There are undoubtedly dozens of festive neighborhoods in the U.S. that dub themselves “Candy Cane Lane” this time of year—and there are at least two in L.A. alone, including one in Woodland Hills.
But it’s Candy Cane Lane in El Segundo, a cul-de-sac at the end of East Acacia Avenue, that most deserves your attention. For three quarters of a century, roughly two dozen homes just south of LAX deck out their lawns, roofs, trees and just about any other exposed surface with Christmas lights and inflatables. The homeowners at Candy Cane Lane go all out—so much so that the neighborhood inspired last year’s Eddie Murphy-starring film of the same name.
As you might expect, there are plenty of Angelenos who want to partake in the illuminated revelry, so the City of El Segundo has taken some steps to manage the crowds. For starters, from December 14 to December 23 between 5 and 11pm, Acacia Avenue is closed to car traffic nightly east of Center Street, and the intersecting stretch of California Street is closed too.
During that same time span, you’ll find shuttle service on the weekend to help alleviate the parking situation. The free shuttle runs Friday through Sunday from 4:30 to 10pm, with service between Recreation Park (401 Sheldon St) and Sycamore Park.
Technically, the city says that the event only runs through December 23, with nightly viewing opportunities until 10pm. You may find that individual homeowners opt to keep the lights on past that date, but don’t necessarily count on it or any of the other festivities. Speaking of, you can see Santa from Wednesday through Friday from 7 to 9pm, though he’ll of course have to depart for his day job after this weekend. (Consider making a donation there, too; as LAist reported last year, it helps cover the homeowners’ electric bills and benefits a handful of charities, as well.)
Our videographer Danny Carranza—whose photos are scattered across this story—recently visited the area and found light-up displays filled with model trains or inspired by Star Wars alongside homemade hot chocolate and holiday music. (He visited on a Monday and found plenty of parking in the area, in case you were wondering.) Check out more of Danny’s photos below.
