We track 1 display in Lowell. Every one of them is free to visit.
When to go
Displays here switch on around sunset. In Lowell that means about 4:13 PM in early December and 4:12 PM by mid-month — the earliest sunsets of the year fall right in the middle of lights season. It is properly dark by about 4:45 PM, which is when the displays look their best. December nights in Lowell typically drop to around 21°F.
Date
Sunset
Fully dark
Dec 1
4:13 PM
4:44 PM
Dec 15
4:12 PM
4:45 PM
Dec 25
4:17 PM
4:49 PM
Practicalities
Residential displays have no facilities of their own — no parking, no toilets, nowhere to warm up — so it is worth knowing what is around. Within about three miles of the Lowell cluster, OpenStreetMap maps 10 public car parks and 3 public toilets. There is no shortage of cafés and takeaways for a hot drink on the way round.
Lowell's City of Lights celebration includes an after-dark parade the Saturday after Thanksgiving, the Wannalancit Mills Christmas tree, Holly Jolly Trolley rides, and Santa visits, all free with free parking.