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.
All the latest on Orange County from Orange County.
Get our free TimesOC newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Daily Pilot.