This one is hot off the press! Christmas Tree Lane announced today via their Facebook page that they will be doing away with the 2 walk only nights this season. Safety concerns seem to be the reason for the big change this year. Here is the full statement posted four hours ago:
Christmas Tree Lane will open for our 103rd year being in early December (date will be finalized after meeting with law enforcement) and run through Christmas night Dec. 25th. Driving down The Lane has been a part of our community for over a century, and The Fig Garden Homeowners Association will continue to ensure this community enjoyed treasure continues for generations. We will, however, be suspending our Walk Only Nights this year. The popularity and growth of these two Walk Nights has taken on a life of their own and has made it nearly impossible for our small group to put on in a way that ensures the safety of the 35,000 people who attend, and that of our neighborhood. Safety is our utmost concern and responsibility, and the size of these events has become too large to manage effectively. To provide and ensure a safe Walk Night experience, our small group would need to transfer these nights to a larger organization better suited to running this event. It is with very heavy hearts that we’ve made this decision, but our commitment to our neighborhood and the greater Fresno community is unchanged as we work to fill the lane with lights and the spirit of Christmas for the 103rd time.
We know there are going to be tons of people who are will be angry or heartbroken about this new update to this tried-and-true local tradition. Honestly, while we LOVED walking the Lane with a hot cup of Starbucks peppermint mocha, no whip, extra hot in my hand. I get it. We never actually went back because of how massive the size of the crowd was. Parking and traffic were a complete mess, and we can completely see how impossible it would be to safely supervise those of numbers.
While it makes us sad to see those walk only nights go away, we can see how it’s probably in everyone’s best interest. You can check out the FB post after the jump.
