OWLS HEAD — Owls Head Lighthouse, perched high above West Penobscot Bay, is a majestic sight anytime of the year, but for the month of December the venerable tower has also donned a festive appearance as the holiday season descends upon the Midcoast.

With Christmas just weeks away, volunteers from the American Lighthouse Foundation and its local chapter, Friends of Rockland Harbor Lights, gathered together on Dec. 2 to "dress up" the 30-foot sentinel with touches of green, red and gold.

"Lighthouses are not only historic treasures but they are also a source of inspiration and happiness for so many people," said American Lighthouse Foundation Executive Director Bob Trapani Jr. in a press release. "By decorating Owls Head Light for the holidays, we are hoping residents and visitors alike will derive a little extra Christmastime joy when they admire this beloved beacon throughout the month."

The nonprofit American Lighthouse Foundation, which is headquartered in Rockland, has recently restored Owls Head Light. Friends of Rockland Harbor Lights opens the tower to the public on weekends and Wednesday afternoons, from Memorial Day to Columbus Day.

"Owls Head Light's festive appearance also reminds us that lighthouses are still very much relevant to our community's way of life, and not just from a navigational standpoint. They are an inseparable part of our coastal fabric that must continue to be shared and celebrated with the public as we work to preserve and carry forward these lights into the future," said Trapani.

To learn more about the American Lighthouse Foundation and the Friends of Rockland Harbor Lights, visit www.lighthousefoundation.org and www.rocklandharborlights.org.