North Andover's downtown has been geared up for the holidays in this image series.

This holiday season, North Andover Patch hit the streets and tracked down some of the best decorated homes throughout town. Here are nine of the more festive homes we found. Do you know a house that looks better? Upload your own pictures or suggest a home that isn't here. We would love to hear from you!

The people of North Andover must have been very good this year, because Santa's been hanging around all over town.

The holidays are here, and to celebrate, we gathered some festive pictures from around North Andover.

Decorating the tree?  Opening presents early on Christmas Eve?  Visiting grandpa for dinner?  Patch.com asked North Andover residents to share their favorite holiday traditions.  Here's what some of them had to say.

Smolak Farms held a special Gingerbread House Workshop Saturday. The event sparked holiday cheer among participants and provided gingerbread houses to decorate as well as a special appearance by Santa. A portion of the event portions will be donated to Toys for Tots.

Running outdoors in the frigid climate of our New England winter months seems pretty far-fetched to most. Not so, however, for the Borderline Running Club of North Andover, who embarked on their Fifth annual Christmas Run Saturday. At the time of departure, the temperature registered in at a chilling 19 degrees. The BRC was founded by North Andover natives Frank Killilea and Tom Reusch in 2005, who came up with the idea of running from the North Andover Town Common to all of the surrounding town borders.  They began with the founding two members and have since grown to 25 official members.  …

Pet lovers, have you purchased something special for the furry little friends in your life?  'Tis the season of giving, and that includes your companionship pals. Consider these five places for holiday gift ideas for the special pets in your home. Wiggles & Jiggles Pet Care Dog walking, cat and critter care and pet sitting services– Owned and operated by Tracey Zysk, Wiggles & Jiggles Pet Care provides services that offer your pet the undivided attention they crave and the care of a professional who has been in business for more than nine years. Tracey noted that in her experience, pet owners…

'Tis the season to sing and play at North Andover High School.  NAHS's award-winning band and chorus played in their first concert of the year to an audience of about 250. The concert featured the school's 66-member symphonic band and 63-member chorus, along with a number of smaller specialized groups. "Music is meant to be heard," said band director Aaron Goldberg, "so it's great for us to be out here performing." Goldberg's symphonic band, a band dominated by wind instruments, played British folk carols from the nineteenth century well. But his group really won the audience over with their …

The holiday season is the biggest time of year for giving to those in need. Locally, there are several places to do so. Here are a few: North Parish Church collects non-perishable food for its People's Pantry. Some suggestions are salad dressings, beans, canned chicken or tuna, instant mashed potatoes and soups. Items may be left in the Parish Hall, 190 Academy Road, during regular church office hours. The Fire Department is collecting toys for the non-profit group Toys for Local Children. Residents are asked to bring new, unopened and unwrapped toys -- for boys of any age group -- to …

While you're shopping for Christmas gifts, would you like to put a smile on a Massachusetts kid's face? The North Andover Fire Department is participating in Toys for Local Children, a non-profit group based out of Somerville through which people can give unopened toys to underprivileged kids all around the state in need of a cheerful Christmas. Collectors for the charity tend to be local fire departments. North Andover Firefighter Matt Davis is organizing the toy drive in North Andover for the second year in a row. "I got approached last year by one of my buddies at the Dracut Fire …

Santa Claus wants to know what the good kids of North Andover want under their trees this year, or even just to answer questions about life as the world's top toy giver. So Patch is partnering with Santa in the digital age. Patch is taking questions and requests via email and user comments from kids in North Andover, and Santa will read the letters and respond via video from the North Pole next week. The videos will be posted on this site. Kids and their parents who are interested in asking a question or making a toy request may email their local Patch editor at Bryan.McGonigle@patch.com or …

If you've yet to purchase your Christmas tree, don't fret; there is plenty of time and many great locations in North Andover to make your selection.  Check out these 5 locations to find your perfect tree. Boston Hill Farm-1370 Turnpike St. Just a short distance past Stop & Shop on route 114 towards Middleton, you will find Boston Hill Farm where fresh cut Christmas trees, wreathes, fresh garland and more can found.  Boston Hill's trees start as low as $19 and trees as tall as 12 feet are available.  While shopping for your tree, be sure to stop in to the Boston Hill Farm store where you …

The Champion Factory held a free event Saturday afternoon featuring Mrs. Claus who was  posing for pictures with the kids.  The gymnasium floor was open for kids and parents to play and run around. There was face-painting, refreshments, and a raffle. The owners Brian and Teena Veth were wonderful hosts and had their own two children there, Violet and Vintage. The Champion Factory is in its eleventh year of operation. Their winter session of classes begin on the third of January so be sure to register soon!

Breakfast with Santa was an event held Saturday at the Andover/North Andover YMCA. Kids could get their pictures taken with Santa after a nutritious breakfast. Mishael Schiller and Heather McConley from Usborne books had lots of great holiday titles available to raise funds for the YMCA.

On Friday December 10, 2010 and  Saturday December 11, 2010, St. Michael Parish welcomed guests for  A Night in Bethlehem!  A one hour tour where the church was transformed and visitors could taste, see and smell what daily life was like when Jesus was born. 

North Andover, like the rest of the state from Beacon Hill to the Chicopee's town center, is full of Christmas cheer this month. Smolak Farms had a massive crowd for its tree lighting festival. Santa exhibited his swagger at the holiday parade. The North Parish Church celebrated with a Red Bow Fair. And it's only early December; North Andover's holiday fever is only just beginning. But it wasn't always like that in December. When the Puritans ruled things, Christmas wasn't even legal. With all the talk about a "war on Christmas" today, it's important to note that the original war on Christmas…

For many people, the holiday season means a tradition of seeing that famous Russian ballet with dancing toy soldiers and the Sugar Plum Fairie. Luckily for Merrimack Valley residents, enjoying that tradition doesn't have to mean heading to Boston. The New England Civic Balley will present Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker" at Merrimack College's Rogers Center Dec. 10 to 12. The balle, first produced in the late 1800s in imperial Russia, follows the children of Herr and Frau Silberhaus, Clara and Fritz, on Christmas Eve as their new dolls come to life and dance. Clara observes an epic battle …

The Lazarus House in Lawrence is an important organization that provides food and shelter to the needy, services critical during the harsh New England winter. A free jazz concert was held Sunday at 7:30 p.m. at the Rogers Center for the Arts to help raise funds for the local outreach ministry. The Merrimack College Jazz Band performed Christmas music with a jazzy twist. Check out some pictures from the event. To find out more about contributing to the Lazarus House click here.

This year there are many families with young children in the area that have a parent deployed or waiting to be deployed that deserve to enjoy a happy holiday season. The USO and BAE systems put on an event to reach out to local military families. The event ran on Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at Smolak Farms.  The event featured Story Time with Mrs. Claus, ornament decorating, donuts and refreshments, and free hayrides. Each family received a free Christmas tree and a holiday goody bag provided by BAE Systems.