In a suburb west of Milwaukee and along 12 residential streets, almost 300 homes show off their best holiday decor. Candy Cane Lane in West Allis has been a staple since 1985, and is a holiday tradition for many families in the surrounding area.
From the blocks between 92nd and 96th streets and between Montana and Oklahoma avenues, cars come to an almost standstill and kids screech through the streets taking in the lights.
Homes are decked out in lights and decorations as a part of Candy Cane Lane on Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, in West Allis, Wis. (Angela Major/WPR)
Ken Perkl has been living in the neighborhood for more than two decades. He’s been decorating the whole time, but officially joined the Candy Cane Lane committee in 2006.
“I moved in and I didn’t know that Candy Cane Lane was quite like this,” he said. “I thought, this is a great thing. It’s a lot of fun.”
Ken Perkl at his home decorated as a part of Candy Cane Lane on Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, in West Allis, Wis. (Angela Major/WPR)
Those who live on Candy Cane Lane don’t have to decorate, but many lean into the tradition.
“It’s not only a tradition for us to decorate, but for the people coming through,” Perkl says.
Perkl refers to his style as traditionalist. He doesn’t have many LED lights or inflatables.
Lights hang from a tree in Ken Perkl’s front yard as he participates in Candy Cane Lane on Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, in West Allis, Wis. (Angela Major/WPR)
“I got a lot of hodgepodge of a lot of different things,” he said. “I got my big maple tree all lit up, and then I just pick up things along the way.”
Speaking of appearances, Perkl happens to look a lot like a famous, jolly, white-bearded man. Kids oftentimes mistaken him for Santa Clause all year round.
He mentioned one of his favorite houses was near the corner of 94th Street and Manitoba.
“It’s very elaborate,” Perkl said. “[My neighbor] does it all by himself.”
People view decorations and lights as they explore Candy Cane Lane on Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, in West Allis, Wis. (Angela Major/WPR)
A huge part of Candy Cane Lane is its annual partnership with Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer, also known as the MACC Fund.
Neighbors in the area originally decorated their homes for the local kids. According to Perkl, Candy Cane Lane started collecting donations around 1987 to support a neighborhood kid who was diagnosed with cancer.
In the first year, the group collected around $1,500. Since then, it’s raised over $3.5 million to the MACC Fund.
One moment continues to stick with Perkl as a reminder why he decorates his home every year. A few years ago on Candy Cane Lane, he was out walking around the neighborhood dressed up as Santa Clause. A mom and her young daughter wanted to donate money, but Perkl heard the mom whisper something to him.
“As they’re walking across the street, [the mom] goes, ‘She’s terminal,'” he recalled.
Perkl immediately ran after them to make sure he heard her right. Unfortunately, he did.
“[The mom] said she’s got about six months to live,” he recounted.
“So I bent down and gave her a hug and took a picture. She died about six weeks later,” he said. “And they still do a thing for Kenzie, and she’s very in the MACC Fund hearts.”
Homes are decorated with lights as a part of Candy Cane Lane Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, in West Allis, Wis. (Angela Major/WPR)
Perkl plans to keep decorating his house and stand out in the street with the other volunteers collecting donations as long as he can.
“I’m getting to be close to 80 years old and my body’s wearing down, so I don’t know how long I’m gonna be standing out here,” he reflected. “I’ll probably be here in a wheelchair, and get somebody to decorate for me.”
A sign points attendees to Candy Cane Lane on Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, in West Allis, Wis. (Angela Major/WPR)
