Dec 15-24: Where to see Holiday Lights in New England

Once again, here is the largest list of holiday lights in New England from your buddy Johnny!

Holiday Lights grade
T Dec 15
W Dec 16
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F Dec 18
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M Dec 21
T Dec 22
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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Twelve Nights of Christmas @ Old Sturbridge Village Sturbridge, MA                
2009: 4-9pm. Participatory caroling, Father Christmas, sleigh rides.
1 Old Sturbridge Village Road, Sturbridge, MA.508-347-3362. 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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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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Candlelight Stroll @ Strawbery Banke Portsmouth, NH                
Strawbery Banke is a re-enactment museum where you’ll meet actors dress as people from history. This event features the 18th century and has live music, a bonfire, participatory caroling, demonstrations on ancient musical instruments and the Masons, hundreds of candles, a gingerbread house contest, and more. Sounds really great! 2009: 4-9pm.
Marcy Street, Portsmouth, NH.603-422-7514. 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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Petting Zoo in front of Seasons Four Furniture Store Lexington, MA                
It’s a merchant event with a petting zoo, Santa, elmo, face painting, singers, balloon animals, etc.
1265 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington, MA.781-861-1200. more
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