My View of Life on the Dock
photo: F. Ryan
vid clip: School band at Maritime Gloucester Harbor Loop serenading the arriving crowd. Before the lobster trap tree lighting 2023. vid C. Ryan
vid clip: Children chant Light the tree! waiting for the countdown. Lobster Trap Tree 2023 Dec. 9 vid ©C. Ryan
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.
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)
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:
(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.)
and buoy ornaments inside and out
Annual merry dazzler Rt. 133
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
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
Finch Lane
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 O’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.
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
Finch Lane twinkling tree, Thurston Point Rudolph with your nose so bright, Cleveland chatoyant
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.
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/
Jul Fest Spiran Lodge, Rockport, MA 9am – 1pm
Temple Ahavat Achim’s Lobster trap menorah lighting – Hanukkah 18-26 — celebration Dec. 20 5:30-6pm
mini lobster trap tree – Finch Ln
Photos from Saturday evening’s tree lighting event, including several of Traci Thayne Corbett, Art Haven’s director, and her super helpers Lily and Cee Cee. Traci is the person who helps the kids in creating all the fabulous hand painted buoys that adorn the tree.
Traci, Lily, and Cee Cee
Tremendous thanks and huge shout outs to David Brooks, Shawn Henry, Traci Corbett, Warren Waugh, Cape Ann Art Haven, Three Lantern Marine Fishing, Great Marsh Brewing Co, Gloucester Fire Department, the City of Gloucester, and to all the great people volunteering their time and money towards continuing this fabulous and uniquely Gloucester tradition ❤
David Brooks, also known as Spider Man, securing the star atop the tree.
WONDERFUL FUN AT THE LOBSTER TRAP TREE LIGHTING TONIGHT!
Check out the new starry, starry night interior lights ❤ Posting more photos tomorrow.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B6EbtVrH522/
Gloucester’s fabulous and fantastic (and the World’s Best) Lobster Trap Tree lighting event is Saturday, December 14th at 4:30 pm. Stop in anytime between 4 to 6 at Art Haven’s Open House for cookies, crafts, and cocoa.
Perhaps Santa will be there!
David Brooks giving the tree’s star final adjustments
Gloucester Fire Department installing the star tree topper
Kim and Ralph DiGiorgio
The Dubinskis and fellow Dolliver’s Neck neighbors
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Our one of a kind Lobster Trap Tree at twilight on Monday evening.
Thank you to Sheree Zizak, owner of the Beauport Hotel, who shared that the bride and groom that braved Saturday’s snowstorm to have photos taken in front of Lobster Trap Tree are Molly Ross and Ryan Stokes. Molly and Ryan held their reception at the beautiful Beauport Hotel.
Many of us marveled at how relaxed were the wedding party, especially the bride and bridesmaids, wearing sleeveless dresses and gold heels in the slush and freezing snow. Art Haven’s program director Cathy Kelley, on the spur of the moment, quickly painted a buoy with wedding rings and the date, and David Brooks presented the buoy to the happy couple. Congratulations Molly and Ryan!
Last batch of photos from the festive and fabulous Lobster Trap Tree preparations, lighting, and party. Go see–the tree looks beautiful day or night. Hats off and thank you to David Brooks, Shawn Henry, Traci Thayne Corbett, Cathy Kelley, and every one of the volunteers who have created this wonderful holiday tradition for all to enjoy! See you at the Buoy Auction at Cruiseport on January 26th!
Simply Beautiful!
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A wedding party shows up during the Lobster Trap Tree lighting preparations and David Brooks has on hand a buoy to give to the newlyweds 🙂
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Despite the soggy wet snow and freezing temperatures, the Lobster Trap Tree lighting is taking place right on schedule. Caroling begins at 4:30.
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LOBSTER TRAP TREE LIGHTING SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12TH AT 4:30pm!
David Brooks adding the last few hand painted buoys
Good Morning Gloucester 