Because of pandemic reasons, the city of Ceres has cancelled its annual Ceres Christmas Festival and parade, which by tradition would have taken place on Saturday evening. But residents can still enjoy Christmas Tree Lane as a drive-thru experience this year.

“Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 we cannot hold the traditional Christmas Tree Lane Festival nor have the parade,” said Ceres City Manager Tom Westbrook. “The streets will be open and vehicles and pedestrians will be able to navigate Christmas Tree lane to view the lights and displays.”

The first Christmas Tree Lane opened December 1961 on Henry Avenue and Vaughn Street. Fifty-nine years later and it’s going strong.

Residents of the two streets typically go to great lengths – and expense – to decorate their houses and yards with twinkling lights and sometimes amusing holiday cutouts.

One of the more unusual displays is the yard of Mark White who moved to Christmas Tree Lane five years ago. He has decorated his yard in the theme of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, a film starring Chevy Chase. White explained that the 1989 film is one of his favorite holiday movies.