Dec 24 – Jan1: Where to see Holiday Lights in New England
12/24/09 by
Johnny Monsarrat
This is your last chance to see holiday lights this year. Take advantage of it! Through diligent research, here once again is the largest list of holiday lights in New England, presented to you by yours truly.
| Holiday Lights | grade | |||||||||
| Holiday Model Trains Display @ South Station | Boston, MA | |||||||||
| 2009: Every day through Jan 10th. South Station Train Station, Boston, MA. more |
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| Stone Zoo’s Zoolights | Stoneham, MA | |||||||||
| 2009: Daily 5-9pm. 250,000 lights and lots of animals. But the animals are mainly sleeping in their holes and the rest are poorly lit. Only OK. Santa is available. 149 Pond Street, Stoneham, MA.617-989-2000. more |
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| Holiday Landscapes | Stoneham, MA | |||||||||
| It’s a private home but a really expansive lights display, with lights that flash in rhythm to music broadcast over an FM transmitter. 83 Franklin St, Stoneham, MA. more |
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| Edaville Railroad’s Christmas Festival of Lights | Carver, MA | |||||||||
| The biggest and best “holiday lights” display in New England. It’s quite non-religious, with Santa letting kids sit on his lap but also plenty of generic fare like Frosty the Snowman and a tip of the hat to Hannukah. They have a train ride, ferris wheel, carousel, and other rides. They have 7 million lights, and fireworks every Friday night in December. See website for coupons. Daily. I’ve been and it’s a ton of fun even for adults who are kids at heart and like people-watching. Rt 3S to exit 6, Rt 44W for 8 miles to Rt 58 for 8 miles. 2009: 4-9pm M-F, 2-9pm Sat, Sun. Pine Street, Carver, MA.877-EDAVILLE. more |
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| Bridgewater Festival Of Lights | Bridgewater, MA | |||||||||
| Free. 200,000 lights with a walk-through village. Santa and free coffee and hot chocolate by an outdoor fireplace. At the private home of Dale and Cindy Higgins. 2009: 5-9pm M-F, 5-10pm SS. 55 Alexander Drive, Bridgewater, MA.508-279-2894. more |
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| Forest of Lights Holiday Hayride | West Bridgewater, MA | |||||||||
| 2009: Rides leave at 5,6,7, & 8pm. Matfield Maple Farm, 107 Matfield St., West Bridgewater, MA.508 588-9858. more |
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| Santa’s Magical Playland | Lowell, MA | |||||||||
| 2009: 4-8:45pm. It appears to be a huge attraction, with a carousel and tons of lights and costumed characters. Cawley Stadium, Lowell, MA. more |
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| La Salette Shrine Festival of Lights | Attleboro, MA | |||||||||
| 2009: 5-9pm. Very religious, it’s a shrine. But I’ve been and it was nice anyway. Over 300,000 lights covering 10 acres. Trolley rides Fri-Sun. 947 Park Street, Attleboro, MA.508-222-5410. more |
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| Holiday Lights at Buttonwood Zoo | New Bedford, MA | |||||||||
| 6-9pm. And many daytime visits by Santa, see Web site. Precise range of Xmas lights unknown, but here is their operating schedule. 425 Hawthorn Street, New Bedford, MA.(508) 991-6178. more |
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| Springfield’s Bright Night at Forest Park | Springfield, MA | |||||||||
| 2009: 5-9pm Mon-Thu & Sun. 5-11pm Fri, Sat. 550,000 lights. Surprisingly good though — the 2nd to Edaville. Check out Springfield Museums or zoo (open during school holidays in Dec) at same time. Daily. And check out the holiday lights at Dunn & Phillips, 185 Belmont Ave., Springfield. Rt 83, Springfield, MA.413-733-3800. more |
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| Look Park’s Winter Wonderland | Florence, MA | |||||||||
| 2009: 4-9pm. Hayrides and lights. Look Park Zoo. 38,000 bulbs. 300 North Main Street, Florence, MA.413.584.5457. more |
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| Lighted Winter Wonderland @ Charmingfare Farm | Candia, NH | |||||||||
| They have a 30 minute horse drawn night ride. Live reindeer. Petting zoo. Route 27, Candia, NH.603-483-5623. more |
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| La Salette Shrine & Center | Enfield, NH | |||||||||
| Another very religious site has 45,000 evening lights spread across 30 acres. Here’s the idea. Two kids said they saw the Virgin Mary, and the parents based an entire church on that. And I couldn’t even get away with “the dog ate my homework”! 603-632-7087. more |
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| Annual Fantasy of Lights | New Haven, CT | |||||||||
| Benefits the Easter Seals. Was not able to confirm this is their 2009, not 2008, calendar. Open nightly. Light House Point Park, 2 Lighthouse Road, New Haven, CT.(203) 777-2000. more |
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| WinterFest @ Connecticut Trolley Museum | East Windsor, CT | |||||||||
| Trolley ride through holiday lights, sing-along carols and meet Santa. 2009: 5-9pm. 58 North Road, East Windsor, CT.860-627-6540. more |
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| Enchanted Village @ Jordan’s Furniture | Avon, MA | |||||||||
| Free! It’s a 1958 Jordan Marsh display that’s been restored to health by Jordan’s Furniture. Website is unclear for how long the display goes. Jordan’s Furniture, 100 Stockwell Dr, Avon, MA. more |
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