Viewing holiday lights is no small affair for the Aucutt family.

For more than 20 years, Cheryl and Mike Aucutt have gotten out The Gazette's holiday lights guide, plotted out a map and made an evening of driving through the city and beyond to see the holiday displays.

“I did it as a girl with my family, and then when my husband and I were married in 1990 we just kept it up,” said Cheryl Aucutt, 54, of Cedar Rapids. When the children were born - first Jacob, now 18, then Sarah, now 16 - they were bundled and taken along, as well as both grandmothers.

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“This is just such an important time,” Aucutt said. “My kids are teenagers and I hear other parents say their kids have stopped wanting to do this or stopped wanting to do that, but this is still a part of our tradition. My son called the other night from work to find out which night we were going so he could be sure to take it off.”

The trip is no small venture. Aucutt said the family spends about an hour and a half first poring over the guide and then plotting a map to make the most efficient trip possible. Each trip ends with an 11 p.m. visit to Perkins, “and everyone pretty much always gets the same things,” she said.

Aucutt said the family usually sets out about 6 p.m. on the Friday before Christmas to start watching the displays.

“We get snacks loaded in the car, and a thermos full of cocoa - we pour our drinks and drop a peppermint stick in it, and just drive around.”

“It's all about building memories and finding the strength in those memories,” Aucutt said. “So much of what we do is about building memories.”

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Holiday light displays abound this time of year. Here's a look at some of the best displays in the region, as submitted by our readers.

Cedar Rapids:

252 Mayden Ave. SW, there are plenty of lights to see and several other lawn decorations. All sorts of different decorations cover the whole yard and house, including a tree that plays music and Santa and reindeer on the roof.
5801 Michael Dr. NE, the entire front yard is filled with lit-up characters and light figures.
Home of Mike Lough, 705 29th St. SE, animated lighting.
Home of Jeff and Lisa Ellwood, 1055 Memorial Dr. SE, inflatables and lots of lights.
Home of Randy and LouAnn Anderson, 111 20th Ave. SW, lots of lights, blowups, reindeer, an animated Santa in sleigh, hot air ballon with penguins, candles, lights around door and windows and outlining the roof, plus music playing from 5 until 9:30 p.m.
The Meth-Wick Community College, 1224 13th St. NW. Lights around the pond
Home of Dan and Charity Harris, 1606 20th St. NW, house is lit up on all sides with more than 70 decorations including a revolving tree in the house with a fiber-optic angel.
Home of Chris and Tina Gaby, 1317 Hunters Run Lane NE, lights set to music.
Home of Jennifer Robbinson, 1701 Maple Dr NW, decorated with lights.
Home of Laura Hard and Melissa Bender, 320 Brentwood Dr. NE, bright LED lights on display with a blowup snowman
William Soper, 1229 Second St. SW, display helps perk up flooded neighborhood.
Dan and Charity Harris, 1606 20th St. NW, lights go on after 5 p.m.
Home of Todd and Tonya Eiler, 326 Rock Ridge Rd. NW, a 12-foot Santa stands underneath a candy cane arch, trees flash with the music, Santa in a helicopter, reindeer in the stable, Santa in the holiday express, plus much more.
1606 20th St. NW, driving down O Avenue you can't miss it.
Home of Tammi Janey, 414 19th St. NE, lots of colors and snowflake designs, dripping icicle lights and a blowup snowman sporting his a bomber hat. Even the back of the house has lights.
Home of Larry and Christine Fenton, 5601 Colorado Dr. SW, the best view is coming from J Street, left on Mayden, house is on the corner.
2168 Linden Dr. SE., cool icicles and stars close to Brucemore.
110 Third Ave. SW, funny window displays.
Home of the Dahl family, 1111 Rolling Creek Dr. NE, white lights turn the house and yard into a frosty ice scene.
287 12th Ave. SW, looks like a little gingerbread house.
Home of Deb Gatewood and Russ Schwartz, 342 30th St. Dr. SE, several blow up displays.
Home of Stacy and Jose Dejuses, 527 Second St. SW, the entire house is covered in lights.
Bowman Lane NE, the whole neighborhood of 40 houses has a candy cane theme with many of the tree trunks wrapped in red and white lights.
Home of Jason and Kelli Boyle, 1143 Staub Ct. NE, very festive.
Home of Matt and Shannon Purdy, 476 Jacolyn Dr. NW, bright and wonderful.
Home of Kirk and Brenda Williams, 1411 First Ave. SW, a classic holiday light display.
5801 Michael Dr. NE, the entire yard is filled with inflatables and lighted displays. Trees have lighted ornaments and strings.
3514 Midway Dr. NW, beautiful large lighted display in front yard.
Home of Gary Gaylord, 339 Ginny Lane NE, one home brings Christmas spirit to the entire neighborhood.
6501 Davis Ct. NW, the entire yard is full of lights and characters.
Hall Rd. NE, tens of thousands of lights from four houses illuminate the hillside of Hall Road NE, which is just off Tower Terrace Road west of Hiawatha. Lights are on from 5 to 10 p.m. each night.
Home of Jason and Mary Achenbach, 1105 15th Ave. SW, a classy reminder of candy land.
Revere Ct. NE, luminarias that line the edge of the sidewalk and the yard are made from milk jug bottoms filled with Christmas lights. The house are located in the Revere Court NE area off C Ave NE.
2435 10th Ave. SW, many different blow up displays, lights on house, manger, angels, lights around yard, reindeer, etc.
Home of Dennis Davis, 5548 Sharon Lane NW, all four sides of house decorated. There is a Christmas theme in front and a Nativity scene in back. One tree is decorated with white lights and other musical ball lights. There are five deer, 30 figurines, 30 window decorations, 14 icicles strings, eight snowmen, one blowup, thousands of lights. Lights will be on from 5 to 10 p.m.

Anamosa:

The entire street of Fifth Street.

Blairstown:

Home of Marvin and Colette Bartosh, 302 Young St. SE, lights outline the face of the house and a yard scene includes Santa's mail box, Santa and his sleigh, snowmen on a teeter totter, two sets of twinkling Deer, colored chasing trees, candy canes and much more.

Center Point:

Home of Tom and Dawn Evans, 207 Meadow Breeze, less is more with all white lights with a snowflake theme.
Home of Tim and Deb Smith, 1108 Central Ave., decorating has been a family holiday tradition for more than 19 years.
152 North Ave., a display, mixing lights, traditional elements of the season and air blown yard decorations.

Central City:

Home of Steve Enabnit, 4890 Valley Farm Rd., lots of lights off Hwy 13.

Coggon:

1110 325th St., more than 102,000 lights on five acres.

Decorah:

Decorah Campground on Pulpit Rock Road off Hwy 52. “Holiday Lights, Magical Nights” is a drive-through animated light show with 43 displays. Santa visits every night (except Christmas Eve). Registration for grocery giveaways and other prizes nightly. Open 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday through Sunday through Dec. 17.

Fairfax:

600 Hillview Dr., three houses decorated all in a row like Christmas at The North Pole.

Hiawatha:

Home of Stephen Berry, 113 E. Willman St., nine reindeer on the roof, including Rudolph.
Home of Bernard and Mary Cejka, 701 W. Willman St., the house sparkles with holiday cheer, including lights galore and many animated pieces.

Homestead:

3327 200th St., from Homestead go east on Hwy 6 to the Iowa and Johnson County line and head south by Ace Auto. At the third road on the left turn left, proceed one mile to the corner of 200th Street and Y Avenue. Tasteful display with lights, animation and Santa.

Jesup:

Home of Roger Lough, 1244 First St., Christmas lights are timed to sync with music. Tune your car radio to the station and watch the lights changing to the beat of the music.

Ladora:

Home of Marvin Hilligas, 1000 Main St., new decorations added every year.

Lisbon:

Home of Marsha Lasack, 705 Regal Ridge Ct., more than 30 hours of work putting up more than 8,000 lights, plus a full Nativity scene and five blowup decorations.

Manchester:

Home of Jeff and Cheryl Madlom, 713 E. Howard, every year the display grows and the neighbors comment about the “glow” on the block.

Marengo:

The Kreis family home, 522 Jefferson St., many displays at their home.

Marion:

Home of Tom Fuhrmeister, 1120 Fifth St., lots of lights set to music.
Home of Dwayne Koontz, 1685 Daleview Dr, neat displays of Santa on the roof
Home of Sean Pospisil, 1685 Daleview Dr., nice displays.
Central Iowa Power Cooperative, 1400 Hwy 13 SE., display of lights on trees, ground and building. Best seen if going north on Hwy 13.
2190, 2160, 2130 and 2090 Pleasantview Dr., there is a 40-foot tall lit evergreen, lots of lights. All four houses look like gingerbread houses.
3005 Downing St., just off 29th Avenue there are thousands of lights, lighted arches over the driveway synchronized to music with candy canes lining the driveway. A lit tree outlined on the roof and huge candy cane outlined on one side of the house. On the other side of the house are tons of snowflakes twinkling to the music. Many unique inflatables. Playset covered in lights with an inflatable Santa helicopter on top.

Martelle:

Community of Martelle on Hwy 1 north of Mount Vernon, each street has its own display.

North Liberty:

Home of Jeff and Virginia Potter, 1365 S. Jones Blvd., a great display, not too much.
500 Troon Ct., looks just like a gingerbread house.
Home of Chris Yerington, 230 Heritage Dr., a wonderful scene.

Norway:

Home of Don and Jackie Volz, 206 W. Railroad St., directly on Main Street.

Oxford:

1583 Upper Old Hwy 6 Rd. NW, several different trees lit and some blowups in a very lovely display.

Riverside:

1045 Vine Ave.

Solon:

Home of Michael and Shalla Ashworth, 730 S. Dubuque St., one of the biggest displays in town.

Swisher:

6676 32nd Ave. Lot #38., a beautiful display of lights.
311 Aaron Ct., a very pretty display.
Rural Swisher, just off exit 10 on I-380, many lights every year.
Home of Joseph Novotny, 1626 Blain Cemetery Rd., for 55 years decorations have filled an acre of lights on trees and buildings. Other decorations include a Nativity, snowmen, figurines and Santa on the roof. Take I-380 south to the Swisher exit. Cross 965 and go to Greencastle Avenue. Turn left to go to Blain Cemetery Road.

Tipton:

Home of Gary Eichhorn, 1060 Jackson Rd., a traditional Iowa farm decorated with multiple displays that have been collected for more than 20 years.

Toledo:

Home of Josh Bly, 400 N. Center St., won the TNT lighting contest last year.

Vinton:

Home of Rod and Tammy Hepker, 1609 W. Third St., more than 3,000 white lights in this beautiful, elegant Christmas setting.
Home of Corey and Teresa Seibert, 2979 55th St., (outside of Urbana) see a Rudolph in front of a Volkswagen Beetle with Mr. & Mrs. Claus.

Walker:

Home of Brent and Jerry Willcoxson, 607 Grant St., lights set to music with seven blowup decorations on display. The front yard, the house, shed, garage, side yard and also the backyard have lights on display.

Washington:

Home of Steve and Tammy Roth, 914 S. Iowa Ave., many lights, many figurines, a backyard Snowman haven.

West Branch:

122 and 126 N Sixth St., between the two houses there are more than 21 Christmas inflatables and lights. There is a 12-foot Santa and a 15-foot hot air balloon Santa. There also is 18-foot Santa workshop and a 10-foot Christmas carousel.
Home of Mike and Leesa Fair, 204 Cedar St., the light display is one of the first things you see coming into West Branch.

West Union:

West Union Recreational Park, North Vine Street, drive through the park, or stroll through the “enchanted forest” along the pond and view the winter wonderland. In addition to all of the Christmas decorations and lights, area individuals, businesses and civic organizations have decorated “adopted trees.” Hours are from 5 to 10 p.m.

Williamsburg:

Home of Dennis Mein, 401 Wilson St., this house really puts you in the mood for the holiday season.

Map of Cedar Rapids holiday light displays:

Map of other area holiday light displays:

Map of viewer-submitted holiday light displays:

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