Lights in the Heights

Deck the halls with boughs of holly and let the fun begin! It's that fabulous time of year when Woodland Heights hosts Lights in the Heights. I was driving around the neighborhood this weekend and saw so many people putting up their Christmas lights. This is going to be a great year primarily because the organization has made some changes to improve the event. This year's Lights in the Heights will be held on Saturday, December 9 beginning at 6:00 p.m. and end at 9:00 p.m. No vendors will be permitted on the Norhill esplanade and security will be tight. Though this isn't a widely publicizing event, be prepared for a good size crowd.

So for those of you who do not know what this event is, here's the scoop. Woodland Heights is comprised mostly of Victorian and Craftsman Style homes. Beginning about 30 years ago, the residents began heavily decorating their homes for Christmas. They would then block off a couple of streets one evening to allow the people within the community to celebrate with one another. Each year it grew from just one or two streets to several. Recognition is offered for houses with the best decorations. During the event itself, many homes throughout the community will be hosting musicians who will be playing Christmas music from the front porch. The style of music will be anything from 4-string quartets to jazz to a cappella. This year, rock music will not be permitted as the community wishes to keep the noise level down. Please note, that there will be several private parties throughout the community; so be careful not to crash any of them. Should you find you are unable to attend Lights in the Heights, take a leisurely drive through the community any night in December and enjoy the beautiful decorations; many are worth seeing in daylight as well.