About a half hour from Berkeley, my family enjoyed riding along with Christmas music playing as we toured the cul-de-sacs in Fremont’s Crippsmas Place. More than 50 homes participate in Crippsmas Place, a cheerful North Fremont holiday tradition since 1967 with thousands of lights and handmade, life-size plywood displays of old and new cartoon favorites. For 2021 you can again get out of your cars and walk around.

2021 Brings Back the Candy Canes!
Last year, Crippsmas Place was a display-only drive through experience, understandably. But 2021 brings things almost back to the way things were in years past. Volunteers will hand out candy canes from 6 pm – 10 pm starting Saturday December 11 through Saturday December 25. Those volunteers will be wearing masks and gloves as health precautions and ask that all visitors wear masks and wait to indulge in their candy until they get back to their cars.

In addition to the neighborhood display of cheer, they also run an annual fundraiser. The charities will, no doubt, need your donations more than ever, so please do give online if you are able. Donate to the neighborhood Crippsmas Place charities from their website > (There’s a giant QR code in front of one of the main houses, too.)



You can drive through the Crippsmas Place streets during the day or night. During the daytime, children may be able to see their favorite characters better. At night, you can really enjoy the spectacular lights and inflatable characters with illumination within. If you’re near enough, try both!

Plan your visit to Crippsmas Place
The outing included about a 30-minute drive each way and about 20-30 minutes exploring the neighborhood streets. It was pouring buckets during our time at Crippsmas Place. Buckets! To make it a festive evening, we listened to Christmas music the whole time and swung by a nearby In-N-Out for burgers, shakes, and hot cocoas (the drive-thru line at In-N-Out took a full hour!). We ate our dinner in the parking lot of a lit-up Union City Texas Roadhouse. The kids declared it a total win!
When: From Dec. 11 to 25, decorations will be up all day and lit in the evenings 6 – 10 pm.
Where: Look for all the colorful fun on Nicolet Ave. and six neighboring cul-de-sacs: Cripps Place, Asquith Place, Wellington Place Cul-de-Sac, Nicolet Court, Perkins Street, and Perkins Court.
Bonus: Tune into Crippsmas Radio at FM 103.1 to hear Crippsmas fun facts. Tune into 96.5 for nonstop Christmas music.
Website >>
Facebook >>
Instagram >>


[All photos provided by the neighbors and friends of Crippsmas Place and used with permission]