This year the honey and I decided we would try out a couple different Christmas Tree Lanes instead of just driving around hoping to find different lit neighborhoods. This Christmas Tree Lane is perhaps the ultimate Christmas Tree Lane, considering it's an extremely dense block where every single home is lit up with different displays. On one end there was a table with kids selling cookies and hot chocolate and in the middle there was a frosty ice cream truck. We got a bit lucky as it was less busy when we drove in around 6pm or so, but it was a madhouse by the time we wrapped up our visit. We later drove over to the San Ramon Christmas Tree Lane on Woodland Drive and found it to be much less busy and a bit more enjoyable as their streets were wider. All in all, this Christmas Tree Lane is definitely something to experience once, but unless you're local to Alameda I'm not sure I'd make it a yearly trip. read more

This was our first time going to Christmas Tree Lane here! There are not much areas with Christmas decoration / lights in this area, so it was nice to be able to find an area with beautiful Christmas decorations and lights. Not much parking that was close by and it was a bit cold / windy during our visit, so we just drove down the street and it was beautiful still. read more

Love the Christmas tree lane in Alameda. This will be our 2nd year attending and pics are from 2023. Absolutely magical. Every house is lit up differently and most of them really go all out and each and every house is so unique and gorgeous. Absolutely one of our favorite things to do during Christmas time. We usually go just few days before Christmas:) read more

See all

Christmas Tree Lane in Alameda is always a magical holiday tradition for our family. We've kept this tradition alive since the boys were little, and each year, the lights seem to get even more spectacular. The festive atmosphere truly brings the holiday spirit to life. Now, there are vendors selling lights, souvenirs, and delicious snacks, with some benefiting local schools. My kids especially love the Jack Skellington house--it's always a highlight of our visit! read more

See all

This was a beautiful holiday light show on a Friday night. Different scenes along the many houses on this block of Thompson Avenue. Most of the homes participated, though not all, several were just very plain, or you could tell they didn't really care to be part of the show, but those were very few. Regardless, this is a long row of homes, so there was a lot to see (cute animals camping with a tent and campfire, Mickey dressed as Santa, Charlie Brown characters at an ice skating rink, Star Wars decor and props, dogs, flamingos, penguins, and of course, the mailbox for letters to Santa). There was also musical entertainment the evening I visited (2 days before xmas day), Dirty Cello, a blues/rock band, performing in front of one of the homes. I'd say, compared to Christmas Tree Lane in San Carlos, this one was more lively near xmas day, and had a lot of hot cocoa stands serving hot chocolate for visitors, and slightly more crowded (foot traffic as well as cars). Luckily, parking wasn't difficult to find a couple blocks away. All of that being said, none of the displays in Alameda really blew me away the way the lights and decorations of the San Carlos homes did (the amount and placement of lights specifically were more impressive in SC). Still, it was a fun time in Alameda, and free event to enjoy with loved ones during the holidays, and great that they do this for the community. read more

See all

I had a great time visiting Thompson Ave in Alameda to see the Christmas light and always admire communities that really get into the holiday spirit and and provide an experience for visitors. We came around 7pm on a Friday and easily found parking on a side street. I recommend walking the couple of blocks to fully experience the holiday decorations and lights on display. A lot of people were out enjoying the lights when we came, but the walk itself wasn't bad at all. (I've experienced more foot traffic at another place in So CAL). There were a lot of cars driving through as well. Some houses had extravagant displays and lights that changed colors (The Nightmare before Christmas house was very elaborate), others were unique (Star wars theme, Peanuts), some were classic Christmas decorations (reindeers, Santa, snowman), and I also a couple of houses celebrating both Christmas and Hanukah. Residents were happily enjoying the festivities outside their homes, greeting and interacting with the visitors, a lot sold hot chocolate and baked goods, and one group sang Chrismas carols. Parts of the sidewalk were also decorated making excellent photo ops and between both sides of the street in the middle, there were also a lot of decorations. read more

See all

I am definitely late to writing this review, as it has been nearly a year since our visit to this lovely neighborhood, and we're only a few short months away before we get to experience this all over again! Having moved here to the East Bay during the height of COVID and subsequent lockdowns, we didn't get to experience too much that this side of the Bay had to offer. So last year, I made it my mission to find neighborhoods nearby that offered similar experiences of fully decked out Christmas/Holiday celebrations that I was used to attending in the Penninsula. A few short Yelp searches later, I found most results all pointing towards Christmas Tree Lane. When we arrived the week of Christmas, we still found plenty of free street parking available on the blocks nearby. Thompson Street itself is actually not blocked off, and is open to both foot and vehicle traffic. I recommend walking through here, so as to fully appreciate all of the little details put into the various house decorations. While a large number of homes definitely opted for a very traditional lighting setup, there were some very memorable homes that went all out, creating dazzling lighting effects, amazing recreations of scenarios, and incredible attention to details. Big thank you to all of the residents of Thompson St who have dedicated their time, and sacrificed their wallets paying for the resulting utility bill. All in order for us to enjoy this little, festive slice of the holidays. A much welcome literal beacon of light during a difficult time of recovery. read more

See all

Great fun for the family! They had elf on the shelf at every store and a wide variety of holiday gift ideas.

** The following review reflects my experience DURING the COVID-19 pandemic. ** I'm not sure what kind of property turnover there is on the 3200 block of Thompson Avenue, but I kept wondering who tells the new homeowner, "Oh, by the way, you're required to decorate your house and front yard in an excessive way in December to keep up with your neighbors ...or shall we say, face the consequences!" I picture an eerie Stepford-type vibe in that uncomfortable conversation. But the core question comes down to are the results worth it? Sure and it's nice to see the cumulative effort, all very festive, some displays quite cheeky and only one featuring a manger scene. I have to admit I'm not a fan of this recent trend toward inflatables which don't reflect holiday craftsmanship to me. I do appreciate the addition of masks to many of the characters to reflect the sad reality of the pandemic. I understand there's usually a live Santa and other attractions that might form a crowd. Even without them, social distancing was understandably challenging for those who stroll versus drive. That included Jamie W. and me as we did our best to dodge the enthusiastic toddlers scampering about. It's free, so if you want some holiday cheer without having to pre-pay for reservations, here you go... RELATED - Searching for holiday cheer in December? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/39aT63N read more

See all

If you want to get in the Holiday spirit, especially in 2020 where daily you're constantly told what you can't do and all the bad news coming at you, Christmas Tree Lane is a great place to go, a breath of fresh air!! You can park and walk, or just do a drive through. All the lights "officially" come on at 5:30 PM. We went on Christmas Eve, and decided to park and walk, it was not crowded for the walkers yet. Almost all the houses were decorated to the Tee!!! Some of the homeowners sat on their porches and gave you a "Merry Christmas" as you walked by or stopped and took pics. Located on Thompson Ave in Alameda, thanks to all the homeowners here for letting their street getting taken over!! Happy Holidays!!!!! read more

See all

We had so much fun with our dog! Found parking up the street and enjoyed the lights. Wish the street was blocked off. A free event with all house decorated. Christmas tree lane in Almeda is so fun and festive. We walked and enjoyed walking up one block and down the other read more

Christmas Tree Lane - Local Flavor Near Me - Alameda, California

See all

Beautiful holiday lights! You definitely feel the holiday spirit. It can get busy, limited parking but worth it all! read more

I've been coming here, off and on for 15 years. What is happening !?!? They were selling toys and offering bicycle tour around Christmas Tree Lane-- also, when did this became "Christmas Tree Lane". There's even Santa Claus there! read more

See all

Beautiful Christmas light decorations in the neighborhood! For something that is free, I can not complain. Every house is decked out in decor. Some go all out with their installations. I went on Chistmas Eve night, and it was super crowded. I suggest parking further away and walking it. You can also drive through if you prefer, but it's packed, and the cars are barely moving. read more

See all

Been to a few candy cane lane in Bay Area, including the one in peninsula and South Bay. First time in East bay at Alamenda. It was very nice, got a parking on the street about 1/2 a block away from Thompson street. Very festive, love the Christmas decoration and lighting. read more

See all

Thompson Street in Alameda is known as Christmas Lane. I want to thank the residents of Thompson St, even if they don't put on displays, for allowing their street to be taken over by visitors every holiday season. My late mother really enjoyed seeing the displays. I would drive her up and down the street several times. Her face would light up with excitement and joy. She would be so impressed by the effort and work done by every resident. Now, even during Covid-19, the lights and displays remind us of the Christmas season and better times. read more

~ Quarantine Review ~ Thank you to the residents at Christmas Tree Lane for setting up all these cute lights and decorations for the holiday season. I drove by on Saturday around 5:30 pm ish and there was already a trail of cars there. Luckily didn't really have to wait long and got to drive by all the decorated homes. Go early if you don't want to get stuck waiting in a long line of cars. I would have loved to take the time and walk there but I imagine parking to be a slight hassle. My fav house was the one with the big circles lights kind of like Twister on top of their roof, it's beautiful, and I can't imagine what they must be paying for electricity in December. But I applaud everyone for their almost 100% participation in decorating. I can imagine these neighbors to all know each other and have parties together. Curious how the individuals who don't decorate feel.... but regardless it's such a festive happy community! A must visit if you are looking for a safe socially distanced holiday activity! read more

If you have never visited Christmas tree lane, it's probably worth seeing. So much to see. Good, displays and merchandise all over for the Christmas gift hunter. read more

This place is amazing during the holidays. It's lit up everywhere. You can walk or drive down. It's best to walk it. I'd park 2-3 blocks away, and just walk ahead. It's so worth it! The houses are decorated beautifully! Bring sweaters, scarfs, beanies, a warm cocoa, because even with all the foot traffic it's still freezing! I really wonder how much these peoples pg&e bill is the month of December because i'm telling you the houses are lit!!! Every inch is covered in lights. read more

See all

Whoa! Christmas tree lights decked out on all houses here. The Lane is colorfully lit and people strolling the street. It's family friendly and a fun outing to go to. Celebrate the magic of Christmas, can be done here. read more

Christmas Tree Lane - Local Flavor Near Me - Alameda, California

This neighborhood is amazing. So festive for all ages! Would recommend anyone to go there to get the holiday feeling!

Nothing symbolizes the spirit of the holidays than the Christmas lights, decorations and of course Santa Claus. You get all this in Alameda's Christmas Tree Lane, where the residents on this street, between High and Fernside, have transformed their homes and yards into a Xmas wonderland since 1938. The houses have their lights on from about the first Saturday of December through New Year's Eve. The trees on the center strip are decorated with lights and Santa is there around 6:30-8:00pm during the last two week leading up to Christmas. The street can be busy if you walk or drive during the weekends. If you drive, get a better experience by parking on High or Fernside and then walk in. It might not be the biggest holiday display around, but I happy Alameda has a Christmas Tree Lane to call its own. read more

See all

Back when I used to spend my Christmas vacations in San Diego, we used to drive to El Cajon to see this whole neighborhood of lights. It really was an amazing sight to see. I never knew there was anything like that in the bay until this year, when the HHK and his friends brought me to Christmas Tree Lane. The area is much smaller, but the holiday spirit is there. Houses one after the other, decorated in festive lights and painted characters. My favorites included the Nightmare before Christmas, Mickey and Minnie and the RIP Steve Jobs lit up Apple. It's one surprise over the next as you see the blown up Santas and Snowmen occupying some lawn. I love to see the true Holiday spirit of decorating and making people happy and bright. Tis' the season for smiling. read more

See all

I checked out Thompson Ave and Fernside Blvd which they call "Christmas Tree Lane" for the Holidays in Alameda which was FREE. It's a long block on both sides of the street with Christmas Lights and some Cutouts. It's good for adults and kids to look at. You can drive which is really slow going, or walk on the sidewalks. Some ladies were selling homemade baked goods in the rain and in the dark. They needed a better sign, light, and maybe speak up, not just sit there talking to themselves. I didn't buy anything. Been there, done that. Now I gotta check out more in other Cities. read more

See all

I think this is a must see if you live in the East Bay. It's not a long street, but definitely has a lot to see in a few short blocks. Brave the chill (after all this isn't the Northeast and there certainly won't be any snow) and take your time to admire each home on foot. Street parking nearby is plentiful-I am sure much to the chagrin of the neighboring streets. Some displays are waaaaay over the top but super fun-such as the the house covered in pink plastic streamers and giant cut-out figures of Rudolph. Others are classic and elegant. The trees down the center of the street are all lit up and if I'm not mistaken every house was lit up except for one (it had a For Sale sign in the yard.) As a bonus many of the other homes in the surrounding area also have some elaborate displays. There is nothing as widely organized as this street, but if you take a drive around, you are sure to see some other pretty displays if you're out this way! read more

Brrrr...it's freezing cold...cold like the North Pole and the perfect place to be is none other than Christmas Tree Lane aka Thompson Avenue on the east end of Alameda. Twenty-five years of living on the west end of Alameda and I have never been here to see this display until earlier this evening. Thank goodness for the map on my phone. My husband and I were driving around in circle - west of Thompson Avenue - trying to find this site (we were on Gibbons). We parked about two blocks away. It was amazing, beautiful, captivating, delightful, exciting, fantastic...all that great stuff to whimsical...and some kind of wonderful. Santa, sitting in the sleigh, was there to cheer the crowd and greet the excited children with glee and smile. The glistening of the multi-colored lights and the various holiday themes had me reminiscing of being a kid again...a big kid at heart... and swirling through my mind are the candy canes, eggnog, mulled apple cider and hot chocolate with the miniature marshmallows (snowman poop?...lol) besides wrapped Christmas gifts under a tree. Thank you, the residents of Thompson Avenue, for bringing some holiday cheer and fun to all of us. read more

See all

It's awesome, but it's also kind of insane. Everyone wants to go here now, and so the cars are backed up to the bridge. If you don't mind being patient, you can drive through, eventually. Better to get parking a few (or a lot) of blocks away. Also don't go on a weekend night or Xmas Eve or anything. Allow least an hour. There's some really cool displays, but it's just too many people and cars. read more

So very beautiful a job well done. My granddaughter loved it very much. We all did. It's the best In the Day area. We will be back next year. Just love it!!!!!!!!! read more

A cheerfully lit up street - the nightly traffic jam says it all. Every last house is decorated and they are all beautiful one of a kind historical homes. Alameda is filled with unique homes built from 1900's and on. This block is to be admired partially because the houses are incredible. No 1950s to 1970s boxes built on this block. Even most new housing developments so dull in that they all look identical with no personality whatsoever. Every last house is tastefully decorated. Nothing over the top psychotic - fire hazard - the good people of Alameda are classy people. Even the center island is decorated. Its filled with mature trees so tall I'm not sure how somebody got way up there - brought to you by I forget who. On the island last night at around 7pm there was a band of students just getting ready to preform. Adds to the flavor. A great place to take your pooch for a walk one of these evenings. read more

Ya, I am not someone who always gets into the holiday spirit in the winter. But when I do I get it bad! This Christmas Tree Lane was just just enough for our kids (this year 5 and 7 year olds) to enjoy. Tons of lights and some houses with decked out characters and other fun stuff on the houses and lawns. I'd say in about two years, the magic of this one may fade for our little ones. Also, I'd say it is probably worth getting out and walking. Though the night we went, Christmas night, was fairly busy and I could see that feeling a little crazy. Anyway, thank you to all of the residents who do this every year. It's a sweet display of spirit for the season! read more

If you're looking for something fun and free to do over the holidays, visit Christmas Tree Lane in Alameda. Christmas Tree Lane refers to a stretch of road in a residential area that is absolutely decked out in Christmas lights. It's a neighborhood tradition that dates back to 1938. 1938! Christmas Tree Lane starts at 3200 Thompson Ave. and ends at 3299 Thompson Ave. It's bound by High St. to the north and Fernside Blvd. to the south. The street has sidewalks on either side and a decorated median down the center. In total, there are roughly 50 houses and every single one is decorated. Don't expect anything extravagant. This isn't an upscale part of town. It's an old, classic American neighborhood with small, humble homes. Each home has its own unique lights, decorations, and spin on the holiday season. Some homes look traditional and elegant with nothing but white lights and wreaths. Others look gaudier with multicolored lights, big bulbs, giant candy canes, and blow-up Santa and reindeer dolls. One home has a "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" theme. Another has several Marvel comic book heroes standing in the front yard. One home has a simple setup: a Nativity of Jesus set in the center of the lawn and a spotlight which casts its rather large silhouette against the house. There are Christmas trees aplenty and a real-life Santa too. You can take pictures with him for free, but a donation is suggested. Christmas Tree Lane is ideal for all ages. It's family friendly (kids will love it) and it's a good place to take a date too. There's a magical, whimsical aura about it. It's great the neighborhood has been able to keep the tradition going for so long. Thanks to their generosity, many generations have been able to enjoy the spectacle. You can street park for free along Thompson Ave. Expectedly, it's often busy, so you can alternatively park on neighborhood streets nearby and walk over. That might be the safer and less stressful thing to do. For 2013, the lights will be up from December 1 to December 31. If you plan to go this year, you only have a few more days to go! read more

LOVED LOVED LOVED every minute of this. I heard about this on the radio while driving to work one morning. I got on the phone immediately to call my friends who live in Alameda to get the info on it. My friend told me she'd never gone but heard it was great. Of course I went on Yelp and low and behold I got the information I needed. LOVE YOU YELP :) The lights in the neighborhood were to die for. Went with my sis, bro n law, niece and mom. We loved it. We were grateful to find a spot from on Thompson. We then got out and made our rounds. Here are some pics. This will surely become our family holiday tradition :) read more

See all

I love love love Xmas decorations as it really gets you into the Christmas spirit without having to buy presents. A stroll down this 1 block in Alameda is like a gift already as one of the neighbors on the street will dress up as Santa and sit on a sleigh on the island making you feel like what a small version of the North Pole must look like. There's even one house that has a Nightmare Before Xmas show every 30 min or so that will have you feeling like you're in Disneyland. I go at least once every year and the closer it gets to Xmas, the busier it gets. In the past years, the children from one of houses even serve free hot chocolate the Friday and/or Sat before Xmas. read more

I grew up in Alameda and we would go to Christmas Tree Lane every year! It's such a unique place and so magical. Especially great for kids because Santa comes in the early evening. Can be done in a car too if weather is bad or you can't/don't want to walk. Absolutely recommend anyone come visit during December! read more

Having previously lived in suburban Daly City, I thought I had seen it all in terms of overly-done/outlandish outdoor holiday decorations. But WOW was I wrong. Christmas Tree Lane is by far the most extreme amount of holiday lights, sights, and colors within the tightest perimeter I have ever seen! Not in a bad way, of course. It's hard to describe what to make of this trip into the narrow one-way streets, separated only by an island with large decorated Christmas trees and a photo-ready Santa Claus, that is Christmas Tree Lane. I wouldn't call it a winter wonderland, nor a holiday heaven. From carolers, to Charlie Brown and friends, to the Grinch, and more, this strip of land that requires residents to sign a contract obligating them to decorate their homes every holiday season has it all. I think my pictures speak for themselves! Whether you're looking for some inspiration on how to decorate your home or looking to show the children in your family the beauty of the holidays, a trip to Christmas Tree Lane is a must! read more

See all

I'm not sure how much longer the houses will have their lights up. We went today at 5pm and there were no crowds so we were able to drive slowly down the street. A very sweet neighborhood effort with nothing over the top. It was barely dark so not everyone had their lights lit...there was a "Nightmare before Christmas" display that was not lit. Enjoyable and probably not spectacular enough for most folks. But the Rinky family loved even though Christmas has passed. Thanks to Joyce Z for the great tip! I guess we should've waited till it got a little darker.....but we enjoyed them anyway! read more

See all

It is a bit underwhelming as this place is only a short block long, and not all houses participate. We visited Christmas Eve and walked through the entire block in 10 minutes, even at a very slow pace. There was plentiful parking nearby. Definitely advise walking through, rather than driving through. If more houses decorated with lights, rather than cutouts and figurines, the displays would be more enticing like Christmas Tree Lane over in San Carlos. Decent place to stop by as a holiday tradition if you're close enough to this spot, but do not recommend going out of your way to visit! read more

Super cute street!! My boys loved seeing the nightmare before Christmas music and light show

Totally awesome. The folks here do a pretty nice job twinkling up their homes with all sorts of fluorescent gadgets, electronic reindeer, tinsel, inflatable snowmen/ penguins/ Christmas trees, and cardboard Santas. Bravo to the one house with the menorah. The pink-tinseled candy house was an odd touch but a definite A for effort. And the house with flamingoes: funky! We were lucky to find parking right off of High street and Thompson, but parking became pretty scarce a few minutes after that (about 815pm). It's a leisurely 20 minute stroll around the block with lots of families and kids goggling at the houses. I wouldn't recommend driving around this street, unless you can move at negative 5 mph. Heaven help anyone who lives here and doesn't feel in the Xmas Spirit-- or can't afford the PG&E bill. But this has definitely made my way into a local "must-do" in the East Bay around the holiday season. Grab some grub on Park street, and walk the 0.75mi to this lane. Or decide it's too cold and drive here. There's even a house for sale on the corner of High and Thompson if you feel like adding to the neighborhood. read more

What is there not to love? Santa makes his appearances, there is a mailbox for letters to Santa and the entire street is nicely decorated. A few tips; *Come early in the month to beat the crowds. *Of course week nights are less busy. *Park off the street and take a walk through instead of driving. You will miss out on things in the car. *Follow their Facebook group to find out announcements and info relating to the festivities. *Bring snacks and something warm to drink. *Don't be in a hurry. read more