Candy Cane Lane Opens In West Allis On Friday

WEST ALLIS, WI — The iconic Candy Cane Lane that drapes an entire West Allis neighborhood in holiday decorations for a month to raise money against cancer opens on Friday.

The event started in 1984 with a group of neighbors hoping to raise money for Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer after a neighborhood child was diagnosed with cancer. The neighbors decorated their homes and yards and had visitors give a small donation as they drove through and the event has continued since, according to the Candy Cane Lane website.

After over $3 million raised over the event's years, it will return for 2022. The neighborhood is located between Montana Avenue on the north and Oklahoma Avenue on the south. On the west and east, it's bordered by 96th and 92nd Streets.

Here are the hours after the neighborhood opens Friday.

• 6-9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays.
• 6-10 p.m. on Fridays.
• 5-10 p.m. on Saturdays
• 5-9 p.m. on Sundays.

Here is some advice from organizers to stay safe during the event:

If you are driving through the neighborhood:
1. Obey all traffic signs.
2. Do not block businesses' driveways.
3. Keep all passengers inside your vehicles.
4. Drive with your lights on.
5. Watch out for pedestrians.

If you are walking through the neighborhood.
1. Cross the street at the corners only.
2. Do not stand in the road.
3. Do not litter.
4. Do not trespass onto private property.
5. Watch out for traffic.

For the opening night, North Shore Bank will be collecting donations and hosting, a news release from the company said.

“Our decades-long partnership with Candy Cane Lane and the MACC Fund is one we continue to cherish year after year, and we’re thrilled to be supporting the neighborhood event again this year,” said Joline Lazarski, branch manager for North Shore Bank in a news release. “We encourage everyone to come out and join us in donating to help fight childhood cancer at this safe, festive, and worthwhile celebration.”

More information about Candy Cane Lane is available on its website.