Hundreds fill Fresno streets for Christmas Tree Lane opening

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Hundreds of people are taking in the 94th annual Christmas Tree Lane opening.

Whether you're a kid, adult or dog, there is only one place to be during the first weekend of December. Christmas Tree Lane is transforming a two-mile stretch of Van Ness Avenue, with holiday lights brightening the front of homes and faces of people.

"It takes us eight weekends to get it ready to go," Dean Alexander said.

Alexander has been decorating his home for nearly 30 years. His work won him $50,000 after he was featured on ABC's The Great Christmas Light Fight. He said he does this each year for the joy it brings to the community.

"It's just bringing cheer and the spirit of Christmas to everybody you see people and they just have a smile on their face," he explained.

The lights bring smiles to people like Mary Barber. For 16 years, she has only seen Christmas Tree Lane from her car window. She said experiencing it this way is a lot different.

"You can see the lights better you can see some detail that you miss being in the car," she said. "There's a lot of people. It's really a great community."0

Over 140 homes and 300 trees are decorated for the event. Some stick with a classic look, while others jazz it up with more active lights. But whatever the style may be,

people of all ages seem to love it.

"It just makes you proud as a Fresnan should be," Cyndi Bauer exclaimed.