Christmas Tree Lane opens at 6 p.m. with a walk night Tuesday — meaning it’s exclusively for pedestrians and closed to motor vehicles.
Admission is free, but donations are accepted to view the 140 homes and 300 trees that are decorated with lights and other attractions on Van Ness Boulevard between Shields and Shaw avenues.
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The other walk night will be Wednesday, Dec. 11.
This is the event’s 97th year. It is sponsored by the Fig Garden Home Owners Association.
Answers to frequently asked questions about the lane are at this link.
Saving the Lane’s Original Christmas Tree
Nearly a century ago, the tree was decorated by Willian and Mae Winning in memory of their teenage son after he died from a fall. Neighbors decorated trees in front of their homes in solidarity with the grieving parents.
“It’s not just, ‘Oh, let’s decorate our neighborhood.’ It has meaning,” said Dana Pratt, who bought the home behind the tree with her husband Greg in 2016. “A spirit-of-Christmas kind of thing — at least I think so.”
The Pratts have been working to slowly renovate the home and restore the tree, The Fresno Bee reported Sunday. They hired an arborist who trimmed some of the tree’s dead limbs, which spooked neighbors who cherish the annual tradition.
Arborist Steven Stubbe said that between 30-40% of the tree’s canopy was dead and the tree hadn’t been properly maintained. The plan is to install a drip line to help water the tree after the holiday season.
Watch: Christmas Tree Lane Time Lapse
Candy Cane Lane
Candy Cane Lane near Peach and Alluvial Avenues in Clovis is a popular free attraction, as well.
It is lit from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily through Dec. 25.
Zoo Lights
Zoo Lights at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo continues to gain in popularity.
The entire zoo is fully decorated and strung with miles of holiday lights.
The remaining dates: Dec. 6-8, 13-23, and 26-30. Zoo Lights is from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Tickets for zoo members are $8 adults, $6 children (ages 2-11).
The cost for non-members is $10 adults, $7 children (ages 2-11).
Children 1 and under are free.
Additional information and the “notable nights” schedule are at this link.
Zoo Lights at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo. (fresnochaffeezoo)
(Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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