Christmas Lights

Here is a sampling of Los Angeles’ best-dressed neighborhoods and spectacular light displays: 1) AGOURA HILLS

* 5831 Grey Rock Road

The Kaplan’s Christmas wonderland, which opened to a parade and 3,000 bystanders two weeks ago, explodes with 175,000 lights, fog machines, a mechanical Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, candy canes, elves, a train, snowmen, and Santa and his flying laser show.

2) WOODLAND HILLS

* Oakdale Avenue

For almost half a century, this four-block area of large ranch-style homes, bounded by Oxnard Street, Corbin and Winnetka avenues, and the Ventura Freeway--which calls itself Candy Cane Lane--has kept the holiday magic alive with thousands of lights, Santas, sleighs, candles, bells and Nativity scenes.

3) ALTADENA

* Santa Rosa Avenue

The hills may be burned and barren, but the residents of Altadena are continuing the 73-year-old tradition of stringing Christmas lights among fir-like deodar trees that line a one-mile stretch on Christmas Tree Lane between Woodbury Road and Altadena Drive. San Marino residents do the same thing to trees that form a canopy over a shorter stretch of St. Albans Road.

4) ALTADENA

* West of Lake Avenue

This 35-foot star has endured for 65 years on a hill above Altadena, just west of Lake Avenue. The Star of Palawoo (a Native American word for bird’s nest) was originally erected by F.B. Nightingale, who started a company that manufactures outdoor lighting. The star is visible driving north on Lake Avenue, just north of Mendocino Lane.

5) ALTADENA

* 1960 Mendocino Lane

A family tradition for more than 30 years, the Mediterranean mansion owned by ice cream magnate George Balian features more than 15,000 lights, which the family begins putting up in mid-September. The lights will be turned on next Sunday.

6) PASADENA

* Hastings Ranch

Residents have banded together for 37 years to decorate their 1,100-home neighborhood in a 44-block area north of Sierra Madre Boulevard and west of Michillinda Avenue. Curbside symbols such as snowmen and angels are placed in front of about 900 of the houses to proclaim each street’s motif.

7) LONG BEACH

* Daisy Avenue

Residents create their own Christmas Tree Lane along what is known at other times as Daisy Avenue between 20th Street, Pacific Coast Highway, the Long Beach Freeway and Magnolia Street.

8) TORRANCE

* Doris Way, Robert and Reese roads, Carol and Linda drives and Sharynne Lane.

This Sleepy Hollow area comes alive with elaborate attractions, where brilliantly lit Santas hold court on rooftops, and where there are scenes of holy men standing amid camels, and of lambs grazing on the lawns. Flocks of children and carolers traditionally stop by the houses between Pacific Coast Highway, Calle Mayor, Anza Avenue and Sepulveda and Palos Verdes boulevards. PCH is closed from 6 to 10 p.m. nightly through Christmas. Enter Linda Drive from Palos Verdes Boulevard or enter Calle Mayor from Carlow or Vanderhill roads.

9) INGLEWOOD

* 3rd, 4th, 5th avenues and Hardy street

Colorful blinking Christmas lights and elaborate displays decorate each of the streets in this festive neighborhood.

BEVERLY HILLS

10) * 9463 Sunset Blvd.

For 11 years, at the corner of Hillcrest Road and Sunset Boulevard, this large mansion has been graced with pyramids of lights that mimic a forest of glittering Christmas trees. And only blocks away, more than 500,000 twinkling firefly lights sparkle in front of the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel at 9500 Wilshire Blvd.