As Candy Cane Lane turns 40, neighbors seek to set new fundraising record

 

WEST ALLIS, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A neighborhood holiday lights display might seem lighthearted, but Ken Perkl insists it's a serious commitment. Now in his 19th year on the committee that oversees Candy Cane Lane in West Allis, Perkl maintains it's a heavier lift than people realize.

"Oh, this is real serious," Perkl said. "We have volunteers in the street, and you have up to 15 different volunteers a night."

Now a southeast Wisconsin staple, Candy Cane Lane began 40 years ago when neighbors rallied around a boy who was diagnosed with brain cancer, according to a recounting shared by the MACC Fund. 

In the four decades that followed, the annual month-long attraction has raised $3 million for childhood cancer research.

"Every night's worth it," Perkl said. "I was out here one night, it was 37 [degrees] below wind chills, and we needed a couple hundred dollars more to get to the next $10,000, and I stood out here with a bucket by myself and got $1,100."

Those who are newer to the neighborhood quickly learn this is a big deal for homeowners in the Candy Cane Lane boundaries, which are between 92nd and 96th streets east to west and from Montana Ave. to Oklahoma Ave. north to south.

Samuel Carter Erb Mueller moved into the neighborhood three years ago and said he didn't know much about the tradition.

"My husband knew what it was. I'm not from Milwaukee originally, so it was kind of a surprise," Mueller said. "I knew what people talked about, but I didn't realize how big it is."

While many of the front yards have specific themes for their display, ranging from Star Wars to Christmas Vacation, Mueller acknowledged his setup is a bit of a hodgepodge, with an inflatable Santa in a helicopter to another inflatable set of penguins making sushi. 

"Some of the neighbors here, when you move in, they'll gift you their Christmas stuff," he explained. "We bought from someone who didn't participate, so we had to start from scratch."

Candy Cane Lane is open every year from the day after Thanksgiving until Christmas Day. It officially opened Friday night at 6 p.m., but cars started slowing rolling through after the sun went down around 5. 

Perkl said organizers hoped to build on last year's successful fundraising, which generated $194,000 for the MACC Fund. It was the second-best year in the history of the event, trailing only the $207,500 raised in 2020.

A big part of the attraction is visitors coming back out of a sense of nostalgia. David Pautz said even though he no longer lived near Milwaukee, it was important to come back and share the tradition with his family.

"I grew up in New Berlin, and we've lived in Neenah now for the last 10-15 years," he said. "And wanted to show the kids how cool it is."

Plenty of others make a point to drive through the neighborhood as an estimated 300 houses take part in the display. Perkl said while fundraising is at the core of the attraction, it's also about community.

"We have people come through that don't have any money," he said. "And they say, 'Oh, we don't have any money.' Don't worry about it. Just look at the lights, enjoy it and Merry Christmas."

Candy Cane Lane is open this year between 6-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, from 6-10 p.m. on Fridays, from 5-10 p.m. on Saturdays and 5-9 p.m. on Sundays. Directions and a link to online donations are available on the event's website.