Lights, lights, lights
If you know about a yard that’s all done up for Christmas, send the address to webeditor@timesfreepress.com. If you have a photo, send it, too.
Baby boomers can remember the days when entire subdivisions were bright with lights, illuminating front-yard decorations themed to a holiday slogan chosen by the neighborhood's garden club. Icicle lights had yet to be invented, but that didn't stop dads from climbing up to outline their roofs in big, colorful, boomer bulbs.
Lake Hills subdivision off Highway 58 was especially known for these holiday themes, which were displayed on large, painted, plywood "Christmas cards" propped up in front yards. Homeowners would spotlight their houses and cards in white light. Families packed into station wagons to slowly cruise the neighborhood, oohing and aahing over the outdoor displays.
Candlelightings in Shepherd Hills and Mission Oaks subdivisions were also anticipated traditions. Whose mom didn't tune into Luther (late radio announcer Luther Masingill) each morning, waiting for the dates of those illuminations to be announced? On candlelighting nights, every homeowner in those neighborhoods lined streets in front of their homes in luminaria (bag weighted with sand holding a lit candle), the soft glow guiding visitors though streets.
Although both those neighborhoods continue that decades-long tradition, such community-wide light shows are being extinguished. However, that doesn't mean the Grinch has stolen everyone's Christmas. Here is a list of three dozen light displays around the region. Load the kids up and take a family drive this weekend.
- Compiled by staff writer Susan Pierce
4720 Maywood Lane, between Highway 58 and Bonny Oaks Drive
4720 Maywood Lane, between Highway 58 and Bonny Oaks Drive
Christmas decor at 2412 Cedar Creek Drive, Chattanooga, TN
Christmas decor at 2412 Cedar Creek Drive, Chattanooga, TN
5509 Twin Oaks Drive, in Ooltewah, displays its Christmas lights. 
Icicle lights outline the roofline and dormers, a candy cane lane borders the road and lighted figures fill Kyle and Rebecca Trent's yard on Sarah Drive in Ooltewah.
983 East Valley Dr.
T.J. and Ricky Hendricks Smith have set up 24 inflatables, music controlled lights, rotating trees, blow mold nativity, Santas, toy soldiers and candles at their home at 3321 Boydston Road in Lookout Valley.
T.J. and Ricky Hendricks Smith have set up 24 inflatables, music controlled lights, rotating trees, blow mold nativity, Santas, toy soldiers and candles at their home at 3321 Boydston Road in Lookout Valley.Apison
- 9996 Meadowstone Drive, Bentwood Cove subdivision behind Apison Elementary School. Several homes with pretty lights.
Cleveland, Tenn.
- 3787 Blue Springs Road, known as Cleveland Lights. Animated display synchronized to music, tune radio to 98.9 FM. Hours 6-10:45 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 6-11:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday.
- 2466 Twin Oaks Drive SE
- 2819 Mountain View Drive
- 108 Whitecrest Circle NW
- 3710 Hillside Dr
East Brainerd
- 2410 and 2414 Daugherty Lane, off Standifer Gap Road just before the Quail Run subdivision
- 508 Castlewood, Mountain Shadows subdivision
- 603 Grand Mountain Drive, Mountain Shadows. Numerous light displays are throughout the subdivision, but of special note are houses at the intersections of Castle Gate Drive and Grand Mountain and at the corner of Wind Swept Drive and Grand Mountain.
- 2412 Cedar Creek Dr. in the Shenandoah neighborhood of Standifer Gap in East Brainerd
East Ridge
- 3706 Mary Anna Drive. Small house, big light display.
- Helton Hill at the intersection of Jason Avenue and Fountain Avenue, one block off Belvoir Avenue. You can't miss the glow of trees wrapped in green lights along Fountain Avenue. Turn in the drive and circle through the family compound of seven homes all outlined in white icicle lights and a Santa's workshop in the center of the loop.
- 1328 Blocker Lane
- 5311 Lazard St., synchronized display, tune your radio to 95.1 FM.
Flintstone, Ga.
- 11 Elaine Drive. One of many decorated homes in Stanford Place.
- 337 Tinker Bell Circle, in Fantasy Hills near Stanford Place.
Fort Oglethorpe, Ga.
- 199 Red Bud Ave. off Cloud Springs Road. This house and two neighbors have gone all out for light supremacy.
Harrison/Highway 58
- 4720 Maywood Lane, between Highway 58 and Bonny Oaks Drive
- 7602 Austin Drive
- 8235 Highway 58, known as The Hilltop Christmas, one mile past Harrison Bay. 6:30-10:30 p.m. tonight and Saturday and Dec. 21-23. Hayride through thousands of lights. A new candy and gift store have been added. Adults $15, children 10 and younger $8; children's activities are $5 each. www.TheHilltopChristmas.com.
Hixson
- 7917 Gann Road in Middle Valley
- 7327 McCormack Drive and 436 Shannon Drive, both in Shannon Hills subdivision.
- 1702 Strawberry Lane
- 1020 Ambrose Lane
- 7279 Autumn Lake Trail
- 6816 Laurel Cove
- 4420 Norcross Road
- 8300 Blue Spruce Drive
Jasper
- 566 Hass Road
Lookout Valley
- 3328 Angela Lane
- Aster Avenue (no street number given)
- 615 O'Grady Drive
- 440 Patten Chapel Road, not that many lights but an inflatable taller than the house.
- 3321 Boydston Road, 24 inflatables, music controlled lights, rotating trees, blow mold nativity, Santas, toy soldiers and candles.
North Chattanooga/ Red Bank
- 3729 Thrushwood Drive
- 2200 Lyndon Ave
Ooltewah
- 8031 Fox Glove Drive in Meadow Stream subdivision
- 5725 Sarah Drive
- 5509 Twin Oaks Drive
Rossville
- 983 East Valley Dr.
St. Elmo
- 430 St. Elmo Ave.
Soddy-Daisy
- 11632 Jenkins Road. Multi-channel lights set to music; tune your radio to 107.3 FM.
- 10441 Brickhill Lane