Wiscasset ushered in the Christmas season with Saturday night’s tree lighting on the town common. Close to 200 area residents braved the cold to sing carols and watch the tree light up. Wiscasset Parks and Recreation provided hot cocoa and treats, outside this year due to the pandemic. Recreation Programmer Chelsea Taylor said she’d made about 100 gingerbread people and in total there were over 200 cookies and candy canes to give out. They were a hit and by the end of the night, there weren’t many treats left.

Luminaries lighted the way up the town common to the steps of First Congregational Church where, as he has for over 30 years, Dr. Jeff Grosser served as emcee. He helped lead the crowd in not one but two countdowns to the lighting of the tree when the tree needed a little more encouragement after the first one.

More than 20 students from Wiscasset School Department performed Christmas favorites as well as some new tunes, led by music director Carole Drury. Santa also made an appearance, helping to lead several songs with the students and greeting children after the lighting.

The large multi-colored lighted tree now joins the many smaller trees all along route 1 lighted up throughout the holiday season.