Discover the magic of the holiday season with a plethora of enchanting Christmas events in Fremont, CA. Whether you're a local or visiting for the first time, Fremont offers a variety of festive experiences to light up your celebrations. The Fremont Festival of Lights and Winter Market shines brightly with a stunning parade and diverse holiday market, celebrating the city's multicultural heritage.
Step back in time with the Great Dickens Christmas Fair, an immersive Victorian experience brimming with costumed characters and traditional crafts. For a nearby adventure, head to Downtown San Jose for the mesmerizing Christmas in the Park, where animated displays and an ice rink create a winter wonderland under the stars.
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The Top Christmas Events in Fremont
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Fremont Festival of Lights and Winter Market
What to Expect:
Combines light parade with international winter market
Description:
Fremont's Festival of Lights and Winter Market illuminates the city with a dazzling parade and global marketplace. This event, which began as a small community gathering, now draws thousands. The highlight is the Parade of Lights, featuring floats adorned with thousands of twinkling bulbs. Following the parade, the Winter Market springs to life, offering a diverse array of international holiday goods and cuisine. Visitors can sample treats from around the world while browsing unique gifts. The festival celebrates Fremont's multicultural heritage, blending various holiday traditions into one vibrant event.
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Fremont Festival of Lights and Winter Market
Nearby Events
Christmas in the Park (San Jose)
What to Expect:
Massive walk-through holiday display in downtown San Jose
Description:
Downtown San Jose transforms into a winter spectacle with Christmas in the Park. This long-standing tradition began in 1950 as a single family's elaborate front yard display. Now, visitors can stroll through a forest of illuminated trees, each decorated by local schools and organizations. Animated displays bring holiday scenes to life, while the centerpiece 60-foot Community Giving Tree stands as a symbol of generosity. You'll find yourself captivated by the twinkling lights reflecting off the ice rink, where skaters glide under the stars.
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Great Dickens Christmas Fair (San Francisco)
What to Expect:
Immersive Victorian London experience
Description:
Step back in time to Victorian London at the Great Dickens Christmas Fair. This immersive event recreates the sights and sounds of Charles Dickens' world, complete with costumed characters and period-accurate shops. The fair pays homage to the author who popularized many Christmas traditions through his works. Visitors can explore winding lanes filled with over 800 performers, artisans, and vendors. Try your hand at traditional crafts or savor authentic English fare. The fair's attention to historical detail transports you to a bygone era, offering a unique perspective on holiday celebrations.
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Holiday Lights at Gilroy Gardens (Gilroy)
What to Expect:
Themed gardens transformed into holiday light displays
Description:
Gilroy Gardens' Holiday Lights event transforms the horticultural theme park into a luminous winter landscape. The park's unique topiary creatures don festive attire, while millions of lights adorn trees and structures throughout. This event began as a way to extend the park's season and has grown into a beloved holiday tradition. Visitors can ride select attractions bedecked in holiday finery or warm up with hot cocoa while strolling through the glowing gardens. The event showcases the park's horticultural heritage, with each garden area featuring a distinct holiday theme.
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Holiday Lights at Gilroy Gardens
Holidays at Filoli (Woodside)
What to Expect:
Historic estate decorated for the holidays
Description:
Filoli, a National Trust Historic Site, dons its holiday best for a sophisticated celebration of the season. The Georgian Revival mansion and its 16 acres of formal gardens showcase elegant decorations that complement the estate's architectural beauty. This tradition began in the 1920s when the Bourn family first owned the property. Visitors can explore the lavishly adorned rooms, each telling a story of holidays past. The event highlights the estate's rich history, blending period-appropriate decor with modern festive touches. Stroll through the illuminated gardens, where century-old trees twinkle with thousands of lights.
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Christmas Tree Lane (Palo Alto)
What to Expect:
Neighborhood-wide holiday light display
Description:
Christmas Tree Lane in Palo Alto transforms an entire neighborhood into a coordinated light display. This tradition, dating back to 1940, sees residents of Fulton Street collaborating to create a cohesive holiday spectacle. Towering cedar trees lining the street serve as the backdrop for elaborate light displays and decorations. Visitors can drive or walk the length of the street, taking in the synchronized lights and festive scenes. The event showcases community spirit, with each home contributing to the overall theme. Christmas Tree Lane has become a cherished local tradition, drawing visitors from across the Bay Area.
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Fantasy of Lights Drive-thru Experience (Los Gatos)
What to Expect:
Drive-through light display in county park
Description:
Vasona Lake County Park hosts the Fantasy of Lights, a drive-through extravaganza of holiday illuminations. This event, which began in 1998, has grown into one of the largest light shows in Northern California. Visitors remain in their vehicles as they wind through a 1.5-mile route filled with over 50 animated displays and tunnels of lights. The park's natural beauty serves as a canvas for the dazzling light sculptures. You'll encounter larger-than-life holiday scenes, from toy soldiers to sailing ships, all brought to life with thousands of LED lights.
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Fantasy of Lights Drive-thru Experience
Oakland ZooLights (Oakland)
What to Expect:
Zoo-themed holiday light display and activities
Description:
Oakland Zoo Lights reimagines the animal kingdom in a blaze of holiday illumination. This event transforms the zoo after dark, featuring hundreds of animal-shaped light structures throughout the grounds. The tradition began as a way to showcase the zoo's conservation efforts during the winter months. Visitors can soar over the lights on the gondola sky ride, offering a unique aerial view of the displays. The event also educates guests about nocturnal animals and wildlife conservation. Stroll through themed areas, each highlighting different ecosystems and their inhabitants in glowing glory.
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San Francisco Ballet’s Nutcracker (San Francisco)
What to Expect:
America's oldest professional Nutcracker production
Description:
The San Francisco Ballet presents its renowned production of The Nutcracker, a holiday tradition since 1944. This performance holds the distinction of being the first full-length production of the ballet in America. The company's interpretation sets the story in San Francisco during the 1915 World's Fair, adding a unique local flavor to the classic tale. Audiences are transported to a world of graceful dancers, elaborate costumes, and Tchaikovsky's timeless score. The production features over 300 costumes and a growing Christmas tree that reaches 30 feet. Witness the artistry of world-class dancers as they bring this beloved story to life.
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San Francisco Ballet’s Nutcracker
Union Square Ice Skating (San Francisco)
What to Expect:
Open-air ice skating in the heart of San Francisco
Description:
Union Square transforms into a winter playground with its open-air ice skating rink. This San Francisco tradition has been delighting visitors since 2007, set against the backdrop of the city's iconic shopping district. Skaters glide beneath the towering Macy's Christmas tree, a symbol of the holiday season in the city since 1989. The rink offers a unique urban skating experience, surrounded by the energy and lights of downtown. Visitors can take a spin on the ice, then warm up with hot cocoa while watching the bustling square. The rink's central location makes it a focal point for holiday celebrations in the city.
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Great America’s WinterFest (Santa Clara)
What to Expect:
Theme park transformed into winter wonderland
Description:
California's Great America undergoes a dramatic transformation for WinterFest, turning the thrill park into a celebration of the season. This relatively new tradition, started in 2016, has quickly become a Bay Area favorite. The park's iconic rides and attractions take on a holiday theme, while millions of lights create a dazzling atmosphere. Visitors can enjoy ice skating in front of the illuminated Carousel Columbia or watch live holiday shows. The event also features artisans demonstrating traditional crafts, adding an educational element to the festivities. Great America's WinterFest offers a unique blend of holiday cheer and amusement park excitement.
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Menlo Park Holiday Tree Lighting (Menlo Park)
What to Expect:
Community-focused tree lighting ceremony
Description:
Menlo Park's Holiday Tree Lighting ceremony brings the community together for a night of celebration. This annual event, held in Fremont Park, has been a local tradition for decades. The focal point is the lighting of a majestic tree, symbolizing the start of the holiday season in the city. Visitors can join in caroling led by local choirs or warm up with complimentary refreshments. The event showcases Menlo Park's strong community spirit, with local businesses and organizations contributing to the festivities. Children delight in the arrival of Santa Claus, who makes a special appearance to hear holiday wishes.
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Menlo Park Holiday Tree Lighting
Los Altos Holiday Tree Lighting (Los Altos)
What to Expect:
Small-town charm meets Silicon Valley innovation
Description:
Los Altos' Holiday Tree Lighting ceremony blends small-town charm with high-tech flair. This event, held in the heart of downtown, kicks off the holiday season in this Silicon Valley community. The ceremony features the illumination of a grand tree, accompanied by performances from local schools and groups. Visitors can explore the downtown area, where shops stay open late offering holiday treats and specials. The event often incorporates innovative elements, reflecting the town's tech-savvy population. Los Altos' tree lighting celebrates the community's unique character, bridging its agricultural past with its high-tech present.
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Los Altos Holiday Tree Lighting
Santa Claus Train (Sunol)
What to Expect:
Holiday-themed train ride through redwood forests
Description:
The Santa Claus Train, operated by Roaring Camp Railroads, offers a unique holiday adventure through the Santa Cruz Mountains. This event combines the nostalgia of a vintage train ride with the magic of the season. Passengers board decorated 19th-century steam trains for a journey through towering redwood groves. The tradition began as a way to showcase the area's logging history during the winter months. During the ride, children can meet Santa and his elves, while everyone enjoys caroling and hot cider. The train winds its way through ancient forests, offering breathtaking views and a connection to California's natural beauty.