by John P. Meyer

The Arlington PD will be on site to control traffic, lay down law, eat donuts.

Arlington's Interlochen neighborhood has long been known as a Christmas light hotspot, with streams of motorists chugging through the cul de sacs oohing and aahing at the spectacular twinkling displays put up by residents.

This season, it will also be one of the most heavily managed of holiday light destinations, with cops posted on site to control the flow of traffic (says Arlington PD Sergeant Ronald Morris).

The "fun" begins on Saturday, Dec. 13, on which evening about 200 Interlochen homeowners will switch on their displays (brownout alert!) and drivers will begin navigating the gauntlet; the semi-official holiday attraction will be officially operational through Christmas Day. Hours for drive-by viewing are from 6 - 11 p.m., after which the residents would appreciate you going away and leaving them to their long winter naps.

Entry and exit from the Interlochen cluster-twinkle should be limited to Westwood Drive at Randol Mill (with an alternate exit route down Bowen Rd. to the south).

Note that other approaches will be closed to all but homeowner traffic (and good luck to that harried group over the next couple of weeks). Left turns are prohibited from northbound Bowen at Westwood, and at Westwood and Crowley. No u-turns are allowed at Westwood and Findlay. Tour buses will not be allowed on Porto Bello Court, and fuggetabout parking anywhere along the route to ask a homeowner if you can use the bathroom. (That last bit is unofficial, but you can take it as gospel.)

FURTHER INTERLOCHEN CLUSTER-TWINKLE TIPS AND PRONOUNCEMENTS (courtesy City of Arlington):

* Adults and children must be properly secured by safety belts and child safety seats.

* Visit during the week. Weekends are the highest traffic-volume days.

* Pack a little patience. Traveling through the area could be slow.

* Pedestrian traffic is permitted, though roller skating in the street is prohibited by the Arlington Municipal Code. No solicitation or sales by any vendors or group will be allowed from any public roadway or public rights-of-way.

Sure sounds like an old-fashioned, good-time, family-friendly holiday event to me. (But then, so does this.)

posted by JM / info from City of Arlington