This past Saturday, Waldoboro fisherman Clint Collamore pulled up in front of the Waldo Theatre with more than a few dozen lobster traps on the back of his truck. Board member Barbara Boardman took on the lights, unrolling wheels of them that were draped and threaded through the traps.

The tree was the brainchild of Boardman who remembered how Waldoboro used to have a gigantic tree in the center of the village festooned with lights. “It was the place to gather around, either to sing carols, meet up with Santa Claus, or simply to enjoy when driving by. And, since The Waldo Theatre has a nice yard along Main Street, I thought maybe we could create one.”

Boardman called Clint Collamore, and he called around. Buddy and Sierra Poland answered the call amid a house with family and a million holiday chores, and the volunteers built the lobster tree, one, two, three. 

For Barbara Boardman, it was civic pride: “I think it’s important to see lights in the village.  They make us feel part of something.”

“We did it today (Nov. 29) because weather is coming in.  I’ll come back another day to decorate it with lobster buoys," said Collamore. "I think it’s very important to keep places like the Waldo going.  And the Waldo Theatre is the kind of place that gives people opportunities that they’ve never had before, like the talent show. It makes me happy to build a ‘tree’ here!” 

Boardman noted that the inside of the theater is full of sparkling holiday decorations, thanks to another volunteer, George Bates. 

Programming reflects the holiday spirit with holiday themed movies, including “The Holiday” and the crowd favorite “The Muppet Christmas Carol Sing-a-long.” And the Heather Pierson Trio returns to perform a “Charlie Brown Christmas” concert, all off which will certainly get you in the mood for the holidays! 

As all the members of staff and board chorus: “Visit.  See our tree, catch a whiff of the ocean, and celebrate the holidays at The Waldo!” 

The Waldo Theatre is located at 916 Main St. in Waldoboro.