Siblings Cade and Tate Sturdyvin, joined by their grandparents, paused to admire something from afar before heading to an evening outing with the rest of their family.
They pointed upward, as if gazing into the night sky, but what captured their attention was a Christmas-themed, fully decorated home glowing with lights and festive ornaments.
There were candy cane lights outlining the driveway, two large trees made from handmade garlands towering over, and at the very top of the roof was an inflatable Santa Claus that had exchanged his traditional reindeer sleigh for a firetruck.
The house they were admiring was their own located on the 23400 block of West Riversbridge Way.
Dad is usually very busy at work, said 7-year-old Tate. But right before the holidays, he tries to make it home at a decent time to bring some magic for her and her 9-year-old brother.
Parents Greg and Brynn Sturdyvin started decorating the exterior of their house for Christmas when the family began to grow almost a decade ago, and since then it has become an annual tradition to go all out with the decor.
“It’s for the kids. The neighbors look forward to it, it brings joy and we love to go around and look at lights. Coming home to also a decorated house makes it feel festive,” Greg said.
The process isn’t easy and can last days, but for the family, teamwork makes the dream work. As a fireman who knows safety protocols, Greg takes on the responsibility of decorating the roof and high-level areas, while Cade, Tate and their mom stay on the ground level, at least for now.
Maybe in a few years Cade will get the chance to decorate the roof with dad because “I’m the daredevil!” he said excitedly. Tate wasn’t a fan of the idea, and thinks she’d prefer to stay on the floor in the future.
But one thing is certain: the two kids hope to one day grow up and carry on the tradition their parents have instilled in them since they were toddlers because it’s been “Fantabulous,” Cade said, and it’s brought a lot of holiday magic.
The Sturdyvin family is one of thousands across the Santa Clarita Valley that have illuminated their homes for the festive season. Across various communities, one can find homes decked out in all kinds of twinkling lights and figurines spreading holiday cheer.
There’s the famous Wakefield Winter Wonderland located at Wakefield Court near Copper Hill Drive that receives thousands of visitors every year, including many out of towners. Hours are 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Residents can also experience holiday cheer today through Sunday via the city of Santa Clarita’s Holiday Light Tour, a 45-minute bus ride for a nominal fee of $3 per person with cash or card, or free with the donation of toiletries, including toothbrushes, toothpaste, men’s deodorant, baby wipes, bar soap and disposable razors.
But one can also drive through the neighborhoods on their own and spot areas that have countless homes with intricate decorations.
In the North Park area, Doris Martinez was up on a ladder wrapping a few feet of twinkling lights around one of her house panels.
Although her daughter is now a grown adult and lives in northern California, Martinez and her husband find themselves still decorating their home for the grand nieces and nephews.
“Holidays is about being with family, and so (my nieces and nephews) come up here to see the decorations and Auntie Doris’ house has to be just as decorated,” she said. Her home had glowing reindeer, reefs, an inflatable gingerbread cookie and featured a brand-new inflatable polar bear.
Martinez’s husband helps her decorate the roof and higher levels of the two-story home, but the bottom is left for her because “I know how I want it,” she said as she chuckled.
There’s no time frame for when they need to finish the decor because as an older couple, “we move a lot slower,” Martinez said. But she enjoys the process and takes her time to really perfect her illuminated home. Martinez added that her home is usually the last one decorated on her block, which is ironic because she’s the first house on the corner of the street.
Her holiday decorations don’t follow a specific theme; she decorates whatever she’s accumulated over the years. Inside her home, it’s a bit different.
There’s handmade decor as well as holiday decorations that her family has collected through their travels, Martinez said, which allows her to look back at fond memories and reminisce.
Martinez’s home is located on the 28100 block of Angelica Place and was one of many throughout the street that were decorated. Among many of them, polar bears were a common figurine with a unique spin on themes and something the neighborhood has been doing for years.
Ryan Hruska’s home had Minions, the Stitch character from “Lilo and Stitch” and tons of white lights all over mimicking snow.
His decorating usually begins the week after Thanksgiving, and no one helps him out yet because the kids are still too young, he said. But Aubs, Reese, and Penny are his “little recruits” that help with laying out all the stuff to have a smoother process.
He decorates his home to “bring happiness and the Christmas spirit,” he said. “I get a kick out of it, my kids love to come out here, we walk every night and so when we walk around they love to see everybody else’s decorations,” Hruska added. The local homeowners association has a competition which pushes neighbors to step their game up, he continued.
For Hruska, the best part about the holidays is “just family. It’s time off from work, really getting to spend good time with family. And I think you get to see a lot more family that you don’t get to see throughout the year,” he said.
As many homes have already been fully illuminated with lights and other fun visuals, residents in the SCV embrace the jolly spirit and spread holiday cheer.
Martinez, who has lived in the valley for decades, hopes that “everybody has the spirit of Christmas this year. I hope that we take from that all that it gives us: the kindness, the sharing of family, and the building of memories.”
Other locations residents can pay a visit to witness holiday lights include:
• Wakefield Winter Wonderland at Wakefield Court.
• Holiday Light Spectacular at 27732 Briarcliff Place.
• Christmas Crossroads on Canterwood Drive.
• Homestead Holidays at 22310 Homestead Place.
- Cuestport Christmas 23235 Cuestport Dr. Valencia
Cuestport Christmas 23235 Cuestport Dr. Valencia
