The History of Kringleville

Downtown Waterville's Santa Claus tradition began in 1969 when members of the Waterville Area Chamber of Commerce, with new holiday decorations in place, brought in a little unheated log cabin to Castonguay Square and lit up a not so large spruce tree. Thanks to Central Maine Railroad, Santa arrived in Waterville in fine style that year on the back of a vintage caboose; yet without much fanfare. Still in the two weeks that followed before Christmas Eve, Santa's little house was a hustle and a bustle with children from all over Central Maine.

Despite the Vietnam War, energy shortages, gas lines, high inflation, political theater and the Iran Hostage Crisis, Santa Claus continued to make merry the hearts of the residents of Greater Waterville through the 1970s and early into the 1980s. The energy shortage of 1973 was the only year that the Christmas lights did not shine in Waterville and Santa held court in City Hall rather than in his little cabin in the square. Still, with each passing year, the number of children and carolers visiting Santa continued to grow.

In 1982, thanks to the efforts of the Waterville Intown Business Association, the Christmas tradition took on a new life when Kringleville came to Castonguay Square. Santa's old house was painted and converted into a small chapel and a new, larger home was built by the students from the vocational program at Waterville Senior High School. The years following brought a candy cane garden, gingerbread people, talking reindeer, an elf workshop and a Holiday Parade held on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

The Kringleville tradition moved into the 1990s with smiling children, but with an ever changing face of Downtown Waterville. The changes began in the early 1990s as Main Street and Castonguay Square went through a major reconstruction effort with new pavement, sidewalks, Half of Common Street closing, new lamp post and landscaping. Also in the 1990s came the closing of major landmark businesses on Main Street. Despite the changes, nothing could keep Santa Claus away. Television crews came and filmed Kringleville for a Holiday special and commercials and children from all over came to visit with the Jolly Old Elf himself. In the years to come, many people debated whether Downtown should continue the Castonguay Square tradition of having Santa's house in exchange for moving him in to an empty store front window or in the old Stern's building. The residents of Waterville spoke clearly and the Kringleville tradition continued.

As Kringleville moved into the twenty first century, a new house for Santa was built by the employees of Keyes Fiber. In 1999, the local group A Touch of Country (led by Gary and Cindy Michaud) took over the parade from the Intown Business Association and changed it to a Friday evening event so that more parents would be able to attend with their children. It was then called "A Touch Of Country's Electric Christmas Parade" and concluded with the lighting of the giant spruce tree in Castonguay Square. In 2007, A Touch of Country turned over the organization of this popular tradition to Waterville Main Street, which renamed the event The Parade of Lights.

In the last few years, subtle but great changes have taken place to improve on the Kringleville tradition. Santa's house has been repainted and the interior and exterior of his home redecorated. Central Maine Photography is now the on site Photography Company taking photographs, and Mrs. Claus has joined Santa and his elves during the weekdays.

Indeed the Holiday Magic continues in Downtown Waterville and it will continue for another forty years as long as there are children who believe. When asked how he felt about returning to Waterville each year, Santa said, “I have seen a multitude of children over the years. Today, many of those children are now Grandparents and Parents and it is with pride and excitement that Mrs. Claus and I return to Waterville to make happy the hearts of all the little children in Central Maine.