Christmas Lanes
Various streets and neighborhoods around the city.
Perhaps the earliest organized holiday-themed street in Sioux Falls is what is now called Luminary Lane, which is actually comprised of several streets to the east of Park Ridge Galleria. Around 1960, Roger and Ruth Fredrikson thought it would be festive to adopt a tradition they saw in New Mexico. On Christmas Eve, New Mexicans line their drives and streets with lanterns, called luminarias or farolitos. These lanterns were simple to make – take a paper bag, fold over the top of the bag to hold it open, fill it partly with sand, and put a candle inside. Space them evenly about 2 to 3 feet apart for aesthetic appeal. Martha Stewart has some more complicated instructions, but the appeal is in the simplicity. Roman Catholics felt that the lights would guide the spirit of the Christ child to a believer’s home. While this was traditionally done on Christmas Eve, those on Luminary Lane have for years done this on the Sunday before Christmas Eve. This day was preferred because Christmas Eve was often busy and not every resident could be expected to be home on that day. Back in 1960, the residents did not name the event or give a nickname to their street. It wouldn’t take on a name until much later.
The first named holiday-themed lane was Candy Cane Lane, on Day Avenue near Cherry Rock Park. This theme lane was started in 1963 by a neighborhood resident who’d recently moved in from Huron, and had participated in a theme lane there. It started with candy canes cut from plywood and painted in the traditional way. Eventually the candy canes got more complicated and were being made from painted aluminum dryer vent tubes. Residents also added lollipops made from pie plates and rods.
The Junior Chamber of Commerce had been holding a holiday lighting contest since at least the 1930s for the most creatively decorated homes. Many of the winners went to great lengths to set up large nativity scenes or Santa-themed scenes. By 1965, the JCC started to take notice of Candy Cane Lane, and upon the announcement of the years’ winners, the lane’s participants were given special notice. This helped to foster the creation other holiday-themed lanes in Sioux Falls.
In 1967, months after the holiday season, a house went on the market on Day Avenue. The listing’s main feature was its location on Candy Cane Lane. Other lanes came and went. It takes a lot of coordination to get an entire neighborhood to put on a garage sale let alone a unified decorating theme.
The Junior Chamber of Commerce had been holding a holiday lighting contest since at least the 1930s for the most creatively decorated homes. Many of the winners went to great lengths to set up large nativity scenes or Santa-themed scenes. By 1965, the JCC started to take notice of Candy Cane Lane, and upon the announcement of the years’ winners, the lane’s participants were given special notice. This helped to foster the creation other holiday-themed lanes in Sioux Falls.
In 1967, months after the holiday season, a house went on the market on Day Avenue. The listing’s main feature was its location on Candy Cane Lane. Other lanes came and went. It takes a lot of coordination to get an entire neighborhood to put on a garage sale let alone a unified decorating theme.
In 1973, OPEC established an oil embargo targeted at countries seen as supporting Israel during the Yom Kippur War. The US and other nations were cut off from a major oil supply. As a commodity becomes scarce, the cost goes up. The result was that electricity became instantly more expensive to produce. Candy Cane Lane would not be done. A new lane that started the year before, Churchill Lane, would have its displays on, but the spotlights that usually illuminated the little churches in their yards were exchanged with 40 watt bulbs, and lights within the home would be kept dark to compensate. The country was pulling together to conserve fuel.
Over the years, other lanes came into being all around the city. Candlestick Lane, Santa’s Lane, Churchill Lane, Reindeer Hill, Mr. And Mrs. Snowman Lane, Frosty Lane, Penguin Point, Stocking Street, Train Lane, Elf Lane, Angel Lane, Fireplace Lane, Gingerbread Lane, and so many others both vanished and yet to come.
Driving the holiday lanes is a tradition for many. It warms the heart to see the homes decorated with candy-like lights against the snow (if any) and darkness of winter. Seeing all the streets in an area decorated in a unified theme is even better. It is not only because of the beauty of the displays, but because of the thought of an entire street, or sometimes blocks, of individuals with different views and opinions, putting aside their differences to come together for a single purpose. That’s as good as gold.