Barbara Lawlor, Gilpin County.  A pine tree, decorated only on the stop, waited patiently at the western entrance to Central City. It had been waiting for a couple of hours. Every year, there is a new tree at the corner, waiting for the moment when the children's voices are heard, but not yet seen.

The annual Gilpin Elementary School decorating of the Central City Christmas tree is the kickoff of the traditional Tommyknockers weekend. School buses bring the students from the school to the opera house parking lot, where the children clamber off their bus, organize into grades with their teachers and volunteers, and then begin the trek through the historic mining town. Past the casinos, past the dispensary, under the decorated street lights.

They carried snowflakes and gingerbread houses, decorated balls and strung popcorn. Their goal was the tree.

Each class took their turns at the tree, looking for the perfect spot to spotlight their ornament. Dads hoisted the little ones onto their shoulders to reach the less inhabited nooks.

When every branch bent with kid-created beauty, the classes scampered back to the Teller House where they all sat down, hundreds of children, and listened to the story about the crocodile.

As they left the building, they were given a bag containing toys, candy and an ornament.

The Central City Christmas season wouldn't be the same without the annual tree decorating ceremony.