As the December sun sets over the majestic hills, nightfall isn't so dark in our residential streets anymore.

Street by street, the Christmas lights are being turned on in a BIG way.From countdown clocks ticking down to the big day, to laser lights and giant wrapped parcels, local residents aren't holding back on their 2015 exterior festive light displays.

Spending my first Christmas up in Port Douglas it’s clear that the locals take, ‘lighting up,’ very seriously. It’s a stark comparison to Macrossan Street at the time of writing this article, where it feels like Christmas will be more fitting to Mr, ‘ Bah Humbug,’ Scrooge than our party loving locals and the thousands of visitors expected over the festive break. Perhaps as in Charles Dickens famous story, Mr Scrooge or whoever is managing the Macrossan Street decorations will come good at the eleventh hour.

Maybe the locals have just started the party early.  To get the full effect you really should take a drive around the area at dusk and soak up the wonderful atmosphere created by all the Christmas lights….It makes you go all warm and cuddly.