In early November, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens invited Boothbay peninsula community members to take part in the annual Gardens Aglow holiday lighting contest. Participants with a home or business visible from a public roadway and located on the in the towns of Edgecomb, Southport, Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, East Boothbay, Trevett, or West Boothbay Harbor were eligible to enter.

Displays were judged in two categories – business and residential – and evaluated by a panel of judges from the community; visitors to the peninsula also had the opportunity to vote in the “People’s Choice” category. Criteria for judging included originality, effective use of color, and overall impact when viewed from the nearest public roadway.

The Gardens was pleased to announce that the judges chose to award first place to the Boothbay Railway Village Museum, with Cod Cove Inn as the runner-up. For the residential category, first place went to Lisa and Roy Tholl of Montgomery Road, Boothbay Harbor; runner-up was awarded to Tammy Blackman of Plummer Road, Southport. In the vote for People’s Choice, first place went to Pier One Pizza and, in the residential category, Tracy Smith of Lewis Lane, Boothbay. Congratulations to everyone!

Gardens Aglow is Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens’ annual festive seasonal celebration. This year, the Gardens welcomed nearly 120,000 guests to the Aglow walking experience, one that featured more than 750,000 LED lights woven through 14 acres of central gardens. The new, reimagined design also included sculptures inspired by Maine’s native species, including 250 lighted flowers, three dozen lighted animals, and two dozen assorted mushrooms.