A walking wonderland. Hundreds gather to kick off Fresno holidays on Christmas Tree Lane
There was some question (and contention) among holiday revelers as to whether Christmas Tree Lane would revisit walk-only nights year.
Organizers of the two-mile neighborhood-lights display stopped the popular walk nights in 2020 due to the pandemic and had kept it on hiatus since.
It returned Saturday, when the lane kicked off its season with the first of two walk-only nights for 2023.
The second happens 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 12. Otherwise, Christmas Tree Lane is open to traffic through Christmas; 6-10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 6-11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
On Saturday, hundreds of people gathered for a stroll along Van Ness Avenue, which was closed to traffic from Shields to Shaw Avenues. Along with the Christmas light displays (2.5 million individual lights across 140 homes), there were a number of special holiday performances to mark the celebration.
The event was one of several on Saturday to officially kick off the holiday season in Fresno.
Christmas Tree Lane tips
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office offered some tips and precautions for visitors for walk nights and throughout the holiday season.
▪ Allow extra time to get around city streets as it will be very crowded.
▪ Park only in permitted areas and do not block driveways.
▪ Lock your vehicles and do not leave any valuables visible inside.
▪ Parents should keep a close eye on their children and consider carrying a flashlight for extra visibility.
▪ Prior to the walk, designate a meeting spot in case you get separated from family members.
▪ Consider utilizing tracking technology/devices for young children.
▪ Dress warm.
▪ No alcohol consumption or marijuana use is allowed on Christmas Tree Lane.
▪ Please be respectful of the neighborhood. Do not touch decorations and do not litter.
▪ Report suspicious behavior by contacting a Sheriff’s deputy in person or by calling our office at 559-600-3111.
This story was originally published December 3, 2023 at 5:30 AM.