Ashland: Nights are long, but lights are bright

Many homes and neighborhoods around Ashland decorate for the holidays. Walking down the sidewalk at 529 Fordyce draws you into their outstanding holiday light display.
December 20, 2024

Reader survey tips Ashland.news to where a little — or lot — of holiday light therapy offers solace at the winter solstice

By Bob and Tracy Palermini

A Google map links locations featured in the Ashland.news best holiday lights compilation on a route that’s 11.9 miles long and 49 minutes drive time (gawking time may vary).

To get into the holiday spirit, wait for the sun to go down, and take a drive around town to enjoy the many elaborate decorated homes and businesses. We found a lot of nice displays on our drive and you may find even more. 

Thanks to the readers who suggested homes to check out. Plus a big thanks for the homeowners who brighten up our neighborhoods. 

Want to check it out yourself? To see a Google Maps route to the light displays created by one fan, click here.

Bob & Tracy Palermini are residents of Ashland, where he is staff photographer for Ashland.news. Email Bob at bobpal@gmail.com.

Dec. 20: Added link to Google Maps route.

Related story: Reader Photo: Another fabulous light display (Dec. 27, 2024)

The Ashland home most ready for an appearance on an HGTV Christmas light show is at 529 Fordyce St. Seven trees on two sides of the home are tightly wrapped with colored lights and twinkling lights adorn the branches above.
The house at 529 Fordyce Street also features more than 20 blow-up figures.
At 59 6th Street,The Robert Lucas / Sumner A. Parker House, built in 1897-1898, is decked out for the holiday and even provides a glimpse of the pink Christmas tree inside.
With more than 1 million lights, downtown Ashland is at the top of everyone’s list for over the top holiday decorations. This happens thanks to the efforts of the Ashland Chamber of Commerce and the sponsors and donors who provide about $60,000 for lighting downtown and putting on the Festival of Light celebration. According to Dana Preston, Ashland Chamber Membership Director, Ashland was recently ranked by Present.com as one of the top 150 towns with best main streets for holiday shopping.
The homeowner at 450 Ashland St. strung white lights from the eaves and along the fence surrounding the yard and added a pop of colored lights in the evergreen tree.
This car, spotted on the streets of downtown Ashland, gets waves and honks from fellow drivers, according to owners Miguel and Brisa Durand. Miguel saw the “light up your car” trend on social media and decided to give it a try.
Several readers pointed us to 122 Church St. that has a bright and colorful display.
The Railroad District has many decorated homes, including this one at the corner of North 1st and B streets.
Colorful lights and a snowman on the porch greet visitors at 184 B Street.
There is a reason this home at 1465 Pinecrest Terrace is the best of the neighborhood. OSF Lighting Department Manager Valerie Pope told us that creating the display for her home is a huge highlight for her every year, a tradition that goes back to when she was a kid helping her dad. She spends the better part of two days on installation and does some variation each year depending upon what inspires her in the moment.
From this house at 1001 Oneida Circle, we got a view of a number of decorated homes on the hillside above.
The house at 1155 Green Meadows Way never disappoints with its yard full of bright, holiday decorations.
The display at 935 Bellview Ave. was enhanced by the reflection of lights on the rain-soaked street.
The house at 708 Ashland St. gives a nod to Ashland’s deer population with its colorful display.
These homeowners at 865 Henry Street put forth an amazing effort to wrap the trunk of this very tall conifer with white lights.
Stars take center stage at this home at 1631 Peachey Road.
Thanks to the efforts of the Frey family, the neighborhood trees on Apple Way contain home-made lighted orbs. The family makes these orbs by wiring together hanging baskets and wrapping them with battery-operated lights on a timer. The lighted orbs plus the starry sky provided a magical stop on our drive.
This home at 1070 Green Meadows Way had a colorful light display.
This home at 2706 Takelma Way was just one of many decorated homes in the Takelma Way and Clay Creek Way neighborhood.
Musical, singing trees and twinkling lights are the highlight of the display at 731 Glendale Ave.
The perfectly-aligned icicle lights at 210 Village Park Drive are a bright spot in a neighborhood that has many decorated homes.
Another, quite incredible, lights-in-a-tall-tree effort can be found at 501 Euclid Avenue.
Picture of Bert Etling

Bert Etling

Bert Etling is the executive editor of Ashland.news. Email him at betling@ashland.news.

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