{"id":9564,"date":"2018-12-09T12:07:49","date_gmt":"2018-12-09T17:07:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/?p=9564"},"modified":"2023-02-24T09:36:54","modified_gmt":"2023-02-24T14:36:54","slug":"christmas-lights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/2018\/12\/09\/christmas-lights\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Christmas Decorations (And A Lobster Trap Menorah) Around Boston"},"content":{"rendered":"

Below is Wonderland\u2019s guide to dazzling holiday decorations around greater Boston, from Attleboro to Somerville (listed by community, in alphabetical order). This is based on several years exploring region during the Christmas season. Below are sites I\u2019ve confirmed for 2018. At bottom, is a list of places that have often spectacularly decorated in past years, but that I\u2019ve not yet confirmed for this holiday season. I\u2019ll be updating this list throughout the month of December. If you know of great places I\u2019ve missed, please let me know<\/a>!<\/p>\n

\n

Help Wonderland keep producing our great coverage of local arts, cultures and activisms (and our great festivals) by contributing to Wonderland on Patreon<\/a>. And sign up for our free, weekly newsletter<\/a> so that you don’t miss any of our reporting.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n
\"\u201cChristmas<\/a>
\u201cChristmas Festival of Lights\u201d at National Shrine of Our Lady Of La Salette, 947 Park St., Attleboro, 2014. (Greg Cook)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Attleboro: 947 Park St.<\/h3>\n

The National Shrine of Our Lady Of La Salette, 947 Park St., Attleboro, fills its grounds with its annual \u201cChristmas Festival of Lights.”<\/a><\/p>\n

\n
\"House<\/a>
House at 48 Railroad Ave., Beverly, 2018. (Greg Cook)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Beverly: 48 Railroad Ave. at Hardy Street<\/h3>\n
\n
\"Canale<\/a>
Canale family home at 26 Norton St., in Boston\u2019s Hyde Park\/Readville neighborhood, c. 2014. (Courtesy)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Boston: 26 Norton St., in Boston\u2019s Hyde Park\/Readville neighborhood<\/h3>\n

The Canale family<\/a> has been putting on the display for nearly 45 years. After Kenneth C. Canale Sr. died in December 2010, his son Kenneth Jr. took it on. But the family posted on facebook on Oct. 6: \u201cPlease spread the word that this will be the last year<\/a> we will be decorating 26 Norton street. I know it\u2019s very sad, so let\u2019s make our last year the biggest ever!\u201d<\/p>\n

\n
\"Community<\/a>
Community Boating display along the Esplanade near the Longfellow Bridge at 21 David G. Mugar Way, Boston.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Boston: Community Boating, along the Esplanade near the Longfellow Bridge at 21 David G. Mugar Way<\/h3>\n
\n

Boston: Christopher Columbus Park in North End<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n
\"House<\/a>
House at Arthur Street, Danvers, 2018. (Greg Cook)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"House<\/a>
House at Arthur Street, Danvers, 2018. (Greg Cook)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Danvers: Arthur Street<\/h3>\n
\n

Dedham: 262 Needham St.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The nativity scene outside St. Susanna’s Parish Church<\/a> challenges U.S. immigration policy by showing the baby Jesus in a cage and the wise men are separated from the others by a tall wall. A sign asks, \u201cPeace on Earth?\u201d Last year’s Nativity scene addressed mass shootings.<\/p>\n

\n
\"Lighting<\/a>
Lighting the Lobsta Trap Menorah for the third night of Hanukkah at Temple Ahavat Achim, Gloucester, Dec. 4, 2018. (Greg Cook)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Gloucester: 86 Middle St.<\/h3>\n

For Hanukkah, Temple Ahavat Achim displays what they\u2019ve dubbed the \u201cworld\u2019s first lobster pot menorah.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

\n
\"House<\/a>
House on Bainbridge Street, Malden, 2018. (Greg Cook)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Malden: Bainbridge Street, just west of Rockwell Street<\/strong><\/p>\n

On Bainbridge Street, they go all out for the holidays. Over the past decade, Maryann Spinney and her daughter and son-in-law Evelyn and Mark Anzalone have lit up houses down the lane from each other. Several neighbors have also gotten into the act, so that it\u2019s become a whole glowing holiday neighborhood.<\/p>\n

\n
\"House<\/a>
House at 20 Dale St., Malden, 2013. (Greg Cook)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Malden: 20 Dale St.<\/h2>\n
\n
\"House<\/a>
House at 223 Washington St. just south of Gould Street., Melrose, 2013. (Greg Cook)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Melrose: 223 Washington St. just south of Gould Street.<\/h3>\n
\n
\"House<\/a>
House at 5 Laurine Road, just east of Lynn Fells Parkway, Saugus, 2013. (Greg Cook)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Saugus: 5 Laurine Road, just east of Lynn Fells Parkway<\/h3>\n
\n
\"7<\/a>
7 Lynn Fells Parkway, Saugus, 2013. (Greg Cook)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Saugus: 7 Lynn Fells Parkway<\/h3>\n
\n
\"Houses<\/a>
Houses at 22 Lynn Fells Parkway, Saugus, 2015. (Greg Cook)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Saugus: 16 and 22 Lynn Fells Parkway, east of Rivers Lane<\/h3>\n

The Amsden and the Guarino families, who share a driveway, have long been behind this show-stopping display.<\/p>\n

\n
\"House<\/a>
House at 403 Lynn Fells Parkway, Saugus, 2018. (Greg Cook)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Saugus: 401 Lynn Fells Parkway<\/h3>\n
\n
\"House<\/a>
House at 401 Lynn Fells Parkway, Saugus, 2018. (Greg Cook)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Saugus: 403 Lynn Fells Parkway, just east of Donna Road<\/h3>\n

Michael Conlon wishes visitors \u201cPeace on Earth\u201d at his Saugus home distinguished by its blue and white lights.<\/p>\n

\n
\"House<\/a>
House at 7-9 Ames St., Somerville, 2018. (Greg Cook)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Somerville: 7-9 Ames St. at the corner of Robinson Street<\/h3>\n
\n
\"440-442<\/a>
440-442 Medford St., Somerville, 2015. (Greg Cook)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Somerville: 440-442 Medford St.<\/h3>\n
\n
\"Otis<\/a>
Otis Street, just west of Cross Street, Somerville, 2018. (Greg Cook)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Otis<\/a>
Otis Street, just west of Cross Street, Somerville, 2018. (Greg Cook)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Otis<\/a>
Otis Street, just west of Cross Street, Somerville, 2018. (Greg Cook)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Somerville: Otis Street, just west of Cross Street<\/h3>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been doing it almost 30 years,\u201d John Ragno told me in 2013. He decorates three houses he owns here, two side by side, and one across the street. \u201cI started off with a manger outside, a small manger on the porch. And it grew.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n
\"Zoo<\/a>
Zoo Lights at Stone Zoo, Saugus, 2013. (Greg Cook)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Stoneham: 149 Pond St.<\/h3>\n

The Stone Zoo\u2019s wooded paths are lit up for its annual \u201cZooLights\u201d<\/a> nightly through Dec. 31. Visit Santa\u2019s Castle for a sit down with the jolly old elf. See a live reindeer. Admission charges.<\/p>\n

\n

Stoneham: 83 Franklin St., at Pearl Street<\/h3>\n

Brian Gudzevich<\/a>\u2019s computer animated display of some 30,000 lights on 83 Franklin St., at Pearl Street, that he calls “The Lights at Wolf Hill.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

Unconfirmed for 2018<\/h3>\n

\u2022 Belmont: 441 and 429 Pleasant St.
\n\u2022 Braintree: 120 Messina Woods Drive. In past years, several neighboring houses have featured lights synchronized to music.
\n\u2022 Boston: Adams Street, just north of Victory Road, Boston\u2019s Dorchester neighborhood.
\n\u2022 Boston: 62 Tuttle St.
\n\u2022 Chelsea: Corner of Marginal and Pearl streets, atop salt piles at Eastern Minerals along the Chelsea River.
\n\u2022 Framingham: Perry H Henderson Drive
\n\u2022 Lincoln: Trapelo Road near library.
\n\u2022 Medford: 6 Everett St.
\n\u2022 Medford: 56 and 60 Haines St.
\n\u2022 Medford: 85 George P. Hassett Dr., Medford City Hall
\nhttp:\/\/www.jinglebellfestival.org\/events\/event1.htm
\n\u2022 Peabody: 10 Summit St., visible from Route 128
\n\u2022 Somerville: 141-143 Boston Ave.
\n\u2022 Somerville: Concord Avenue and Springfield Street.
\n\u2022 Somerville: 13 Melvin St.
\n\u2022 Somerville: 25 to 42 Preston Road.
\n\u2022 Somerville: 12 Raymond Ave.
\n\u2022 Somerville: 320 Washington St.
\n\u2022 Waltham: 30 Albemarle Rd. Much of this elaborate display has been hand-made by the Schueler family over three decades.
\n\u2022 Waltham: 1369 Trapelo Rd.
\n\u2022 Woburn: 219 Cambridge Rd.<\/p>\n

\n

Help Wonderland keep producing our great coverage of local arts, cultures and activisms (and our great festivals) by contributing to Wonderland on Patreon<\/a>. And sign up for our free, weekly newsletter<\/a> so that you don’t miss any of our reporting.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Below is Wonderland\u2019s guide to dazzling holiday decorations around greater Boston, from Attleboro to Somerville (listed by community, in alphabetical order). This is based on several years exploring region during the Christmas season. Below are sites I\u2019ve confirmed for 2018. At bottom, is a list of places that have often spectacularly decorated in past years, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9550,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[111,119],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9564"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9564"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9564\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22682,"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9564\/revisions\/22682"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9550"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9564"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9564"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9564"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}