Willow Glen Resident
Cover Story
Bright Lights
'Tis the season to let it glow
By Mary Gottschalk
Holiday lights and displays are a gift to the street that some give year after year.
And every year there are families, couples and individuals who gladly accept these gifts, setting time aside to walk through their own neighborhoods and drive to others to see what's new, as well as visit old favorites.
Looking at lights can also provide a welcome respite when holiday preparations turn into chores and small children get fidgety trying to stay "nice" in anticipation of Santa's visit, or during that lull during school breaks.
Chances are you won't have time to visit every great house around, but here are a select few well worth taking the time to see. So fix some hot chocolate in a commuter cup, take along a few candy canes for energy and enjoy these gifts to the street.
This house at 1827 Crowder Ave. in San Jose could double as a store display for inflatables and the latest in holiday yard décor. There are several inflatables, including a Nativity scene and Santa climbing out of a chimney, as well as a snow globe with revolving figures and a train.
Glen Eyrie Avenue offers house after house of lighted trees in the front yards and colorful decorations. Near the corner of Cherry Avenue is a whimsical scene with four huge reindeer flying through the air overhead, pulling a Santa in a sleigh. This display covers about six houses and is best viewed across the street so you can appreciate it.
This home at 2398 Newhall St. in San Jose is always a delight. This year Santa is riding a penny farthing bicycle that makes him higher than the house. Right behind Santa on a bicycle built for four is Mickey Mouse, Snoopy, Donald Duck and Minnie Mouse. The house itself is outlined in red lights.
992 University Ave. is an Italianate Victorian that the owners outline in icicle lights each year. Santa is atop the house in the widow's walk and a snowman smiles from the porch. The base of the house is outlined in red and white striped candy canes.
If you stay on University Avenue and cross The Alameda toward the Rose Garden, you'll find it and many of the surrounding streets lined with lighted trees in their front yards.
At 1598 University, at the corner of Dana Avenue is a simple but beautiful sight of large, lighted stars suspended in the trees.
1777 W. Hedding St. brightens up evening commute hours with a display that grows each year. Look for the nutcracker, Santa, Rudolph, a snowman and a snow globe. Spend a few minutes and watch the lights over the hedges go out, come on, blink and then make a wave pattern.
Willow Ranch is a neighborhood encompassing Cottle and Westgate Avenues between Koch Lane and Husted Avenue. What makes it particularly charming this time of year are the cheery, hand-painted wooden snowmen holding a "Season's Greetings" sign with the name of the homeowner at each house.
The snowmen date back to the 1950s when sign painter Rey Giese created them for the fairly new subdivision. They are now passed along with the sale of each house.
Along with the snowmen, look for special light displays, but the real beauty of these blocks is the simplicity of a friendly snowman waving at you.
If these homes aren't enough, here are two more options:
Christmas in the Park around Cesar Chavez Plaza in downtown San Jose includes decorated trees, stage performers and lots of animated holiday displays with music. There's no admission charge, nearby vendors sell hot chocolate and churros and there are carnival rides as well as a new area to shop for gifts made by local artisans. The displays and rides continue through Jan. 1.
The ninth annual Fantasy of Lights at Vasona Lake County Park allows cars to drive past enormous lighted displays of a pirate ship and dinosaurs as well as through the tunnel of lights. It's $12 a car and open from 6 to 10 p.m. each night through Dec. 31. The entrance to the park is off of Blossom Hill Road.
More Holiday Lights
The home at 2355 Park Ave. at Hilmar Street is a doll lover's heaven. The five windows facing the two streets of this corner house are filled with Annalee Dolls. The more than 100 dolls have been collected since 1986 by the homeowner and are artfully arranged each holiday season.
Padres Court is a tiny cul de sac that is packed with bright lights and holiday cheer. Here neighbors have festooned their homes, plants, trees and anything else stationary with lights. A huge, lighted soldier stands at attention at one corner and a string of colored lights hangs overhead the entrance to the court.
At the corner of Willow Street and Shelton Way, across from Bramhill Park, is an eye-popping display with lights, lights and more lights, as well as Santa in a sleigh and colorful presents scattered around the yard.
