Lights, camera, Christmas! Holiday displays just beg to be photographed, video-recorded

Updated with new homes 12/14/2015:

▪ 4712 White Willow Road, Salida

▪ 2400 Boston Way, Modesto

▪ 3129 Merle Ave., Modesto

▪ 2833 E. Olive Ave., Merced. This display features a 10-foot North Pole and a gingerbread house covered with lights. It is a featured home on www.californiachristmaslights.com.

No matter what flies your sleigh when it comes to outdoor holiday decor – retro lighted plastic figures, inflatables, old-school painted wooden cutouts, or just lots and lots and lots of lights – you’re sure to find something among the displays your neighbors have put up around, well, just about every corner.

Of course, there are several must-sees, including Rick Lundberg’s feast for the eyes on Massera Way in north Modesto, Christmas Tree Lane in Ceres, Oxford Court in Turlock (even without its Santa Express miniature elevated train this year) and the dancing light shows on Thornhill Way, which are growing onto other streets off Snyder Avenue in Modesto.

But there are many other neighborhood favorites, and we asked readers to share theirs.

Daniel Nava told us about a half-dozen or so adjacent homes on Grimes Avenue just north of Paradise Road in west Modesto. “You gotta take a drive down this street,” he wrote in an email. “The people who live there put up many lights and Christmas displays and make it worth checking out. ... The kids will love it! Most of the lights run between 1729 Grimes Ave. and 1621 Grimes Ave. You can get there from Maze Boulevard or Paradise Avenue.”

For several years, Sandra Stroud has been good about steering folks to Carl Grubb’s impressive display at 2030 Golf Road, Turlock. “Another year and more beautiful lights!” she told us recently. “Carl has worked his magic and provided another fantastic display. Each year, he rearranges the displays and adds more beautiful lights, and this year, it is even more striking than ever. There is already a steady stream of people driving by his home, with many people returning from previous years and others attracted by the glow of his lights.”

Several readers recommended making a trip to Hilmar to see the handiwork of Mike Schulze at 20110 Fourth St. Beth Walker called his handmade decorations “outstanding, amazing,” and added, “He has such talent and shares it in many creative ways for our church (Hilmar Covenant) and for our community. ... It’s a joy to drive by his house and be amazed by the incredible detail and scenery.”

Schulze’s neighbor Sarah Barton was equally impressed: “I drive by his house every night with my kids. We marvel at the incredible attention to detail and hidden gems in Mike’s holiday light creations!”

Modesto resident Noreen Storey invites you to see her display at 3516 Pelucca Lane. “My yard is all aglow with a 10-foot snow globe with rotating reindeer inside on a swing, along with lots of decorative lights.”

A reader named Maria raved about the display at 3101 Coffee Road. “They added a lot of new stuff this year. Everyone should see the huge poinsettias and the ‘Believe’ over the driveway. The homeowners are so nice! They have a path through the yard and allowed us to walk our kids through the display. Such a treat and absolutely breathtaking.”

And a few people let us know about the very cute display at 2005 Kendall Ave. in Modesto of handmade wooden cutouts of figures including several Disney/Pixar characters: Elsa and Olaf from “Frozen”; Mike, Sully and Boo from “Monsters, Inc.”; and more.

Here are other addresses recommended by Bee readers:

Modesto

▪ 3325 Pumphouse Court

▪ 3708 Akeby Drive

▪ Rothchild Drive and Amestoy Court, off Merle Avenue

▪ 5955 McHenry Ave., north of Kiernan Avenue

▪ 5225 Garst Road

▪ 1500 Sunrise Ave.

▪ 1121 Winchell Way

▪ 2405 Edgebrook Drive

▪ 1626 Seattle St.

▪ 2245 Lambert St.

▪ Millbrook Avenue at Parkcrest Drive

▪ A house on the north side of Sylvan Avenue between Oakdale Road and Roselle

Riverbank

▪ 5621 Saxon Way

Oakdale

▪ 10213 Atlas Court : “You won’t want to miss the spectacular lights and music ... Tune in the radio and let the show begin!”

This story was originally published December 12, 2015 at 3:34 PM with the headline "Lights, camera, Christmas! Holiday displays just beg to be photographed, video-recorded."