For years I’d heard that the best place to see holiday lights in the East Bay is in Alameda. I knew that every house on the block would be decorated. Somehow I just wasn’t sure it would be worth the drive. Well, it is.
It’s not just the lights that make the 3200 block of Thompson Ave feel so special; it’s the people milling about and the sweet and nostalgic displays of decorations. This nightly event runs from Saturday, December 5, 2020 through New Year’s Eve. Plan to park and walk the length of the block and back again.
Ordinarily Santa Claus hangs out on the median of the one-block stretch of Thompson Avenue with his sleigh greeting children and offering his lap. This year, for 2020, Santa will be skipping Christmas Tree Lane but will, instead have 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!
(Related: Where to mail letters to Santa in the East Bay >)
We spied so many favorite characters, from an oversized Grinch to Yukon Cornelius and the Abominable Snow Monster. 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 is completely covered with pink, um, shingles?
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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.
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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