CARIBOU, Maine — Hundreds came out as Caribou hosted its annual gingerbread house decorating event, along with Santa’s workshop, on Dec. 6 at the Wellness and Recreation Center on Bennett Drive.
Caribou Marketing and Events Coordinator Christina Kane-Gibson said the event has been occurring for nearly 30 years, and that it involves numerous businesses and volunteers coming together to create a memorable night for kids in the area.
Local business Farms Bakery baked and donated enough gingerbread to make several hundred gingerbread houses, and Sleeper’s of Caribou donated all of the sweet decorations. From there, a group of 10 volunteers spent hours making the gingerbread homes, so they could be distributed to children to decorate.
Community member Barbara Aiken has been on this team of volunteers for 20 years, and said it takes them about five hours to put all of the houses together.
“The girls assemble the houses, and we have two men who carry them away to all the tables,” Aiken said. “We have a real system and a routine going.”
Looking ahead, Aiken said the event will likely continue for years to come.
“I always see people when I’m out shopping who ask about the gingerbread houses, and when they can start registering,” she said. “I encourage everybody to register early. We usually take about 230 names to start and then put the others on a waiting list. Today, we have 262 children registered.”
Kane-Gibson said that, for those who didn’t register, Santa Claus was in another room of the rec center hosting a workshop with games, crafts and cookies donated by Hannaford. Volunteers from Caribou High School’s National Honor Society and Jobs for Maine Graduates programs also helped Santa in the workshop.
Those on the waiting list are all welcome in Santa’s workshop.
“We love to see everyone come out,” said Kane-Gibson. “I feel like we’re really making memories for the kids here — something they’ll hold onto when they’re adults and making their own traditions. So I think it’s really important that we keep doing these things.”
