same, said their mother Amanda Guerrette.

“We try to go to all the winter events,” Amanda said. “They really like seeing the reindeer.”

Caribou firefighter and paramedic Scott Michaud said that the crew was on hand giving out reindeer antlers to children and making sure they dropped off their letters to Santa Claus in the mailbox before he arrived for the tree lighting.

“It’s a great way to kick off the holiday season,” Michaud said. “Seeing the kids’ faces when they first see those reindeers is the best thing.”