Candy Cane Lane

It’s a West Allis tradition of going to see Christmas lights that started a looooong time ago. In fact, I remember when it was in the neighborhood just northeast of 84^th and Oklahoma! Since it has moved to it’s present day location, however, it seems to have grown in popularity by leaps and bounds!
The boundaries of Candy Cane Lane are marked by trees wrapped up like candy canes and spans about 12 blocks, from Oklahoma Ave. to Montana Ave. and 93^rd to 96^th streets. On a busy night (especially if there is snow on the ground), expect to move at a snail’s pace. Not so great for the driver, but awesome for the passengers who get to really get a good look at the houses and take nice pictures.
The current neighborhood has chosen the MACC Fund (Milwaukee Area Childhood Cancer) and Food For Families as it’s charities of choice and collects canned goods as well as cash donations at either the intersection of 94^th and Manitoba or 94^th and Dakota, so expect delays there.
Not all the houses participate, but most do, even if it’s just simple lights around an outdoor tree.
The highlights for me this year were the inflatable Chewbacca (I thought he’d be taller… he was only 3 feet tall!) and the leg lamp from A Christmas Story, with a box marked Fragile out in front.
Don’t be a Scrooge, pack up the fam, grab the hot chocolate and cookies, and drive on over to West Allis to enjoy the season that only comes once a year!
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Candy Cane Lane is a long standing Milwaukee tradition. It’s easy to find, just look for the trees wrapped like candy canes lining the streets near 92^nd and Oklahoma. The displays range from «Wow, did you see that!» and «Hey, I tried to keep up with the Jone’s, to «Bah Hum Bug.» But if you are looking for an area of town to get in the Christmas spirit, this is one of the places to go. Participation seems to vary from year to year, but the key houses that I remember from many years ago seem to be still going strong.
I appreciate that the neighborhood pulls together for a great cause like the MACC. You can tell that some people really go all out for the kids. My favorite display includes cut outs from Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer, awesome job guys. I have been coming since my teen years, and now I bring our own daughter each year. See you guys again next year.

[fade in] a big-​eyed little girl eagerly looking out the window of a car to glittery, holiday houses…[fade out]
Candy Cane Lane makes my little kid Christmas heart go all aflutter. I remember visiting the good ol’ CCL as a youngster, and even now I look forward to the yearly light display.
As an adult, I have to admit, that the driving is a bit ridiculous. We spent about two hours weaving through four blocks. You’d think they’d have that figured out by now?
But here’s the deal — we like to make the most of it. We snag some fancy hot holiday beverages, grab some snacks, turn on the Christmas tunes and make an evening of it. If you can find parking not too far away, walking it isn’t half bad either.
The super cool thing? All these homeowners decorate on their own accord. They make the Milwaukee Christmas magic happen — all to benefit the MACC Fund.
And who doesn’t get warm and fuzzy when Santa gives you a candy cane?

In the last two weekends, I’ve had the ability to explore Candy Cane Lane, the Miller Holiday Lights and A Country Christmas. As frustrated as I was with my visit to Candy Cane Lane, it was the best of all 3.
First, I was a bit frustrated with how only about 60% of the neighborhood has any lights up. I’m sorry, but if you move to CCL, you should be aware that they do this, and pledge to at least take part a little bit. Hell, my favorite display was the house that had a giant arrow pointing next door that just said DITTO.
Secondly, it seems like a bit of a cluster to get through all the blocks. You’d think after doing it for so long, they’d change it so people go just go one way through it and you wouldn’t have to worry about if someone wasn’t paying attention as they crept towards your car.
But the houses that were lit up were really nicely done. I love that money from the event goes to the MACC fund. I’d go here and drop $ 5 in the bucket 3 times before I’d go to the waste that A Country Christmas was.

Candy Cane Lane is pure Christmas joy. It makes me want to scream «It’s Christmas!!» and cut out paper snowflakes.
It’s sortof in an odd location… down on the south side between Oklahoma and Montana, from 92^nd to 96^th. But, it works. You’ll know you’re there cause the trees are wrapped like candy canes and you’ll be like Whoa! Look at all the lights! Some of the displays are pretty impressive, but most of them are just fun. I’m not really sure how any of the inhabitants in the area actually get any sleep unless they’re all using eye masks to block out the glow (note, it is a glow, not blinding light pollution, cause, you know, it’s Christmas).
Extra bonus — there’s nothing really commercialized about it. Just pure holly jolly-​ness for the sake of the season, and doing something good by way of supporting the MACC fund.
Just go, drive through the lights and forget about your shopping list, and the baking, and stress-​inducing drive to your in-​laws for 9 seconds. Your inner child will thank you for it.

A Milwaukee tradition for a great cause.
I adore the MACC Fund and what it does for children. So to have the oppertunity to drive through streets of lights that people put up to be festive and support an amazing charity, from the comforts of my warm vehicle is fabulous.
These little houses put up some amazing displays that could rival that of Chevy Chase. A big «thank you» to all of you who give us the show. And Santa, it was a very cold night to be taking wishes, but we appreciate that you listened!

Candy canes, lights, Santa, a community of holiday lovers…
After going to Candy Cane Lane for the last seven years, this community of holiday lovers really brings a lot of happiness. Several streets of homes lined in holiday lights all in an effort to benefit the MACC fund demonstrates a genuine love for the old scripture «It’s better to give than receive.»
While the displays aren’t like those crazy decorators on HGTV, the dedicated homeowners really go all out to bring happiness and joy. During the weekends you can often find Santa roaming the streets to listen to the wishes of children. Each night typically has a group of volunteers that stand in the cold to wish all a safe and happy holiday. Be sure to donate to the MACC fund while you drive through, too.

We go a few times a season, a favorite holiday tradition. Husband and I are big on Christmas decorating and mid century modern houses, so we’d love to live here eventually!

When did CC Lane become so LAME? I remember it from when I was little and thinking it was AWESOME! Maybe I just grew up I don’t know. But I sure as heck don’t remember it having so many cardboard/​wood cut out stick figure display things. I’m glad they raise money for a good cause, but the decorations went to complete sh! t. Our 4 year old liked it so we’ll probably be back, but it won’t be my choice.

I’m a Christmas sap — I’ll admit it and I love how pretty houses look all dolled up in lights. So Candy Cane Lane is pretty much right up my alley.
We went the Saturday before Christmas, so it was obviously incredibly busy. For some reason our side of the street was moving at a literal snail’s pace and we did get kind of fed up and bail before we’d completed the whole thing. We expected slow moving, but this was positively glacial.
But the houses are well done, the folks caroling and collecting donations are so nice and it’s just a great tradition.
Edited to add:
If the weather isn’t awful, I’d suggest walking! Park a few blocks away from the crazy traffic and hoof it! We were stuck in the mass of cars, but I said more than once that I’d wished we’d have walked. It would have taken the stress of the slow-​moving traffic out of it and allowed us to just really enjoy the pretty spectacles. Plus, I think it would have been sweet to walk hand in hand with my bf and look at lights, but I already admitted to being a sap so…

My wife loves Christmas… absolutely loves it. For a weeknight surprise after work, I planned for a brief jaunt down to Candy Cane Lane — score! I must admit it was pretty cool to see nearly an entire neighborhood participate in decorations and lights, and raise money for the MACC fund. Getting to see Santa Claus before the holidays was a nice touch. Not all of the houses were lit up, and I did find myself cringing at some of the more garish displays (when I was young, my mom would refer to such displays as «tacky»). I suppose I am more traditional when it comes to holiday decorations. I would type more, but my wonderful wife (who is not on Unilocal) is saying «put it at four stars, put it at four!» OK, how about a compromise and we say 3−½ stars, and a guarantee that this will become a holiday tradition for us as long as we are in Milwaukee.
Hot tips: drive slow (better yet, get out and walk — bring hot cocoa), keep your lights off, and watch out for little ones!

This has been a family tradition of ours for over 10 years, we drive or walk through CCL and then head over to Baker’s Square for Pie! We always make the most of the circumstances (some folks don’t or can’t decorate), but the holiday atmosphere is still present! A great idea would be to section off a few blocks to allow pedestrian traffic only, sell hot cocoa & cookies, offer carriage rides, etc. (proceeds to benefit MACC) activities that offer a more engaging atmosphere! Merry Christmas Everyone!

One of my favorite holiday activities is taking a cruise through Candy Cane Lane. You may stroll if you prefer. Candy Cane Lane runs from 93^rd street west to 96^th street, from Oklahoma Ave north to whatever street creates a T-​Intersection (not important).
What is important is that houses in that area decorate their homes and front yards with lots of lights and characters that bring joy to children of all ages. This year, I noticed fewer homes were decorated than usual. Hopefully they were just vacant. I don’t want to have to TP those houses.
When people buy houses in this area, they are expected to commit to participate in Candy Cane Lane activities.
The REALLY important part of all of this is that these home owners do this to attract us to visit the area and make a donation to the MACC Fund to help fight childhood cancer. THAT is why you should visit Candy Cane Lane.
While you’re there, you might see Santa, you might see members of our armed forces playing music on their instruments, you might hear carolers sign, and you might see the Brew City Bruisers helping out, too (I saw them)!
So go see the decorations and make a donation to a great cause. Any amount helps and makes a difference. The collection point is at 95^th & Manitoba. Don’t avoid it now that you know or I’ll TP your house, too!

Tonight I took my grandaughtr to see it and I will tell you it is not like it was back in the 80’s when my Pa live on that block. My grandaughtre now 16yrs told me Grandma this no where like it was when I was younger. It around 6pm when I went there and a good most of the lights were not on. There was no one there for the mack fund nor was there no santa cause there. Sorry but I woukd not tell an one to go there any more… It seem to be going down hill. God Bless and Merry Christmas.

This is very subjective, given that right before visiting CCL, we went and checked out a lit up house that plays music to a radio station and the lights move to it. After that, CCL was just avg. 1^st, I will say, there are so many people driving through there, that after a while it gets to be a bit long and when you want to leave you can’t, because you are stuck in traffic. Not all the houses are lit up and some are done just OK. The people that went all out did a great job and I did enjoy that, however I feel it’s not worth the frustration and traffic. Other then that, the cause to get money donated to the MACC fund does make it worth wild, and am glad to see that they get alot of money donated.

So my review will be bias seeing as I used to be one of those houses on Candy Cane Lane. I participated for many years and raised some serious money for a great cause, the MACC Fund. We always tried to do the newest thing like a personalized message board, that I changed at will from my computer. Another year we had a giant PEACE sign in our yard that was about 18 feet long, that lit up half the neighborhood. (Benefits of my husband working for a sign and lighting company!) The neighbors across the street didn’t need to turn on their inside lights.
I loved that we had people coming up in our yard each year to take pictures. You know you are doing a good job when you create a traffic jam :)
You can ride down many blocks and see all kinds of lights and décor and stop by Santa to donate some money and get a treat. Different nights they host different celebs or bands that will play. Pretty cool. If you live there you know this but they don’t always let the public know about all the people that are there which may bring in more traffic.
I have noticed through the years there has been a decline in traffic and houses participating and I hope this is just a fluke and will turn around with newer couples moving into the neighborhood.
Stop by, drive through and help raise money for a great cause. Help those kids!

I MET SANTA CLAUS hanging out in the middle of the street! Cane Lane is a neighborhood in West Allis that has over 300 homes lighting up the night sky with holiday lights. The displays can be seen 6 PM to 9 PM weeknight and 5 PM to 10 PM this year (2011) from November 25 — December 26. I went on a mid December Saturday night and it was bumper-​to-​bumper traffic, which is good because it makes you slow down and take it all in.
WHERE: Candy Cane Lane is bound by Oklahoma Avenue on the south, Montana Avenue to the north, and 96^th and 92^nd Streets to the west and east. Look for the trees wrapped in white plastic and red tape like candy canes.
DONATE: It’s free to visit but at 95^th and Manitoba there are people taking donations for a fund that helps kids with cancer. I donated and received a handful of candy!
TIPS: Turn off the headlights of your vehicle. There are a few homes with hot chocolate stands. Candy Cane Lane would be really cool to see by bicycle, albeit a bit cold.
THANKS: To Rachel for the tip on this neighborhood. It’s been doing this for twenty six years!