Christmas Card Lane

Christmas Card Lane is a holiday light display in San Diego, California in the community of Rancho Penasquitos. It is one of the most famous holiday displays in San Diego.[1][2][3][4] Residents erect giant plywood greetings in their front yards depicting cartoon characters, religious images, or Christmas themes.

Typical Christmas Card Lane display

History

Christmas Card Lane was started in 1982 by resident Alana Hastings as a way to share the Christmas spirit of the tight-knit community with others in the city.[5] Residents began to call local radio stations to advertise Christmas Card Lane.[5] Initially 15 families on Ellingham Street participated. Now there are about 200, spreading onto Oviedo and Renato streets.[1]

Displays range from Mickey Mouse representing the noted "Christmas Carol" story, to testing out the new naughty-or-nice software. Some displays are so elaborate that residents keep parts up all year.[6][7] School and scouting organizations often sell baked goods and hot chocolate, and members of the local school bands play Christmas carols, while other organizations rent horse-drawn carriages, double decker buses, or limousines: groups sing carols while driving around the neighborhood.[5]

The displays start going up right after Thanksgiving, with most in place by the second week of December and staying there through New Year's. Some displays require weeks of preparation.[5]

References
  1. Sherman, Pat (2004-12-24). "Christmas Card Lane is town's version of North Pole". San Diego Union Tribune.
  2. North County Times/The Californian - Jeff Frank
  3. Christmas Light Displays Around San Diego
  4. Rancho Penasquitos, San Diego, California: Information and Much More from Answers.com
  5. Lopez, Jose (December 7, 2006). "Christmas Card Lane lights up Rancho Penasquitos". Pomerado Newspaper Group. Retrieved 2007-12-22.
  6. McKinley, Shay (2000-12-15). "Christmas cards draw a festive crowd". San Diego Union Tribune.
  7. McKinley, Shay (2001-12-15). "Light display infused with red, white and blue". San Diego Union Tribune.

32.96825°N 117.129770°W / 32.96825; -117.129770

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