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There may be many things that we enjoy doing over the holidays but one that has been a favorite for many years is driving around and looking at the holiday lights. It is more than a tradition, for most families, it isn’t Christmas until that drive takes place.

Of course, we will see some small displays in our local area and we may drive long distances to see some of the better displays. To make sure that you get the most out of your holiday drive to see the lights, be sure to check out Nextdoor’s Cheer Map.

Nextdoor is a social network focused on interactions within the neighborhood. It is a private social network, open by invitation and over 270,000 neighborhoods are already using it in the United States. If you happen to be in one of those neighborhoods, the Cheer Map can point you to the best Christmas lights in the area.

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The map is set up and maintained on a voluntary basis. Since it is crowd-sourced, people in your neighborhood can mark their own homes with an icon. If you happen to be one of those homes with awesome Christmas decorations, you can mark your home as well. Just be aware that the COVID-19 pandemic is making more people stay at home for the holidays, so you are likely to have some stiff competition on your hands.

You can use your home computer to access the Cheer Map, as well as access it online through your android or iPhone device. After creating a free online account with NextDoor, provided you don’t already have one, a pop-up window will appear to determine if you are decorating for the holidays. After making your selection and clicking “Continue,” you can see what is available in your area. You can also skip the entire process and jump ahead to see what your area has to offer.

If you live in the city, it is likely that your neighborhood already exists on the social media platform. If you live in a more urban area or a small town, then you may not have a neighborhood that is already launched until nine people in the neighborhood sign up. In other words, even if you aren’t able to enjoy the Cheer Map this season, you can get started so that it will be in full swing for 2021.

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