Eagle Era

To many locals, Crippsmas Place has its own charm and holiday magic

By Natalie Tchao

Anticipating the arrival of Christmas, neighborhoods are decked out with festive light displays. These displays come in a plethora of colors, shapes, and sizes. One of the hotspots for these holiday spectacles in Fremont is Crippsmas Place (a play on the actual street name of Cripps Place). This neighborhood display across nearly 4 city blocks has been going on for over 60 years.

The attraction’s main method of display stands out differently from other holiday displays with its use of an unusual decoration type: cardboard cut-outs of famous characters illuminated by spotlights.

“We are all volunteers, we’re all neighbors. The Creative Works Department is those neighbors who want to help make the decorations, and so those decorations become community property available free for any Cripps Place neighbor to display. I coordinate where they go, get suggestions from people, neighbors,” said Kate Amon, former president of the Cripps Club and current organizer.

The site is also quite family-friendly, containing many cutouts referencing TV shows, movies and books that can be enjoyed by all ages.  The displays also get updated with new movies or shows–this year, a house displayed Elphaba and Glinda from Wicked.

“I recall visiting Crippsmas Place when I was younger, about 8 or 9. I remember liking how unique an attraction that the cardboard cutouts were and pointing out my favorite characters,” recalled Karina Vitti (10).

“I love walking around the neighborhood and looking at all of the different cardboard cutouts of my favorite characters that have dressed up Christmas-y,”(Emily Chinn 10) (Photo Credit: Natalie Tchao (10)).

This collaborative production also serves as a connecting point to build the neighborhood community with the participation of neighbors, old and new.

“Back in February, new neighbors had moved into that house just past Aladdin, and they were new, and we were able to get a little Angry Birds decoration set up for them and welcome them the little boy was so excited about that a couple days later when I was here doing Santa photo duty… he came right up to me against my legs. ‘Thank you for the Angry Birds, “ Ms. Amon remarked.

At Crippsmas Place, every year is an experience worth remembering. “Though I go and see the decorations every year, it never gets old,” as best said by Emily Chinn (10).