Tag: Best christmas light displays

FA LA LA The Holiday Lights & Cocoa Drives 2024 Map is LIVE! Enjoy #GloucesterMA Merry Houses

Posted on by Catherine

Here are all the images of the Gloucester homes added to the Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives 2024 edition and the Google online and printable map or scroll below. Enjoy an abundance of creativity from our neighbors’ displays–religious and secular, traditional and one hit wonders, minimal and ornate, and everything in between. This is the 8th year in a row—and the 5th accompanied by a map with photo. Please note: you might want to increase the brightness on your display if you have it set low. Images can be clicked and enlarged. They aren’t set to their highest resolution. **For the 2024 edition there are only two posts**. For past year maps, search Good Morning Gloucester 2023, 2022 and so on; or here

Image Block Batch 2 . Post 2 of 2 for the Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives 2024 edition.

random order

2024 Map Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives

A selection of Gloucester’s decorated homes in 2024. Photos were posted on Good Morning Gloucester in 2 separate batches. Map is current as of 12/22/2024

Image Block Batch 1 (reposting here):

For the 8th year in a row—and the 5th accompanied by a map with photos—enjoy a selection of Gloucester’s houses decorated for the season. Addresses so far: downtown, Reynard, Finch, Washington, Spruce, Goose Cove Lane. Photos will be posted on Good Morning Gloucester in separate batches.

ROADS WORTH A RIDE AND ICONIC SCENIC STOPS

Concentrated neighborhood blocks include
*Elizabeth Road
*Finch Lane
*Goose Cove Lane
*Harrison Ave. and Crestview
*Hartz St.
*High Popples Road
*Reservoir Road
*Reynard Street
*Essex Ave/Rt. 133 Kent Circle to Essex

Mad Merry Solos:
Abbott Road; 7 Cherry Hill Road; Concord Street; Lendall (turn off Harrison Ave.); 8 Spruce; Starknaught Heights; 326 Essex Ave.

Iconic Scenic Stops: Gloucester’s Christmas trees at Kent Circle and Lobster Trap Tree on Harbor Loop, the Lobster Trap Menorah on Middle Street and Rockport’s Christmas Tree in Dock Square are enchanting each and every year.

Holiday Lights & Cocoa Drives 2024 Map. Gloucester Houses Are Glistening Once Again! 🚗🎄☕

Posted on by Catherine

Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives 2024 edition is off. More merry neighborhoods, pictures and map coming soon.

Image block: For the 8th year in a row—and the 5th accompanied by a map with photos—enjoy a selection of Gloucester’s houses decorated for the season. Addresses so far: downtown, Reynard, Finch, Washington, Spruce, Goose Cove Lane. Photos will be posted on Good Morning Gloucester in separate batches.

Mad Merry Highlights Reveal 2023 | Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives Map #GloucesterMA Homes

Posted on by Catherine

The last batch! Here are images of the final Gloucester homes added to the Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives 2023 edition, the Google online and printable map, and the 2023 Mad Merry Highlights Tour reveal. Whether they’re religious or secular, traditional or one hit wonders, minimal or ornate, by hand or by hire–; let’s admire the joy and creativity brought to their Gloucester designs and the spark they share from a little light on dark winter nights!

note: you might want to increase the brightness on your display if you have it set low.

The 2023 ‘Mad Merry Highlights’ Tour

IMAGES: As in deck the halls, doors, windows, roofs and yards with boughs of holly-holidays! Here’s the list of 20 (alphabetized by roads in Gloucester neighborhoods)

  • BAYVIEW
    • 7 Cherry Hill Road Impressionist Jewell
    • 18 Reynard Street Journey of Joy
    • 22 Reynard street White Lights Wonderland
    • 37 Reynard Street Red Lights Shimmer
    • 42 Reynard Street Blue Green Showstopper
    • 8 Spruce Road Ho Ho Holiday Spirit
  • EAST GLOUCESTER
    • 6 Abbott Road Aglow & Glistening
    • 2 Crestview Terrace (off Harrison Avenue) Christmas Corner
    • 6 Crestview Terrace (off Harrison Avenue) 1970s Animation Islands
    • 4 Elizabeth Street Frosty House
    • 12 Elizabeth Street Joyland House
    • 29 High Popples Road
    • 8 Lendall Street (off Harrison Avenue) Lights on Lendall
    • 12 Starknaught Road (off Witham) Starknaught Santa candy cane cheer
  • DOWNTOWN
    • Centennial & Washington St. Blue Angel
    • 6 Friend Court Santa Waving
    • 79 Perkins Street Indigo Traditional
  • MAGNOLIA
    • 357 Western Avenue Merry and Bright
  • WEST GLOUCESTER
    • 12 Concord Street Gingerbread Dazzler
    • 326 Essex Avenue Magical Delight

FOUR ‘New England Traditional’ HighLights

Images: DOWNTOWN. 57 Prospect St. at the RR & Maplewood buoy intersection; 158 and 160 Washington Street pair; Corner of Ashland Place & Washington St. (across from Poplar)

Merry Whimsy Highlights

Images: Have you seen…? The blue crescent moon rising over Rt. 128 between the rotaries is the OG hanging lights design–an annual beacon heralding the Seasons that’s inspired others; the magical lights reflecting Goose Cove; ‘Merry’ on Cherry hedge; Days pond’s tiny floating Santa; Santa and his reindeer flying in the sky (seen from Rt. 128)

ROADS WORTH A RIDE AND ICONIC SCENIC STOPS

Roads worth a ride: Essex Ave (Rt. 133) between Essex and Kent Circle in Gloucester; Finch Lane; Elizabeth Street; Harrison Ave (to Crestwood); Reynard Street, Reservoir Road, and High Popples.

Iconic Scenic Stops: Gloucester’s Christmas trees at Kent Circle and Lobster Trap Tree on Harbor Loop, the Lobster Trap Menorah on Middle Street and Rockport’s Christmas Tree in Dock Square are enchanting! (This year there are more homes illuminated on the drive into Rockport via Eastern Ave.)

Trends 2023

Images: the Red and Green color scheme!

Photo Batch #5 (last one for this season!)

Images: photo additions as of Dec. 14th to the Google map include the following streets: Reynard Street, Linden Road, Cherry Street, Finch Lane, Washington Street, Brightside Ave., Crestview Terrace, Decatur Street, East Main Street, Hartz, High Popples Road, Marina Drive, Western Avenue

2023 Map Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives

A selection of Gloucester’s decorated homes (about 250). Photos were posted on Good Morning Gloucester in 5 separate batches.

This is the last batch of photos for 2023. There are photos of about 250 homes. Some are added to the map in bundles on streets. There is at least one image for each map point. If I’ve missed one of the requests or a favorite let me know.

PRINTABLE | Seek & Find Mad Merry Highlights 2023

HOLIDAY LIGHTS AND COCOA DRIVES 2023 map and Mad Merry Highlights printableDownload

Sure is Twinkling Out there! Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives Past Gloucester houses- Batch 4 🚗☕🎄

Posted on by Catherine

Magical routes are waiting for you! Another 100 or so homes were added to the Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives map as of December 8, 2023. 

photos caption: C. Ryan. Batch 4 selection of enchanting homes downtown, East Gloucester and West Gloucester down these roads in no particular order: Concord Street, Essex Avenue (Rt. 133), Washington Street, Beach Court, Gloucester Avenue, Middle Street, Fleetwood Drive, Prospect, East Main Street, Goose Cove Lane, Friend Court, Burnham Street, Perkins Street, Back Shore, High Popples Road, Highland Court, Mt. Pleasant Avenue. Plus a couple along Eastern Ave in Essex (Rt. 133) and Main Street, Rockport. (Pinch and zoom to enlarge photos and right click for info).

2023 Map Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives

More homes and neighborhoods will be added, so be sure to check back. Photos will be posted on Good Morning Gloucester in separate batches.

More to come. Roads not traveled include Magnolia, Annisquam…

Projector House Middle & Angle Streets

Frosty skating
Santa singing

Merry houses bring on winter charm. Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives #GloucesterMA batch 3 🚗☕🎄

Posted on by Catherine

December 5th and already there’s an abundance of merriment and creativity! Enjoy another 50 or so sparkling homes. The 2023 map has reached 100 homes with streets and turns still to explore.

photos caption: C. Ryan. Batch 3 selection of enchanting homes down these roads in no particular order: View from Rt. 128; Centennial; Cherry St. (just a couple); Cherry Hill Road; Eastern Ave; Elizabeth St. Frosty; Finch St. (just one–will circle back); Wolf Hill Road (and Glenmere); Grove Street; Harrison Ave.; Hartz (will circle back); Harvard St. (from Centennial); Lendall St. correction; Macomber inflatable characters way; Maplewood; Marsh St.; Washington St. up to Marsh

These additions (and a couple do-overs from other nights) were added to the Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives map as of December 5, 2023. (Pinch and zoom to enlarge photos and right click for info).

2023 Map Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives

More homes and neighborhoods will be added, so be sure to check back. Photos will be posted on Good Morning Gloucester in separate batches.

More to come. Roads not taken, yet :)!: East Gloucester, Washington Street past Marsh St. to Rockport, Annisquam, Lanesville, Magnolia, Rt. 133, W. Gloucester, and return trips for new sparkling additions or repeat visits.

Twinkling Homes Spreading Joy | Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives Batch 2 #GloucesterMA 🚗☕🎄

Posted on by Catherine

Gloucester blocks and streets are merry and bright! The magic grows daily with houses decorated simply, elaborately and everything in between. One design trend is a duo light scheme that’s solely red and green. Don’t you think that homes from batch 2 will surely be contenders for the Mad Merry Highlights Tour in 2023?

photo caption: C. Ryan. Batch 2 includes photo series of twinkling homes seen on Abbott Road, Eastern Avenue, Elizabeth Road, Harrison Avenue neighborhood, Harrison Avenue to Crestview Ter., Lupine, Reservoir Road neighborhood, Reynard Street, Spruce Street, and Starknaught Heights; plus 2 Gifs. These additions were added to the Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives map as of December 1, 2023. (pinch and zoom to enlarge)

Gloucester’s lobster trap tree is built out in its temporary site on Harbor Loop, soon to be enlivened by buoys hand painted by children. The lighting ceremony is on Sat. Dec. 9, 2023.

First group of photos 2023 (click here) includes the pink house, the first house spotted sparkling for 2023. Alas, not more pink themes out there yet.

2023 Map Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives

For the 7th year in a row—and the 4th accompanied by a map with photos—enjoy snapshots of Gloucester’s decorated homes. More homes and neighborhoods will be added, so be sure to check back. Photos will be posted on Good Morning Gloucester in separate batches.

Archive of prior year maps see here

Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives 2023 #GloucesterMA 🚗☕🎄🌟⛄🕎

Posted on by Catherine

Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives is just getting going. This gem was spotted November 15th, the first of the season. Will Barbie pink be among the 2023 trends? Maybe. More homes and neighborhoods will be added, so be sure to check back. Photos will be posted on Good Morning Gloucester in separate batches.

photo caption (pinch and zoom to enlarge): For the 7th year in a row—and the 4th accompanied by a map with photos—enjoy snapshots of Gloucester’s decorated homes. Scroll down to see the first batch of twinkling houses that have been added to the Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives 2023 map edition as of November 25. Also, scroll down to a list of area ‘Mark Your Calendar’, not-to-miss, seasonal events.

2023 Map Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives

link here or google earth here

For prior year maps, see here

Mark your calendars!

In addition to the area’s rewarding drives past cheery homes, beautiful seasonal tree lightings and festive sparkling downtowns are bustling with activities.

2023. Annual events (days and times differ year to year)

  • Nov. 25-January CAPE ANN: Cape Ann business store fronts are decked out. check out Winter Lights on Cape Ann
  • Nov. 26 GLOUCESTER: Gloucester tree lighting in Kent Circle and Santa parade
  • Dec. 1 ESSEX: A Very Essex Christmas Celebration. Santa arrives by boat.
  • Dec. 1, 2 MANCHESTER: Holiday Stroll; Christmas by the Sea and Santa by boat
  • Dec 2 ESSEX: Holiday market
  • Dec. 2 ROCKPORT: Christmas in Rockport. Santa’s arrival by lobster boat and Tree in Dock Square lighting
  • Dec. 2 & 3 GLOUCESTER: 2nd Annual Parade of Trees (fundraiser for Horribles Parade)
  • Dec. 3 GLOUCESTER (9am): Half Merry-thon & 5K race. Good Harbor Beach
  • Dec. 7 GLOUCESTER: Annual Ladies Night shopping
  • Dec. 8 ROCKPORT: Holiday shopping night
  • Dec. 9 IPSWICH: Jingle Bell walk
  • Dec. 9 ROCKPORT: Holiday wagon rides
  • Dec. 9 GLOUCESTER: extravaganza all day: Historic Middle Street Walk incredible program https://middlestreetwalk.org; Deck the Dock at Maritime Gloucester; Stacy Boulevard Chris Williams bronze planters dedication; Lobster Trap Tree lighting (4:30PM); and all in Gloucester’s 400+ anniversary year
  • Dec. 10 GLOUCESTER: Santa at sea Beauport cruiselines
  • Dec. 10 IPSWICH: Menorah lighting
  • Dec. 12 GLOUCESTER: Temple Ahavat Achim Lobster Trap Menorah Lighting
  • Dec. 14 GLOUCESTER: Men’s Night Shopping
  • Dec. 16 ROCKPORT: 78th annual Rockport Christmas pageant

Yes, Joan, there is a dinosaur

Posted on by Catherine

Understandably there is no Middle Street Walk 2020, so Middle Street looks different this season. There is an endearing Dinosaur visiting. Ho Ho Ho ha ha ha!

Joan of Arc WWI memorial statue by Anna Hyatt Huntington in back

fun fact- building behind dino corner of Middle & Wash. Streets was one place artist Edward Hopper roomed in for Gloucester visits

**The Sun newspaper editorial board response to “Is there a Santa Claus’ query from an 8 year old was published September 21, 1897 on page 6 (Library of Congress). Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.

Also twinkling nearby (Middle, Pine, School & Proctor, Chestnut)

More lights? Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives 2020 map- tour from your car or keyboard.

p.s. Perkins St. extravaganza completed

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Map additions- Perkins and Ledgemont

Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives 2020 map #GloucesterMA 🚗☕🎄✨⛄Update 5 – Magnolia, Centennial, Maplewood, Madison Ave., Wash., and more!

Posted on by Catherine
Awesome – Hope & Joy house vibe is visible on descent Centennial Drive to Blvd

This is the sixth and final in a series featuring Christmas lights on 200+ decorated homes throughout neighborhoods in Gloucester Massachusetts for the 2020 season. Festive displays range from draped garland lights & wrapped trees to elaborate tableaus. Gloucester is beautiful! Streets that are covered in this post:

  • Magnolia area of Gloucester including Magnolia Ave., Hesperus Ave., Western Ave., Linden Ave., Lowe Drive
  • downtown Gloucester blocks including: Centennial Drive, Maplewood Ave., Prospect St., Riverside Ave. block, Washington St., Gloucester Avenue, Mystic Avenue, Madison Avenue (w/ Madison Sq. and Ct., and Springfield St.)
  • neighborhood additions: nearby Elizabeth Road; Abbott Road; East Gloucester- Mt. Pleasant area and East Main; and West Gloucester – Essex Ave.

MAGNOLIA AREA

Downtown

CENTENNIAL DRIVE ADDITIONS

Centennial Drive – Approach to Hope & Joy house

Abbott Road | East Gloucester additions

West Gloucester additions

Follow links to see scenes from other Gloucester neighborhoods (or follow through to the end of the post and look for/select page 1,2)

Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives Gloucester Massachusetts map 2020. Photos have been added to the Google maps: tour by car or keyboard!

FAQ – how to print

The map is smart phone ready with house pictures. If you want to print the map see below: (1) navigate to the map page URL and (2) click on the three dots menu bar on the upper right. Pull down and select “print” PDF as of 12/7/2020

Updated

PDF Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives 2020 Gloucester, Mass. by c. ryan (updated Dec. 21)Download

Pages: 1 2

Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives 2020 map #GloucesterMA 🚗☕🎄✨⛄Update 4 – Annisquam plus en route detours Washington, Cherry, Finch, Reynard, Spruce Streets

Posted on by Catherine

Scenes of Annisquam: Annisquam Village Hall; Annisquam Bridge; white lights and wreaths and trees at junctions. Followed with en route detours off Washington Street via Cherry, Spruce, Gee, Finch Lane, Reynard, Holly Street | Goose Cove Lane (near Willow Rest), Dennison

en route

Washington Street plus detours via Cherry, Spruce, Gee, Finch Lane, Reynard, Holly Street | Goose Cove Lane (near Willow Rest), Dennison

animated happy Santa waving from a car– off Holly St.:)

dog in bay

Print out

The map is smart phone ready with house pictures. If you want to print the map see two pictures below: (1) navigate to the map page URL and (2) click on the three dots menu bar on the upper right. Pull down and select “print” PDF as of 12/5/2020

Updated

PDF Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives 2020 Gloucester, Mass. by c. ryan (updated Dec. 21)Download

Pages: 1 2

Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives 2020 map #GloucesterMA 🚗☕🎄✨⛄Update 3 – East Gloucester

Posted on by Catherine

Twinkling lights and candles in East Gloucester including Rocky Pasture Road; Decatur; High Popples; Mt. Pleasant

Holiday lights & cocoa drives Gloucester Mass as of Dec. 3, 2020

Print out

The map is smart phone ready with house pictures. If you want to print the map see two pictures below: (1) navigate to the map page URL and (2) click on the three dots menu bar on the upper right. Pull down and select “print”. PDF as of 12/3/2020 here

Updated

PDF Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives 2020 Gloucester, Mass. by c. ryan (updated Dec. 21)Download

More neighborhood photos

Pages: 1 2

Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives 2020 map #GloucesterMA 🚗☕🎄✨⛄Update 2 – Portuguese Hill, other stretch Essex Ave

Posted on by Catherine

NEW photos in this post include: the second stretch of Essex Avenue from Richdale heading up to Farnham’s; Portuguese Hill neighborhood; don’t miss Happy Santa indigo up on Perkins; Harrison; and sweet charm of Hartz. Check the map for updates. Still to come: East Gloucester, Annnisquam, Lanesville, Magnolia.

annual beauty Concord/Essex Ave

Holiday lights & cocoa drives Gloucester Mass as of Dec. 2, 2020

What a gift our neighbors have shared for the community! There are so many festive houses in Gloucester it’s easy to plan multiple merry excursions.

  • For families and friends, eyespy challenges could switch nightly. Can you find a Santa? A peace sign? Snoopy?
  • How about a Bring the Cuddlies Christmas Light Tour- children can help their toy friends see out the car window. This one may be a given: Happy to share photos of your precious travelers :).
  • Pick a specific route by color lights or house style.
  • Bring art supplies to sketch a view.
  • Older homes make it fun to wonder about what it was like in the past. For families that like Old Timey winter scenes–imagine New England Little Women, Little House on the Prairie, Winslow Homer, and Currier& Ives– pretend the car is a sleigh or horse and buggy. Find some dress up attire that looks vintage (or go all out and find some duds at Bananas). Add a hot water bottle for the feet. A towel or blanket can wrap around like a hand warmer muff. For fans of Louisa May Alcott, point to Braewood* on Essex Avenue (across from Pauline’s gifts) and Rocky Neck, where she stayed on Gloucester holidays. Picture a winter skating rink in front of the UU Church on Middle Street. *For more about the history of Braewood and Alcott in Gloucester, search “Braewood” in this prior post.
  • For the train and dinosaur train enthusiasts, all aboard! The express car might even time with the T or train.
  • Switch off date night driving so the passenger can enjoy a festive eggnog.

These are special outings just outside your door. Don’t miss them!

Illustration for Louisa May Alcott Jack and Jill, 1880 – distant town and harbor suggestion of Gloucester from a property like Braewood at the time

happy Santa indigo

More photos

Pages: 1 2

MORE Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives 2020 map #GloucesterMA 🚗☕🎄✨⛄Update 1

Posted on by Catherine

NEW photos

Essex Avenue stretch between Causeway and Richdale; Western Avenue near Stage Fort Park; Kent Circle and Stage Fort Park. Check back as more neighborhood batches are added.

Holiday lights & cocoa drives Gloucester Mass as of Dec. 1, 2020

 

Tour by car or keyboard! 
printable PDF Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives 2020 Gloucester, Mass. by c. ryan (updated Dec. 21)Download

First batch posted pictures for 2020 

below the break

Continue reading “MORE Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives 2020 map #GloucesterMA 🚗☕🎄✨⛄Update 1” →

Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives 2020 map #GloucesterMA #CapeAnn 🚗☕🎄✨⛄

Posted on by Catherine

When I was a girl, my family, like many other families, considered every nocturne drive a chance to look for Christmas lights. Of course we carried on this tradition with our own children. The magic of the season is so easy to find in neighborhoods throughout Gloucester and all of Cape Ann. Coasting past classic New England home styles decorated for the holidays– while driving along bends and dips in the roads by charming coves– is sheer visual delight. There is a surprise around every corner.

Plus the season’s early nightfall is most welcome for little ones’ bedtime enchantment. Throw on some comfy holiday attire and toss in a thermos of hot chocolate to make it an extra special treat for the youngest, and the young at heart, and the perfect outing for social distancing in this year of Covid. Repeat visits are encouraged because there’s so much to see and more added every day.

Last year readers asked for a map. Here are some of the homes spreading cheer NOW with their Christmas lights and holiday yard displays, and it’s not yet December 1, 2020! Is your favorite friendly seasonal character out there? Or favorite color lights twinkling bright? I’ll continue to update the map and photographs, including specific requests and location recommendations from GMG readers.

Holiday lights & cocoa drives Gloucester Mass as of November 30, 2020

FAQ HOW TO PRINT THE MAP- Two steps: First click the empty rectangle to be taken to the map page. Once at the URL for the map page, click the three dots for the pull down menu and select “print”. Here is the PDF option in the horizontal format as of Dec. 2.

PDF Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives 2020 Gloucester, Mass. by c. ryan (updated Dec. 21)Download

NEW for 2020: And still more attractions with festive lights coming soon.  First Annual Winter Lights Display on Cape Ann starts December 7th. Check out all the businesses and organizations readying light displays downtown and local shopping!

More photos

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