Christmas lights on Cape Neddick Light in York, Maine, USA

© Walter Bibikow/Alam

Lighting up a lighthouse

The state of Maine on the east coast of the US is not short of a lighthouse or two (it has about 65) but Cape Neddick Light, featured on our homepage, is one of its most iconic. Every year, on the Saturday after Thanksgiving on 26 November, locals gather on the mainland across from Nubble Island to count down to the big switch-on of Christmas lights, usually complete with live reindeer, locally baked biscuits and an appearance from Father Christmas himself.

Built on the tiny granite Nubble Island, ‘the Nub’ has been protecting sailors since 1879. There’s no better time to visit than when it’s all dressed up for Christmas but with travel limited this year, there is always July, when it's relit for summer visitors.