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Did you know that Fresno’s Christmas Tree Lane is over 100 years old? More than 140 homes participate in the beloved Christmas light display on North Van Ness Boulevard, attracting about 300,000 visitors each year from all over California who come to drive through the festive decorations in the lead-up to Christmas.
Here’s what to know about visiting Christmas Tree Lane in Fresno in 2025.
A tradition that began in 1920
Christmas Tree Lane began as a single memorial tree in 1920, decorated at Christmas by a grieving mother in honor of a child who had passed away in a Fig Garden home. Each year since, neighborhood families have decorated their trees and homes in solidarity, growing Christmas Tree Lane into a time-honored community tradition.
The inaugural cedar tree has been commemorated with a sign outside the home for decades. As the tree came to the end of its life a few years ago, the home’s current residents, Greg and Dana Pratt, launched an effort to genetically clone the tree.
Now, 80 tree clones have been planted along Van Ness Blvd, according to FOX26.
These days, the 2-mile Christmas Tree Lane route showcases over 140 decorated homes and 300 trees. The one-way route includes elaborate lighting, music, and themed displays.
Although Christmas Tree Lane introduced pedestrian-only “walk nights” in years past, the experience won’t be returning in 2025 due to crowd size and safety concerns.
Visiting Fresno’s Christmas Tree Lane
📍Location: One-way traffic flows northbound on N Van Ness Blvd in Fresno, CA, beginning at Shields Ave and ending at the intersection of N Palm Ave. and W Shaw Ave.
🕜 Hours: Fresno’s Christmas Tree Lane is now open nightly from 6pm to 10pm on weeknights and until 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays.
💸 Donations: The event is free to attend, but organizers encourage donations to help cover the costs of keeping the tradition alive.
🌐 Learn more: Christmas Tree Lane