Christmas Tree Lane
Location : 1900 block of Eucalyptus Ave in San Carlos, CA.
This is by far the grandest neighborhood light display we have seen in the Bay Area. Extending over two blocks on Eucalyptus Ave, this display can be seen on foot or in your car. With every house competing with every other with its grandeur, there are a number of photo opportunities all along the street. Unlike many other neighborhoods, these homes do not use Christmas cutouts but instead are elegantly decorated with lights and ornaments. Weekends get very crowded so try going on a weekday, when parking is available along the neighboring streets. Lights are on through New Years Day and between 6pm and 9pm. Get out of the house and check out this winter wonderland that will help keep your holiday sprits merry and bright!
2. Widmer World
Location : 3671 Chelsea Court , Pleasanton, CA
Take your young ones to Widmer World this holiday season to see the extravagant Christmas exhibit put up by the Widmers at their home and yard in Pleasanton. The work on this magical wonderland starts in July each year with the entire Widmer family pitching in with the planning, design and the back-breaking setup. As you approach the house located in a cul de sac, you are welcomed in the front yard by a gigantic lighted Christmas tree set in sync with holiday music. There is also a giant sized chair on the driveway for family photo ops. The Widmers have painstakingly decorated every inch of their yard with numerous amazing setups, each with its own theme. The displays range from Disney characters to hundreds of Santa Claus' to Disney Princesses, to nativity scenes and Christmas village scenes and even a K'nex roller coaster. As you walk along the path and under a beautiful lighted palm tree, you may come across one of the senior Widmer family members who will be more than willing to give you a brief history lesson of Widmer World. The family has thought of everything, including a Powerpoint presentation of how Widmer World has grown over the years.
Walking at a leisurely pace, it took us about 30 minutes to explore Widmer World in its entirety. Admission is free and the place is open 6pm - 9pm, until Dec 31st, and may be packed during weekends. Take your time to enjoy the lights, music and displays and go home with holiday cheer!
3. Deacon Dave's Christmas Lights
Location : 352 Hillcrest Ave, Livermore, CA.
Deacon Dave’s Holiday Light Show will dazzle you with over 700k lights this year. This place has been featured in a number of news articles as well as on local radio and TV stations. A holiday tradition for 38 years, over 20 volunteers tirelessly work for 4 months to bring this holiday cheer to us. Each year the show has a different theme, with “America Celebrates Our Heroes” being the theme for 2021. A Ferris wheel, Merry-go-round and a carousel have been set up dedicated to front-line workers. There is even a proposal bridge where 72 proposals have taken place to date.
The display is open everyday from 6pm to 9pm until New Years. Admission is free, but during weekends, be prepared to stand in long lines to enter this whimsical wonderland. We went on a weekday, and a line had started to form by 5.45pm.
Go check it out before it is too late!
4. Filoli Gardens, Woodside, CA.
Holiday nights are magical at Filoli Gardens! Filoli makes the holidays so special with the entire garden decked in sparkling lights and festive finery. The 54,000 sq ft mansion that sits in the middle of the 16 acre garden is also lighted up with multiple Christmas trees adorning various corners of those parts of the house accessible by the public. In the garden, all the trees are covered with twinkling lights, along with the wrought iron gates and the pools and fountains.
Open from Thanksgiving weekend through New Years Day weekend, tickets ($38 for adults, $20 for kids 5-17) are required to enter the grounds. Beware that tickets become fully booked very early in the holiday season, so plan your visit accordingly. Holiday lights are on 4pm - 8pm everyday.
Comments