Candy Cane Lane

The sleigh ride was fun I love animals and this was a nice way to do the street
Though the houses weren’t decorated that amazing
Some were really nice but most just threw a light string on the tree and called that good
I wasn’t really impressed I wouldn’t do it again that’s for sure
This place needs some sprucing up or just shut it down cuz it’s nothing special needs more lights and themes
It’s just all over random
And the blow ups are becoming boring as ppl find it easy to put up but I dunno it’s nothing special

This was my first visit to Candy Cane Lane and I’ve gotta say that I’m kind of underwhelmed. Candy Cane Lane may have been quite the spectacle to see in Edmonton at one point in time but it has apparently degraded over the years. Not all of the houses on the street are decorated, which is fine, but many of the ones that are adorned feature the same old Wal-​Mart decorations that any other house would feature in any other neighbourhood. If you’re expecting Clark Griswold quality, you’ll be disappointed.
I appreciate that it costs money to create a big spectacle and it’s not like people are obligated to go all out so I’m not complaining. I think people mostly keep coming here year after year for the sake of tradition. That’s not to say that there isn’t anything worth looking at but as a whole it’s kind of disappointing. The people that do go all out though do so in a big way. One household has an igloo, an inukshuk, as well as Santa and his reindeer. Another house had a Star Wars theme and there were at least two houses with elaborate ice sculpture displays out front.
It’s best to park a block or two away from 148^th St between 100^th Ave to 92^nd Ave and walk it. You’ll take in the sights better this way. Plus you’ll walk off the calories from all the Christmas chocolate you’ve been scarfing down. 148^th St was packed with cars all travelling at a snail’s pace. Some were even stopping in the middle of the street so the occupants of the vehicles could take pictures of the houses. This is a testament to how lazy people have gotten in this day-​and-​age. Get out of your car and walk. You’re driving at walking speed anyway.
Be sure to bring some non-​perishable food items for the Edmonton Food Bank as they have several donation bins along the Lane.
One more thing: There are garbage cans placed along the sides of 148^th St for people to dispose of their refuse. This doesn’t stop some folks from chucking their garbage wherever they please though. There were empty Timmy’s cups on the sidewalks and even in someone’s front yard by their Christmas display. Did I mention some people are lazy? Imagine putting all that time and effort into decorating your yard only to see that a bunch of pigs have left you their discarded coffee cups.
Ríu Ríu Chíu

Who doesn’t love candy cane lane? Christmas lights, people giving away cookies, sleigh rides, Santa, hot chocolate and great selfie ops. Sure the traffic can be nuts, the sidewalks slippery and kids running around the joint. If you go at the right time (temperature is a big part of it) it can be lovey, fun and even romantic. Such good Christmas spirit here. This is a must for people that are having their first Christmas in the city.
Just make sure you park a block or two from the action and you are golden. I would also recommend you grab a large cider from where even to enhance the experience. Toque, scarf and mitts are a must. I love that they have trash cans along the strip. So convenient. Perfect place to enjoy the season.

Candy Cane Lane is a great night out for the entire family. That is what someone might write if they were trying to sell circus tickets. Well I’m not, but I’d like to throw a hearty endorsement behind Candy Cane Lane in any case.
For those not in the know, Candy Cane Lane (or Little LED Town as it used to be called), is an annual display of residential Christmas themed lighting and outdoor decorations located on 148 Street between 92 and 100 Avenue. It’s interesting to note that Candy Cane Lane uses more light bulbs than all of Las Vegas*!
Candy Cane Lane is best viewed by taking a walking tour, which gives the added bonus of exercise and the chance to take in some crisp winter air. It’s fun, it’s free, and it’s a great opportunity to give the kids a bit of excitement during the holiday season. Please remember to bring a few items for the Food Bank, which is a worthy year-​round cause!
* author does not assume responsibility for veracity of statements

What’s not to love about Candy Cane Lane?
Sure, there are less dispalys now then when I first started coming 13 years ago and the city doesn’t subsidize the home owners anymore for their electricity but there are still absolutely FABULOUS displays put on by our lovely citizens!
This last weekend there was a Santa Claus outside greeting children, hot chocolate by donation for the food bank, a homeowner doing an ice sculpture in their yard, sleigh rides, and all the normal Christmas light goodness!
My kids had a blast and the weather couldn’t have been more pleasant!
I look forward to returning every year, as part of our family traditions, and may even sneak back again once or twice more this year :-)
‘Tis the Season!
And don’t forget to bring down non-​perishable food items for the food bank!

This review is a little late coming…
As a child, my parents used to take the family on an outing every single year as tradition to walk or drive through this magical little gem & as a child, I always had an amazing time what with all the beautiful sights of lights!
My boyfriend and I were talking about it one day and he expressed that he had never experienced this magic as a child, so what were we to do, but dress up in warm clothes, grab our canned goods donation, grab some hot chocolate and take the short drive to (and through) Candy Cane Lane!
Many of the houses were lit up to the nines with displays of santa coming down the chimney, deer grazing on the lawn to just plain lights from the house all the way down to the sidewalk. We did notice that not all of the homes were lit up, which was a little bit of a let down, but understandably that not everyone can or wants to endure the price it must cost to keep your home lit for a good amount of time, every day.
It was more magical as a child, what with having the belief in Santa and all, but it did give me the opportunity to reminisce as with giving my boyfriend the opportunity to experience something magical that he didn’t get to as a little boy.
We’ll be back for every year that it is open. :)

It is my favourite part of the Christmas season. It is much better to find a day you can walk. Dress for the weather and everything is all good. You don’t get the same experience if you are in your car. Get out and walk it. Make it a real winter experience.
One of these days I will book a sleigh ride. Tip: The booking usually starts online before Candy Cane Lane opens.

I really wanted to LOVE Candy Cane Lane. As a mom of a nearly-​two-​year-​old, I am eager to start holiday traditions that inspire the wonder and magic of the season. From it’s reputation, I thought Candy Cane Lane would be a magical, awe-​inspiring sight for our little one. But sadly, Candy Cane Lane didn’t live up to the hype. I didn’t mind the few houses that were not decorated, but what about those houses that clearly had lights up, but simply hadn’t bothered to turn them on (and we could see the home owners inside watching TV). My son loves lights and so he was thrilled with the decorations we saw. But he had the same reaction to the lights in our neighbourhood (Oliver) and those lights didn’t involve the trek out to the West End. We may come and check it out in future years, but I doubt it will become an annual pilgrimage for us. We certainly won’t brave –30 temps just to see it again.

I just came home from my 2013 trip to Candy Cane Lane and feel compelled to share my thoughts. Yes not everybody decorates but I think people need to take into account the tremendous pressure those who live in this neighborhood are under when it comes to paying for the electricity bill as well as the decorations. Yes it used to be more elaborate years ago but economic times have changed as well as the city no longer subsidizes the electricity cost for participants like they did in the past.
The creativity was still out in full force with giant stockings filled with presents on one persons lawn as well as Yoda and Darth Vader dressed in Santa suits out on the lawn of a different home. There was also a man dressed up as Santa walking up and down the route handing out candy canes to children which I think takes alot of heart considering the cold snap we are currently dealing with.
Whether its a huge lit up winter scene or just a few lights put up on someones home these people deserve our respect for their dedication to the festive season as well as helping out the good folks over at the food bank.

Candy Cane Lane is just OK, especially if you don’t have kids. I went for the first time this year and was expecting more. Instead, most homes had average lights and decorations, and nothing out of the ordinary. It’s a nice walk for kids but if you don’t have any, it can be a bit bland/​boring. That being said, I do appreciate the community putting this on each year as they deserve a lot of credit.

The thing that I love most about Candy Cane Lane is the sense of community that is put into it. The neighborhood works hard to put it on every year, and it shows. My boyfriend and I particularly liked the huge old pine trees that were draped with lights to the very top, but we enjoyed all the displays overall. Some were more dated and not as flashy, but I think in this event the effort put in counts for more. It’s also great that this event promotes food bank donations.
Unfortunately, when I went, the sidewalk was a sheet of ice. There was no gravel or salt, and it was quite treacherous.

Kudos and many thanks to the long suffering and generous residents of Candy Cane Lane. The decorations were as varied as the people taking in the sights by foot, car and hay ride. I loved the hand crafted scenes as well as the newer store-​bought ornaments.
The horse drawn ‘sleigh’ rides looked like a great way to tour the lane. I will be booking my ride early for next year.
It was heartwarming to see the food bank bins filled to overflowing and the sidewalks bustling with sightseers.
A wonderful and nostalgic way to get into the Christmas spirit, or extend it after the big day.

Sad to see that people were writing good revies and then I come along. Welcome to Candy Cane Lame. The décor and lights used look old. Lets modernize this place. Hate to say it but I heard they might move and so they should, go to south Edmonton some big houses I wanna see a spectacle. The food bank is there which is awesome but again I went for the first and last time, really disappointed.

I’ve lived in Edmonton nearly all my life, but I have never ventured down to Candy Cane Lane before. Not really sure why. Could be because my parents never cared enough to take me so I could experience the magic of the season, or it could be that I just couldn’t be bothered.
In any case, I went down there last night with a couple of co-​workers who had also never been. Have to be honest, I was a little disappointed. There were a number of houses along the street that weren’t decorated at all. While I realize that there’s no obligation for anyone to put up decorations, I thought it was a bit of a let down.
I’m also thinking that those are the houses that tend to get egged and TP’d on Halloween. Hell hath no fury like a neighbor scorned.
My own personal disappointment notwithstanding, I had a good time with my friends, which more than made up for the lack of decorations.

Candy Cane Lane is one of the best attraction in Edmonton. It has the nicest decorations and who wouldn’t love this place. But sadly some dumb and uncivilized people without a holiday spirit would go over there vandalize the place. This was just reported on the news:

It’s a family tradition, since moving to Edmonton a couple years ago, to visit Candy Cane Lane every Christmas. Most of the lights are spectacular and the best part is that people are doing it on their own dime and they have donation bins all over the place for the Food Bank.
Love it!

Candy Cane Lane is one of Edmonton’s great traditions. I am sure other cities have it to, but it is definitely something to check out during Christmas. I have checked it out many times over the years and it has lost a bit of it’s appeal it is still a great place to go with the family and get into the Christmas spirit.
I have nothing but appreciation and admiration for the people that decorate their houses so amazingly. It’s a great experience and makes for a perfect winter night.

I love Candy Cane Lane! It’s the fastest way to get into the Christmas spirit, and it’s totally non-​commercial, if you’re not the ones paying for the lights and electricity bill, that is! It’s just an afternoon or evening out enjoying the crisp air, being around others and enjoying the beauty and hard work of neighbours who’ve taken the time to dress their home in lights.
For me, the real beauty is in taking time out — having a walk, which I never do as much as I’d like, strolling and having conversation without any rush to get somewhere, bringing a thermos of hot chocolate or maybe a little spiked hot apple cider, and seeing the children out having fun. It’s a real community event. You can walk or drive through, and it’s worlds better than going to Bright Lights at Hawrelak Park which is brought to you by corporate Edmonton rather than Edmontonians themselves. This is much more a people event. It’s located along 148 St from 100 Ave to 96 Ave. If you don’t want to walk but don’t want to gas others with your car fumes, you can book a sleigh ride but you need to reserve online at
.
It’s free but if you bring a non-​perishable food item for one of the many bins along the walk you’ll be contributing to the true meaning of Christmas — healing with your love.

Candy Cane Lane is one of Edmonton’s Christmas traditions. I grew up nearby and would often check out the bright lights and displays. However, ti has changed in recent years. I am not sure when Lauren visited last, but not all of the houses are decorated, and the displays are not as elaborate as they used to be. This can probably be explained by rising electricity costs. In fact, many of the houses are no more elaborate than other houses elsewhere in the city. Walking is a lot more fun than driving, as Lauren pointed out, and it is a fun, free, and safe way to have an evening family outing. I just really miss the way it used to be.

Candy Cane Lane is one of Edmonton’s biggest Christmas traditions, and was also a family tradition for me when I was a kid. Since 35 years ago, the Crestwood community in the west end of Edmonton has been decking their streets with boughs of holly and light-​up candy canes. It is truly a sight to see, as you make your way down the lanes and through the neighbourhood, oohing and ahhing at each house that seems to be even more decorated than the last.
The tradition has grown to include the whole area from 148 Street to 100 – 96 Avenue. You can walk or take the car, but it’s best to walk because you won’t be wasting gas that way, it’s better for the environment, and your exhaust fumes won’t be poisoning those who are walking. Plus if you drive, you’ll probably be moving along at a snail’s pace. There are sleigh rides through the neighbourhood too, but make sure you register for it through the Candy Cane Lane website, because it’s very popular! And don’t forget to bundle up – you don’t want Jack Frost biting your nose!
All of the houses are decorated, and I’m sure that there’s some friendly competition going on between some of them. Some houses are decorated in a classic and glitzy manner, while others opt for humorous displays. It is not uncommon to spot Santa’s rear sticking out of a chimney.
Admission is free, but try to bring a non-​perishable item for the food bank. It’s a great way to give back to the community during the holiday season. Candy Cane Lane is usually open for about three weeks, and officially runs from Dec 13 — Jan 2 this year, from 5pm to around midnight.