Itinerary: All Decked Out

Forget decking the halls with boughs of holly. In 20th century America holiday spirit is displayed by stringing lights.

Not surprisingly, when we asked for nominations of elaborate lighting displays, they rolled in by the dozens. We made a list and checked it (admittedly, not twice) with lots of help from staff members across the Times.

Thursday Night

Start with a lesson in contrasts. Cars nearly collide at 301 Rimpau Blvd., at the corner of 3rd Street in Hancock Park. The scene is almost indescribable: There are six Santas on the roof and at least a dozen reindeer. Nearby at 276 Windsor Blvd., 20-foot wooden carousel animals dominate.

The mansion at 9463 Sunset Blvd. in Beverly Hills is simple but elegant, the whole structure lined with white lights. In the yard, pyramids of lights create the illusion of a forest of Christmas trees. The only icon is a Star of David above the front entry.

Friday Night

Tour the San Gabriel Valley, beginning with Christmas Tree Lane--actually Santa Rosa Avenue in Altadena, north of Woodbury Road. Neighbors here have been stringing lights in their giant deodar cedar trees since 1920. It has a rival to the south in San Marino, where a full block of St. Albans Road, north of Huntington Drive, also lights up its huge evergreens.

Swing over to the Upper Hastings Ranch area of Pasadena, north of East Sierra Madre Boulevard. More than 1,000 homes get in the spirit--spurred on by a neighborhood association competition.

An alternative route would trace the Foothill communities, starting in La Crescenta where Santa has landed in a red biplane at the corner of La Crescenta and Henrietta avenues. In the historical district of Duarte, Vista Mesa Court also turns up the wattage this time of year. Now in its 11th year, the homes along this cul-de-sac each have a separate theme, from Frosty to the Nativity. Finally, cruise the part of Glendora that starts in the 1400 block of South Glendora Avenue and then loops around on Renwick Road, Glencroft Avenue and Payson Street. Here’s where you’ll find a mini Who-ville and cows pulling Santa’s sleigh.

Saturday Night

Work your way west from Eagle Rock, starting at 4364 York Blvd., where the owners have put characters from Mother Goose nursery rhymes, the 38th year this couple has pulled out all the stops.

A couple of houses in Burbank, at 513 and 529 Florence St. between Verdugo Road and Magnolia Boulevard, are facing sizable electric bills this month. Christmas music emanates from both illuminated houses, which feature animated teeter-totters and Christmas trains with moving wheels and a waving engineer. Other details: a moving carousel, Ferris wheel and waving snowmen.

In the West Valley, a 50-year tradition continues in the part of Woodland Hills known as Candy Cane Lane (north of the Ventura Freeway, east of Winnetka Avenue). The whole thing started on Lubao Avenue when a bunch of neighbors bought stovepipes, painted them white, and wrapped them in spiraling red ribbon.

To the north, lights blink or shine on almost every house on Jellico and Lahey streets in Granada Hills. Animated figures include santas, reindeer and snowmen. And out west in Agoura, the house at 435 Aspen View Court has light sculptures and a little tykes playhouse that doubles as Santa’s log cabin.

Sunday Evening

If your eyes aren’t crossed by now . . . in Torrance, the neighborhood around Robert Road north of PCH has a concentration of beautifully lighted houses. In Santa Clarita, Weatherfield Drive and Landon Place have lit up their entire streets. And finally, in Venice, 911 Marco Place gets to the heart of Christmas in Southern California: lights in the cacti and palms, Wisemen in Day of the Dead costume, and baby Jesus represented in a creche by a red heart on a glowing TV screen.

* For a list that includes Ventura and Orange counties see: www.calendarlive.com/ holidaylights.