My love for Christmas lights, or exterior illumination, as Clark Griswold would call it, goes back to my childhood when my family would go for light rides for what seemed like hours.  I loved yards I could see coming – lights hanging from fences, roof lines, light posts – the more the merrier. 

We would laugh at light displays that were puzzling to us – blue candles?  All red lights?  We even had a scoring system.  The highest honor was “two toots” from our horn as we drove by.  Awards were given for both beauty and gaudiness.  Over the years, trends in holiday light displays have come and gone, and evolved with technology advances.  I have followed them all. 

My husband is dedicated to our own outdoor light display.  The year we moved into our home in December, I was inside in a sea of boxes, and found him outside on a ladder getting right to work.  While our lights are all warm white, I have grown to love the blow ups and dynamic light displays.  I have a December birthday, and each year when my family asks what I’d like to do for my birthday, I always request a light ride. 

Through the months of this year, The Year We Are All Home, people have put signs and decorations outside to show unity and community in this challenging time.  Maybe it’s just me, but I think there are more holiday light displays in 2020 than ever.  Perhaps as a result of adults working from home, and their  desire to spread cheer, the lights around town are amazing!  Whether light rides are an annual tradition, or something new for 2020, put your Christmas Jammies on, grab some hot chocolate, turn on some Christmas tunes, and hit the roads of Holliston for some serious spirit.

Indulge me as I suggest the Ultimate Holliston Light Ride.  For the sake of simplicity, let’s start this tour at Blair Square.  We’ll make a bit of a spoke route from the central hub.  Of course adapt to your home base. 

Let’s head South.  Central and Fiske will offer a festive start. The Grinch can be seen on Central sneaking onto a roof!  Be sure to loop through Willowgate Rise and Dalton Road. 

If you’re here for the long ride, take Norfolk out towards Medway and hit up the streets off Goulding and the Appleyard neighborhood. 

Return to the Hub and head East toward Regal.  It’s safe to say, we all treasure the craft and spirit of Regal Street.  No Holliston Light Ride would be complete without a slow roll down the street. 

Remember to explore streets you’ve never driven down and even make a turn on those dead ends.  This is especially  important as you head up Concord Street and make your way to the Queens.  Get lost in there!  Circle and wind your way around those streets looking for the heart on the lawn, the surprising number of blow up unicorns, and stretch across Ashland Street. 

If you venture all the way to the end of Indian Ridge South, there is a remarkable tree waiting for you.  Be sure to look all around – there are glowing orbs in the woods on Ashland!  

Head back into town by way of Winter Street and be sure to turn up Bald Hill Road for an impressive turnout.  I loved every turn of this corner of town.

Head West on Washington – now is the time to feel pride and love for our town.  Thanks to Light Up Holliston for their tireless efforts to deck the downtown with light post snowflakes, lights on trees and rails, and generally match the cheery demeanor of our town. 

On your right at the corner of Prospect you’ll see a perfectly snow capped house.  A left on Highland will provide the lovely loops of Rolling Meadow and Raleigh Drive.  On Rolling Meadow you’ll see the Grinch back again and an impressive synchronized light display.  Back on Highland, cross Washington and find the ultimate blow up display on your right. 

Turn left up Prentice Street.  You can grab a loop up Pinecrest on your way.  Back on Prentice, head left on Marshall.  Be sure to look up to appreciate the lights high up into the night at my former home, and the now home of Official Tree on the corner.  I love unexpected displays, and this bucket truck-assisted swirl to the stars fits the bill for me. 

If you’ll indulge me, turn up Great Meadow Road, enjoy the Whispering Lane circle once or twice, it’s decked out in bows, and head out to Hanlon.  If you want to see our little display, right on Hanlon, right on Wilson and left on Rocky Woods Trail!  Did you even know we were out here? 

Here’s my suggested way to head back toward center: head out Adams Street to enjoy the horses. You could turn left on Pond View Road to cut across to Courtland.  Left on Courtland back to Marshall. 

And now head up Gorwin Drive into Brentwood and spend lots of time looping and looking and turn up that music one last time.  My favorite is on Jerrold Road.  How I wish all houses were decked out like this!  Head out Oak Street to finish with a left onto Washington.

Sing your way down the hill and into Mudville to wrap things up.  Drive slowly and offer your toots for displays you love.  Find the shooting star on Church Street.  I especially loved the new roofline lights at Coffee Haven. 

Thank you for coming along on my epic Holliston Light Ride.  I hope you feel the love.  And thank you to every last one of you who put up a wreath, lit a candle in your window or energized a giant Abominable Snowman on your lawn.  You made my Christmas merrier. 

Publishers’ Note: If you wish to print this article, highlight all the text and copy it into a word processing software – then print. Your navigator can read the directions while you navigate your way around town. Enjoy!