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Many families have their own unique Christmas traditions, whether it’s watching Rudolph, Frosty, or the 24-hour marathon of “A Christmas Story” while leaving cookies and milk out for Santa Claus to snack on as he delivers gifts on Christmas Eve. But one tradition that never gets old – riding around looking at Christmas lights.
There are several spots throughout the area including here in Beaumont beginning with Gladys and Thomas Road. Make sure you drive throughout the area, including Thomas Park.
Calder Place Neighborhood 1929 has amazing sights. This older neighborhood just off Interstate 10, between Harrison and Calder (19th and 23rd streets), has unique homes that are well decorated for Christmas.
There are plenty of well-established and well-decorated neighborhoods near Delaware in Beaumont. Neighborhoods include Ashton, Montclaire and Delaware Place.
A Christmas light tradition for years, Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital has a lovely holiday light display with an ornate nativity scene that welcomes visitors at the front entrance and lights decorate dozens of trees on the property.
Lamar University has teamed up with ExxonMobil for their third annual Cardinal Lights. Families are encouraged to take a slow drive through campus to enjoy the lights and other holi- day decorations. Thousands of lights adorn trees and illuminate campus buildings around Jimmy Simmons Boulevard, Jim Gilligan Way and the Rolfe Christopher Drive entrance to campus. The Spindletop-Gladys City Boomtown Museum also will be merry and bright for the entire month of December with Christmas in Boomtown: City in Lights near the campus.
Who couldn’t forget the massive Christmas tree at the Downtown Event Centre?
In Vidor, Pine Forest Baptist Church (4800 N. Main St.) has a synchronized light show every Friday-Sunday, from 6-9 p.m. through Dec. 24. The church is also hosting a “Christmas Light Spectacular” on Saturday, Dec. 16, with live nativity, train rides, smores, cookies, hot chocolates and pictures with Santa.
Dreaming of a green Christmas? If you haven’t already, Christmas lights and a festive holiday atmosphere welcomes visitors to Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center in Orange for Christmas Strolls from 6-9 p.m. during the evenings of Dec. 12-17 and Dec. 19-22.
Make sure to attend Shangri La’s “Dreaming of a Green Christmas” on Saturday, Dec. 16, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The activities begin at 10 a.m. with a photo opportunity with Old Saint Nick himself, Santa Claus. In addition, the day will feature multiple holiday hands-on activities, including ornament making using natural materials, plus visit “Candyland” full of bright, colorful decorations.
While in Orange, view Westbury Street neighborhood (off Western Avenue) as well as the LED Cross Lightshow (2543 W. Norman Circle).
Make sure you then head to Bridge City for a fantastic show called “Lights on Lauren,” which is 310 Lauren Ave. in Tyler Estates. Their show, which is 5:30-9:30 p.m. (Sunday-Thursday) and 5:30-10:30 p.m. (Friday and Saturday), includes 8,400-pixel lights and a “mega tree” that is 17-foot tall. Tune your car vehicle to 96.7 FM on your radial dial and prepare to be amazed.
There’s another residence in Bridge City that is just as impressive – 106 Mockingbird Lane, also known as “House on Mockingbird Lane.” Nightly shows are 6-11 p.m.
In Mid County, First Baptist Church in Nederland has a nice light show, which also goes along with a radio broadcast. Check out Saba Lane and the Hebert Woods subdivision near Port Neches-Groves High School.
Elsewhere, try Lumberton neighborhoods of River Burch and Westwood.
The Pinewood subdivision (off Highway 105 near Sour Lake) has entire streets with different lighting themes.