Woodland Hills’ Candy Cane Lane has gotten a little less merry in recent years, with residents of the area getting increasingly fed up by what they call increased littering, street vending and disrespectful behavior from those who come by during the holidays to view their elaborate Christmas decorations.

Some Candy Cane Lane denizens have even threatened to “go dark,” by leaving their lights and decorations in the shed this year. And as of Friday, Candy Cane Lane was listed as “permanently closed” on Google, a move neighbors say was likely the work of someone who wanted to discourage people from visiting.

But it is going to take a lot more to get rid of a tradition that some say has been going strong for 60 years, beloved by both the residents of Candy Cane Lane and visitors from the rest of the San Fernando Valley and beyond.

Roy Skolion, 89, places a Christmas decoration at his home in Woodland Hills on Friday, Nov. 24, 2017. Residents of Candy Cane Lane begin setting up their elaborate Christmas decorations. (Photo by Ed Crisostomo, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Sharon, visiting from Kenya, paints a Christmas decoration in Woodland Hills on Friday, Nov. 24, 2017. Residents of Candy Cane Lane begin setting up their elaborate Christmas decorations. (Photo by Ed Crisostomo, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Sound The gallery will resume in seconds

Micah Herbert places a Christmas decoration at his home in Woodland Hills on Friday, Nov. 24, 2017. Residents of Candy Cane Lane begin setting up their elaborate Christmas decorations. (Photo by Ed Crisostomo, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)



One of those who do not want to let go of the tradition is 40-year-old Matthew Wright, who lives at the end of a cul de sac on Penfield Avenue, where each year he sets up a wooden train he created out of scrap wood that people can sit inside of to take pictures.

RELATED STORY: Future of Candy Cane Lane dims after influx of street vendors, rude visitors

Wright said that he went into the Google listing for Candy Cane Lane and requested that it be changed back to “open.”

The person who requested to have their neighborhood be listed as closed appeared to be “drawing a line in the sand,” and will be “a little upset with me for doing that,” he said.

But the fact of the matter is, “it’s not closed,” Wright said.

Wright is hoping to keep the holiday spirit alive by helping some of his neighbors with their decorating, and encouraging people of different faiths to customize their lawns to fit their beliefs.

“I think it’s a good tradition,” he said. “I think it makes the community a lot better.”

But he said he understands if people want to quit. Which is why he is hosting a holiday party where he will be passing out small traffic cones and signs that his neighbors can put up to tell visitors to behave and not litter or steal decorations.

“Most people just don’t really know that it isn’t an amusement park and it’s sort of treated like an amusement park,” he said. “So they have to keep that in mind that these are people’s homes.”

RELATED STORY: Holiday lights still merry and bright on Candy Cane Lane in Woodland Hills

Pam Alch, a 15-year resident of the area, said that in addition to visitor behavior and vandalism, there has been a “high turnover” of homes being sold in the area.

“People who were your regular decorators, they left, and then new people come in, and they don’t decorate,” she said. Meanwhile, there is less incentive to decorate for those who have stayed, but are older and no longer have children living with them.

“It’s a lot of work to put all this stuff out, and some folks just physically can’t do it,” she said.

It is also an activity that many families do for the sake of their children, she said.

But some of the newer residents, including Wright, say they are eager to keep the tradition going.

Jaye Weiner was out on Friday with friends decorating her home ahead of her first year on Candy Cane Lane. She said that before moving here, she did not really festoon her home for Christmas.

“I’m Jewish,” Weiner said. But she felt duty bound to make use of the shed full of holiday decorations that she inherited from the last owner, and she plans to add a few of her own pieces to celebrate Hanukkah.

The significance of the decorating tradition was brought home to her when her cable guy told her that he has been bringing his family to her home to get their holiday picture taken for the past 10 years, she said. Weiner’s home is well-known for its life-sized sled and cutout Santa Claus.

“There’s a lot of pressure,” she said, though it’s hardly unwelcome.

“It was part of the charm,” she said.

The way she sees it, moving into the neighborhood meant that she would be part of a larger project to spread holiday cheer to families around the Valley.

And even for some of the longtime residents, it’s not a tradition they are ready to give up. Those making their way to Candy Cane Lane will likely be greeted by a sign that reads “Candlelight Lane,” at Oakdale Avenue. The streets in the neighborhood all have their own nicknames, including Caroler’s Way and Avenue of the Bells.

The festive way-finding sign was built by 89-year-old World War II veteran Roy Skolion, soon after he moved into the neighborhood in 1985. He also sets up candles along his walkway. He says it’s just something he’s always done, dating back to his time growing up in Buffalo, New York.

As Skolion affixed the large sign to a tree on Friday, he noted that some of his neighbors have complained about people taking their decorations, and there is often a lot of littering and an influx of street vendors.

“But that hasn’t stopped me,” he said.