Kringleville 2020: The Magic like no other season

Santa and Mrs. Claus

A message from Mrs. Claus to our Kringleville, Maine, USA, friends. Santa has been watching the greater Waterville area with great focus to help your 2020 season have more nice than naughty during this unprecedented season. You have pulled together in your Christmas-spirited community to ensure that local businesses and neighbors are making it through these uncertain times.

Santa and I will be coming to town this season! However, things will be a little different. We will travel from the North Pole and quarantine for 14 days, and while our Kringleville Christmas cabin will be seen in Castonguay Square, the heartbeat of your downtown, you will not be standing in line for one – three hours in the cold this season. Instead, we are going virtual for your health and safety. What does this mean?

Friends of Kringleville will reserve time slots for virtual live chats with Santa and Mrs. Claus. These virtual time slots will be Saturdays and Sundays from noon 5 p.m. We will also be offering one weeknight virtual visit for those who are unable to participate on the weekends. Because there are limited slots available this year, we have lots of additional opportunities to interact with us. I will be hosting fireside Christmas storytime with Mrs. Claus throughout the season on our Facebook page. The Big E, Eric Lunt, will be serenading us with his vocal Christmas stylings. Miss Heather, of Stage Presence for Dancers, will be showcasing her students’ talent (including Santa and Mrs. Claus!). A Christmas Carol sing-along will take place. Mrs. Claus will even share her award-winning recipes with Kringleville followers. See Santa reviewing the naughty and nice list and more!

If you are not a follower of the Kringleville Facebook page, you will want to do so today to stay updated with Kringleville happenings for 2020. To reduce large gatherings, there will be no parade of lights, but the peppermint twist this season is our Light Up The Town decoration event. Businesses and individuals are encouraged to decorate their properties with holiday lights to be included on a large holiday map! Santa and Mrs. Claus will drive to each home participating and make a special visit to the Light Up The Town winner!

If you are an annual Kringleville Christmas ornament collector, the 2020 ornaments will be available for purchase throughout the city of Waterville with 50 percent of proceeds donated to the Children’s Discovery Museum and as always a personal donation from Santa and Mrs. Claus to the Saint Jude Children’s Hospital.

People of all ages from around the globe visit Kringleville. In 2019, we had Kringleville visitors from Poland, Hawaii, China, Korea, Virginia, Arkansas, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Seattle, the Philippines and all over Maine and New England. We love that you all continue to be part of the Kringleville story season after season and keep the tradition in such a wonderful city. Please share with your family and friends from all over the world that during these unprecedented times Santa will have virtual opportunities, so all can safely connect with Santa to tell him their Christmas wishes. 2020 Christmas wishes are already pouring in as many are wishing for health, happiness and world peace.

Year after year, the Kringleville community grows. The Kringleville Facebook page “reach” of “followers” grew during the 2019 season from hundreds to thousands and there was a growth of 275 percent of our connection with Kringleville followers, with an increase of 1,850 percent in engagements while Santa and Mrs. Claus were in town. Since this past Kringleville season, followers have remained engaged with Kringleville via the Kringleville Facebook page. During COVID-19, an additional Christmas spirited folks joined Kringleville’s fabulous followers. By October 1, 2020 within 24 hours followers increased to 3,608 and climbing. That’s right, 260 new followers before Halloween! It is clear that Kringleville creates a truly special community.

Santa and Mrs. Claus would like to recognize and especially thank Scott McAdoo for his continued commitment to the love of Christmas at Kringleville. Kringleville continues with the support of The Children’s Discovery Museum led by Executive Director Amarinda Keys. Thank you to the generous 2020 Kringleville sponsors: Central Maine Chevy Dealers and Bangor Savings Bank. Additional supporters are The Big E, Stage Presence for Dancers, Marden’s, the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce, REZ Life Church, and others who share in the Kringleville Christmas spirit.

If you or your business would like to contribute to the success of this timeless Waterville tradition, please contact Amarinda Keys at The Children’s Discovery Museum. Email Amarinda at amarinda@childrensdiscoverymuseum.org to ask how you too can be a part of the magic of Christmas at Kringleville for the 2020 season.

All Santa and I ask is that you continue to try your best. You have been brave…Continue to be brave! You have been strong through all of the changes that this year has brought to you and the world you live in. Always remember to be part of solutions, rather than adding to problems. Be respectful of all others, because kindness begins with respect and a smile.

Where there’s a will there’s a way and our will here in the North Pole is unstoppable. COVID-19 has not canceled Christmas or Kringleville connections. Christmas is not something that can be canceled. Christmas lives in our hearts. Santa wants everyone to keep in mind that Christmas isn’t something you should have in your heart only once a year. The spirit of Christmas should live in your heart year-round. So, take Santa’s advice and be kind to all others! Mrs. Claus sends COVID-FREE hugs from our North Pole home to your home. Wishing you a season full of joy and happiness…See you all soon!