Franklin Road lights up for Christmas

The Franklin Road Christmas lights are locked into the Auckland festive season calendar and a must-see for the young and young at heart.

From saxophone-playing Santas to electric kiwis, love hearts in trees to sparkling curtains of LEDs, the Freemans Bay spectacle has something for everyone.

An electric kiwi on a front porch. Photo / Hayden Woodward

Running for more than 30 years, the lights attract thousands of visitors - which has meant traffic jams and unwanted street hawkers in the past.

Event co-ordinator Eric Wilson told the Herald in November of a few changes to the format to ensure a better experience for all, including starting a bit later in December.

Love hearts adorn a tree on Franklin Road. Photo / Hayden Woodward

“This year we’re going to start on the 7th of December,” Wilson said. “Standard practice was turning the lights off at 11pm, so this year we’re going to turn them off around 10.”

This was in response to residents’ feedback last year that highlighted unwanted street vendors and too much noise.

Santa plays saxophone at one of the houses. Photo / Hayden Woodward

“We had a problem with cars going up and down late at night with their stereos blaring out ... Fortunately, the Ponsonby Business Association stuck their hand up and said ‘we can help you out’,” said Wilson.

“They’re going to be providing some security people who will keep tabs on the unlicensed vendors and send them on their way if they appear.”

Running for over 30 years, the event attracts thousands of people every Christmas. Photo / Hayden Woodward

With lights-off set for 10pm on Christmas Eve you have just 11 more nights to catch the illuminations before they’re extinguished, until next year.

Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.