Where to catch holiday light displays in Southern California

Published Nov 29, 2024 8:00 AM

A home is decorated with white and red lights for the holidays. Two trees in front of the homes are also decorated with lights as are the bushes on the sidewalk.

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Before the gravy even soaks through your leftover turkey sandwich the day after Thanksgiving, some of you may already be planning for the next big holiday, Christmas. Across Southern California, some neighborhoods welcome visitors with stellar festive displays. Walk the streets or drive through (can't escape L.A. traffic even during the holiday season) to get into the spirit of what is truly the best time of the year.

Sleepy Hollow Christmas Lights, Torrance

Walk or drive through the Seaside Ranchos neighborhood in Torrance for some elaborate holiday displays. With tributes to the L.A. Dodgers, odes to Disney favorites, and life-sized cutouts of Santa, this neighborhood has it all. The tradition started in 1984 with lights going up the day after Thanksgiving up until New Year’s Day. (Pro tip: bring cash as some families sell hot chocolate and churros to support neighborhood sports teams.)

Where: 5300 Reese Rd., Torrance, CA 90505
Starts the day after Thanksgiving until New Year’s Day
From dusk to 10 p.m.

Candy Cane Lane, El Segundo

A black and gold plaque on a brick wall reads "Candy Cane Lane." It is surrounded by green foliage.

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East Acacia Avenue in El Segundo, dubbed “Candy Cane Lane” every holiday season, was the inspiration for the holiday film Candy Cane Lane starring Eddie Murphy and Tracee Ellis Ross. Families begin pulling out decoration bins soon after Thanksgiving Day, bedecking their lawns with LED icicles, window garlands with lit-up wreaths and ornaments, fairy lights on the bushes, electric trains and elves. The neighborhood has its own Yelp page and has been decorating as a group for the holidays since 1949.

Where: East Acacia Avenue and California Street, El Segundo
Starts on Dec. 14 up until the night of Dec. 25
From 7 to 9 p.m.

Candy Cane Lane, Woodland Hills

Since 1952, homeowners have welcomed visitors to the Lubao Avenue and Oxnard Street block of Woodland Hills. I stopped counting after I reached 584 lights because I could have gone on all night — the festive displays are dazzling with fairy lights even strewn over animatronic reindeer and Santas. Adding to the atmosphere are carolers singing holiday favorites. Visitors would drive through slowly in years past to check out the decorations, but with crowds increasing over the years, it’s better to park nearby and walk over.

Where: Lubao Avenue and Oxnard Street
First Saturday in December through the first Saturday in January
6 to 10 p.m.

Christmas Tree Lane, Altadena

Large deodar trees are adorned with multi-colored lights. A large group of people can be seen beneath the trees.

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Designated by the National Register of Historic Places, Altadena’s cedar tree lined Santa Rosa Avenue has been a holiday tradition for over 100 years. In fact, it is the oldest Christmas lighting display in the country. Blue, red, green and white lights twinkle on trees that were planted in the late 1800s. (Pro tip: listen to a Christmas holiday playlist and suck on peppermint candy while driving down the street — for the vibes.)

Where: E Mariposa Street and Santa Rosa Avenue
Lights turn on nightly at dusk until around midnight

Brea Lights, Brea

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More than 100 homes in this Brea neighborhood are decked out with festive displays: tributes to Southern California’s beaches, local sports teams, nativity scenes and live music, this neighborhood has seen and has it all.

Where: Eagle Hills neighborhood, E. Lambert Road and Sunflower Street
From Dec. 1 to Dec. 26
From 6 to 10 p.m.

Sparkle Ball Lane, Fullerton

What started as a singular effort of fairy lights strung around 50 plastic cups glued together to create a “sparkle ball” has now become a neighborhood extravaganza and making these balls of light has become a community activity. In addition to the illuminated spheres, neighbors also decorate their lawns with other festive gear.

Where: North Yale Avenue
Begins Dec. 1 through to the first weekend in January
5 to 11 p.m.