Ho! Ho! Ho!
We’ve turned 15!
Can you imagine? Looking back, this event has been through the ringer. We started in 2009 and have continuously (skipping in 2020/2021 for certain reasons …) held this event in the same spot, despite changing of companies!
We’ve had some big years where the weather has helped people decide to come, and others where the weather really hosed us and we were in single-digit numbers for those who came.
Alas, we’ve persevered!
This event is the 15th edition and there is so much to look at over the years. Did you know the total number of folks who have posted attended logs is 266. We’re not even to MEGA status total, but for a December event in Oneonta, that’s not too shabby! Our highest total was 31 in 2011, and our lowest was 8 in 2016. In total, we’ve had 85 unique cachers attend this event – which shows there’s pretty good repeat power.
But let’s dig deeper.
And 15th? What about last year when you said it was the 14th edition, but then the 13th? I went back and looked and the one year was also a Community Celebration Event and I didn’t number it. So I have counted and recounted – and this is indeed 15! Technically, this could be 16 – as the “group” did have an ornament exchange the year before hosted by Monet, but the “Ho! Ho! Ho! event is turning 15.
That’s when I started looking at numbers. And please realize that some errors could occur here. This is a lot of things to look over!
Only one person (me) has made all 14 of the events thus far. Two (Luckless and Lilitchpin) have made 13 and Ken’s first miss was last year when he was on a cruise! My guess, too, is that Ken’s wife GeoDriver is close to the 13 as well – but she hasn’t always logged! Only four others (cstormg- 11, monet37- 10, Bear13820- 10, and TundraWolf-10) have reached double digits.
A few folks I put their totals in but only by looking at photos because there are a few people who seemed to be in the group photo but they didn’t post an attended log!
On the flip side, 33 of the cachers who have attended this event have only done so one time. Maybe some of them will make it multiple times with this event. But that also means that of the 85 unique cachers who have attended, 52 have come multiple times!
The event, too, has always had its home in the same place and we are grateful for that.
What will 2025 bring?
This will be a community celebration event, so a different icon. It will be the second time this event has been a celebration event, so that is pretty neat as well.
EVENT DETAILS
So, let’s get with the deets. Hopefully you’ve been a good cacher this year and this will be a fun day of peeps and finds!
This is our annual breakfast ornament exchange. Come have breakfast, mingle, and exchange an ornament. None of this is required, though!
So maybe plan a day of it? Come chat, eat and do some shopping. Or do some caching. Or both! After all, we’ll be close enough to the big day, for those who are celebrating that is!
The event is set for 9-11 a.m. inside the Quality Inn (formerly Holiday Inn) (as usual, in or near the Our Town Café Pub).
A purchase of breakfast is not required to attend or log the event. Please post will attends (and please only if you plan on coming) so we can give them an estimate of at least how many might arrive. They only offer a breakfast buffet ($10), if interested.
As for the ornament exchange -- if you want to participate, bring an ornament (it doesn't have to be expensive!) wrapped or in a holiday bag and we'll randomly draw names for people to come up and grab one of the packages. Cachers don't have to participate in this if they don't want!
So here’s hoping for a fine day for the event and caching. We hope to see you all there! It’s a time to celebrate and enjoy the company of friends – old and new!
Please log a will attend as soon as you know so we know how many we expect. The location is asking for an estimate a few days in advance, so please help us by posting a will-attend if you plan on being there! And if you think you will be having the breakfast buffet please note that -- but, again, PURCHASING BREAKFAST IS NOT MANDATORY!
Please also note: Dogs are not allowed inside of the event.
Community Celebration Events - 2025
This Event is part of a limited release of Community Celebration Events to celebrate 25 years of geocaching. Geocachers hosted events between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2025. Learn more about Community Celebration Events on the Geocaching Blog.