Downtown Alameda kicked off the holiday season on Saturday, December 6, with a full day of gathering, shopping, and cocoa-tasting as the Winter Market and Hot Cocoa Stroll returned to Central Avenue. This was the third year of the Winter Market. Then, in the evening, crowds surrounded City Hall as it grew dark for the City of Alameda’s annual Winter Lights Celebration a few blocks away.
The Winter Market provided a fantastic opportunity for residents of the Bay Area to discover local businesses. More than 75 local vendors filled the stretch between Park and Oak streets, joined by food stalls and live performances. Many families were there to browse for handmade gifts. In addition, there were fundraisers and Alameda public organizations offering resources and information to residents.
Some participants were involved with both. For example, Sandra from Alameda Town Square, a handcrafted marketplace, also works with Alameda CERT (Community Emergency Response Team). Both had tables at the market. The two tables covered fun holiday gifts and a chance to learn more about Alameda’s emergency preparedness efforts.
The event was great for families and kids of all ages. Whimsy Willow Alameda Art & Play Garden provided craft supplies for kids, who got to decorate cute paper gingerbread people.
I went to Rosa Rodriguez’s candle booth, Rose Glow, and ended up buying creatively-shaped candles from her for the second time this year.
Live music filled the air all day, with Christmas carols, folk music, and fun twists on pop songs.
Winter Lights Celebration
The Winter Market paired wonderfully with the annual Winter Lights Celebration, which brought hundreds of families and friends to Alameda City Hall on Saturday evening. From 5 to 6 p.m., the block in front of the building was filled with bundled-up spectators waiting for the tree to come to life.
Crowds also lined the street for performances by the Tap Dancing Christmas Trees, the Alameda Community Band, the Alameda Sings! Community Choir, and other local groups. The dancing trees provided one of the most anticipated—and liveliest—moments of the evening. A mainstay of Alameda holiday culture, and always a crowd favorite, the Tap Dancing Christmas Trees have delighted audiences around the country, including the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade–there’s even a movie about them.
Throughout the celebration, volunteers handed out free cookies to support the Building Futures Jammie Drive, an annual fundraiser that provides cozy pajamas for more than 250 women and children living in local shelters.
The Alameda Fire Department parked a brightly decorated fire truck on-site and the Alameda Free Library offered free copies of The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats. First published in 1962, the Caldecott Medal-winning classic was among the earliest full-color picture books to feature Peter, an African American child as its central character.
Alameda Communications and Legislative Affairs Director Sarah Henry said afterwards: “Huge thanks to the Alameda community for bringing your electric energy to the annual tree lighting celebration… Thank you for always supporting one another and making Alameda shimmer.”
Hot Cocoa Stroll
As it grew dark, some marketgoers shifted toward Park Street for the free, family-friendly Hot Cocoa Stroll. More than a dozen small businesses offered cocoa, cookies, and small bites. Toy Safari handed out sweet treats and SIGNAL Coffee Roasters returned with their Mexican hot chocolate and cookies, a favorite from years past. There were long lines outside the Alameda Cineplex and Daisy’s mercantile. Hot cocoa on a chilly night was well worth the wait.
These three events made for a memorable and festive way to begin December and connect with local organizations and community members. As Henry put it, “We kicked off the winter holidays with spectacular performances and the undeniable power of community spirit.”
Vivian Delchamps Wolf (English PhD, UCLA, 2022) is a professor of English at Dominican University of California and a contributing writer for the Alameda Post. She is also a disability justice advocate, ballroom dancer, cat lover, and board game enthusiast. Contact her via [email protected]. Her writing is collected at AlamedaPost.com/Vivan-Delchamps-Wolf.
