Tree lightings
In addition to Pleasanton’s parade and tree lighting this weekend, holiday festivities are in the air for neighboring communities over the coming days.
Livermore is holding its annual Holiday Sights & Sounds Parade and Tree Lighting this Saturday (Dec. 2) at 6 p.m., a rain-or-shine event in the heart of downtown. San Ramon has also set its Holiday Tree Lighting celebration for Saturday, from 4-5:30 p.m. outside City Hall on Bollinger Canyon Road.
The third annual Dublin High School Tree Lighting, which “will celebrate all holidays, remember those we’ve lost, and welcome the new year”, follows for the entire Dublin community on Wednesday (Dec. 6) at 5 p.m. at the campus on Village Parkway.
Sunol and Danville already had their tree lighting events, each holding it last Friday.
County art grants
The Alameda County Arts Commission is now accepting applications for its 2024 ARTSFUND Grant Program, which awards funds to nonprofit arts and cultural organizations based anywhere in the county – typically in the amount of $2,000 to $3,000 each.
“The ARTSFUND Grant Program supports all types of arts and cultural programs such as visual arts, dance, music, theater, literature, media arts and other related forms presented by Alameda County nonprofit organizations,” officials said.
The application deadline is 5 p.m. Feb. 15, but county officials have three webinars coming up sooner to assist organizations with the process: 1 p.m. Dec. 15, 10 a.m. Jan. 17 and 1 p.m. Jan. 26. Learn more at arts.acgov.org or 510-208-9646.
Dublin Blvd. closure
Dublin Boulevard will be closed in both directions from Dougherty Road to Hacienda Drive from 11 p.m. Saturday to 7 a.m. Sunday for crews to pour the concrete walkway on the new Iron Horse Regional Trail overcrossing, according to Dublin city officials.
The overnight project will have detours in place for motorists and pedestrians, but city officials caution about the possibility the work could be changed, even at the last minute, if unforeseen circumstances occur — as they did for a previous stage of the bridge project earlier this year.
“The bridge is expected to be open in spring 2024, as additional work requires construction of touchdown landings with graduated ramps on the north side of Dublin Boulevard within Don Biddle Park, and on the south side of Dublin Boulevard within the existing Iron Horse Trail right-of-way,” city officials said about the overall timeline.