Tag: Gloucester Houses

Video. Driving from Annisquam to Halibut Point State Park and back again. It’s spring!

Posted on by Catherine

April 2024.

1. Early spring. Driving Washington St., (5 min) from Deacon to Annisquam Village Church.ย 

caption 2: Early Spring. Driving Washington Street from Annisquam to Lanesville (5 min)

caption 3: Early Spring. Driving Washington St./ Rt. 127 from Lanesville to Seaside Cemetery (1 min)

caption 4: Early Spring. Driving Rt. 127 from cemetery to the turn off for Halibut State Park

Turning back around

caption 5: Early Spring. Turning back around. Driving Rt. 127/Washington St. (‘the back way’) from Halibut State Park sign to Annisquam. (7 min)

Driving the road to Annisquam Village Church. Washington St. #GloucesterMA

Posted on by Catherine

Video series caption: Early spring, April 2024. Driving Washington St., Part 1 (5 min) from Deacon to the Annisquam Village Church. Mute to silence wind. Adjust video for higher resolution.

Note: videosย areย notย displayed in the GMG daily roundup email and must beย viewed on the GMG website.

Gloucester demo on the water

Posted on by Catherine

Photos: August 2022 | After 1/31/2023 video clip 50 secs – last push 2 day demo, 2 diggers (4 days including set up and break down). The concrete filled basement of the summer home took a long time. Multi cars will drive atop the rock with the bigger home.

Spectacular Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives past 350 #GloucesterMA Houses. Batch 4 Mapped 2022. And a couple #RockportMA ๐Ÿš—โ˜•๐ŸŽ„

Posted on by Catherine

Last UPDATE – 2022 That’s a wrap

Gloucester neighborhoods are shining bright! There are some 350 houses on the 2022 map. The map is smart phone ready with house pictures. A little light goes a long and welcome warm way. It’s dark so early now!

New homes mapped on December 14th,16th, &18th cover some of Gloucester’s main roads, mostly in West Gloucester, Magnolia, and along Rt. 127. Enjoy scenes from:

  • Rt. 133/ Essex Ave from Kent Circle tree past Little River to Rt. 128
  • Concord St.
  • Main Street – lobster trap tree
  • Magnolia Ave.
  • Western Ave.- Rt. 127
  • Thatcher R. – Rt. 217A by Long Beach Dairy Maid, thru Rockport, Tree in Dock Square, then Rt. 127-Washington St. loop Lanesville, Plum Cove, Bayview, Annisquam

(Scroll down to see photos. Pinch and zoom or double click depending upon your phone/desktop. On mine I double click and then have to select “Full size”. Scroll down to map.)

Lobster trap tree

and buoy ornaments inside and out

Walk inside – video (15 secs)

GIF – Gloucester Lobster Trap Tree

Tree in Kent Circle

Tree in Dock Square

GIF – House on Essex Ave.-Rt. 133

Annual merry dazzler Rt. 133

Map

Batch 1 photos and gifs published 12/5 here

Batch 2 photos and gifs 12/9 here

Batch 3 photos and gifs 12/13 here

Holiday Lights Cocoa Drives #GloucesterMA Houses 2022 – Merry and Bright Batch #3 Mapped๐Ÿš—โ˜•๐ŸŽ„

Posted on by Catherine

UPDATE

100 more homes mapped as of December 9, 2022. New streets (and/or newly lit homes on previously mapped streets), especially in East Gloucester, include:

Abbott Road, Abbot Place (off Harrison), Bass Ave., Brightside Ave, Chapel St., Crestwood Terrace (off Harrison), Davis St., Decatur St., East Main St., Grapevine Road, Green St., Harrison Ave., Hartz, Haskell, High Popples, Jacques Lane, Mt. Pleasant Ave., Perkins St., Rocky Pasture Rd., Skywood Terrace (off Harrison), Witham

GIFs

Map

**Raindeer are trending in East Gloucester**

Holiday Lights Cocoa Drives #GloucesterMA Houses 2022 – Merry Batch 2 Mapped ๐Ÿš—โ˜•

Posted on by Catherine

Finch Lane

UPDATE

Gloucester nearing 200 sparkling homes added to the map so far. Batch 2 (this post) streets include :Arthur Ct., Carlisle Ave., Cherry St., Cleveland St., Collins Ave, Doane Road, Essex Ave, Finch Lane, Gloucester Avenue, Honeysuckle Road, Lupine, Maplewood (near Poplar bend), Marchant, Millet St., Montvale Avenue, Mystic Ave., Reynard, Riverside Ave., Sargent St., Shore Hill Road, Riverside Ave., Thatcher, Thornhill Way, Thurston Point, Warner St., Washington St (at Piraino), Washington St. (near Capt. Hooks), Wheeler Street, Whittemore St.

First Batch streets: Centennial Drive, Cherry St (near Oโ€™Maley), Crestwood Ter. – Skywood Ter. (off harrison), Derby St., Elizabeth Road, Essex Ave / Rt. 133 (between Kent Circle and Little River), Fleetwood Dr., Friend Ct., Green St., Grove St &Colonial, Grove near Maplewood, Hampden & Gaffney, Hodgkin St., Lendall St off Harrison, Lupine Lane, Maplewood at Derby, corner Mt Vernon & Oak St, Perkins St., Poplar St., Reservoir Road, Reynard St., Spruce St., Starknaught, Washington St. (between Azorean and the rotary)

countdown clock – Millet St.

More to come. photos: c. ryan, Dec. 6, 2022. Click or pinch and zoom to enlarge.

Map

Itโ€™s easy touring whether by car or via smartphone, desktop, or preferred device. Grab a hot chocolate and go or view from home! Imagination and themed repeat visits encouraged.

Notes about the map: This map is great in the embed mode because when you scroll down, each house photo(s) pop up, with a big arrow that directs you to that one point. From a desktop, hovering or right clicking the house icons reveal the photos for each pinpoint. For those who prefer a paper copy โ€“which doubles as a seek and find sheetโ€“click on the three vertical dots and then select โ€œprintโ€ (horizontal mode best) from pull down menu. You can also google search Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives Good Morning Gloucester.

2021 Map here

2020 Map here

Animation/GIFs

Finch Lane twinkling tree, Thurston Point Rudolph with your nose so bright, Cleveland chatoyant

Beauty, light, and kindness

Tis’ the season of lights! Bright and colorful festivals of light illuminate dark nights heightening religious and secular celebrations and traditions around the world. October – February holidays include: Diwali, Bodhi Day, Lucia’s Day, Winter Solstice, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanza, New Year’s, Lunar New Year, Teng Chieh, and many more.

Reminder! tomorrow Dec. 10, 2022

Gloucester’s Lobster trap tree lighting 4:30pm culminates Gloucester’s enchanting Middle Street Walk (program here) all day 10-4:30pm! Holiday Delights 1pm at the Legion. https://middlestreetwalk.org/

Dec. 10, 2022

Jul Fest Spiran Lodge, Rockport, MA 9am – 1pm

Dec. 20, 2022

Temple Ahavat Achim’s Lobster trap menorah lighting – Hanukkah 18-26 — celebration Dec. 20 5:30-6pm

mini lobster trap tree – Finch Ln

Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives past Gloucester Houses 2022 Map #GloucesterMA ๐Ÿš—โ˜•๐ŸŽ„๐ŸŒŸโ›„

Posted on by Catherine

6th annual Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives Gloucester, Massachusetts – the web-based digital map on Google is now LIVE!

Gloucester 100 sparkling homes added to the map so far. Streets include: Centennial Drive, Cherry St (near O’Maley), Derby St., Elizabeth Road, Essex Ave / Rt. 133 (between Kent Circle and Little River), Fleetwood Dr., Friend Ct., Green St., Grove St &Colonial, Grove near Maplewood, Hampden & Gaffney, Hodgkin St., Lendall St off Harrison, Lupine Lane, Maplewood at Derby, corner Mt Vernon & Oak St, Perkins St., Poplar St., Reservoir Road, Reynard St., Skywood Terrace off Harrison, Spruce St., Starknaught, Washington St. (between Azorean and the rotary)

Bright Nights and Sights.

If youโ€™re looking for holiday cheer any day of the week, you canโ€™t beat the New England charm of twinkling homes and neighborhoods in Gloucester, Massachusetts. For the 6th year in a row, enjoy a selection of seasonal lights and Christmas displays on Gloucester houses. Many streets join in together, glittering, and have for years. Every year is unique. With each passing new day more homes are decorated.  Since 2019, the year’s curated selection –on average some 200+ homes– has been google mapped and each pinpoint has a photo(s).

Scroll down to see the first batch of photos for the 2022 map (as of December 4, 2022), and 2022 trends further down. More homes and neighborhoods will be added, so be sure to check back.

Photos: C. Ryan, Nov. 24, 28, and Dec. 4, 2022

2022 Trends

Trends so far? 2022 is looking like The Year of “JOY” signs, which by the way is an easy & cheery Ispy addition for Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives. Also, illuminated green sequined wreaths and evergreen kissing ball pairs framing doors.

2022 map

It’s easy touring whether by car or via smartphone, desktop, or preferred device. Grab a hot chocolate and go or view from home! Imagination and themed repeat visits encouraged.

Notes about the map: This map is great in the embed mode because when you scroll down, each house photo(s) pop up, with a big arrow that directs you to that one point. From a desktop, hovering or right clicking the house icons reveal the photos for each pinpoint. For those who prefer a paper copy –which doubles as a seek and find sheet–click on the three vertical dots and then select “print” (horizontal mode best) from pull down menu. You can also google search Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives Good Morning Gloucester.

2021 Map here

2020 Map here

Red white and blue | scenes from Gloucester July 4th 2022 and today’s front pages

Posted on by Catherine

photos: red, white and blue – c. ryan, July 4, 2022, Gloucester, MA.

Santa Boating. Harrison Ave is mad festive. Another 100 homes added! HOLIDAY LIGHTS AND COCOA DRIVES 2021 MAPย ๐Ÿš—โ˜•๐ŸŽ„โœจโ›„#GLOUCESTERMA

Posted on by Catherine

Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives Map 2021 edition now features about 200 decorated residential homes with Christmas light displays in Gloucester, Massachusetts. Updated as of 12/11/2021

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Trends so far? Can you spot a snowman in the photos? Yes, yes you can! In Gloucester, Massachusetts, 2021 is showing super strong as the “Year of the Snowman”. More and more are popping up each day, all sizes and varied media. What a fun seasonal seek & find, countdown treat, or bedtime routine sweet repeat.

Climb Harrison Avenue and enjoy the creative inspiration on every block. The resurfaced paving is a plus. On warm winter nights, this stretch and offshoots would be a great park & walk.

(Scroll down to see photos. Pinch and zoom or double click depending upon your phone/desktop. On mine I double click and then have to select “Full size”)

Wrapped trees are big this year, too. A Thurston Point twinkling annual reminds me of New York’s landmark Tavern on the Green, circa 1970s Warner Leroy Crystal Room reno. Little “Tavern on the Riverine” in Gloucester is inspiring a few more wrapped Thurston trunks in 2021. Who knows? Perhaps a Thurston trunk trail may become a neighborhood seasonal thing.

All over the map. Every neighborhood. Go!

More photos – many neighborhoods

100+ **new photos** added to the map include:

Concord Street; Eastern Avenue-Rt. 127; Essex Avenue-Rt. 133 and streets off of Essex Ave; Kent Circle; Harrison Ave. and surrounding streets; Hartz; Long Beach Road; Lupine Ln.; Main Street; Magnolia, various; Marina Drive; Mt. Pleasant Ave; Rockport Road; Thurston Point area; Washington Street; Western Ave-Stacy Boulevard; Witham area

To see the first 100+ #GloucesterMA 2021 house photos already posted 12/5/2021 on GMG click HERE

MAP Updated as of 12/11/2021

Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives 2021 map

The map is great in the embed mode because when you scroll down, each house photo(s) pop up, with a big arrow that directs you to that one point. From a desktop, hovering or right clicking the house icons reveal the photos for each pinpoint. For those who prefer a paper copy –which doubles as a seek and find sheet–click on the three vertical dots and then select “print” (horizontal mode best) from pull down menu. You can also google search Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives Good Morning Gloucester.

5th year Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives #GloucesterMA map

HOLIDAY LIGHTS AND COCOA DRIVES 2021 MAPย ๐Ÿš—โ˜•๐ŸŽ„โœจ๐Ÿช”โ›„๐Ÿ•Žย #GLOUCESTERMA homes! 5th year

Posted on by Catherine

Gloucester is big on winter lights charm and New England architecture. Many neighborhoods join in together, glittering, and have for years. Every year is unique. Scroll down to see the first batch of photos for the 2021 map – as of December 4, 2021. More homes and neighborhoods will be added, so be sure to check back. This first week in December is twinkling less than last year at this same time. (By December 29, 2020, more than 250 illuminated homes were mapped.) Weather impacts planning and displays. Perhaps the mighty wind storms October 24th and 27th and November 11, 12, & 19 may have waylaid some early trimming prep. Could it be the supply chain clog?

Trends so far? 2021 is looking like “The Year of the Snowman”, which by the way is an easy & cheery Ispy addition for Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives. A Mandalorian holding a baby Grogu was new to the list of lawn inflatables.

How lovely to see Temple Ahavat Achim Lobster Trap Menorah back again!

2021 Map Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives

#GloucesterMA house photos Dec. 4, 2021: C. Ryan

GIF Wrap around down Perkins Portuguese Hill Gloucester MA

Lobster Trap Christmas Tree Main Street as of 11/20/2021

Before the lighting ceremony and hand-painted buoy ornaments. Town wreaths and banners were installed even earlier. 2021 lobster trap tree lighting ceremony is scheduled for Dec. 11th ** new date** Due to the forecast, the event will move to Sunday, Dec. 12th.

Behind the scenes- deck the home prep STARTS EARLY

Bring on the ladders! Before Thanksgiving- some photos November 18th, 2021.

Mighty effort: the Blue Christmas and Red Trim dazzlers on Reynard were surprisingly bare November 18, 2021. Now they’re all decked out, too.

2021 Food Pantry Drive on Reynard

Open Door food pantry drive drop

2020

This is the 5th year of Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives. Here’s the 2020 map for comparison. More than 250+ homes were illuminated and over 100,000 map views were tallied in just a couple of weeks!

Notes about the maps: The maps are great in the embed mode because when you scroll down, each house photo(s) pop up, with a big arrow that directs you to that one point. From a desktop, hovering or right clicking the house icons reveal the photos for each pinpoint. For those who prefer a paper copy –which doubles as a seek and find sheet–click on the three vertical dots and then select “print” (horizontal mode best) from pull down menu. You can also google search Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives Good Morning Gloucester.

Santa visiting Reynard St., MAD MERRY highlights tour, and 35,000+ views to Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives 2020 map ๐Ÿš—โ˜•๐ŸŽ„โœจโ›„ #GloucesterMA!

Posted on by Catherine

photo caption: Santa visiting sign at white lights home on Reynard St. Dec 17-23. 5:30-7pm (no pix with Santa)

Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives Map 2020 edition features 250+ decorated residential homes with Christmas light displays in Gloucester. Massachusetts. The map was viewed more than 30,000 times within 7 days of going live this year.

MAP

Gloucester is tough to match for winter lights charm and show stopping homes. From Beach Court to Stage Fort; West Gloucester to East; Magnolia to Annisquam; and Portuguese Hill to Plum Cove- Gloucester is illuminated. Many neighborhoods join in together glittering, and have for years. With each passing new day more join in.

Concentrated streets include:

  • Essex Avenue is beautiful and long– and it’s good driving from both directions. I split it up into Essex Ave stretch between Causeway Restaurant and Richdale and
  • Essex Avenue stretch (between Richdale and Rt.128 and then to Farnham’s)
  • Elizabeth Road neighborhood block
  • Reynard Street neighborhood block and Spruce Street expansive, elaborate displays
  • Hartz street charming sweet little block
  • Finch Lane delightful little block
  • Annisquam for an old timey route, mostly white & gold lights with multi colored trees at turns on the road.

Mad Merry Highlights Tour

as in deck the halls, doors, windows, roofs and yards with boughs of holly-holidays! These 20 or so Gloucester homes are LIT! Bedecked, top twinkling in 2020 (alphabetized by road):

  • 6 Abbott Road
  • Centennial Road – Hope 2x
  • 12 Concord St (next to West Parish-near Essex Ave.)
  • 4 Elizabeth Road (entire block, multiple homes)
  • 326 Essex Ave (all of Essex Ave is great/multiple homes)
  • 2 *Goose Cove Lane (end of block) & Holly Street
  • Grove (and Maplewood)
  • 6 Harbor Road at Bass Ave
  • Hesperus Ave (all trees- next to Hammond Castle)
  • 29 High Popples
  • 9 Lowe Drive
  • 22 Magnolia Ave and 124 Magnolia Ave
  • Luzitania Ave (off Friend St.)
  • 79 *Perkins Street
  • Reynard St. whole block (#22 white lights; #42 blue house)
  • 8 Spruce Road
  • 15R Stanwood Ave
  • 160 Washington Street
6 Abbott Rd
Centennial – HOPE
Centennial & Emerson -look up to – HOPE
12 Concord (off Essex Ave.)
Elizabeth St block – Frosty projected on the belly
Elizabeth St block (neighbors merge their light displays)
326 Essex Avenue (from Kent Circle past Pauline’s, both sides)
Essex Ave
Essex Ave
2 Goose Cove Lane (at Willow Rest)
Grove off Maplewood
6 Harbor Rd
Hesperus Ave (all trees- next to Hammond Castle))
29 High Popples
9 Lowe Dr
Luzitania (off Friend St.)
124 Magnolia Ave
22 Magnolia Ave
79 Perkins St is a wrap around
22 Reynard
42 Reynard
Reynard
8 Spruce
15R Stanwood Ave (off Essex Ave)
Washington St.

*animation Santas

Printable PDF – Holiday Lights and Cocoa-drives 2020 Gloucester, Massachusetts by c.ryan (latest version- as of Dec.21)Download

Along with the map, winter lights house photographs were featured by neighborhood on GMG as follows:

This year’s trends include peace signs, illuminated words, melting multis, and a particular blue-green light (outlining windows in photo below).

Clear, mild nights make it easier to park, walk and linger. Snow and rain make for lovely routes, too.

photos below: Lanesville added, and homes missing from prior neighborhood batches

and pretty by day

Also **NEW** for 2020 — Gloucester with Manchester, Essex and Rockport (the Four Communities of Cape Ann) have collaborated to share beautiful Winter Lights on Cape Ann – 150+ businesses and organizations are merry and bright into January

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

gif

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Map additions- Perkins and Ledgemont

Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives 2020 map #GloucesterMA ๐Ÿš—โ˜•๐ŸŽ„โœจโ›„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 ๐Ÿš—โ˜•๐ŸŽ„โœจโ›„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 ๐Ÿš—โ˜•๐ŸŽ„โœจโ›„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 ๐Ÿš—โ˜•๐ŸŽ„โœจโ›„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 ๐Ÿš—โ˜•๐ŸŽ„โœจโ›„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

ย 

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

First batch posted pictures for 2020ย 

below the break

Continue reading “MORE Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives 2020 map #GloucesterMA ๐Ÿš—โ˜•๐ŸŽ„โœจโ›„Update 1” →

Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives 2020 map #GloucesterMA #CapeAnn ๐Ÿš—โ˜•๐ŸŽ„โœจโ›„

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

Pages: 1 2

Bright November mornings – yellow, blue and white #GloucesterMA

Posted on by Catherine