CAMDEN — You know how we’re always throwing staycation ideas at you — you know, cool things you’d travel elsewhere and do, but don’t even think about when they’re in your back yard? This Cheap Date is one of those things you’ve got to try at least once in your life. After the turkey and giblets, slap on a head lamp, put on some good hiking shoes and layers and hike up the back side of Mt. Battie (1 mile) or drive to the Mt. Battie Road gate in Camden Hills State Park by car at 3:45 p.m. sharp. (The gate is usually locked at sunset each day and they’re making an exception to open it just for a short period of time.)

This is the 53rd year that the Christmas Star will be lit around 4 p.m. What a memorable way to spent the last light of day, don’t you think? (Oh God, listen to me. I think a Kum Ba Yah moment just took over my brain. Okay, I’m over it.)

I just think a hike up the mountain with a buddy or a crumbcake to see this is pretty cool. Today is looking drier (but much colder with highs in the 20s) so bring along the cider in a thermos, and maybe something to go with the cider and watch the Christmas Star blaze atop the mountaintop, illuminating Camden from Thanksgiving Day to New Year's Eve.

If you missed Holly Edwards’s story on the history of the Christmas Star and how volunteers assemble it each year, check it out: Camden’s Mt. Battie Christmas Star ready to shine again Thanksgiving Day

Happy Thanksgiving peeps!

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com