Amid a cloud of uncertainty regarding funding for one of Kennebunkport’s largest events of the year, the event’s organizer wants to emphasize that Christmas Prelude is here to stay.

The Kennebunkport Select Board announced last week that it would be pulling all town funding for the event, citing a town ordinance passed in 1986 that officials say was brought to light by a resident.

Tina Hewett-Gordon, president of the Kennebunkport Business Association, which organizes Prelude, says she sympathizes with the situation the board is in. 

“ They have to uphold the ordinances. I mean, just because over the past 40 years, it hasn’t been enforced doesn’t matter,” she said Tuesday evening. “They have to start enforcing it now. I understand that.”

But Hewett-Gordon doesn’t want the event’s fans to panic: “Nothing can stop Christmas Prelude from coming.”

Here’s what you need to know about the conversations about Prelude and what’s next.

The discussions

Earlier this year, the Select Board began discussions about whether to maintain the same level of financial assistance it has given Prelude.

Those conversations were driven by concerns from some officials over wages and overtime pay for town employees during the event, as well as complaints from some residents over congestion in Dock Square throughout the two-weekend-long celebration.

One idea proposed by the Select Board was a cost-sharing agreement to have one weekend of Prelude be funded by the town and the other by the KBA. The association declined that offer before the announcement that the town would no longer contribute.

Another potential change would shift some events to neighboring Kennebunk in an effort to lighten crowd sizes.

Throughout those discussions, KBA leaders and Select Board members both emphasized that they had no desire to cut back or end Prelude.

The ordinance 

Town Manager Laurie Smith said the ordinance that effectively prevents taxpayer funding of Prelude was brought to the Select Board’s attention by a resident of the town.

The ordinance on mass gatherings defines Prelude — along with other events such as the Fourth of July fireworks display, craft fairs and circuses — as “commercial gatherings.”

For commercial gatherings, organizers must seek a town permit and cover any costs incurred by the town, including traffic, crowd control and security.

The costs

The KBA spent about $114,000 to put on Prelude last year, Hewett-Gordon said. That covered decorations, fireworks, portable toilets and entertainment, among other costs. The event is run by volunteers, many of them local business owners.

In turn, the cost to the town last year amounted to roughly $39,000. Around $23,000 of that covered to overtime costs for police, fire and Public Works employees.

The event is a major boon for area businesses and nonprofits. Hewett-Gordon said last year’s edition raised $270,000 for 38 nonprofits while helping businesses stay open year-round.

The impact

Finances aside, Hewett-Gordon said Prelude has had a positive impact on the community for decades.

“ Prelude is about the magic behind it,” she said. “The sense of community, the tradition that comes along with it.” 

The event draws thousands of visitors each year, fueling some residents’ congestion concerns. Hewett-Gordon said the KBA has made changes over the years to try to alleviate the sheer volume of people. 

In 2010, the event expanded from one weekend to two in an effort to spread out the number of visitors. In 2016, the KBA added a shuttle service to ease traffic impacts. For the same reason, Santa’s iconic lobster boat arrival was rerouted in 2022 to eliminate road closures. 

“Our goal, from the business association, is to keep this a vibrant and safe community event for generations to come,” Hewett-Gordon said. “ It’s because of that community spirit, and that love of our towns that the people continue to do this.  

“I realize the work that the Select Board is doing isn’t easy, but I do believe that calm heads will prevail and we can talk through all of this.”

The future

The Select Board announced Thursday that a nonbinding ballot question that will go before Kennebunkport voters in June to decide how much, if at all, taxpayers should contribute to Prelude.

It will ask voters whether they want the town to cover none of the municipal costs of Prelude; up to $17,500, covering roughly the first weekend; or up to $35,000, covering most of the municipal costs.

Though the question is nonbinding, board members pledged to abide by voters’ decision.