A number of neighbors living along Highland Drive in Olde Carlsbad (just east of Carlsbad Village) celebrate the holiday season with large inflatable Santas at the front of their properties. You can’t miss them. The area is called Ho Ho Highland for obvious reasons.
I actually only discovered them for the first time last year despite living in Carlsbad since 2005.
I was running errands yesterday and took a drive down Highland south of Carlsbad Village Drive. Driving through at night to see them lit up would be fun and I hope to do that.
HO HO HIGHLAND – WHAT TO EXPECT AND WHY
During my drive I counted 30 of the large inflatable Santas in the 6 block drive I took but I believe there are more further down as well as on the North side of Carlsbad Village Drive for a total of around 60. They are all fairly similar and I’d estimate most are 15 to 20 feet tall. There are also a number of smaller ones along with other inflatables. The nickname for this neighborhood – Ho Ho Highland – is certainly appropriate.
As a result, if you take a drive don’t be surprised to see plenty of other cars and drivers enjoying the view. Plus, keep in mind there are no sidewalks.
I saw a Carlsbad City Manager update on 12/21/23 online that says the Santa idea originated in Toronto in 2013. The street is Inglewood Drive and the area is now known as Kringlewood. Someone living on Highland saw the news story and sent flyers to all her neighbors suggesting they do the same thing, and Ho Ho Highland was born. Sounds like this is the 10th year!
Sadly, last year one Santa was vandalized. CBS News reported that someone, perhaps more than 1 person, in a black SUV came along and slashed one of the Santas. Unfortunately, I never saw anything about the culprit being caught or fessing up to the vandalism.
That was a pretty shameful thing to do, don’t you think!? Hopefully it won’t happen again this year.
I hope to get by some evening when they are lit up – that has to be pretty cool to see.