Stockton may not have an official Christmas Tree Lane, but there are plenty of places around town to see some spectacular light shows.
Meadow Avenue, just off Alexandria Place (near Lincoln High School), continues to attract those in the holiday spirit.
It’s also along Meadow Avenue that a side trip down Camellia Lane that you’ll come across “The Gift of Christmas.”
About this time each year, the Delta Valley Southern Baptist Church at 7525 Oakmont Drive is transformed into a holiday spectacular consisting of tens of thousands of Christmas lights, a choir of angels, a 14-foot Christmas tree, five gigantic gifts, along with a video projection and more.
You can enjoy the playing of the programmed music – turn the car radio to the right station (95.5) – or park the car and play in the field.
On weekend nights or special weekdays, “The Gift of Christmas’ offers hot chocolate, candies and homemade goodies.
Donations are accepted, with proceeds going to the teen ministry.
From here, take a drive back towards Meadow Avenue to Pershing Avenue, turn south and head back towards West Lincoln Road (right turn from Pershing) and enjoy A.G. Spanos’ life-sized Nativity Scene.
Other spectacular front yard Christmas displays can be found at the following:
u122 E. Gibson St., Stockton – This is the home of Jim Galindo, who continues to put together a dazzling array of lights in his yard. He had an estimated 170,000, with all tightly wrapped around the trees and branches. His Oak Park North house can be seen from busy North El Dorado Street, a few blocks south of the Calaveras River bridge.
u3909 Estate Dr., Stockton – The house with the white picket fence is transformed into a Winter Wonderland come this time of the year, with as many 30,000 lights to go along with many inflatables, and plenty of wooden cutout figures. It’s a hop, skip and jump from Meadow Avenue, which eventually becomes Don Avenue after traveling north past Hammer Lane. From Don Avenue (about a mile or so after Hammer Lane), turn left on Wagner Heights Drive. Go west a few miles and this road not only loops around but becomes Estate Drive.
u2981 Smoketree Cr., Stockton – This corner house is right down the street from the one at 3909 Estate Dr. From Interstate 5, take the Eight Mile Road exit and to east to Thornton Road. From there, make a right (south), going past Bear Creek High to Estate Drive. Make a right turn a travel a few blocks – it’ll be the house on the left at Estate Drive and Smoketree Circle.

To contact reporter Vince Rembulat, e-mail vrembulat@mantecabulletin.com