FRI 12/24: Schmaltzy Xmas Spectacle

This is a difficult day to find cheap fun (besides hitting a tavern and enjoy some liquid cheer)...

Neither of these items are specific to Friday, but I didn't list anything last year.

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FRI 12/24 (thru SUN 1/2)

10am to 9pm
The Enchanted Village
at Jordan's Furniture, 100 Stockwell Dr, Avon
FREE

Hours of Operation:

Monday thru Saturday -- 10am to 9pm
Sunday -- 11am to 6pm

Maybe because this chunk of Boston history is part of my childhood memories, but I think the barely-animated displays of winter scenes look really friggin' creepy!

The semi-realistic mannequins that usually have one slowly-moving element reminds me of an old "Twilight Zone" episode. Maybe chug a bottle of cough syrup, have a blueberry muffin, and brave the long lines...

I drove by Jordan's in Avon last weekend, and it was only about a 20-minute drive after we were south of the O'Neill Tunnel.

FRI 12/24 (thru ???)

After Dark
Illuminations: Self Tour
around Somerville (Winter Hill, Union Sq, East Somerville)
$5 to $3 to FREE

The trolley tours occurred last Saturday, however the lights should be on for a couple more days. It wouldn't be too hard to drive around at your own pace and enjoy the glowing gaudiness. Any can walk it, of course, depending on how far or long one wants to go.

There are a couple ways to go:

The "City of Lights" booklet has profiles of many decorators with street addresses in the back. It's sells for $5 at various Somerville & Cambridge stores. It's nice little book on the Illumination tradition. Ad the proceeds go to the Somerville Arts Council, which does a lot of cool stuff throughout the year.

It's possible/probable that some of those listed in that booklet don't still go full-bore, so you can pick up this year's route map for $3 at Blue Cloud (Ball Sq) and Magpie (Davis Sq). Proceeds also go to the Somerville Arts Council, and they should also have the "City of Lights".

Some people rode their bicycles along the route last week, and they made a Google map. It ain't as pretty, but it gives you an idea where to go...