CARIBOU, Maine — Christina Kane-Gibson, a Caribou native, was hired as the city’s new marketing and events coordinator less than a month ago, and already has some big ideas for her hometown.
“Lydia (Kieffer-Till, Caribou’s former marketing and events coordinator) did such an amazing job with events in Caribou,” Kane-Gibson said, adding that all surrounding towns are “doing really cool things.”
Kane-Gibson would like to introduce a number of new events to Caribou, such as an enhanced Winter Carnival, a Santa Claus Crawl local shopping event, and a Caribou Crafts and Cocktails event, which would include Maine beer, wine, signature cocktails, and, of course, food. She also mentioned the possibility of organizing a “Classic Hollywood” movies in the park event, which could carry themes throughout the summer based on the decade of films being shown.
In addition to continuing Caribou’s popular events like Thursdays on Sweden and the Marathon, Gibson wants to focus on strengthening what she refers to as the “core of Caribou.”
“Our core, to me, would be Sweden Street,” Kane-Gibson said. “If we could really fill those storefronts, get more people down there, and get it hoppin’, it would strengthen surrounding commercial districts and that would balloon out.”
Kane-Gibson said there is a possibility of collaborating with other towns for large events, adding that nothing is formal or set in stone at this point.
“I’m all about Aroostook County, not just Caribou, and I think more cities up here could partner on tourism events,” Kane-Gibson said. “Why not? We all work together, we all have the same goals, and we all want what’s best for The County.”
The events coordinator said she wanted to see every town up here succeed, as their success could only lead to better things throughout the region.
“Tourism in Aroostook County is really the goal,” Kane-Gibson said. “Be it Caribou, Presque Isle, or Fort Fairfield, I want everyone to succeed. It could lead to businesses wanting to be up here, which could lead to jobs, and ultimately more people moving up here. If we can help each other out, I’m all for it. I am down if any surrounding towns want to collaborate.”
Kane-Gibson commented on Aroostook County’s unique multi-use recreational trail system, saying it is one of the region’s biggest assets.
“The trails connect and touch all of us,” Kane-Gibson said, “so why not collaborate on that? They’re all season and they support horseback riding, ATVs, snowmobiles, and bicycles. Plus, who has a trail system that’s 2,300 miles long? We do!”
Though she lived in Texas for over a decade, Kane-Gibson is glad to be back in Caribou and says it will always be home for her.
“There is just something about The County,” Kane Gibson said. “I was gone for 13 years and I never once said I was from Texas. I always told people I was from Maine, and it was automatic, and I usually said Caribou, Maine. To me, it’s the last untouched wilderness. We really have an opportunity to show the world how unique we are, I think people are looking for that experience, and I’m ready to show them.”
