Altadena’s Christmas Tree Lane returns

ALTADENA, Calif. (NBC, KYMA) - Almost a year after the Eaton Fires in Altadena, the neighborhood's tradition to light Christmas Tree Lane continued Saturday.

The neighborhood was transformed into a winter wonderland with over 10,000 twinkling lights all throughout the lane.

This year marks the 105th lighting ceremony on Santa Rosa Avenue, but featured a few new touches.

Before the lighting, those who gathered shared a moment of silence for one minute and 19 seconds to honor the 19 Altadena residents who died in the disaster.

There is also a memorial tree with white bulbs and one green bulb for each person who perished in the fire, offsetting the other colorful lights.

The trees, which were planted in 1885, survived the fires and the Christmas Tree Lane Association knew they wanted to continue the tradition for the community.

"I can tell you that this, this is the fabric of Altadena. Christmas Tree Lane 105 years has been going on, and the fact that the fire didn't take all these trees down is to be a sign of hope, and actually, to me, the strength of the community.

So I look at all these symbols, and I know that the community, when I walk around and see people that aren't living here now, but are coming up here, who have volunteered, who lost everything, but yet volunteered to make this happen, that's Altadena.

And so when you see the signs that say 'Altadena Strong,' it means a lot of different things to different people, but tonight...'Altadena Strong' means...We stand together. We are one, and we are going to do we are going to recover. We are going to rebuild."

Kathryn Barger, Chairwoman, L.A. County Board of Supervisors

The Walt Disney Company, who employs a number of Altadena residents, funded thousands of additional lights this year.

The Altadena Christmas Tree Lane has been considered one of the largest and oldest outdoor holiday lighting display in the united states.