STOCKTON – Some of the most beautifully decorated places on this side of the 209 along this stretch near West Hammer Lane.

Along Hammer just past Pershing Avenue, New Day Community Church is nestled not too far Meadow Avenue – between Alexandria Place and Pershing – otherwise known as Candy Cane Lane, according to longtime Stockton resident Rita Davis.

Through Dec. 26, the place at 7525 Oakmont Drive becomes Candy Land. Open Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, folks can stop by and enjoy hot cocoa, s’mores, homemade cookies while marveling at the decoration of 50,000 lights and video projection.

By tuning to 95.5 FM, motorists can also enjoy some of their favorite Christmas songs. They can even stop by and write on the “Christmas is…” chalk wall.

Most of the homes in this area are decorated for the holiday, according to Stockton attorney Frank Pacheco.

Meadow Avenue is usually the best place to see many Christmas-decorated homes in Stockton. It’s part of a long-time tradition.

Candy Land and the Winter Wonderland home at 3909 Estate Drive are featured in on the California Christmas Lights website.

From a large inflatable Santa Claus to handmade wooden cutouts, the Estate Drive home between Stanfield Drive and Otto Drive features 30,000 lights turned on everyday from 5:30 to 10 p.m.

Another longtime Stockton resident Mariepeth Thomason enjoyed another decorated home. “The lights on the house nearby (at Northstar close to Estate Drive) are synched to music,” she said.

In addition, she found a home on Honey Bear Lane off Shadow Creek Drive in Dentoni Park area nicely decorated in the holiday spirit.