CARIBOU, Maine – Families flocked to Caribou last week for the annual Caribou Cares About Kids festivities.
The four days of events featured live entertainment, sports tournaments and a variety of family-themed activities.
Rain moved Thursday’s kickoff concert and most craft vendors inside Caribou Wellness & Recreation Center, but hundreds still packed into the gymnasium. Many enjoyed food from outdoor vendors and brought lawn chairs inside to watch local band Star City Syndicate. Children lined up to make tye-dye t-shirts and have their faces painted.
The sun returned Friday, clearing the way for more outdoor games at the wellness center, including bounce houses, arts and crafts, basketball and tug of war.
Amy Morrow watched as her children Sophie, 10, Scout, 9, Easton, 8, and Merritt, 5, took part in several rounds of tug-of-war.
“This is our first time [at the festival],” Morrow said. “It’s good that [Caribou] has something like this. They do a good job focusing on community and togetherness.”
Early Saturday evening, families lined Bennett Drive for the annual Caribou Cares About Kids parade. Children eagerly scrambled to pick up candy, rubber ducks and other goodies that folks threw from their floats.
This year’s parade theme was “Community Proud,” featuring 53 floats from community businesses, nonprofits and organizations. Contest winners included County Ag, Best Business; Jeep Wranglers of Aroostook, Best Nonprofit; Cary Medical Center 100th Anniversary, Best Theme; and Mavor Optical, Best Overall Float.
Although attendance was slightly lower than last year, Gary Marquis, Caribou Parks & Recreation superintendent, estimated that over 1,000 people still attended events throughout the weekend.
“Everything has been going good,” Marquis said. “You can only hope that people will come out and support what you’re doing in the community. People have been enjoying themselves.”
