The holiday season is the time of year when people can get away with traveling random streets at slow paces and not being looked at funny, because it is the time when people drive around just to see the decorations and lights that illuminate homes and businesses everywhere.

A couple of nights ago, my small family was killing time and my injured husband was getting stir crazy at the house, so we loaded up in the SUV and hit the streets. It was a little later than we would have liked to go light-seeing, because it was 9 p.m. when we left the house and it was so foggy in our neighborhood, we couldn’t see houses lit up until we were right in front of them.

But let me tell you, there are some beautifully decorated houses in Surry County.

We drove through a couple of little developments in the Holly Springs area, and then traveled toward Mount Airy on the side roads where houses were lit up in all colors of clear, blue, red, green, even some purple.

It is wonderful that people enjoy taking time to share their holiday spirit with the rest of the community. Little Man loves looking at the lights. He recognizes the snowmen that are like the one in our yard, and he see Santa and says, “Ho ho.”

And you never outgrow enjoying a good light presentation, even the simplest lights are beautiful.

For those in the area who have the time, take a little drive around the area and take in the festive spirit of the lights. It makes a great family outing.

And there is one home with a walk-through light show, which includes some of the old Tanglewood lights, on N.C. 268 just east of Pilot Mountain as you are traveling toward Stokes County. There is plenty of parking, and hot chocolate.

The lights are on from 6 to 10 p.m. each day. And Friday at 7 p.m., homeowners Larry and Rachel Charpiat are hosting Grammy nominated singer/songwriter Judy Pancoast to their light display, when she will perform for those in attendance.

The Charpiats have more than 500,000 lights in their display, which will be viewable through Jan. 1.

So thank you everyone who has taken the time to continue the ages’ old tradition of lighting up the holidays. I hope everyone enjoys a good drive through the neighborhood this year.

Wendy Byerly Wood is the associate editor of The Mount airy News. She can be reached at wbyerly-wood@heartlandpublications.com or at 719-1923.