What's Happening

Don your favorite holiday sweater, grab your friends and family, and join our Mayor and Santa himself at Alameda’s tree lighting ceremony in front of City Hall on Saturday, December 7. All the festivities and live performances begin at 4:00pm with the popular Hot Cocoa Crawl immediately afterwards.

Stop at participating businesses for delicious hot beverages and special promotions. Sample hot cocoa, complimentary hot cider, a hot cocoa bar with all the toppings, free milk and cookies, and so much more. All ages welcome.

To locate each of the 21 Hot Cocoa Crawl locations and view delicious offerings, access the interactive map on the Downtown Alameda website using a computer or your phone: www.DowntownAlameda.com/holidays#cocoa

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The holiday season is here! Let the merchants in Downtown Alameda help you find unique gifts, jewelry, clothing, toys, books, or personalized services. To make shopping downtown easier, parking is FREE on weekends.

From the cheerful SHOP LATE THURSDAYS to our popular HOT COCOA CRAWL, downtown merchants have plenty to offer for a festive holiday shopping experience.

Kick off the holiday season in Downtown Alameda on Small Business Saturday®. Celebrate and support local businesses by shopping and dining downtown the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

Bundle up the kids, buy a warm beverage or an ice cream, and take a stroll to enjoy the festive downtown holiday windows. Cast a vote for your favorite display.

Need more time to check off items on your holiday gift-giving list? Retailers are joining restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues in staying open until 8:00pm (or later) on Shop Late Thursdays. Have your cameras ready on Thursday, December 5 — Santa will be popping into businesses, handing out treats, and posing for photos.

On Saturday, December 7, join Santa and Alameda ‘s Mayor when they light the official island holiday tree at City Hall. Enjoy live local holiday performances beginning at 4:00pm and meet the big guy himself. Afterwards, do the Hot Cocoa Crawl with family and friends. Enjoy the shops, have a bite to eat, and vote on your favorite downtown holiday window display.

Perk up the holidays with a nostalgic movie experience at the Alameda Theatre & Cineplex. Holiday classics “A Christmas Story” (Wednesday, December 4) and “It’s a Wonderful Life” (Wednesday, December 11) are showing on the big screen.

For last minute gifts, enjoy a cozy evening of merry-making, mingling, and gift-buying while supporting local makers on Sunday, December 15. More than 20 crafters, makers, and artists will be selling awesome gifts for the holidays at PHOENIX. All ages welcome and admission is free.

Oh, what fun it is in Downtown Alameda!

Small Business Saturday is November 30, the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Celebrate local businesses that are the backbone of our island city. Step inside one of our many storefronts and enjoy gifts to share with friends and family.

When local businesses succeed, we all do! This holiday season shop locally to support local jobs, reduce your climate change impact, and keep more money in the local economy.

Spotlight on local business:

When you walk into Alameda Bicycle on the corner of Park Street and Webb Ave you can feel the passion for two-wheelers. The shop has been there for 50 years. After the Oh family took over in 1987, Gene Oh started helping out at the shop on weekends and summers. He took over full-time in 2002. “We’re here because we love bikes in some way. We want to pass that feeling along to everyone that comes into the shop. Since the beginning, we’ve been about getting the whole family on two wheels.”

Toy Safari is a place for families to explore and enjoy the wonderful world of toys. Helen Dean decided to open the shop shortly after the navy base closed in 1989. “I was shopping for a birthday present for my sons’ school friend and I realized there weren’t many options. I thought to myself, ‘I could open a toy store!’ followed immediately by the thought, ‘don’t be crazy!'” said Helen. 27 years later that “crazy” idea is now an Alameda treasure, providing a positive, kid-friendly business where kids can make informed decisions about purchases and can trade-in outgrown yet well-treated toys for new, quality toys. 

Shop, eat, & enjoy local on Small Business Saturday:

Be on the look out for Shop. Eat. Enjoy. LOCAL giveaways. Additionally, businesses throughout the district are getting into the spirit of Small Business Saturday by providing free treats, special offers, and other activities:

Habanas Cuban Cuisine is offering a Complimentary Appetizer for each party.

Lost City Antiques will be have 10-50% off selected items.

Ozone will have BOGO deals on ALL clothing and FREE helmet with purchase of any Sector 9 longboards (while supplies last).

Studio 23 and its sister gallery 3Dot will be open from 12-5pm with 10% off all artworks.

The Sewing Room will have bubbles, nibbles, and hot cocoa. Get 20% off fabrics & patterns; Open Sew time is only $5/hour.

Tootsies Alameda has 50% off all items in the store.

Oh, what fun it is in Downtown Alameda during the holidays: DowntownAlameda.com/holidays

Downtown Alameda is a marvelous destination for shopping, dining, playing, relaxing, and socializing. The district is ever-changing with new places to discover on each visit. Help us welcome our newest businesses!

New Downtown Businesses:

B. Graham – Market & Nest, 2310 Alameda Ave
Visual merchandising and interior design consultant.

B12 Love, 1708 Park Street #130 (Pop-Up @ Symmetry)
Vitamin + Nutrient Injections

Noah Graham Photography, 2310 Alameda Ave
Portraits, interiors, and action photographer.

Spine and Sport Chiropractic, 2504 Santa Clara Ave
Thoughtful and precise analysis to align body and spirit.

Spinning Bones, 1205 Park Street
Contemporary rotisserie restaurant fusing quality meats and new flavors.

Transformed iLash, 2515 Santa Clara Ave (inside Sabai Salon)
Eyelash artist and men’s hair grooming.

New Associate Members:

Alameda Family Services, 2325 Clement Ave Suite A
Behavioural health and educational services for Alameda residents at all stages of life.

Lynn’s of Alameda, 2807 Encinal Ave
Antigues and collectibles. Specializing in Estate Liquidations and Moving Sales.

New Locations:

Affinity At Home Care, 1926 Park St #3

Matz Law Group, 2329 Central Ave #200

Mercy and Grace Home Health Care, 1926 Park St #3

New Owners:

Dan’s Fresh Produce, 2300 Central Ave

Johnathan’s Sandwich House, 2316 Santa Clara Ave

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Please note: To keep our community safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, all large events have been canceled for 2020 & 2021.

Get set for the 26th Annual Downtown Alameda Classic Car Show on Saturday, October 12, 2019. The event runs from 10:00am-4:00pm and is free to the public with over 400 classic vehicles of all types on display from Encinal Ave to Buena Vista Ave — roadsters, coupes, hot rods, muscle cars, and antique trucks. Many of them have interesting histories. 

New this year is “EV Alley,” a section dedicated to electric vehicles and hosted by Alameda Municipal Power. Here visitors can view dozens of electric vehicles, talk to EV owners, and learn what it’s like driving electric.

Everyone will also get a close-up look at the classics, of course… Ford Model T’s, Chevy Corvettes, Pontiac GTOs, Cadillacs, Shelby’s, and Austin-Healeys, to name a few. Most of the cars on display come from the iconic decades of the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s. There will also be antique roadsters from the ’20s, ’30s, and ’40s. Bring your camera and don’t be afraid to talk to the owners — they love to talk about their cars. (Pictured: Cruising the car show with a classic Tucker’s waffle cone. Photo provided by Tucker’s Ice Cream.)

Want to hear the engines roar? Come early to watch the parade of cars arrive for the show between 7:30am and 9:30am.

Plan on spending an eventful afternoon in Alameda’s downtown district… shop at the many boutiques and antique stores, eat at one of the fabulous restaurants, order a refreshing drink at one of the local lounges, and catch a movie at the classic art deco style movie theater. Many of the businesses will even be offering weekend specials during the event.

See what’s new at the 26th Annual Classic Car Show and enjoy all that Downtown Alameda has to offer!

Get more information on the official event page:
DowntownAlameda.com/carshow