Go to Cheekwood for Holiday LIGHTS

I never know what will give me that very first Christmasy feeling of the year. It was a bit easier to find in my Northeastern homeland — be it through chilly morning walks, actual snowfall or maneuvering through rows of evergreens that a handsome German vendor set up outside the Park Slope YMCA in Brooklyn. I am an avowed atheist who loves Christmas, so I go after that tug-tug-tug of the yule log hard. (And no, I do not wait until after Thanksgiving.) A reliable source of holiday cheer is Cheekwood’s Holiday LIGHTS extravaganza, where you can stroll along a mile-long path and enjoy millions of lights. Previous years have featured oversize lighted flowers and vines, orbs that appear to float in the garden’s pools and a North Pole Express scene. This year has the added attraction of the estate’s Chihuly exhibition, and the glass artist’s ostentatious sculptures should reflect the luminous display nicely. To leave room for social distancing, Cheekwood is selling tickets by appointment and staggering entry, so visit cheekwood.org to claim yours. Through Jan. 10 at Cheekwood Estate & Gardens, 1200 Forrest Park Drive ERICA CICCARONE