Best Christmas Light Displays in the OC: Birch Street in Brea

so, yesterday we had a fun family outing to see some spectacular Christmas lights. we decided to go to one of our favorite neighborhoods, The Eagle Hills Community in Brea.

now this is no ordinary neighborhood light display. be prepared to spend some time touring each and every street full of houses decked out in amazing Christmas lights. there are thousands if not millions of Christmas lights and lawn displays. just driving around the neighborhood took us 45 minutes, and we could have spent more time if we had gotten out and walked the sidewalks (too much rain!). in fact, some houses sell hot chocolate to raise money for charity, and there were even some live nativity displays (with live animals).

this entire neighborhood is filled with holiday cheer. we were even invited in to peoples houses for a house tour of their decorations. lucky for them, baby was asleep in the car and we were unable to take our rain-drenched, muddy feet, like-to-touch everything kiddies inside their homes. maybe next year!

one of the people who invited us in his home was John McQuade. his houses is one of the most spectacular ones in the neighborhood. the entire front yard, the garage and the inside....all decorated. they too were selling hot chocolate for charity. i asked him to tell me a little bit about why he decorates his home each year.

John says "Every year for the past 25 years I decorate my house all for the kids and for the memory of my wife. Seven years ago I started volunteering at CHOC (Children's Hospital of Orange County) and from then on I decided that I would help out by asking people to donate to the Hospital. I have worked at the hospital ever since and work Tuesday and Wednesday. I love helping out and that is what this celebration is about.

The inside of my house is decorated for everyone that comes to visit. I love doing it which is why I do each and every year. It is a time that brings people together and that is what I hope my house does.

My religion is very important to me and I like to provide for those that share my belief. I have 2 nativity scene in my house that are breath taking (or so I have been told).

I hope that everyone enjoys my house and hope that you all have a wonderful Christmas."

This totally sums up the holiday spirit of this neighborhood. so much work has been put into decorating their houses to share with the community, a place where you can forget about your stresses and feel the beauty and spirit of the season.

i highly recommend touring this amazing winter wonderland on more than one occasion to fully take it all in. so pack up the kids in warm clothes, fill up a thermos container with hot chocolate, bring a wagon and walk the spectacular lights one evening in December. it is worth the experience and will become a tradition for years to come!

click here for a map.