Upper Hastings Ranch Lights Up the Holidays with Traditional and Spectacular Light Display

As the festive season approaches, the Upper Hastings Ranch neighborhood in Pasadena is gearing up for its annual Holiday LightUp event. Running from Dec. 9 to Dec. 31, this Christmas Light Display has been a staple of the community since its humble beginnings in 1951.

The Upper Hastings Ranch Association (UHRA), a dedicated nonprofit volunteer-led homeowners group, has been orchestrating this event for years, focusing on enhancing community bonds and spreading holiday cheer. 

Tiffany Gardner, UHRA Board Member and historian, said the cherished tradition has evolved from its modest origins when Hastings Ranch families used luminaria to guide Santa Claus. Now, it has transformed into a friendly competition where residents showcase their creativity through elaborate light displays.

Although there will be new features this year, promising to make the festivities more enchanting than ever, Gardner said she’d rather not talk about what those will be and instead would encourage everyone to stay tuned for updates on social media. 

“Parkway display themes are chosen by the neighbors on each street,” she said. “We don’t know what’s new until the street reveals their display. Stay tuned. Check our Instagram or Facebook pages for photos.” 

Last year, displays during the Holiday LightUp celebrated the event’s 70th anniversary. Before that, in 2020, the association made some changes to the awarding process for winning decorators who in the past received red wooden bells.

“We use different judges each year, but often the same people would win the award, so we created a golden bell for homes or parkways that won many years in a row, which allowed new people to take the winning red bell,” Gardner said. “We also created an award for new decorators. We want to encourage people who are brand new to the neighborhood to decorate and feel like they can win.” 

The event has been drawing visitors from all over Southern California, and it has been a source of pride for the residents who spend their own funds to keep the tradition going.

“We don’t have sponsors. We are just a fun, family-friendly neighborhood,” Gardner said. “We like our traditions, and we love the smiles that we put on people’s faces when they drive by. We read the comments and thank yous on our Facebook and Instagram pages every day, and the happiness we get from our visitors keeps us going every year.” 

The Upper Hastings Ranch association appoints “block captains” each year who play a crucial role in ensuring the success of the light display. They act as liaisons to each street, organizing displays, delivering messages to residents, and fostering enthusiasm for the festivities.

Residents can also host events for visitors. Gardner outlined a calendar of events throughout the holiday season, including Santa cruising around the neighborhood on opening night, the Christmas Band on Rexford Ave. on Dec. 16, carolers on Cartwright Street/Riviera Drive on Dec. 22, and Tuba Christmas Tunes on Coronet Ave. on Dec. 24. 

A miniature Christmas Village will be on display in a family’s garage on Cartwright Street, which will usually be open every night from Dec. 9. On Tropical Ave., there’s a display that in 2022 was declared Grand Prize winner in ABC7’s “The Great Christmas Light Fight.” 

“Check out Harbeck Lights,” Gardner said. “His [Andy Harbeck’s] whole display is completely original. He 3-D printed every LED light display at his house and has something new to ‘wow!’ us every year. Their house is already decorated, but I don’t know what the new items are yet. He makes it ‘snow’ every 30 minutes or so on the weekends.” 

While the event is primarily volunteer-driven, the neighbors at Upper Hastings Ranch are working to incorporate sustainability initiatives. Bonus points are awarded for homemade parkway displays, and the widespread use of LED lights contributes to energy efficiency.

As Upper Hastings Ranch prepares to light up the holiday season, residents and visitors alike can anticipate a dazzling display of lights, creativity, and community spirit. Looking ahead, Gardner hinted at ongoing creativity.

“We come up with new events for the whole year all the time,” she said. “We’re the Holiday LightUp neighborhood, but we have several family-friendly events each year.” 

Upper Hastings Ranch’s Holiday LightUp will be open from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. starting Dec. 9.

For more information, visit https://upperhastingsranch.org/.