Kennebunkport to End Town Funding for Christmas Prelude
Source: pressherald.com
- Kennebunkport officials voted to stop using town money for the Christmas Prelude festival starting next year.
- The event costs the town about $75,000 annually in police, fire, and public works support.
- This ends a decades-long tradition amid debates over taxpayer funding for a private event.
Kennebunkport town leaders decided to cut public funding for the Christmas Prelude, a popular holiday festival that draws crowds each year. The vote came after years of discussion about whether taxpayers should cover costs like security and cleanup for an event run by a private nonprofit. Involved are town selectmen, festival organizers, and residents split on the issue. It matters because the festival boosts local businesses but raises questions about fair use of public dollars.