CARIBOU, Maine — Caribou’s Harvest Hoedown had its largest turnout on Thursday with more than 500 people coming out to take part in the fall-themed festivities.
For the past eight years, the hoedown was held at Hilltop Elementary School and was enjoyed by kindergarten through second grade students and their parents. Since Hilltop closed earlier this year and students subsequently moved to Teague Park Elementary School until construction of the city’s new PreK-8 school can be completed, third graders and their parents were included for the ninth, and most recent, event.
Teague Park Principal Cheryl Hallowell said that, with third graders added, about 80 more youngsters participated in the hoedown.
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- Scores of children and families lined up at the Teague Park Elementary School playground for a chance to go on a hay bale ride during the ninth annual Harvest Hoedown on Thursday, Sept. 21. (Christopher Bouchard)
At first, Teague Park staff were concerned about configuring the hoedown at a new location, said Hallowell, but were pleased once the event was underway.
The principal added that the hoedown wouldn’t happen without help from the Caribou Recreation Department.
“The Rec Department is really the heartbeat of this place,” Hallowell said after helping a young student create a doll out of straw. “They come over and set almost everything up for us. Gary [Marquis, parks superintendent] and Matt [Bouchard, recreation director) come over and have meetings with us and get us hay and a tractor for the rides.”
Hallowell estimated that, at least 300 students were in attendance and that 80 percent of those students were accompanied by at least one parent or guardian, concluding that 500 would be a “low estimate” of the total turnout.
The straw doll making event was a new addition to the hoedown, along with tossing hula hoops on pumpkins. While children and parents participated in most events, hundreds lined up for the hay bale rides.
“They love the ride and don’t mind standing in line,” Hallowell said.
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- Teague Park Elementary School Principal Cheryl Hallowell shows students how to create a doll out of straw during the Harvest Hoedown held Thursday, Sept. 21, at the Caribou school. (Christopher Bouchard)
Third grade teachers, being new to the hoedown, were initially unsure of how to monitor their students during the event, according to the principal.
“I just said to let the students go,” Hallowell said. “The kids govern themselves. There are lots of parents here, and the kids love it. They don’t misbehave or run off. They’re just out here for fun.”
Marquis said that nineteen members of the Caribou High School Girls’ Soccer team also volunteered to help with the event.
“This is one of the biggest events the elementary school has,” Marquis said. “With the new school coming, this will be the new home for the hoedown, so we figured this is going to be a test to see how things such as parking work out.”
Marquis added that “it’s always a great day when kids and families come out and partake in the harvest hoedown.”
“It’s nice for the community to come by and see a nice crowd,” Hallowell said. “Good things are happening here.”
