Holiday lights in Los Angeles
Celebrate the holidays in LA with local holiday lights. Whether you are visiting LA or happen to be a local, there is a plethora of light shows to take in.
LA Local Holiday Lights
Many, such as LA Zoo Lights, LA County Arboretum & Botanic Garden charge admission, but you can stay in your own hood and enjoy others for free.
Candy Cane Lane El Segundo
In El Segundo….Candy Cane Lane started celebrating the spirit of Christmas back in 1949. It has continued every year with the exception of 2020 due to the pandemic.
It runs just two streets and ends in a cul-de-sac. What I love most is the neighborhood vibe. It is closed to cars, so you can take your time to see all the intricacies of each display.
One of the neighbors has a popcorn machine and sells snacks as well as hot chocolate. Just head to the 1200 block of Acacia Avenue in El Segundo, CA, 90245;
Candy Cane Lane Torrance
Then in Torrance, you’ll find another Candy Cane Lane. This one began in 1984. Bob Solomon was one of the earliest neighbors to start this tradition. After getting much of the neighborhood involved, it has grown each year.
Here you can drive through, but be aware, it is super slow. You may as well park and walk, as many people do. Plus you will find hot chocolate sold on this street here as well. Here is an address to add to your navigator — 5305 Linda Dr, Torrance, CA 90505; https://www.torranceca.gov/home
Christmas Tree Lane
North of Pasadena, head to Santa Rosa Avenue in Altadena. Here you will find Christmas Tree Lane, one of the oldest large-scale Christmas lighting displays in America. It has been taking place since 1920. In fact, Christmas Tree Lane was added to the National Register of Historic Places in September 1990 and is designated a California Historical Landmark. Christmas Tree Lane Santa Rosa Ave, Altadena, CA 91001; https://www.christmastreelane.net/
The Venice Canals
I lived in the Venice Canals for several years. In December I always loved to wander the canals at night and enjoy the festive lights. You won’t want to miss the Venice Canals boat race which happens anywhere between December 4 – 15 (see website below). It gets quite crowded however, so if you do NOT like crowds, this may not be the event for you. These days I only attend when a friend who lives in the canals is having an event.
Parking is a challenge here as well. So, head there on a weekday, before sundown. Find free street parking and take a stroll. It is quite romantic. The only place to drive through the canals is at Dell Avenue. So if you don’t have a lot of time, you can drive over a bridge, and stop for a moment to catch a quick glimpse. However, if you walk the canals, you can walk across the bridges which are all decorated and lit up at your leisure and get some great photos.
The Venice Canals run parallel to the coast between Pacific Ave. and Ocean Ave. / between Venice Blvd. and Washington Blvd. http://venicecanalsassociation.org
These are just some of my favorite neighborhood light shows. So enjoy the season, and take some time to stop and look at the twinkling lights. Don’t let life pass you by…Celebrate the season.
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