In the middle of the La Cresta neighborhood in northeast Bakersfield sits a massive Deodar Cedar tree that neighbors work hard to decorate.
"It used to take us four hours to get it up, but we've gotten much better over the years," says Cindy Anspach, who has lived in the neighborhood for almost three decades.
Neighbors say they've been lighting the large tree on Hermosa Drive for the last 20 years, and it's no easy task.
“It's a project for everybody,” she says. “It takes a lot of different people to get this done.”
Each neighbor has a role.
“I just free climb the tree and kind of get myself situated on top of the tree and the cherry picker comes with another truck to set up,” says Frankie Villani, who has lived in La Cresta for eight years.
The group uses a cherry picker to hang the lights. It's 18 strands of three sets of bulbs that the neighbors pay close to $500 in electricity to light each year, but they say it's a labor of love.
"We love our neighborhood. La Cresta's so great, and there's so much neighborhood spirit that it kind of brings everybody together," says Jane Haupt, who has lived there for 22 years and doesn’t mind footing the pricey PG&E bill.
After days of heavy-duty hanging, the group has a block party tree lighting ceremony filled with food and families. The event brings in people from all over Bakersfield.
"Ah, this is awesome, every year a tradition. We live right there on the corner,” said Steve Adams at the block party. “The whole neighborhood gets together and people come from all over. It’s a good tradition.”
Neighbors say it's the one time the whole neighborhood gets together for something festive.
"For us, this is just how we get our community together and how we keep people connected and networked and everybody loves it,” Haupt says. “We get positive comments and seems like everybody wants to be involved and that's what a neighborhood is.”
Neighbors say the tree will stay lit until after New Year’s Day. The tree is on Hermosa Drive near the Panorama Bluffs for anyone who wants to see it.
"It used to take us four hours to get it up, but we've gotten much better over the years," says Cindy Anspach, who has lived in the neighborhood for almost three decades.
Neighbors say they've been lighting the large tree on Hermosa Drive for the last 20 years, and it's no easy task.
“It's a project for everybody,” she says. “It takes a lot of different people to get this done.”
Each neighbor has a role.
“I just free climb the tree and kind of get myself situated on top of the tree and the cherry picker comes with another truck to set up,” says Frankie Villani, who has lived in La Cresta for eight years.
The group uses a cherry picker to hang the lights. It's 18 strands of three sets of bulbs that the neighbors pay close to $500 in electricity to light each year, but they say it's a labor of love.
"We love our neighborhood. La Cresta's so great, and there's so much neighborhood spirit that it kind of brings everybody together," says Jane Haupt, who has lived there for 22 years and doesn’t mind footing the pricey PG&E bill.
After days of heavy-duty hanging, the group has a block party tree lighting ceremony filled with food and families. The event brings in people from all over Bakersfield.
"Ah, this is awesome, every year a tradition. We live right there on the corner,” said Steve Adams at the block party. “The whole neighborhood gets together and people come from all over. It’s a good tradition.”
Neighbors say it's the one time the whole neighborhood gets together for something festive.
"For us, this is just how we get our community together and how we keep people connected and networked and everybody loves it,” Haupt says. “We get positive comments and seems like everybody wants to be involved and that's what a neighborhood is.”
Neighbors say the tree will stay lit until after New Year’s Day. The tree is on Hermosa Drive near the Panorama Bluffs for anyone who wants to see it.