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Christmas Tree Lane A Longtime Holiday Tradition In Fresno

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An aerial view of Christmas Tree Lane, a decades-long tradition in Fresno. (Photo courtesy of Christmas Tree Lane)

Here are the morning’s top stories on Tuesday, December 24, 2024…

  • If you grew up here in California, you’ve likely visited a neighborhood that goes all out for Christmas. We’re talking decorations on the roof in the front yard and lining the street. In Fresno, that neighborhood is known as Christmas Tree Lane during the holidays. Groups of families or friends get in their cars and drive down the street, blasting the Christmas radio station. Or they pick one of the walking days, stop at the Starbucks just outside the neighborhood, and walk the lane to really soak up its Christmas magic. It’s a tradition that spans decades.

Christmas Tree Lane In Fresno Brings Visitors From Near And Far

Since 1920, Fresno’s Christmas Tree Lane has brightened part of the Central Valley city.  Dean Alexander runs the current version of Christmas Tree Lane.

“Billy Winning, he was a freshman in high school. And back then, they didn’t have PG&E. They had a power plant in the back of their house. And he was back there and he slipped and fell and he died. And so he died in 1919. And so May Winning in 1920 to memorialize his death, she decorated a tree. And that’s how it started,” said Alexander. “So she decorated a tree in memory of him. And then in 1922 or 21 is when the action and the other neighbors started doing the tree. And then it went on from there. Only two years we went dark is 1941 because of the war. And then 1973, the energy crisis, we went dark. But since then, we’ve been having our lane and this is our 102nd year running the lane.”

Visitors can drive the two mile stretch of North Van Ness Boulevard and there are also designated walk-only nights.

 

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