100th Christmas Tree Lane (Van Ness Boulevard, Fresno, California)

2022 marks the 100th Christmas Tree Lane which is held partially in the city of Fresno and Fresno County Island known as Fig Garden. Christmas Tree Lane is held from the beginning of December to Christmas Day on Van Ness Boulevard between Shields Avenue to Shaw Avenue. Van Ness Boulevard is adorned with Christmas lights above the roadway and most homeowners put emphasis on creating elaborate decorative displays. Christmas Tree Lane began during 1920 following the death of a child who once lived along Van Ness Boulevard. Christmas Tree Lane has only been interrupted by World War II during 1941 and an energy crisis during 1973.

Christmas Tree Lane in the past typically has held time-night walking events. These events have been cancelled since 2020 by the Fig Garden Homeowners Association in favor of one-way night-time drives on Van Ness Boulevard. The only way to access Christmas Tree Lane reliably on foot with crowds since 2020 has been through the Jingle Bell 5K Run charity event.

The Jingle Bell Run begins on Christmas Tree Lane near the terminus of Van Ness Boulevard just south of Shaw Avenue.

The Jingle Bell Run loops via Rialto Avenue, Wilson Avenue and Lansing Way to the Fresno city limit at Herndon Canal Number 39 on Van Ness Boulevard. A Christmas Lane shield has been installed on northbound Van Ness Boulevard which can be viewed at Herndon Canal Number 39.

Overhead Christmas Tree Lane signage can be found on Van Ness Boulevard immediately north of Herndon Canal Number 39.

The first tree to be decorated on Christmas Tree Lane during 1920 can be found at the southeast corner of Van Ness Boulevard and Pontiac Way.

Various assorted Christmas displays on Van Ness Boulevard north towards the end of the Jingle Bell Run near Rialto Avenue.

Comments

What's In a Name?: When the Roads Really Do Tell a Story

Our tagline on the Gribblenation blog is "because every road tells a story". Some roads tell different stories than others. Along our travels, we may see historic markers that tell us a little story about the roads we travel or the places we pass by. Some historic markers are more general, as to telling us who lived where or what old trail traversed between two towns. During my travels across New York State and other states or provinces, I pass by many historic markers, some with interesting or amusing references to roads. I wanted to highlight a few of the markers I've seen along my travels around the Empire State and help tell their stories. Those stories may be as specific as explaining the tales of a tree that was used to help measure a distance of eight miles from Bath to Avoca in Steuben County, as referenced on the Eight Mile Tree historical marker above. They may also help point the way along historical roads first used centuries ago, or may help tell a local l...

2018 Mojave Road Trip Part 2; The deadly desert highway (California State Route 127 and Nevada State Route 373)

After leaving Barstow via Old Highway 58 my next destination was in Death Valley. To access Death Valley from rural San Bernardino County required a trek on north on Interstate 15 to California State Route 127 which becomes Nevada State Route 373 at the state line. Along I-15 I encountered the road sign oddity that is Zzyzx Road about eight miles south of Baker. Zzyzx Road is a four mile road that used to go to the Zzyzx Mineral Springs and Health Spa. The spa was founded in the 1940s and the owner made up the name "Zzyzx" to claim it was the last word in the English Language. The spa has been shut down since the 1970s and is now part of a Desert Studies Center for California State University. The southern terminus of CA 127 in Baker is located at I-15 exit 246. CA 127 is a 91 mile north/south highway which runs to the Nevada State Line in Inyo County. CA 127 is called Death Valley Road from I-15 northward. South of CA 127 ...

May 2023 Ontario Trip (Part 3 of 3)

Over the years, I have made plenty of trips to Ontario, crisscrossing the southern, central and eastern parts of the province. Living in Upstate New York, it's pretty easy to visit our neighbor to the north, or is that our neighbor to the west? Ottawa is one of my favorite cities to visit anywhere in the world, plus I've discovered the charm of Kingston, the waterfalls of Hamilton (which is on the same Niagara Escarpment that brings us Niagara Falls), the sheer beauty of the Bruce Peninsula, and more. But I hadn't explored much of Cottage Country. So I decided to change that, and what better time to go than over Memorial Day weekend, when the daylight is long and I have an extra day to explore. On the third and final day of my trip, I started in Huntsville and made my way through Muskoka District and Haliburton County, passing by many lakes along the way. I stopped in towns such as Dorset, Haliburton and Bancroft before making a beeline down to Belleville and then over th...