With the holidays quickly approaching, downtown Pleasanton is filled with seasonal decorations and winter treats to get into the holiday spirit. 

“My favorite part about the holidays would be making the float for the parade. It’s a lot of work but I really enjoy getting a break from my normal work mode,” said Jesse Takens, owner of Meadowlark Dairy. 

The dairy is widely popular for their seasonal flavors, which come out every holiday season. This year, eggnog came out first and shortly after, peppermint was brought back as well. 

“Eggnog usually comes first because we know we have a good supply chain. We only order peppermint once, and it takes almost a month to get it in stock. We don’t want to risk running out early and December is when most people eat peppermint,” said Takens. 

During the holiday season, there is a wide variety of gifts you can purchase for your loved ones. And some of those classic gifts include ornaments, stocking stuffers, and of course, books. 

“I like when it’s busy. Bookstores, any stores, it’s always better when it’s busy. When people are downtown, they’re having a good time— some are stressed, but we can help them with that. It’s like solving a puzzle, helping people find the right gift for the people they’re shopping for,” said Judy Wheeler, owner of Towne Center Books. 

Another important part of the holidays are the sweet treats. Primrose Bakery, known for specialty cakes and cookies, have even more to offer during winter. From sugar cookies and gingerbread men, to yule logs and pomegranate moose, the bakery always keeps up with the seasons. 

“My favorite holiday treat at the bakery would probably be the pomegranate moose. It’s really sweet and is almost like a cranberry mixture. It’s something we only have around the holidays and I really enjoy it,” said Damon Henneuse, employee at Primrose Bakery.

The Hometown Holiday Parade and tree-lighting ceremony at the Museum on Main have also been long-time holiday traditions. Although the parade was canceled this year due to rain, the tree-lighting proceeded as usual and is shining bright. 

“The Christmas parade, I think, is the whole vibe of downtown during the holiday season. It’s fun just seeing the lights and exploring it,” said Henneuse.