For nearly 40 years, residents of a neighborhood in a Milwaukee suburb have gone wild with their Christmas decorations. And it’s a long standing tradition to take a drive through “Candy Cane Lane.”
AILSA CHANG, HOST:
It’s just a few days before Christmas, but the holiday spirit in some places has been going strong since late November. Hundreds of residents near Milwaukee string up lights and display decorations in a neighborhood that they call – at least during the winter holidays – Candy Cane Lane. It’s a tradition that spreads cheer and also serves a purpose. Eddie Morales of member station WUWM takes us there.
(SOUNDBITE OF BELLS JINGLING)
RAY LAZARSKI: (Laughter) Hello.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: Oh, ho ho ho ho (ph).
R LAZARSKI: Ho ho ho, Merry Christmas.
EDDIE MORALES, BYLINE: You might recognize who this jolly fellow is dressed in his signature red and white clothes. It’s Santa peeking his head inside car windows and greeting visitors. Dozens of cars snake around the block here in West Allis, a suburb of Milwaukee. Trees are wrapped in white and red paper to look like candy canes throughout the neighborhood.
R LAZARSKI: I smile the whole time I’m here. It’s just so much fun, especially when the little ones say – you are real.
Hello. Hello.
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD #1: Hi.
R LAZARSKI: Hi. Merry Christmas.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #2: There you go.
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD #2: Oh, wow.
MORALES: Ray Lazarski is a volunteer Santa, and he and his wife, Joline, are part of Candy Cane Lane’s effort to raise funds to fight childhood cancer. People drop donations in buckets as they drive or walk by to see the holiday displays. Besides the holiday lights, there are snacks too, like crates filled with candy and dog treats. Outside one brightly lit home, inflatable snowmen and cartoon characters sway with the cold wind as music plays and volunteers chat with kids.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #3: Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED VOLUNTEER #1: Hey, guys, you know who’s…
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