Seasonal & Holidays

Widmer World Winter Village Open Nightly In Pleasanton

This enchanting village of hundreds of thousands of twinkling lights is free and open each night until Dec. 31.

(Widmer World)

PLEASANTON, CA — It’s finally December, which means that it’s time to leave Pleasanton and enter Widmer World.

On a quiet street in Pleasanton - well, it’s quiet for most of the year, save this month - is a roughly one-acre yard glistening with multicolored animated reindeer, elves playing guitar, a manger scene, and of course, a 27-foot tree. There are so many lights twinkling throughout this mesmerizing winter village - hundreds of thousands, by some estimates - that it’s probably visible from outer space.

The Widmer family has been slowly building this magical fantasy world since 1980, when Robert Widmer sent away for a U-Build plan of Santa, Mrs. Claus, and the reindeer. That 42-year-old display can still be found in the backyard, surrounded by all the additions - the nativity scene, a candy shop, Santa’s workshop, a merry-go-round, a full mini-village full of so much more, and of course, Santa himself - that have blossomed since then. And people have taken notice: Bob Widmer estimates that at least 10,000 people stop by each season, and Widmer World was even featured on “The Great Christmas Light Fight” on ABC in 2015.

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Each year, the Widmer family begins initial repair work in July, and kicks into high gear in September. Widmer World is open Dec. 1 through Dec. 31 each night from 6 to 9. Entrance is free, but donations are appreciated, given that Bob Widmer once told Patch that his electric bill runs into the thousands.

Widmer World is located on 3671 Chelsea Court in Pleasanton.

Find out what's happening in Pleasantonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Visit widmer-world.com or visit their Facebook page for more information.


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