The home at 2135 English Hill Drive ~ photos by Dylan Aycock

While some homeowners were eager to begin stringing Christmas lights prior to Thanksgiving, others could be seen hanging lights and positioning inflatable Santas, snowmen and an occasional reindeer the week after in anticipation of the Christmas holiday.

For some homeowners, boxes of string lights and other decorations will eventually be stored away until this time next year, but Bill Maxwell and Sandra Elgin, who display one of the most popular light shows in Murfreesboro, are celebrating their 10th and final year. The computerized Christmas light show features about 80,000 multi-colored lights choreographed to music at their Hamilton Drive home.

The light show even has a Facebook page, Christmas in the Boro, which is where Maxwell and Elgin share photos of the display’s progress each year and post updates on their schedule. It’s also where they announced the show’s finale. Several people expressed their love for the attraction and shared memories from the past decade:

“You’ve been a special memory for our family every year at the holiday,” writes Bonny Clap. “We came to see the lights right before driving to the hospital to have our first baby. Thank you for being a wonderful part of our yearly traditions over this decade!”

Terri Bradford writes that she “can’t pretend this isn’t a little sad, but you guys deserve a rest and to enjoy the season with your family instead of freezing on the side of the road for all our sakes. We’ve been bringing our grandson Hunter since he was 11 months old.”

“This will be our [fourth] year coming! We love your Christmas light shows,” Melissa Ham adds. “Always something different each time we go around the block to watch again. We will all miss your shows, but yes it is time for you to start enjoying more family time!”

IF YOU GO: 
Where: Christmas in the ‘Boro (1918 Hamilton Dr.)
When: Sun.–Thurs., 7–9 p.m.Fri.–Sat., 7–10 p.m., through Dec. 25

Rockin Christmas Lights

Some Local Standouts
However, Hamilton Drive is now in some good company when it comes to Christmas light spectacles around town. In the Barfield Crescent area, Rockin’ Christmas Lights also incorporates music and typically runs through the New Year. According to the event’s Facebook page, the home is located in the Ridgeside neighborhood on Round Rock Drive.

The show features computerized lights across the lawn that dance along to Christmas music on 88.5 FM, while a 20-foot tall glowing tree overlooks the yard. Although the synchronized display is free of charge, the family accepts donations to support The Alzheimer’s Association.

Another well-decorated neighborhood is located in the Huntington Place subdivision off Dejarnette Lane. Upon arrival, colorful wreaths and tiny bright lights adorn doors and shrubbery outside a few homes, but the main attraction is at 2135 English Hill Drive. The entire yard’s crowded with snowman and Christmas trees outlined with red, green and blue lights, while life-size M&M and SpongeBob cutouts stand guard close to the road. Passengers in passing cars can also peer into the window to see a large clock counting down to Christmas.

Next is the Creasy family home nestled within north Murfreesboro’s Harvest Grove subdivision at 308 Beverly Randolph Drive. Red, green and white lights encircle the lawn in a pinwheel-like motion as other lights flash on the roof and throughout the bushes. The bright red candy canes in the yard offer a splash of color.

A two-story house located off Breckenridge Drive at 1707 Waterford Road is just as charming as the other homes, but it’s not flashy lights that catch the eye. Larger-than-life cutouts of Frosty the Snowman, the Gingerbread Man, toy soldiers and ballerinas span the full length of the house. Enormous candy canes reach from the front step to the roof. Not too far from here is is 1606 Breckenridge Drive, where a a towering lit tree resides in the front yard.

dreamingincolor in Downtown Murfreesboro

Downtown
As many historic homes prepare for the annual Oaklands Mansion Candlelight Tour of Homes, other residents on and around East Main Street are beginning to decorate as well.

Beginning with the MTSU President’s Home on the corner of East Main and Middle Tennessee Boulevard, several homes are adorned with modest wreaths and tiny lights, and garland clinging to columns. While it’s clear many residents have only put a dent in their decorations by the final week of November, it’s likely more homes will be fully decorated by Dec. 2, just in time for the annual downtown Christmas tree-lighting event.

Several downtown business are ready for the holiday season, with Country Gourmet, Trendy Pieces, Bella’s Boutique and Shacklett’s Photography among places decked out with lights, snowmen and other decorations. The trees outside City Hall and Linebaugh Public Library are shrouded in snowflake-blue lights, which will surely make for a nice photo backdrop while strolling through the area.

2148 Cason Trail

Other Notable Displays
A few homes on Lewis Circle off North Thompson Lane are showing some holiday spirit with glistening green LED lights, wreaths and candy canes on shutters, as well as a giant Mickey Mouse countdown clock that can be seen inside a top window toward the end of the street.

The Anatole subdivision, located off Dejarnette Lane, contains about four or five decorated homes so far, with inflatable characters, roof-trimmed lighting and manger scenes on display in various lawns.

There aren’t many homes decorated on Glasgow Drive off Greenland Drive yet, but a lifelike Santa Claus can be seen peering into one of the homes down the street.

Several homes around Cason Lane and Cason Trail are beginning to shape up, as well as a couple on River Rock Boulevard. For any children fascinated with dinosaurs, drive by 2148 Cason Trail for a few inflatables scattered throughout the yard, including Santa Claus in a hot air balloon.

Further down Old Fort Parkway is Blackman Farm subdivision, where a few homes on Almar Knot and Blaze Drive boast sparkly lights, candy canes and a few shimmering snowmen.

229 Applewood Drive, near Barfield Crescent, is also a mainstay each year, with animated lights synced up to music.