Time to shine: A driving guide for lovers of Christmas lights

For some families, driving around town to see Christmas light displays is a holiday tradition. For others, it’s creating these displays that makes the season so sweet.

The Ericksons are the latter. They put up a Christmas light display every year off West Sylvester Court since they moved to Sequim in 2000.

Dale Erickson, 83, said he sets up the lights every year and starts in mid-October so the lights can come on by the night of Thanksgiving — but never before then.

It’s been a tradition for Dale and his wife Linda to put up a light display at their Sequim home after both of them retired, and doing so reminds them of their three sons who enjoyed the lights every Christmas season.

“My boys always loved the lights,” Dale said.

While the Ericksons’ house shines bright in their cul-de-sac, most of the houses in the neighborhood on West Sylvester Court put up some sort of holiday display — from lights to inflatable Christmas decorations and more.

“We love doing it,” Dale said. “We love it when people stop by. They seem to recognize this area.”

Sequim Christmas Light Driving Guide

Speaking of traditions — the Sequim Gazette staff is keeping theirs with its annual Sequim Christmas Light Driving Guide to offer residents and lovers of lights.

Last year, staff drove to about 100 homes and businesses in the Sequim-Dungeness area in search of a variety of light displays — from minimally decorated homes to big, bright neighborhoods.

We tried to keep our guide straight-forward featuring areas within city limits, annual hot spots, and in the Dungeness area.

Whether you’re driving solo or with the whole family —we think there’s some displays everyone can enjoy.

Driving Guide

Within City limits/east side: Downtown Sequim from S. Sequim Avenue to Washington Street is lit up with several kinds of light displays … not to mention the 30-foot Christmas tree that sits at Centennial Square on the corner of S. Sequim Avenue and Washington Street.

A bit northeast of downtown has several super-decorated holiday houses, particularly in the 800 block of Spruce, Cedar and Alder streets.

Find other eye-catchers at: 300 block of East Willow Street, 500 block of Elk Horn Loop and 600 block of North Dunlap Avenue (turn north on Dunlap off East Fir Street for these three),

• 400 and 500 blocks of East Fir Street,

• 600 block of East Spruce Street,

• 300 block of North Matriotti Avenue,

• 800 block of East Bellfield Avenue (take East Washington Street, turn south on Sill Road, right on Bellfield), and,

• 200 block of West Sequim Bay Road.

West side of Sequim: On West Hendrickson Road going toward Railroad Bridge Park there are several houses with beautiful light displays.

• West Sylvester Court — take West Hendrickson east to North Kendall Road, turn left; West Sylvester Court is on the right in a lit up cul-de-sac filled with different kinds of holiday displays.

• 1000 block of West Oak Court features a well-lit house with lots of lights. Take West Hendrickson Road east and turn right onto West Oak Court.

• Jamestown Family Health Clinic off of North Fifth Avenue.

• Railroad Bridge Park off West Hendrickson Road has Christmas wreaths with lights hanging from the top of Railroad Bridge and the whole bridge is lined with garland and more lights; making for a romantic walk in the park.

• Stymie’s/The Cedars at Dungeness golf course, 1965 Woodcock Road.

• In residential areas, will-lit displays are featured on the 100 block of West Spruce Court, 700 block of West Fir Street and 200 block of West Prairie Street.

• Old Olympic Highway going west has several houses with light displays. From Old Olympic, turn right onto Elizabeth Lane and there are several houses with displays in the neighborhood, from lights to projectors and more.

For more Christmas light displays in the Sequim or Port Angeles areas, check out the Facebook Page “Annual Clallam County Christmas Light Displays or our guide from last year at www.sequimgazette.com.

Enjoy holiday lights from 4-9 p.m. through December at the Dungeness River Bridge at the Dungeness River Audubon Center, 2151 W. Hendrickson Road. Stop by and have cider at the center from 4-6 p.m. Dec. 21-22 and Dec. 28-29. Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell