Students reflect on previous Wawona Ranch Estates Christmas experiences

The lights dazzle against the night sky and hundreds of spectators gather in the winter air to view one of Fresno’s most luminous spectacles. Steam from hot cocoa floats upwards as carolers sing their songs and children receive candy canes. Many will return year after year for the beautiful sights and warm Christmas cheer.

Cindy Lane, located in the Wawona Ranch Estates just off of Peach and Alluvial Avenue, attracts thousands of people each year. The street’s pride remains bright lights, high quality decorations, horse drawn carriages and large scale voluntary participation.

By tradition, homeowners begin to set up their displays the day after Thanksgiving, Nov. 27.  However, many decide to get a head start on their large scale decorations prior to this date.

Homeowner, Chris Nance, began to partake in the Cindy Lane festivities eight years ago after she moved from San Diego to Fresno.  Nance hand painted new decoration for the 2015 Cindy Lane. She says the lane provides a genuine sense of community and holiday spirit for the participants.

“I’m excited about all our new decorations and seeing all of the kids enjoys them,” Nance said. “We do this because we like Christmas and we like seeing all of the kids come out.  It’s just fun. The horse drawn carriages and carolers are my favorite part when they come. People are just friendly. You would think with the crowds that it might cause problems but it doesn’t. People are really grateful and it’s just brings in the spirit of the season. It’ great having people come and be happy.”

Cindy Lane first began 18 years ago in 1993 when homeowner Ricci Ulrich decorated her house with extravagant lights in preparation for the holiday season. Other home owners soon followed Ulrich’s example and the tradition took hold.

Streets around Cindy Lane such as Bedford, Athens, Cromwell, Decatur, Citadel and Terry Avenues also began to create luminous holiday displays.

Homeowner Eric Thompson participated in the lanes’ first year of decoration and currently continues to take part in the tradition. He says the people make the lane enjoyable though the process of decorating and the heavy traffic create a wearisome winter season for the homeowners.

I’m excited about all our new decorations and seeing all of the kids enjoys them. We do this because we like Christmas and we like seeing all of the kids come out.  It’s just fun. The horse drawn carriages and carolers are my favorite part when they come. People are just friendly. You would think with the crowds that it might cause problems but it doesn’t. People are really grateful and it’s just brings in the spirit of the season. It’ great having people come and be happy. — Chris Nance

“Well, I am getting a little tired of it,” Thompson said. “ I just do it because everyone else does it really. It’s just too much trouble and too much traffic. I just kind of go along with it at this point. It’s fun though; when you have people over and you get to see the neighborhood and be close to it. That’s probably the most fun thing about it.”

Many campus students make attending Cindy Lane a tradition. Erin Wilson, ’17, frequents Cindy Lane on a year to year basis with family and friends. She believes the lane provides an opportunity to engage in the festivities of the season.

“My favorite part is the giant Grinch decoration that someone puts on top of their house every year,” Wilson said. “It’s really fun, and a great way to get in the holiday spirit.”

Justus Briggs, ’17, also attended Candy Cane Lane in previous years. He says the whole atmosphere was illuminated by the seasonal lights.

“I went last year in December,” Briggs said. “I love it, it’s like a small version of Christmas tree lane. All of the houses were decorated with Christmas lights; the whole neighborhood was lit up. It was really a fun thing to see.”

Several other neighborhoods within the Fresno/Clovis area such as Christmas Tree Lane and Huntington Boulevard partake in similar decorative measures.

Senior Bailey Brogan favors Cindy Lane over the Fresno alternative (Christmas Tree Lane) because of the location in proximity to his house and the more laid back atmosphere. He says he recommends others to come out and experience the lane first hand.

“I really like it because I do enjoy going out to see Christmas lights, but Cindy Lane is much closer to my house then Christmas Tree Lane,” Brogan said.” It’s a lot more convenient and less crowded. I would suggest others go because it’s very well decorated and family friendly.”

The lane opens for public use Dec. 1 and will commence every night until Dec. 25. From Sun.-Thurs., the lights will be on from 6 – 10 p.m. On Fri-Sat lights will begin at 6 p.m. and turn off at 11 p.m. Every night spectators will receive the opportunity to either walk the lane or drive through.

Korean foreign exchange student Dana Kwon, ’17, plans on going to Cindy Lane for the first time this winter.  She says she is excited for the whole of the experience.

My aunt and cousin went to Candy Cane Lane (Cindy Lane) last year,” Kwon said. “They said it was so beautiful and thought it was smaller than Christmas Tree Lane which is awesome. I’m going there this year. I am very excited for all of Candy Cane Lane.”

For more information on Cindy Lane visit their Facebook page. For those who are interested in walking Christmas Tree Lane, the first of two pedestrian-only nights are Dec. 2 and Dec. 8, 6-10 p.m. For more information, please watch ABC30’s Christmas Tree Lane prepares to open with first walk night (Video).

Read Wawona Ranch Estates host Christmas lane BRIEF: Wawona Ranch Estates host Christmas Lane for last year’s article.

For another features read Chloe Soto shares unique, graceful hobby.

This writer can be reached via twitter:@skylerklee and via email: mailto:[email protected].