Halloween only ended hours prior, but the Christmas season was on the minds of volunteers early Nov. 1 as Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce (BHRCC) prepares for Boothbay Lights.  

To kick off the upcoming six weeks of celebrations, volunteers gathered to set up lights on the library lawn and assemble the centerpiece buoy tree on Pier One, consisting of over 1,000 colorful wooden lobster buoys. According to BHRCC Executive Director Lisa Walby, about 30 people were signed up to cover decorating shifts from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  

She also explained why BHRCC begins decorating early and encourages organizations and businesses to also: Boothbay Lights starts alongside Gardens Aglow, which is two weeks away, beginning on Community Night, Nov. 14, and the other reason is the weather.  

“Today, it's a little windy, but it's still warm, so we're not all freezing trying to put lights and things up,” she said.