[2] During this time of year, thousands of people come to view the displays, enjoy hot cocoa, and previously take horsedrawn carriage rides, and sing Christmas carols.

[4] Since beginning, the event has occurred annually, except for a short interruption during World War II while the United States was rationing valuable resources, including electricity.

[6] More recent displays feature characters from Doctor Who, The Muppets, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Star Wars, and several Nickelodeon cartoon shows.

[7] [8] As the annual tradition became increasingly popular, residents on the lane have cited their concerns over vandalism, pollution, litter, heavy traffic, and public urination.

[9] In June 2017, after a developer purchased one of the homes and began building on the lot, the area was nominated for listing on the National Register of Historic Places and earned the designation later that November.