Caribou to celebrate 10 years of Thursdays on Sweden Street

Pat Edgecomb of Limestone assists Stacie Holton of Caribou with a purchase during Thursdays on Sweden Street. Edgecomb was one of more than 20 community vendors who took part in the first 2022 Sweden Street event. As part of a greater effort to attract tourists, Caribou will showcase many local events, including Thursdays, in a new marketing campaign. (Melissa Lizotte | Aroostook Republican)

CARIBOU, Maine — Caribou’s premier summer festival is turning 10 this summer and city leaders hope people come out for the celebration.

Thursdays on Sweden Street began in 2013 to revive interest in the city’s traditional downtown region. It did not take long for thousands of people to show up at the biweekly events, which featured local artists, crafters, food and other vendors.

This year’s festival series will kick off Thursday, June 1, with subsequent events happening June 15 and 29, July 13 and 27 and Aug. 10.

Organizers have seen increased interest in Thursdays on Sweden following the COVID-19 pandemic. While 32 vendors, including food trucks, signed up for the kickoff last summer, that number has jumped to 48 vendors expected for June 1.

“We’ve got new food trucks, a greater variety of food and a few bands that we haven’t seen before,” said Parks & Recreation Superintendent Gary Marquis.

On June 1, the River Road Country Band, formerly The Good Ole Boys & Girls, of Grand Falls, New Brunswick, will provide musical entertainment. Northern Maine Brewing Company will return with a beer garden.

The first event’s theme will be the Summer Safety Shindig.

Maine’s Bureau of Highway Safety will host a listening session to gather local feedback for their 2024 Maine Highway Safety Plan. People visiting the bureau’s booth will be asked to comment on traffic safety in Caribou and what steps might be taken to improve it.

Other themes for this year’s Thursdays include “10 Years of Thursdays on Sweden” (June 15), Salute to Veterans (June 29), Harley Homecoming (July 13) and Back-to-School Bash (Aug. 10). The July 27 event will correspond with the Caribou Cares About Kids festival.

Musical guests will include Star City Syndicate (June 15), No Pressure (June 29), Wally and the Virginian (July 13), an Elton John tribute band (July 27) and the Jerry T. Band (Aug. 10).

Caribou High School’s Class of 2013 will hold its reunion during the June 15 festivities. The Classes of 1963 and 1978 will meet on July 13 while those from 1973 and 1993 will reunite July 27. Other reunions might be scheduled later this summer, Marquis said.

“Everybody’s looking forward to it. We got a greater variety of vendors and music than we’ve had in the past, so hopefully people get involved,” Marquis said.