BRUNSWICK, Maine — For the fifth year in a row, folks in the Brunswick area are kicking off the gift-giving season early with the Midcoast Tree Festival.
"People are looking for a little bit of joy, a little bit of something nice," Cory King, who helps put the event together, said.
Hosted at St. John's Community Center, the event partners with a handful of organizations, nonprofits, and programs to decorate a handful of trees to be raffled off.
This year, 50 trees were donated and paired with gifts to go along.
"We have musicians, we have different choir groups come in and sing," organizer Lindsay MacDonald said. "All of the proceeds that we raise goes back to our three organizations."
After starting back in 2019, the event has become a major fundraiser. Funds raised go straight to Spectrum Generations' meal program, emergency assistance through All Saints Parish and the Bath and Brunswick Regional Chamber's workforce development system.
Last year, the event helped to raise more than $25,000 and drew in 1,500 families to participate.
"Sometimes you just want to be a part of your community. I mean, the number of volunteers that we get that come out just want to help and be around all of these happy families," King added.
The event continues until Sunday, Nov. 26.
For the latest breaking news, weather, and traffic alerts, download the NEWS CENTER Maine mobile app.