Signs of the season and times

Bryce Alderton

Songs of the season filled the night air.

A group of four women entertained fellow bus riders with a rendition

of “Rudolph, The Red Nosed Reindeer” as the group returned to cars parked

at the Huntington Harbour Mall after seeing spectacular million-dollar

mansions clothed in lights of all colors, dotted with glowing American

flags and illuminated figures such as Santa Claus and snowmen.

This second night of the 39th annual Cruise of Lights was a cold one

with temperatures dropping into the 40s by the time the 97 excited

spectators boarded the Monte Carlo boat for the 6 p.m. tour. Despite the

frigid air people didn’t leave disappointed.

A group of seven from the Transportation Corridor Agency’s

communications department decided to make the cruise their department’s

Christmas party.

One of those was first-time cruise visitor and Long Beach resident

Lisa Telles, who was holding her 5-year-old daughter Sophia.

“We had a great time,” Telles said. “The Iwo Jima and firefighter

[combination] was amazing.”

Telles was referring to the house that won the Sweepstakes Award,

which featured a replica of American soldiers, two of them dressed as

firefighters, driving the American flag into the ground at Iwo Jima

during World War II.

The scene was part of the house’s “Born on the Fourth of July” theme,

which also included stars lined with red, white and blue lights to

celebrate America’s patriotism.

“I think it’s neat showing patriotism, it’s kind of a theme throughout

the [lighted homes],” said Huntington Beach resident Laura Lewis, who was

joined Friday night by husband Frank, and friends Tom and Dee Carnes.

One home’s back side was almost completely covered in red, white and

blue lights made into an American flag that hung from near the roof to

the ground of the two-story house.

Boat riders oohed and aahed as they sailed past the house that judges

recognized with the Most Effective Use of Lights Award.

Several other homes paid tribute to America as well.

The Statue of Liberty joined snowmen and reindeer this year at one

home’s holiday display. Red, white and blue stars and ribbons topped

fences and slithered their way through backyard trees.

One house even had the saying “In God We Trust” projected onto its

back wall against a glowing blue backdrop that quickly changed to green

with the greeting “Merry Christmas” glistening across the wall.

Dee Carnes laughed when the boat passed this glowing house.

“We’re going to a Christmas party there tomorrow night,” Carnes said.

The Carnes’ have been coming to the cruise for 14 years.

“The colors are so pretty,” Tom Carnes said.

Even if a giant American flag or a “God Bless America” sign wasn’t the

focal point of a house’s display, red, white and blue could still be

found on many houses.

A menorah of orange lights was centered perfectly along the back of

one home, in celebration of Hanukkah, which ended Sunday.

That same house also displayed patriotic lights of red, white and blue

draped along the fence bordering the home’s dock.

“Flags, the big flag and the stars were awesome,” said Costa Mesa

resident Barbie Daly with a big smile on her face.