Kennebunkport voters say town should cover some Christmas Prelude costs

 People take selfies and start to leave Dock Square after the tree lighting ceremony during Kennebunkport's Prelude in December 2025. (Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer) [](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/election-2026/) _[Read all of our coverage](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/election-2026/) of Maine's 2026 election or stay up to date with the latest developments through the [Maine Political Report](https://www.pressherald.com/mprnewsletter/) in your inbox or [text messages](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/01/11/maine-political-news-sent-right-to-your-phone-sign-up-for-text-alerts-from-our-editor/) from politics editor Kirby Wilson._ Kennebunkport voters on Tuesday said the town should maintain taxpayer funding for the annual Christmas Prelude. Residents were given three response options to the nonbinding question on their ballots: keep the town’s financial support for the event at the same level, cut the funding in half or stop funding altogether. According to the initial results, 759 voters said the town should cover the full municipal cost of no more than $35,000, while 411 voters said the town should cover half that amount. Another 680 voters said municipal funding for the celebration should be cut altogether. The Kennebunkport Selectboard will use the results to determine the language for a funding referendum that voters will decide on come November.  Tuesday’s nonbinding vote was spurred by the discovery earlier this year of a 40-year-old town ordinance that says mass gathering events hosted by nonprofit organizations and other nonmunicipal entities — including Prelude — must be paid for by the organization, not the town.  Related [Kennebunkport officials to end town funding of Christmas Prelude](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/03/24/kennebunkport-officials-to-end-town-funding-of-christmas-prelude/) November’s referendum is expected to let voters decide whether to amend that ordinance. Advertisement For years, a portion of Christmas Prelude’s municipal costs have been covered by the town, mostly for security. At a community forum last Tuesday, some residents shared their concerns about how commercialized they felt the event had gotten. “A lot of locals have stopped attending,” one said. “Why should we pay for out-of-town people to come enjoy Prelude?” Others compared it to other towns paying for their annual tree-lighting ceremonies. “Every other town pays for their Christmas celebration,” one said. “Why wouldn’t Kennebunkport?” Related [Yes, Kennebunkport’s Christmas Prelude is still on, organizer says](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/03/25/yes-kennebunkports-christmas-prelude-is-still-on-organizer-says/) Tina Gordon, president of the Kennebunkport Business Association, which puts on Prelude, said the organization was looking forward to working with the selectboard on next steps and is “deeply grateful” that voters support the event. Advertisement “This result demonstrates that our community recognizes the importance of this cherished event and is willing to invest in its continued success,” Gordon said. “We thank everyone for the strong vote of confidence in Christmas Prelude, our local nonprofits, and the traditions that make Kennebunkport such a special place to live, work, and visit.” **SELECTBOARD RACE** Residents also reelected Mary Beth Gilbert to the town’s selectboard**.** She received 1,097 votes to challenger Andrew Welch’s 717. Gilbert did not immediately respond to an email requesting comment late Tuesday night. Copy the Story Link Tagged: [christmas](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/christmas/), [election 2026](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/election-2026/), [Kennebunkport selectmen](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/kennebunkport-selectmen/) [](https://www.pressherald.com/author/abigail-driscoll) [Abigail DriscollStaff Writer](https://www.pressherald.com/author/abigail-driscoll) Abigail is a community reporter for Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, Sanford, and Wells. She recently moved up to Maine from Connecticut after getting her bachelor’s degree in English/Journalism at the University. [More by Abigail Driscoll](https://www.pressherald.com/author/abigail-driscoll)