Peacock Lane is a four-block street in southeast Portland, Oregon, in the United States. It is known for its elaborately decorated homes during the Christmas and holiday season. During this time of year, thousands of people come visit to view the displays, buying cocoa, taking horsedrawn carriage rides, and singing. The street earned a listing on the National Register of Historic Places in 2017.
History
The tradition of decorating the houses dates back to the 1920s. It's been an annual eventever since but it was interrupted during World War 2 while the United States was rationing valuable resources that included electricity. Many homeowners voluntarily pass along their decorations to new residents when they sell their properties. No homeowner is obligated to put up any lights or displays. Popular annual displays include several Peanuts characters ice-skating on a small pond, a plywood Oregon State Beaver and a large woodenGrinch from How the Grinch Stole Christmas! that has been a staple since the 1980s. The Grinch has been vandalized several times over the years. It was stolen for a brief period in 1994 and was decapitated in 1997. The Grinch now has a red bow tied around his neck to help conceal the damages. More recent displays feature characters from Doctor Who, The Muppets, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Star Wars and several Nickelodeon cartoon shows. A life-sized mural of Will Ferrell's "Buddy" from the 2003 filmElf adorns a small stand that sells hot chocolate and coffee. As the annual tradition became increasingly popular, residents on the lane have cited their concerns over vandalism, pollution, litter, heavy traffic, and public urination. As a result, the street is now closed to automobiles on certain evenings. The Portland Police department has also stepped up patrols and employs officers to direct traffic during busier hours. In June 2017, the area was nominated for listing on the National Register of Historic Places and earned the designation later that November.
