Quail Meadows and Corral Hollow Estates housing developments will look like a scene from the North Pole this weekend when 276 homes are draped with extravagant holiday decorations.

Christmas Tree Village is an effort to raise money for Brighter Christmas, which ensures that Tracy families have a holiday dinner and presents. Brighter Christmas volunteers will greet visitors at entrances and accept donations.

About 1,000 cars filled with wide-eyed spectators are expected to drive through the neighborhood over the next three weekends, said Linda Fearon, who took over the event last year with Kelli Christensen.

Santa Claus will roam the neighborhood, and desserts and cider will be served during the main evening Dec. 16.

Fearon expects this year’s Christmas Tree Village will raise at least $5,000.

Last year’s village brought more than 100 cars a day to the west Tracy neighborhood and raised $4,800, she said. “Cars were bumper-to-bumper.”

Christensen moved to the Quail Meadows community because she wanted to be a part of Christmas Tree Village.

“I remember as a child and looking so forward to it,” she said. “And it’s great to know that you’re doing something to help someone in need during the season.”

This year, a toy soldier will stand tall in her front yard as the mascot of her Santa’s Toy Shop-themed home. Other homes will be bedecked in themes of Walt Disney, winter wonderland, snowmen and Santa as an airplane pilot.

She and a team of Brighter Christmas volunteers hand-deliver letters to each of the 309 homes within the two housing communities and host two meetings to encourage residents to deck their homes.

Dorlane Thrasher, a Brighter Christmas board member, said Christmas Tree Village is one of Brighter Christmas’ main contributors.

“Any time an area comes together like this, it not only improves the community in their area, but the community as a whole,” she said. “And it helps Brighter Christmas. What better way to help those in need”

Volunteers for three-hour shifts are still needed. The Christmas Tree Village needs 66 volunteers for the event to run smoothly, Christensen said.

To contact reporter Danielle MacMurchy, call 830-4280 or e-mail danielle@tracypress.com.