PBS News Hour

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Finally tonight: For more than 20 years, one street in St. Louis, Missouri is transformed every holiday season, but behind the sparkle is an underlying motivation that many believe is the true meaning of Christmas.

Our community correspondent, Gabrielle Hays, explains.

GABRIELLE HAYS: Gabrielle Hays here on Candy Cane Lane in St. Louis, Missouri, where residents tell me that they take off nearly every Friday in the month of November to be able to hang thousands of lights, something they have been doing for more than 20 years.

Has your setup grown over the years as well?

MATT MAUSCHBAUGH, Candy Cane Lane Organizer: Every year.

Every year.

And I will not stop until you can see my house from space.

BEN MORAMARCO, Candy Cane Lane Organizer: I believe the very first time it was done was 2001.

It started from a neighborhood block contest, and someone had the idea on this block to wrap the big pin oak trees in the styles of candy canes.

And that seemed to stick.

MATT MAUSCHBAUGH: This will be our sixth Christmas.

We moved in October of 2019.

GABRIELLE HAYS: What was your first Christmas here like?

MATT MAUSCHBAUGH: We participated.

We had blowups.

We had some lights.

We did our best, and it's definitely a marathon and not a sprint.

BEN MORAMARCO: Matt talked about the tree that he built in his yard, yes, right there.

How high did we put it at?

Sixteen feet.

MATT MAUSCHBAUGH: It really takes about two really good weekends of nice weather, a lot of help.

BEN MORAMARCO: The wrapped trees, anything overhead.

Well, yes, that's kind of the community lights that we all get together to help put up.

It's more than just some lights.

It really pulls the whole block and, beyond that, community together.

Well, anyone who is on the block, put up information about their charity, and some people donate.

It's completely optional.

We have been able to give well over $200,000 over the lifespan of Candy Cane Lane to various charities that are really in the hearts of the people who live here and help do it all.

GABRIELLE HAYS: What is your hope that people take away from being able to experience Candy Cane Lane?

MATT MAUSCHBAUGH: I hope they just have a great memory with whoever they may be in their car with, or their truck, or their party bus, or their trolley with.

I hope they can leave this place saying, wow, when we went to that Candy Cane Lane with whoever it may be, that was really cool, and I can't wait to go back.