Curious Five Year Old Asks Serious Questions About Santa Claus

Originally published in December 2010

We've seen Santa in six different locations so far this holiday season and will probably see him another six times before we approach 2011. Here is a conversation I had about Santa with my five year old tonight.

My 5 year old: How come there are so many Santa Clauses?

Me: He drives all over town to meet all the kids before Xmas.

Him: Does Santa Claus have a lot of brothers?

Me: I don't think so. He has a lot of elf helpers though at the North Pole.

Him: I think Santa has brothers that help him. (pause) How does he get to everyone's house in the whole wide world?

Me: His reindeer are really, really fast.

Him: How come we can't seem him?

Me: Because they are REALLY fast and you are asleep when he comes.

Him: How many Santa Clauses are there?

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Cool Ventura County Residential Holiday Light Displays This 2014 Holiday Season

UPDATE: 2015 residential holiday light displays are compiled at THIS LINK.

We are in the home stretch of the winter holiday season 2014 and once again are fortunate to have a number of great residential light displays thanks to the amazing efforts of local Ventura County residents. This is just a sampling of what's out there...please let us know if you come across other noteworthy displays around town!

In Camarillo on Gemini Street and Waverly Avenue south of Dunnigan Street, dozens of homes are decorated once again with cartoon characters, Santas, snowmen and tens of thousands of lights and other decorations.

Do I detect Dora at this house on Gemini St in Camarillo!?

Do I detect Dora at this house on Gemini St in Camarillo!?

Every holiday season, one of Ventura County's biggest residential light displays lights up the historic section of Downtown Oxnard on F and G streets between 5th and Palm.

The holiday light display by the Higgins family at 1566 El Dorado Drive in Thousand Oaks is a 30 minute display synchronized with music and over 150,000 lights.

This image of the epic light show on El Dorado Drive display does not do it justice!

This image of the epic light show on El Dorado Drive display does not do it justice!

There's a breathtaking display of lights, decorations and falling snow at Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday Night, until Christmas from 5:30 to 9:00pm the lights at 4903 Pathfinder in Westlake Village that is highlighted in more detail at this link.

Take Walter Avenue off of Kimber Drive in Newbury Park and you'll be treated to what may be the tallest inflatable Rudolph in Ventura County! And homes have joined in on the fun.

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The Winter Wonderland home at 469 Highland Road at Sinaloa in Simi Valley is a sight to behold!

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Simi Sue reminded us of a neat display wooden animated Disney figures at the house at the corner of Timberlane and Fearing in Simi Valley.

There are some nice displays on Camino Dos Rios in Thousand Oaks and Silverwheel Place in Newbury Park. More details at this link.

A late edition! The outstanding animated holiday light display at 538 Brisbaine Avenue in Newbury Park is back! Lights synchronized with lively music simulcast on 100.5 FM. Really fun, sparkly display!

A fantastic music and lights display at 538 Brisbaine in Newbury Park

A fantastic music and lights display at 538 Brisbaine in Newbury Park

There's a synchronized music/light display at 3167 Gold Hill Circle (at Sundance Street) in Thousand Oaks, off of Lynn and Wildwood. Check out some footage at this link.

There's a particularly festively decorated residence on Shetland Place in North Ranch worth a look!

For other local holiday events and activities in and around Ventura County, click here!

The. Most. Awesome. Holiday. Light. Show. You. Will. Ever. See. In. Thousand. Oaks!

2016 Update: The Higgins family moved and thus no more display. Plenty of other awesome displays in and around Ventura County though at THIS LINK.

UPDATE FALL 2014: The display is back again this year, longer than ever!

Located at 1566 El Dorado Drive in Thousand Oaks. Take Janss Road east off the 23 Freeway, turn right on El Monte Drive (past the Thousand Oaks Library), then left on El Dorado. Be mindful of the neighbors!

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The Higgins family of Thousand Oaks may have the most entertaining and fun residential holiday light show in the Conejo Valley.

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Photo of the Higgins' holiday light show in 2012.According to Ed Higgins, this amazing display was constructed with over 150,000 lights, over 3 1/2 MILES of hard wire extension cords, 192 digital channels and over 1,000 feet of Cat 5 cable in the "Old Oaks" section of Thousand Oaks at 1566 El Dorado Drive.

Higgins admits "we're nuts" but they obviously have a passion and talent for this. And the neighbors are great about it they say. Ed and his wife Valerie are often out on Friday/Saturday nights with tables of cocoa and whipped cream, cookies, cider and cinammon twists!

Below is footage of the display in 2012. This short video does not do it justice. Go check it out!

Christmas 2013 Residential Holiday Light Display on Gemini/Waverly in Camarillo

As in years past, many homes on Gemini Street and Waverly Avenue south of Dunnigan Street in Camarillo are lit up and decorated with cartoon characters, trains, Santa, snowmen, and plenty of lights and other decorations this holiday season. Drive the route or park and walk. It is worth going out of your way for! From the the 101, take Arneill north past Ponderosa to Dunnigan. Turn right on Dunnigan and Gemini is the 4th street on your right.

Here are some scenes from this display in prior years.

Thousands Enjoy Annual Christmas Tree Lane Display in Oxnard Historic District

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We stopped by the 2013 Annual Christmas Tree Lane Display on F and G streets between 5th and Palm in the Oxnard Historic District and had a great time, along with thousands of other local residents. This is the biggest residential display in Ventura County and makes for a great family evening. And the music and light show at nearby Plaza Park is another thing you want to check out. More information at www.oxnardhistoricdistrict.com. Video below provides some snippets of what's in store.

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Some Great Residential Holiday Light Displays Around Ventura County

One of our favorite winter holiday activities is driving around and looking at the light displays around town. There are colorful lights all over the place but these four really stand out! If you are aware of other neat residential Christmas light displays around Ventura County, please let us know!

The holiday light display by the Higgins family at 1566 El Dorado Drive in Thousand Oaks is a 20 minute display synchronized with music and over 150,000 lights. We're talking Disneyland in the Conejo Valley here. Spectacular!

The Fuchs residence on Via Patricia (near Via Ricardo intersection) in the Dos Vientos section of Newbury Park is back again this year wiith another 50,000+ light display synchronized with music. Outstanding!

A great destination each year is the neighborhood in the vicinity of Gemini Street and Waverly Avenue south of Dunnigan Street in Camarillo each year. Numerous homes are lit up and decorated with cartoon characters, trains, Santas, snowmen, and plenty of lights and othe

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