Making a candy cane

 Kay Newell

The Allandale Candy Cane Lane tradition was started in the 60’s by the residents along Bullard. The tradition is to leave the candy cane for the next home owner. You might find candy canes in your attics or under your homes. A fresh coat of paint, and you will be carrying on the Allandale Candy Cane Lane tradition. Enjoy!

Supplies:
2 stove pipe elbows
3 straight pieces of stove pipe
1 spray can of white Rust-Oleum paint (or similar paint)
1 spray can or small can of red Rust-Oleum paint OR 3inch red outdoor ribbon blue painter’s tape—if you plan to paint on the red stripes
4 ft metal pipe or broom handle
string of Christmas lights OR floodlight and extension cord
red outdoor bow

Put the two elbows together to form a hook, and then add it to the three connected pieces of straight stove pipe. You will then have a 6’ candy cane. 

Spray the candy cane with the white spray paint. An easy way to spray the candy cane is to hammer your broom stick or metal pipe into the ground to support your candy cane while you are spraying it. After spraying the candy cane, you can either wrap it with 3 inch red outdoor ribbon or use blue painter’s tape to mark where the stripes would go and use red Rust-Oleum paint instead of ribbon. This eliminates the need to adjust your ribbon each year or replace it because of weather wear and tear. Add a big red bow! Pound a metal pole or broom handle in the ground at a 45 degree angle. The cane will slide down over it. If you use a metal pipe, you can drill a hole through the candy cane and through the metal pipe, placing a tightly fitting screw into the common hole. This makes it more difficult for someone who might be trying to “borrow” your candy cane. Some neighbors wrap their candy cane with a string of lights; others accent theirs with a flood light.

Comments

[Sarah]

We had one of these when I was a kid. The McCallum band sold them as a fundraiser when my brothers were there in the 70's. It held its rightful place on our front lawn on Treadwell Blvd until someone stole it in the late 80's. I would love to see the trend return!