After Eaton fire, Altadena's Christmas Tree Lane provides an emotional return to normalcy
This is read by an automated voice.Please report any issues or inconsistencies here.
Saturday was the 105th anniversary of Altadena’s Christmas Tree Lane lighting ceremony and festival, but you couldn’t quite call the night a celebration.It felt more like a memorial in a holiday wonderland.
Along the near mile of the cedar-lined street, there were glorious lights, children singing and a soul-thumping procession by alumni of the John Muir High School drum corps.Santa and Mrs.
Claus were there, along with a tall skinny elf with curly ribbon hair who called himself Wrinkle Jingle Jangle.But with all the smiles, the music and a crowd old-timers said was the biggest they’d ever seen, tears were always near the surface.
Conversations faltered, voices broke.The emcee, actor Edward James Olmos, welcomed the crowd with a wavering voice full of emotion.
“You have no idea, especially after this year that we’ve had,” said Olmos, a longtime L.A.resident.
“I’m crying now but I want to thank you so much for bringing about one of the most extraordinary events to the United States of America.” Lifestyle Backyard Party, a new all-ages venue in Pasadena, has a deep connection to Altadena and those who lost their homes in the Eaton fire.In addition to being a music and event space, it’s also become a clearinghouse for free instruments for fire victims.People have learned to be patient in Altadena.
In this community where entire neighborhoods were reduced to ash and thousands were left homeless after one fire-frenzied night in January, the new etiquette is to wait a moment for the speaker to recover, because they always do.Pierre Dupuy, 66, a lifelong resident of Altadena, was emotional too as he waited near the stage.
He was chosen to turn on the lights this year, in part because of his longtime connection to Christmas Tree Lane, which is officially Santa Rosa Avenue.He grew up in the historic Andrew McNally home just a few steps from the 135 deodar cedar...