York neighbourhood having a Charlie Brown Christmas

A large ornament hanging from a roadside tree has been set up in north Edmonton. CTV News Edmonton's Matt Woodman finds out the origin.

Charlie Brown’s spirit has been invoked in northeast Edmonton.

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Near 58 Street, just north of 138 Avenue, a 76-centimetre red ornament hangs from a naturally crooked evergreen tree.

“It just shows up every year,” said a resident of the York community, Emily Gustafson.

“I like that it’s quite festive. It definitely brings a sense of cheer to the neighbourhood…. It just makes it feel like somebody out there is bringing a community sense to us.”

Sean Kearns’ plan is working.

“I like to put it up at night so it’s a surprise in the morning,” he revealed to CTV News Edmonton in a recent interview.

The tradition is new; he hung the giant red ornament for the first time last year as a surprise for his mom, who visits from Nova Scotia for an early Christmas in November.

His mom’s favourite holiday movie is A Charlie Brown Christmas.

“(The tree) grows so perfectly naturally up and over to the side like that, it was obviously asking for it,” Kearns said, emphasizing the tree is not under any stress by the half-pound item.

He’s only heard positive feedback so far.

“It’s just the perfect tree for it.”

Gustafson added, “We’re more of a low-key area – a lot of older people here – and it’s more of a subtle Christmas.”

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Matt Woodman