Eight years ago, Edgecomb selectmen started a new Christmas tradition with the Charlie Brown Christmas Tree Decorating Contest. The event started as a competition between school and civic organizations, citizens and businesses. In recent years, the contest was between Edgecomb Eddy School students, but that changed this year.

On Dec. 13, a new tradition of no contest, only the joy of decorating a Christmas tree during the magical season, encompassed the event.  

Other changes were also introduced this year. Since 2017, the town hall hosted the event, but this year the event moved to Edgecomb Eddy. Another change was a community spaghetti dinner was added.  

At 5 p.m., a tree lighting was held, and students along with community members enjoyed caroling which preceded the spaghetti supper. 

One tradition still remains as the event's backbone. Students made homemade ornaments to decorate their trees. Second grade teacher Jennifer Gosselin's students decorated their tree with tiny snowmen and red and white beaded garland strands.

Second grader Amos Heiligenthal enjoyed the two days his class made the ornaments. "I like the snowmen ornaments the best," he said. "We added hats to the plastic snowmen and painted smiles on their faces. We put 10-20 red and white beads on a long string for garland."

Classmate Josalin Joyce agreed. "I really liked putting the smiles on the snowmen's faces," she said.

Another classmate, Eben Anderson, was excited about the tree lighting. "My parents are excited about the decorating and I want to show them," he said.