Altadena’s landmark Christmas Tree Lane — a mile‑long, century‑old display that once drew bumper‑to‑bumper crowds — was relit this weekend after coming close to being wiped out. Nearly a year after a deadly January wildfire that destroyed about 9,000 structures and killed 19 people, hundreds of volunteers returned to rehang more than 20,000 lights along the tree‑lined tunnel.
With most debris cleared and many residents relocated, the lighting felt like a return home: a visible sign of hope and an early step in the neighborhood’s recovery. Organizers said the event drew over 15,000 people on Saturday, and longtime residents described the evening as full of joy and togetherness — a reminder that shared traditions can help knit a community back together after tragedy.
The annual display, which began in 1920, took on renewed meaning this year as neighbors and volunteers worked to restore not just the lights but a sense of continuity and resilience in Altadena. Reported by Carter Evans for CBS News.