The holiday season brightens the darkest time of the year with parties and gifts to warm the heart and twinkling lights to cheer the soul.

Holiday glimmer doesn't stop at the Christmas tree. In some families, decorating the outside of the house with strings of lights is as much a tradition as putting out cookies and milk for Santa.

Again this year, The Herald is taking its readers on a tour of local homes, where folks beckon Santa and other passersby to stop and take a look.

Here's a sampling of this year's twinkling treasures:

   » 1348 Broadway Ave. -- Caller said the house is "beautiful," with multi-colored lights and icicle lights.

   » Golf Drive -- Eight to 10 homes are nicely decorated with a snowman on a pole, homes trimmed in white lights and lit yard pieces.

   » 781 Syme St. -- Holiday lights and decorations.

   » 500 block of Syme St. -- About five homes are elaborately decorated.

   » 696 Syme St. -- Lights in trees and a lighted Rudolph in the yard.

   » Wintergreen Drive -- Many homes are decorated; one has colorful lights on yard trees, another has a large wreaths hanging.

   » 8218 Columbia St. -- Candy canes, angels and Santa decorate this home with lights outlining the door.

   » 8246 Columbia St. -- Lights decorate a fence while red bows and white lights decorate the house.

   » 843 Valley View Drive -- White lights decorate bushes and shrubs and colorful wreaths decorate the windows.

   » 7249 Northview Drive -- Adorned with lights and ornaments.

   » 788 Boyd St. -- Home is nicely decorated.

   » 800 and 900 block of Crestwood -- Reindeer, snowmen and other ornaments bedeck the homes on this road.

   » 840 Crestwood -- Every other shrub is decorated with blue or colorful lights.

   » 405 Albright-McKay Road -- Many colorful lights, including lighted Santa, Frosty, trees, colored green wreath, and lit up garage.

   » 6582 Stewart-Sharon Road -- Plenty of trees are festooned with white lights and icicles lights make the house glow.

   » 6638 Stewart-Sharon Road -- A stream of lights decorate the side shrubs, while white icicle lights align the home.

   » 6700 block of Stewart-Sharon Road -- Five homes are garnished with lights and decorations.

   » 6899 Stewart-Sharon Road -- A plethora of lights decorate this home, complete with a lighted train, miniature semi-truck, church, American flag, Santa and Mrs. Claus and a manger scene.

   » 6891 Stewart-Sharon Road -- Red and green lighted bushes and white lights decorate this lovely home.

   » 7000 block of Stewart-Sharon Road -- Features homes with toy soldiers and plenty of lights.

   » 7400 Addison Road -- More than 46,000 lights decorate this house which features a lighted "Peace On Earth" sign, icicle lights, reindeer, snowmen, an igloo, penguins, doves, miniature helicopter, a cross, an elf carrying a package, sleigh, carolers, candy canes, candles and more. Holiday music is also heard at the property.

   » Brookfield Avenue -- In the 300 block there are several homes decorated with white and colored lights; O'Brien Memorial Home is outlined with white lights.

   » 7825 and 7815 Service Ave. -- White and colorful lights adorn these homes.

   » Service, Budd and Rose streets -- Several homes are beautifully decorated with white and colorful lights and ornaments.

   » Bedford Road -- Lights and jingle bell cheer decorate a few homes.

   » Canfield Fairgrounds Holiday of Lights display -- More than 100,000 lights on 100 theme decorations, many of which move. Information: (330) 392-6527.

   » Tara, A Country Inn -- The inn and surrounding trees and shrubbery are adorned with white lights.

   » Nora Street -- Several houses are festively decorated.

   » Hoovler Volkswagen Repair & Import Car Parts -- Classic Volkswagen Bug is festooned with Christmas lights.

   » 156 Hopper Road -- House is decorated with lights. There is an old wagon decorated on the lawn and lighted trees, caller said. Several homes on East Lake and Willowdale roads are also nicely decorated.

   » 340 Wasser Bridge Road -- The elaborate display by Frank and Audrey Kiser in Hempfield Township includes over 30 scenes and 25 animated characters. The lights are on from 5 to 11 p.m. daily. Donations are accepted.

   » Greenville house on Penn Avenue -- For 13 years, residents of the high-rise have decorated their balconies.

   » 89 Kinsman Road, West Salem Township -- Caller said icicle lights adorn the house and garage. Red and green candy canes light up along with other lit figures. A giant present with animated figures of Winnie the Pooh and friends is a highlight to this display. There is also a projected image of Santa and his sleigh.

   » 510 Kinsman Road, Greene Township -- Caller said home is beautifully decorated.

   » 33 Overhill St. -- Four reindeer, two in the front and two in the back, are lit up, and the house is adorned with white lights.

   » 551 Charlotte Drive -- Apartment is decorated for the holidays.

   » 85 S. Oakdale Ave. -- This brick ranch house is adorned with multi-colored lights and has wreaths with red bows hanging in the windows. Spotlights show off the house.

   » 2014 Mercer Ave. -- House is "all lit up" with blue icicle lights. The display includes a manger, candy canes and Santa.

   » Buhl Woods near Hazen Road and Monticello Avenue -- Homes throughout the neighborhood are decorated with white and colored lights. Check out Buhl Circle which has outdoor trees decorated classically with white lights and glimmers of residents' lighted indoor Christmas trees from their windows.

Rodeo Drive has many homes with trees and shrubs lit up with red, white and green lights. Also check out Wishart Place and Brookview Court.

   » Corner of Theota and Buhl Farm Drive -- Uniquely lit home with lighted manger scene in front.

   » King Drive -- Four or five homes festively lit with red and white lights, Santa Claus and his reindeer.

   » Corner Ellis Avenue and King Drive -- Rainbow-colored icicle lights, red-lighted decorative ornaments on a tree, rainbow lights on a tree and a shrub.

   » Christy Street -- Several homes nicely decorated with holiday lights.

   » Morefield Road -- Many houses along the road are decorated with lights and have displays, including reindeer and Santa.

   » Homes on Lexington and Brandywine, off Morefield Road, are decorated with an array of colored and white lights and seasonal displays. Lexington Drive homes feature uniquely lit trees and shrubs, manger scenes; Brandywine Drive homes feature classic decorations with mostly white lights, green wreaths with red ribbon and wooden Santas on porches.

   » 1167 Brandywine features a light-lined express wagon, lighted presents, reindeer and other Christmas lawn ornaments. The home is decorated in multi-colored trim.

   » 468 North Buhl Farm Drive -- Lighted nicely with red-lighted handmade trees in the yard.

   » South and North Keel Ridge Road -- Several houses at the Hermitage township line past state Route 318 with multi-colored lights, a blue twinkling border, several snowmen and Santas. Another cluster of houses near New Virginia Methodist Church with Santas on a roof, colorful twinkling lights on outdoor trees, manger scenes, lighted reindeer, with several more houses decorated with lights near East State Street; then across State Street another cluster of houses starting with 502 N. Keel Ridge Road have blue lights, a Christmas spot light, lighted trees in the yard and a snow man.

   » 1051 Maple Drive -- Three large Christmas trees are lit. The display also includes Santa and his reindeer and candy canes line the driveway. A nativity scene and many lights complete the display.

   » 510 Kinsman Road -- an e-mail said this house has "a very lovely tasteful and well thought out display of Christmas lights"

   » 1095 Perry Highway, three miles south of Mercer on Route 19 -- Colored lights line three sides of the house, porch, pool, trees and sidewalk. A Santa, sleigh and reindeer are also featured.

   » 1406 Mercer-Grove City Road, Findley Township -- This ranch-style home has a lighted roof, chimney and lighted wreaths in all of the windows. A lighted lawn display that includes deer and Christmas trees adds to the atmosphere.

   » 889 Scrubgrass Road -- White ranch house is decorated for the holidays.

   » 761 McClure Ave. -- Assorted, colorful lights make this house festive for the holiday season. A lighted Christmas tree and many lit figurines complete the scene.

   » 763 Stambaugh Ave. -- An 8-foot-tall Santa Claus draws attention to this house that also has candy cane lights surrounding the house, and there are lights in the windows and on the fences. A lighted flag adorns the front of the house.

   » 431 Baldwin Ave. -- House has a festive light display.

   » 400 block of Independence Court -- Several homes beautifully decorated with many white lights, wreaths, angels and trees.

   » 100 block of Flowers Street -- Several houses have lots of lights and garland.

   » 265 and 551 Euclid Ave. -- Houses have lots of white lights, wreaths, garland, lighted deer and snowmen.

   » 100 block of South Myers Avenue -- Two homes are nicely decorated with lights and wreaths.

   » 158 Wengler Ave. -- Lots of lights and wreaths make this house festive for Christmas.

   » 1069 Pearl St. -- An array of colored lights make this house stand out. Several other homes in this block are also nicely decorated.

   » 496 Nimick St. -- A large Grinch, Santa, a snowman and many lighted lawn ornaments and lights on the house complete the display.

   » 303 Prindle St. -- House has four Christmas trees in the yard, seven reindeer and angels. Icicle lights adorn the house and porch.

   » 197 Cedar Ave. -- Lots of lights decorate the house. The home across the street also has lots of lights and decorations.

   » 200 block of Cedar Avenue -- Several homes are nicely decorated with lights and displays.

   » 680 Cedar Ave. -- Many lights and decorations festoon this home.

   » 302 Spencer Ave. -- House has lights, lighted trees and decorations.

   » 700 block of Spencer Avenue -- Several homes are nicely decorated.

   » 719 Baldwin Ave. -- A very pretty display of lights, ornaments and an American flag.

   » 400 block of South Oakland Avenue -- A home in this block has many multicolored lights.

   » 901 10th St. -- A huge lawn display makes this Christmas scene visible from blocks away.

   » 1140 George St. -- Lights, a nativity and an American flag complete this holiday display.

   » The 500 and 600 blocks of Wengler Avenue have homes that are nicely decorated with lights, wreaths and lit figures.

   » 600 block of McClure Avenue has several homes decorated with lots of lights.

   » 1510 Ridge Ave. -- House has multicolor lights around the porch and in the trees. Santa and reindeer complete the display.

   » Mercer Avenue -- Many houses are festively decorated.

   » Mayfield Road and Seventh Street -- House is decorated with white lights.

   » Georgetown South Apartments -- Several homes and the office are decorated.

   » 430 S. 4th St. -- House is nicely decorated.

   » Stoney Hill and Bedford Road -- House has lighted deer in the yard and colored lights. Caller said its beautiful.

   » 572 Bedford Road -- House is decorated with lights and garland. A tree shines with lighted stars.

   » Bedford Road from state Route 318 going toward Pulaski has a 1.5-mile stretch with many houses decorated.

   » 3157 Cathy Lane -- the house has two lighted trees, reindeer in the front and a Santa Claus. The fence and windows are decorated with white lights.

   » North Hermitage Road -- several houses on the northbound side are bedecked with multicolored lights.

   » 4405 Thomason Road -- the house is adorned with white lights. Small red and green lights cast a glow.

   » 4128 Thomason Road -- the Peanuts characters sing Christmas carols in the front yard. White lights decorate the trees.

   » Baywoods -- Many houses in the development are festooned with white lights.

   » 3868 Thomason Road -- Red and green spotlights show off this house, which is adorned with white lights.

   » 33 Carrier Road -- This Victorian house has white icicle lights all around it.

   » 47 Haywood St. -- Icicle lights and bows along with Santa and his deer make this house festive for the holidays.

   » 10 School St. -- House has lots of lights, trees and animated figures.

   » 260 New Castle St. -- Lighted wreaths with red bows and multi-colored lights on the shrubbery.

   » Beechwood Inn on Beechwood Road -- Yellow-lighted manger scene and multi-colored lights on a Christmas tree.

   » 4314 Bethel-New Wilmington -- Lighted Santa's workshop, Rudolph, elves and uniquely-lit Christmas trees.

   » Can be seen from the corner of state routes 18 and 468 -- Red cross and blue snowflake-star on silos.