Temecula's Candy Cane Tree Delights Neighbors With A Beloved Tradition

TEMECULA, CA — Christmas in Temecula has gotten a bit sweeter since the Hibbard family came to town. Last year, the "Candy Cane Tree on Tylman Street" won the best theme for the local holiday contest, and in 2022, their display has never looked brighter.

Starting the first day of December and lasting until New Year’s Eve, visitors can drop by the Hibbard family's front yard and collect a candy cane from the enormous tree.

No candy canes will be out during the rains, they say, lest all become a sticky mess. Look for candy canes on clear days and nights through the Christmas season.

For parents Jason and Cheyenne Hibbard and their four children, the candy cane tree has become an annual tradition of giving. Their home on Tylman Street sparkles with red and white canes, "snow-fall" twinkle lights and holiday music for all to enjoy. Nighttime traffic to this little side street in the Paseo Del Sol community picked up, but the display is magical, bright and full of fun for the neighborhood children.

This year, a new candy cane arbor was added to the display.

The Hibbard family relocated to Temecula from Orange County in 2019 and decided to take a beloved family tradition of visiting a candy cane tree and make it their own.

“In our old neighborhood, we would always visit the same houses with hot chocolate in hand on a specific night,” Cheyenne Hibbard said. “There was a house that our kids loved that had candy canes hanging from a tree at the end of the street.”

They decided their new home on Tylman Street had the perfect tree for hanging and sharing candy canes.

At the end of November, they string the lights and loops for thousands of candy canes. The confections stay up nightly through December, though they do take them down when it rains, she said.

Now, lovers of the tree even pitch in with supplies of candy canes for the Hibbard family to share.

“We are so thankful for the offer and gladly accept candy cane donations,” she said.“We just ask that they be full size to fit in the hoops and red and white variety.”

Traffic on Tylman Street is picking up as families take nightly walks to take in the bright holiday lights, and the Christmas spirit in the area has also improved since the Hibbard family’s arrival.

“Our new tradition is doing this as a family and getting to watch the excitement of all the families that come by to pick their candy cane,” she said. “It brings us so much JOY to share this with everyone and to put it all together as a family is even more special.”

For more information, visit the Candy Cane Tree on Tylman's Facebook page.