Tag: MAD MERRY highlights tour

Houses Aglow! Photos and videos 2025 Map & Bedecked Top Twinkling List! Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives #GloucesterMA

Posted on by Catherine

The 2025 Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives Gloucester map is LIVE! Wishing you and yours the magic and joys of the season! And to all those who share their festive gifts of creativity and illumination: merry, merry thanks!

2025 MAD MERRY HIGHLIGHTS TOUR

Top twinkling list as in deck the halls, doors, windows, roofs and yards with boughs of holly-holidays!

  • 6 Abbott Road (Annual whimsy)
  • 12 Concord St (Dazzler next to West Parish)
  • 2 Crestview Terrace (Ho Ho Ho. off Harrison)
  • 12 Elizabeth Road (Festive Storyland)
  • 326 Essex Ave (Have yourself a merry)
  • 71 Friendship Ct. (Cheery two way vista)
  • 8 Green Street (Jolly jingle off Perkins)
  • 29 High Popples (Santa Village)
  • 8 Lendall Street (Gem off Harrison Ave)
  • 79 Perkins Street (Magic of the season)
  • 15 Reservoir Road (Sparkling Blue)
  • 11 Reservoir Road (Magical Trees)
  • 22 Reynard (Dreaming of White Christmas)
  • 42 Reynard (Enchanting Blue)
  • 37 Reynard (Shimmering Red)
  • 12 Starknaught Road (Up on the Rooftop)

2025 Bedecked Neighborhood Blocks: Crestview Ter.-Skywood Ter. (Head Up Harrison–hill across from Jeff’s Variety); Elizabeth Road (walk); Essex Ave-Rt. 133; Finch Lane; Glouc. Ave &Riverside Ave (can view from Washington, too); Hartz; High Popples Road; Marina Dr.; Perkins St; Reservoir Road; Reynard Street

Prior year annual favorites now dim: Frosty House 8 Elizabeth; 8 Spruce Road; 2 Edgewood Road; 18 Reynard Street

Photos and Videos

Video: Reynard St.

Archive here https://www.cryanaid.com/public-art-maps/holiday-lights-and-cocoa-drives

Throwback: PRINTABLE | Seek & Find sheet Mad Merry Highlights 2023 here

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

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

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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๏ปฟ

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.