Volunteers made 2022 Kringleville a success, organizers say

PHOTO: Kringleville postmaster Scott McAdoo delivers children’s letters to Santa. (Amy Roy/ Central Maine Photography Staff photo)

WATERVILLE – Volunteers helped to make the 2022 Kringlevile, the city’s holiday celebration, a success this year, organizers said.
Nearly 1,000 children visited Santa’s house, which was located at Head of Falls for the first time. Kringleville is sponsored by Children’s Discovery Museum of Maine.
Volunteer Bridgette Gemelli organized local groups to attend each weekend. They gave away free hot chocolate and hosted special activities. In all, 25 volunteers combined for 325 hours of work from the last weekend of November to just before Christmas. Every child who visited with Santa left with a book donated by the Mid Maine Chamber, Sappi and Marden’s.
Scott Macadoo, a long-time volunteer of Kringleville and the Parade of Lights, prepared the cabin for opening each weekend and also served as official Kringleville postmaster, picking up letters from the mailbox and making sure they get to Santa. He said that spreading Christmas cheer to the Waterville area and helping keep the Kringleville tradition going is his favorite activity.
Plans for 2023 Kringleville will begin soon, with updates at kringleville.org.