Hit the lights

Sure, they can be dazzling.

But there are a couple of bright and shiny reasons why lots of us really enjoy riding around and looking at outdoor holiday lights displays.

1. It’s free. (Well, if you don’t count the fuel costs.) And we all know how much people in the Spokane area love a bargain.

2. It is an entertainment genre that encourages you to be the critic.

Think about it. In the world of movies, books, theater and what have you, there are always some know-it-all reviewers telling you what to think. But in assessing the merits of a seasonal lights array, you have no choice but to come up with your own opinions.

“That star on the chimney is flawed.”

“The all-white motif seems derivative.”

“This is quite possibly their best work ever.”

“Gaga about the gigawatts.”

Of course, not everyone else in the car will necessarily see eye-to-eye with you. But some lively give-and-take can be fun.

“Those twinkling reindeer are gorgeous.”

“Nah. They look like disco balls with legs.”

“Dad, shouldn’t you be paying attention to the road?”

Experienced lights spectators have also been known to disagree about the proper approach to tracking down the primo displays. Some prefer to engage in haphazard wandering. These holiday hunter-gatherers turn here and turn there, a bit like meandering dowsers searching for an underground spring.

That can work.

But if you would rather start your quest with a treasure map in hand, we’ve got you covered.

Look to page D3 for a list of light displays submitted by readers to our Web site. It’s by no means a comprehensive list of the region’s offerings. Still, it’s a start.

And sometimes, when heading out into the night, you just need to shine a little light to help you find your way.