Christmas Tree Lane, Palo Alto

We are excited to announce that from Saturday, December 14th 2024 through December 31st, Christmas Tree Lane will be lit each night from 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM! Happy Holidays!🎄

We are excited to announce that from Saturday, December 16th 2023 through December 31st, Christmas Tree Lane will be lit each night from 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM! Happy Holidays!🎄

Christmas Tree Lane, the traditional decoration of the street and homes along the 1700 and 1800
blocks of Fulton Street in Palo Alto, commences its 82 nd year on Saturday, December 10, 2022 and
continues through December 31, 2022. Lights go on at 5 pm and off at 11 pm.
Each year since 1940 (except for one year during WWII) the neighbors along these two blocks of
Fulton Street decorate their houses with holiday themed décor, some of which has been passed down from
one homeowner to the next. The residents also adorn the street with 72 small Douglas Firs and string them
with multi-colored lights. The City of Palo Alto changes the street lamp covers from white to red, and the
street is magically transformed into Christmas Tree Lane for about three weeks of the Holiday season.
The Christmas Tree Lane tradition started over a 1940 bridge game at the Fulton Street home of
Judge Edward Hardy. For the latest news, see https://www.ChristmasTreeLane.org/.
Christmas Tree Lane has delighted generations of Palo Altans with its genteel and eclectic variety
of decorations. From Santa preparing to drop down a chimney, to mischievous elves and ice-skating
reindeer, to a star hung high in the boughs of a California Redwood tree, each homeowner makes their
own holiday statement.
“Decorating the street every year gives neighbors a chance to collaborate and create a special
holiday treat for the entire community,” say Mary Cafiero and Tinwin Wang, this year’s co-chairs.
Every year, the street’s residents have gathered on the Saturday morning of opening day to kick-
off the festivities with a coffee and brunch where everyone shares stories and pictures before preparing for
the thousands of visitors who have made going down Christmas Tree Lane one of their holiday traditions.
“Christmas Tree Lane is a great tradition,” say Cafiero and Wang. “We hope everyone this year
will drive or walk down the Lane to enjoy the holidays.”
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Photos and late breaking news available at https://www.ChristmasTreeLane.org/.

Christmas Tree Lane Palo Alto Christmas Tree Lane Information Page, decorations from December 12th 2020 to December 31st 2020, from 5 PM to 11 PM nightly.

From Saturday, December 10th 2022 through December 31st, Christmas Tree Lane will be lit each night from 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM!

From Saturday, December 11 through Friday, December 31, 2021 (5 pm to 11 pm), the 1700 and 1800 blocks of Fulton Street in Palo Alto become Christmas Tree Lane. This is the 81st annual neighborhood holiday celebration, which thousands attend each year. Drive or walk down Christmas Tree Lane from 5 pm to 11 pm to create lasting memories for the entire family.

From Saturday, December 11th 2021 through December 31st, Christmas Tree Lane will be lit each night from 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM!

COVID update: Christmas Tree Lane is open to car traffic ONLY this year. Fulton Street is not a one-way street. You can enter from Embarcadero Road or Seale Avenue. Please use your "parking lights" instead of full headlights and drive slowly and carefully down the street.

From Saturday, December 12th 2020 through December 31st, Christmas Tree Lane will be lit each night from 5 PM to 10 PM (one hour earlier than traditional, in compliance with Santa Clara County COVID-19 guidelines) !

COVID GUIDELINES: Christmas Tree Lane will be an entirely car-based activity this year, following recently received guidance from the Santa Clara County Health Officer: "It may go forward this year, but only as a car-based activity, and only so long as it follows the rules for car-based events. Everyone occupying the same vehicle must be from the same household, and people must remain in their vehicle at all times."

From Saturday, December 14th 2019 through December 31st, Christmas Tree Lane will be lit each night from 5:00 PM to 11 PM.

From Saturday, December 15th 2018 through December 31st, Christmas Tree Lane will be lighted each night from 5:00 PM to 11 PM.