It’s well established that the best place to see holiday lights in the East Bay is in Alameda. In typical years, it’s well-worth the drive and exercise of parking (not usually too bad), to see the lights that make the 3200 block of Thompson Ave feel so special.
What we’ll miss this year: the people milling about, the neighbors offering hot chocolate or cider, and the cheery lights of the median with Santa waiting to greet the children.
Still, my family and I enjoyed driving through this weekend to see the sweet and nostalgic displays of decorations.
This nightly event runs from Saturday, December 5, 2020 through New Year’s Eve.
Although Santa will be skipping Christmas Tree Lane in 2020, instead there is a letter box available for letters to be dropped off. Letters with legible return addresses will still go to the North Pole for a reply from Santa himself!
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(Related: Where to mail letters to Santa in the East Bay >)
On a slow-drive, through the safety of our car window and Spotify providing Christmas music to set the tone, we spied so many favorite characters, from an oversized Grinch to Snoopy and his friends. These are homemade wooden cut-outs that you cannot buy at Target, people. One house has a light show timed to music with a Nightmare Before Christmas theme. Another house has only pink lights.
Several photos from this post are courtesy of Oaktown Art, who has many more on her website.
The lights will be on through New Year’s Eve from 5:30 – 10 pm. Bring your camera and your Christmas spirit!
Fans of this ignited form of Christmas cheer can follow special announcements on the Christmas Tree Lane facebook page.
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Read next: Where to find the best holiday lights in the Bay Area and our massive guide to holiday activities for East Bay families >>
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1 thought on “Drive-By Holiday Lights: Alameda’s Christmas Tree Lane”
Is Christmas tree lane open today?