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| Photo contributed by David Sleeper Hair and clothing may have been different back in 1989, but childrens’ love of decorating gingerbread houses was the same as it is now. Pictured here are scenes from the very first gingerbread house decorating event, sponsored by Sleepers. |
By Natalie De La Garza
Staff Writer
CARIBOU — The annual gingerbread house decorating event on Friday was another festive success, as children and families leaned in around a tables to adorn the gingerbread with gobs of confectionary décor — much like the first organized event at Sleeper’s in 1989.
Seventy-five gingerbread homes were assembled for decoration that first year, organized by the store’s assistant manager Donna Thomas. Thomas oversaw the highly-anticipated project for 15 years before hanging up her apron.
Having assisted with the gingerbread project for years, Barb Aiken stepped in to keep the tradition alive on a smaller scale from 2004 to 2008. A holiday event for Faith Lutheran at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Aiken would plan for about 40 kids to decorate gingerbread houses.
In 2009, for Caribou’s sesquicentennial celebration, the annual Gingerbread festivities were moved to the Caribou Wellness and Recreation Department and increased from about 40 kids to about 200 kids — going into the event was about 200 pounds of candy, 200 pounds of frosting and 30 triple-batches of gingerbread.
