HOLIDAY DISPLAYS : Dazzling neighbors help light the way for Santa Claus on these streets.

From life-size Santas to glittering arches spanning a street, there’s no shortage of colorful outdoor Christmas displays around the South Bay.

In Torrance, visitors can meander through a winding trail of luminance around Sharynne Lane, Reese and Robert roads, Doris Way and Linda Drive.

Nearly all the houses on Reese Road have lights draped like chandeliers from their front-yard trees. The view is so spectacular and the lights so bright that you don’t need headlights to drive down the street. If you’re walking, you’ll probably have lots of company--carolers roam the area.

Santa stopped by on Monday and handed out candy to the neighborhood kids. He traveled by way of the Torrance Police Department’s Christmas float, which has been making nightly rounds since mid-November.

In Hawthorne, Gary and Dottie Williams are the talk of the town with their 9-foot Ferris wheel on their front lawn. A 3-foot Santa turns the Ferris wheel, which is filled with stuffed animals and covered with lights. Also in the yard is a 6-foot Santa made of plywood.

On top of their two-story garage stands a lighted 16-foot Christmas tree, “so people can see us from all around,” said Dottie Williams. Lighted sleighs and reindeer adorn the roof and the lawn. In all, the Williamses have 11,000 lights on their house.

What’s their electric bill like?

“It will probably be at least $200 over our normal bill,” Williams said.

But well worth it in her eyes. Their display won them first-place honors for holiday decorations in a city contest and the hearts of all the neighborhood children.

Last year, one mother brought her daughter to the display every night during the two months it was up.

“She said, ‘My daughter will not go to bed until she goes to see Santa Claus’ house,’ ” Williams said.

Williams suggests viewing the display from 5:15 to 10:30 p.m. until New Year’s Day.

In Inglewood, 20 arches made of metal and plastic piping decorated with red and silver garland entwined with lights span Fifth Avenue between Century Boulevard and Arbor Vitae Street.

Most residents in the area have sprayed their yards with fake snow and put up an array of decorations, including Nativity scenes and life-size Santas and reindeer.

The residents won first place in a city contest. Viewing hours are 5:30 to 11 p.m.