There are advantages to assignments that bring you home at night this time of year…Christmas lights.

It’s easy to bring out your inner child this time of year and Christmas lights do it for me every time.

As I’m assuming for most families, my own has a tradition of touring our town just before Christmas to scope out all the holiday lights. To me there was nothing better than hopping in the car on a cold winter’s night and driving slowly on snow covered roads through the neighborhoods of our town.

There would always be debates about what display looked best or what looked tacky, what had just enough and what had too little…or too much. I’ve always been fond of the white/clear lights brightening up an archway or a simple wreath on a door while others in my family prefer the more colorful bulbs often seen during this time of year.

No matter our opinions, it was always nice to get out and it was always a good way to get into the Christmas mood.

The Roanoke-Chowan area has its own share of creative Christmas light displays.

Those late night assignments this month have taken me on a proverbial tour of Hertford and Northampton County’s Christmas lights.

From the small inviting sign for the small community of Menola to NC 35 near Potecasi there was some sort of display around each corner.

On Monday while driving home from the Northampton County Board of Education meeting my route took me through Conway where the Christmas spirit seems alive and well.

The dazzling lights were a much needed comfort after the heavy topic of consolidating schools I has just covered.

This year seemingly every house on U.S. 158 is lit up with some sort of decoration.

St. John also looks gorgeous as usual with it’s small pre-lit trees lining the heart of the community on NC 561. Homeowners in that community have also decked their houses in holiday decor.

Whether your traditions are to scope out local Christmas lights or not, the important part is to get out celebrate the spirit of the season.

Several local municipalities, communities, churches and organizations have Christmas and holiday celebrations scheduled with only two weekends before Christmas. Most are either free or have a minimum charge and just a short drive away. Many can be found in the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald’s Area Scenes page, on the church page and in the body of the newspaper.

Amanda VanDerBroek is a Staff Writer for the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald. For comments and column suggestions email: amanda.vanderbroek@r-cnews.com or call (252) 332-7209.