![\"(Maria](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1214-Interlochen-01-1-2-1024x683.jpg\")
The Arlington neighborhood of Interlochen decorates with holiday lights visitors drive in to see on Dec. 14, 2025. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report\/CatchLight Local\/Report for America)<\/p>\nThe red hue of brake lights lit up the entrance to the Lake Interlochen neighborhood as cars lined up with parents and children sticking their heads out of windows to get a better view of bright Christmas displays.<\/p>\n
Strings of lights cover trees, yards and homes as Santa Claus and Snoopy inflatables rock back and forth in the breeze, welcoming visitors into their version of a winter wonderland.<\/p>\n
The Arlington neighborhood of Interlochen decorates with holiday lights visitors drive in to see on Dec. 14, 2025. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report\/CatchLight Local\/Report for America)<\/p>\n
The Lights at Interlochen<\/a> display in northwest Arlington is a staple of the holidays in North Texas. This year marks 50 years since the neighborhood tradition began.<\/p>\n Noelle Slater, a realtor who is on the homeowners association board, said the community fully embraces the holiday spirit as something to look forward to each winter.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just the simplicity of: There\u2019s no charge to come to Interlochen and see the lights,\u201d Slater said. \u201cIt just provides joy. That\u2019s why our neighborhood embraces it.\u201d<\/p>\n Officials estimate that thousands of cars funnel through the neighborhood over the holidays as homes light up the night sky.<\/p>\n The idea of mounting large-scale Christmas displays across Interlochen was created by Carol and Robert Findlay, the original developers, in an attempt to bring more attention to the neighborhood.\u00a0<\/p>\n Ralph Sobel, president of the homeowners\u2019 group, said the trend of putting Christmas lights on homes was just launching in some upscale areas of Fort Worth and Dallas when the Findlays brought it to Interlochen.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt was pretty unique at the time, and it caught on very quickly,\u201d Sobel said. \u201cIt\u2019s a wonderful neighborhood to live in anyway, but the Christmas lights gave it an additional identity pretty early in its development and has been a part of its growth ever since.\u201d<\/p>\n Sobel has lived in the community since late 1995. He moved to the area to be closer to his office at Tandy Brands Accessories, which is no longer in business and was housed in the current Arlington ISD Administration Building.<\/p>\n He knew about the tradition before moving in, but it wasn\u2019t what drew him and his wife to the area.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe loved the house, loved the neighborhood and said, \u2018What\u2019s the worst that can happen? We\u2019ll put some lights on our house, grin and enjoy the two weeks,\u2019\u201d Sobel recalled. \u201cThen, we found how special it was when you\u2019re part of it.\u201d<\/p>\n About 200 homeowners participate in the festivities, putting up Christmas lights and elaborate decorations, Slater said.<\/p>\n Slater\u2019s family moved to the neighborhood in 2021 from Louisiana. Each year, Slater, her husband and children hand make wooden decorations with a different theme.<\/p>\n This year is a full embrace of the 50th anniversary.\u00a0<\/p>\n In January, Slater approached the HOA board and asked if her family could collect extra Christmas decorations throughout the year to help neighbors who are too elderly to decorate or have gotten rid of their tinsels, ornaments and other holiday trimmings but want to participate again.<\/p>\n \u201cAt this point, five neighbors who haven\u2019t decorated reached out and said, \u2018We\u2019d love that,\u2019\u201d Slater said as she prepared for the season. \u201cIt\u2019s not that they don\u2019t want to. It\u2019s that they\u2019ve been unable to.\u201d<\/p>\n Slater said one neighbor who reached out hasn\u2019t decorated in four years, since her husband passed away. This will be the first time since then that her house will be lit up.<\/p>\n About a dozen houses eventually participated thanks to Slater\u2019s work, Sobel said. Young families such as the Slaters are breathing a new life into the tradition, Sobel added.<\/p>\n \u201cShe has the spirit everyone has, but she\u2019s got it in spades,\u201d Sobel said. \u201cThis is my 30th Christmas (in Interlochen). This is her third or fourth, and she\u2019s got young kids. She\u2019s indicative of what I\u2019m hoping the neighborhood is going to be going forward, so maybe this will last another 50 years.\u201d<\/p>\n What to know before going to Interlochen<\/p>\n The Lights at Interlochen will remain accessible through Christmas night, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.<\/p>\n During the event, the Arlington Police Department closes most entrances into the neighborhood. Traffic to see the lights must enter from Westwood Drive at Randol Mill Road.\u00a0<\/p>\n Tim Ciesco, a member of the Arlington Police Department\u2019 media relations team, said officers are stationed throughout the neighborhood to help with traffic control.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve been a part of (the Interlochen lights) for several years because it\u2019s become so popular,\u201d Ciesco said. \u201cTraffic gets really, really heavy going in and out of this neighborhood.\u201d<\/p>\n Tips from the Arlington Police Department for your trip to Interlochen<\/p>\n Come early to avoid some of the larger crowds that arrive at 7 or 8 p.m. Chris Moss is a reporting fellow for the Arlington Report. Contact him at chris.moss@fortworthreport.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"(Maria](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1214-Interlochen-02-1-1-1024x683.jpg\")
The neighborhood of Interlochen this year celebrates 50 years of lighting up homes and lawns for the viewing pleasure of visitors from all over North Texas, Dec. 14, 2025. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report\/CatchLight Local\/Report for America)<\/p>\n![\"(Maria](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1214-Interlochen-04-1-1-1024x683.jpg\")
The neighborhood of Interlochen decorates their homes with holiday lights for visitors to see in Arlington on Dec. 14, 2025. Interlochen celebrated its 50 anniversary this year. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report\/CatchLight Local\/Report for America)<\/p>\n
\nBring snacks and drinks; use the restroom beforehand.
\nGo on a weekday to avoid some of the weekend traffic.
\nPrepare for an hourlong trip through the neighborhood.
\nStay in the right lane, the left lane is reserved for homeowners and emergency vehicles.<\/p>\n