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Top 3 Christmas Lights Destinations in Fresno

16 Nov, 2022

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LAST UPDATED 12/6/22

Viewing Christmas Lights is a family-friendly, free and memorable tradition and Fresno happens to be a great place for it! Here are Fresno’s top three family-friendly Christmas lights destinations:

1. Christmas Tree Lane

Perhaps one of our family’s most favorite Christmas traditions is our annual visit to Christmas Tree Lane. There is truly nothing else like a slow trek down the 2 mile stretch of VanNess Boulevard. With the beautiful Christmas lights, displays, the backdrop of gorgeous historic homes, Christmas music on a local radio broadcast, and of course Santa Claus.

This Fresno Christmas destination truly is one of a kind and we Fresnans aren’t the only ones to agree. The historic 95-year-old tradition has received national media attention including Highlights by Sunset Magazine and The Learning Channel. Check out the awesome time-lapse video made by Terry Cole:

The opening night of Christmas Tree Lane, which will be December 1st this year, millions of lights are turned on at 6:00 p.m. and remain lit until 10:00 p.m (11:00 pm on Friday and Saturday). Some 140 homes and 300 trees are decorated. Christmas Tree Lane is located on Van Ness Blvd between Shields Ave and Shaw Ave in Fresno, California.

Walking Nights (lane closed to vehicles): Walking nights are tentatively cancelled for 2022.

Su – Th, 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Fr – Sa, 6 p.m. – 11 p.m.

2. IllumiNature by Fresno Chaffee Zoo

This ALL NEW experience features handmade Chinese lantern displays illuminated throughout the Zoo – many designed in various animal shapes and sizes. Guests will enjoy other specially themed areas including nature, Christmas, and Lunar New Year PLUS delicious holiday-inspired food and drinks, live entertainment, live reindeer until January 1st and photos with Santa from November 25th to December 23rd.

Event Dates:

November 18-23, 25-27
December 1-4, 8, 10-11, 14-23, 26-30
January 5-8, 13-15, 21-22

**Weather note: this event will run rain or shine – but you may get a ‘rain check’ and exchange.

Get Tickets

Member Adult $20.00
Non-Member Adult $22.00
Child (2-11) $18.00

3. Candy Cane Lane (Cindy Lane)

During the Christmas season the residents of Wawona Ranch Estates on Peach and Alluvial in Clovis, CA decorate their homes, a tradition that has been around since 1993. The entire neighborhood gets involved.

Candy Cane Lane is open for both pedestrians and drivers all the time. Drivers are encouraged to dim the lights on their cars and watch for pedestrians. Pedestrians are asked to park outside of the neighborhood and walk in.

Candy Cane Lane runs from Dec 1st to the 25th from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm.

There are two entrances: 1) Cindy Ave (off of Alluvial) & 2) Athens Ave (off of Peach):

Honorable Mention: Davis Family Christmas

Since 2016, The Davis Family has welcomed the Fresno Community to their Musically animated light show outside their home in Fresno. Their light show improves every year as they continue to add to it. This year, there will be 31,629 lights on display. Opening night is Monday, November 21st. Lights are on from 6:00 PM-10:00 PM.

Their home is located in the 3600 block of North Laverne Avenue in Fresno. Learn more at their website.

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About Jenni Solla

Jenni and her family have lived in Fresno since 2010. Jenni believes that Fresno is not only a great place to live, but has also seen it grow and improve over the years she's lived here. Together with her husband Nathan, she is a founding partner at WorldLight Media LLC, a creative web design and marketing firm that has been in business for over 13 years and is headquartered in Fresno. Nathan and Jenni have two children, Their oldest is 14 and has been diagnosed with Autism. Their youngest is 12 years old. Things Jenni loves about Fresno: The sunshine, traffic (or lack there of), the small town feel combined with the big city conveniences, the local food, and her church.