Two beloved ‘Dena’ communities hit hard by the Eaton fire are turning the holiday lights back on

Two communities left ravaged by the Eaton fire will both be kicking off the holiday season this weekend with the return of two cherished local holiday traditions.

At 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6, Altadena’s Christmas Tree Lane and Upper Hastings Ranch’s Holiday Light Up are set to illuminate.

Organizers of both events spoke this year about the added importance of making sure these traditions returned on schedule given what their respective communities have dealt with the last 11 months.

Officials with the Christmas Tree Lane Association said that in the immediate aftermath of the Eaton fire, there was uncertainty about whether Christmas Tree Lane would be able to go forward in 2025. While trees on Santa Rosa Avenue survived the blaze and suffered some wind damage the community surrounding it was significantly impacted.

The Eaton fire began around the time volunteers typically take down the more than 10,000 lights. Christmas Tree Lane is designated a California State Historic Landmark and has been on the National Register of Historic Place since 1990. This year marks the 105th anniversary of the tradition, which dates back to 1920 when a department store owner organized a tree lighting to attract business.

A day of festivities will begin at 3 p.m. at the corner of Santa Rosa Avenue and Mariposa Street for a Winterfest: Arts & Crafts Festival. The holiday marketplace will run through 9 p.m. and include artisan and craft vendors, food trucks and holiday treats, live music, family activities, photos with Santa Claus and community booth and local nonprofits.

The lighting ceremony begins at 6 p.m.

Upper Hastings Ranch represented the majority of the Eaton fire’s impact on Pasadena. Charred remnants of holiday lights and decorations remained on several properties that were destroyed.

Like Christmas Tree Lane, the light up tradition goes back decades when a group of neighbors displayed an assortment of candles in front of their homes for the holidays. This year, hand-decorated stars will shine over the properties lost to the fire starting Saturday and every night through Dec. 31.

Decorations set up in the neighborhoods north of Sierra Madre Boulevard and Hastings Ranch Drive will be illuminated each night starting at 6 p.m. until the end of the year.

Both events are free and open to the public.