Fresno’s Christmas Tree Lane welcomed thousands of visitors with colorful displays of seasonal cheer Tuesday night.
The 97th edition of the annual holiday celebration opened with an evening reserved for walkers, who had the festive, two-mile stretch of Van Ness Avenue all to themselves.

Simple to Elaborate Displays

Here’s a small sampling of the creative lighting and scenery they enjoyed as they strolled down the lane, ranging from traditional home decorations to elaborate multimedia extravaganzas.

Open Nightly Through Christmas

The next walk-only night is Dec. 11. Otherwise, the Lane is open to vehicles and pedestrians through December 25. Christmas Tree Lane runs nightly, rain or shine from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. On Christmas night, the Lane closes at 10 p.m.
There’s no charge to walk or drive through the Lane, but donations are accepted.

A little cold weather didn’t prevent us from enjoying an annual Fresno tradition: walking down Christmas Tree Lane. Great to see so many folks in our community spreading holiday cheer with their families. pic.twitter.com/tx6Nb7NlGD

— Andreas Borgeas (@SenatorBorgeas) December 4, 2019

Courtesy and Patience Encouraged

The Fig Garden Homeowners Association, which organizes Christmas Tree Lane, is reminding motorists that the only vehicle entrance to Van Ness is at Shields Ave. Drivers should access Shields via southbound Blackstone Ave. and be prepared for traffic delays. The Lane is very popular, but weeknights are generally less crowded than weekends, organizers say.