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VALDOSTA, Ga. (WALB) - Have you ever been to a neighborhood where everyone is decorated? What about a neighborhood that turns their street into an open display? For almost 40 years Bud McKey Circle has been the center for life-size Christmas cards.

All 45 homes on Bud McKey Circle place holiday decorations and a special designed Christmas card in their front yard’s from the weekend after Thanksgiving into the New Year.

Judy Bridges said, “People will ask where do you live and I’ll say Bud Mckey, and they say ‘oh that’s Christmas card lane.”

Judy Bridges moved to Bud McKey in 1986, just two years before the tradition was started in 1988 by Lee Swigart, who worked at Miller Hardware.

“My son who is now 43 years old, my second son, he wrote about it in a college paper. He wrote about what it means growing up in Bud McKey in a college paper. It’s just been a great tradition,” she said.

In 1990, Becky Griffin moved to the neighborhood adding her card, seven years later Melissa Stephens joined the tradition, and in 2004 Susan Stewart moved back to town on Christmas card lane.

Stewart said, “They are bumper to bumper, and they go slowly so they catch everything…and there are times I just want to stand in the street and go ‘OH MY GOSH this is so good!’

This is a tradition that has brought joy to thousands of families. In the last few years, decorating has changed due to the devastation of Hurricanes Idalia and Helene.

But if you ask neighbors whether they believe it would have lasted almost 40 years...

Becky Griffin said, “I think we did…I mean it’s great. We’re all getting older and it’s getting harder and harder to put it all out but we’re still managing.”

And one of the biggest things people want to know is does the card come with the house?

They all answered...“It’s supposed to stay…most of the time it stays…"

Bridges and Stephens say that many realtors are familiar with the neighborhood and sometimes buyers will put in the contract for the people to leave the card as part of the house.

“This is Bud Mckey’s gift to the community, and we do it for them and the children of our communities,” Bridges said.

Christmas Card Lane is open to the public now until Jan. 2, 2026, 6:00 - 10:00 P.M. Luminary lights are on display Dec. 21 through Christmas Day. There are signs with instructions to safely guide you.

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