Holiday celebrations from coast to coast

In Boston's Jamaica Plain neighborhood, visitors flock to local resident Dominic Luberto's "Christmas castle" for inflatable holiday figures and lights galore. (Photo: Zak Patten)

New Orleans' French Quarter doesn't just celebrate Mardi Gras, and isn't discouraged by a lack of cold weather or snow. The city's legendary balconies are decked out in December, too. (Photo: Harry Costner)

Minneapolis' TCF Holidazzle, in its 15th season, is a series of float parades full of holiday cheer. Holidazzle runs Wednesdays through Sundays from the end of November through December 23. For a list of this year's participants, check this year's Holidazzle calendar (Photo: MeetMinneapolis.com)

Rather than stringing together the electric lights seen everywhere else, many in New Mexico celebrate the season by displaying luminarias, or small bags filled with sand and lit up by votive candles. (Photo: New Mexico Tourism Department)

Philadelphia celebrates the holidays by lighting up its famous Love statue. (Photo: R. Kennedy for GPTMC)

For all the best in holiday lights, visits with Santa, carriage parades, and even fireworks, Cleveland's Winterfest 2006 is the place to be. (Photo: travelcleveland.com)

Kansas City's Country Club Plaza Lights 2006 celebrates its 77th year of illuminating the city. (Photo: Kansas City Convention & Visitors Association)

Highlights of this year's HolidayFest in San Francisco include a Christmas ballet, supper cruise, and performances of the Messiah. (Photo: San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau)

The Duke Homestead State Historic Site and Tobacco Museum recreates Christmas traditions from the 19th century with "evening candlelight tours of the Homestead featuring period decorations, caroling, hot apple cider, entertainment and other goodies." (Photo: visitnc.com)

The Spirit of Christmas, at Branson, Missouri's Branson Variety Theatre, features the Osmonds as special guests. (Photo: Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau)

Said to be the largest outdoor lighting display in the country, tens of thousands of lights adorn the Denver City & County Building each holiday season. (Photo: Denver Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau)