Curated by SF Bay Weekend

Sunday Drives: A Five-Dollar Find in America’s Happiest City

By SF Bay WeekendOctober 22, 2026 6 min read

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*Opening day at Fremont’s Ghost House brought a few Halloween scares, an unexpected movie-history discovery and a welcome that has me planning a return.* I left Clayton in the earl

Opening day at Fremont’s Ghost House brought a few Halloween scares, an unexpected movie-history discovery and a welcome that has me planning a return. I left Clayton in the early afternoon on Saturday, October 10, for Fremont. The drive took about fifty minutes to an hour, and I was heading to opening day at the Candle Lighters Ghost House. It was mostly freeway, followed by busy commercial streets. Once I got off the freeway and headed into Fremont, the impression was clean, modern and active. As I approached Fremont Hub, there was more going on than I had expected. I had come for the Ghost House. But there were pumpkins and bounce houses nearby, shops and places to eat, and families out enjoying the afternoon. The Ghost House turned out to be a great find. The people made it a place I want to return to. A Happy City—and a Friendly Welcome Fremont ranked number one in WalletHub’s 2026 Happiest Cities in America study. The ranking considers factors including physical and emotional well-being, employment, and community life. I can’t judge an entire city from one afternoon. But I can tell you that the people I met at the Ghost House made me feel welcome. They were happy I had come, interested in SF Bay Weekend and proud of what they had created. That pride was evident throughout my visit, and it became the part of the afternoon that stayed with me. Pumpkins and Bounce Houses at the Hub Fremont Hub gave me a few reasons to look around before and after the Ghost House. The bounce houses caught my eye. I didn’t spend much time at that attraction, but it added to the activity around the shopping center. Families could make more of the trip than a single walk through a haunted house. The seasonal setup is ABC Tree Farms’ Pick of the Patch Pumpkins, with pumpkins and separately priced inflatable activities for children. It’s near the CVS parking lot, on the Fremont Boulevard side of the Hub, and operates separately from Candle Lighters. The Hub also has food and drink stops, including King Noodle, Chai Shai, Duet Tea, Cold Stone Creamery and Chili’s, plus shops such as Half Price Books and Games of Fremont. There’s enough nearby to add a meal, dessert or a little browsing to the visit. But the Ghost House was where I spent most of my time. Five Dollars Well Spent The Candle Lighters Ghost House occupies the historic Chadbourne Carriage House in Williams Historical Park, beside Fremont Hub. Admission is five dollars. This year’s theme is Ghost Bride Manor. Inside, I found elaborate displays, plenty of purple and a few surprises that made me jump. At one point, someone popped out to scare me—and they succeeded. I enjoyed looking at the rooms as much as waiting for the next surprise. There was a playful quality to the experience, and my reaction afterward was simple: fun, a few good scares and absolutely worth the five dollars. For me, it felt like a family Halloween outing. Children differ in how they handle dark rooms and sudden surprises, but I came out smiling. Candle Lighters has been part of the community since 1969. Today, the nonprofit brings together nearly 100 volunteers and raises money through its annual Ghost House for nonprofit groups and community projects in Fremont, Newark and Union City. Knowing that gives the visit another reason to feel good about those five dollars. An Invitation to Come Back Toward the end of my visit, Alicia Barros approached me. Alicia is Candle Lighters’ 2nd Vice President for Publicity, a volunteer role. She was pleased that I was making a YouTube video and planning an article about the Ghost House. We talked about the volunteers, the work they put into it and the organizations that benefit from the money raised. By then, I was getting tired. I wanted to hear more, but I knew that conversation deserved more time than I could give it that afternoon. Alicia invited me to return and interview her or other volunteers. She also offered an opportunity to photograph and film inside, with one understandable condition: any interior footage would need to wait until after the season closes before being published. They want to keep the surprises intact for visitors. I thought that was gracious. She also offered to share my video and article on their website. What struck me was how eager she was to help tell the volunteers’ story. The time they put in, the money they raise and where it goes—all of that deserves a closer look. I’m going back to sit down with Alicia and learn more. That deeper story will follow on SF Bay Weekend. Opening day gave me a good introduction, and plenty of reasons to return. Another Discovery: Niles I also drove through Niles, where the antique shops and storefronts along Niles Boulevard gave it a charming, small-town feel. I didn’t stop to explore properly this time, but learning about its connection to Charlie Chaplin gave me a reason to return. Chaplin worked here during the silent-film era, making five films in Niles, including The Tramp. The Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum preserves that history at 37417 Niles Boulevard. I haven’t visited the museum yet, but it’s now on my list. There’s railroad history, too. The Niles Depot Museum has local artifacts, railroad displays and model railway layouts. Separately, Niles Canyon Railway offers excursions through the canyon on selected dates. Between the shops, the museums and a meal along the boulevard, Niles could easily become another Sunday Drive. More Than I Came For I drove to Fremont to visit a Ghost House. I left with a video to put together, a volunteer interview to arrange and a museum I want to explore. That’s a good afternoon in my book. The attraction was fun, the price was a bargain, and the people were wonderful to deal with. Their enthusiasm made me want to understand more about what they do. This was one of those visits that reminded me why I started SF Bay Weekend. There are places worth discovering—and people who are happy to welcome you when you find them. Gems Along the Way If you want to extend your own Fremont outing, here are a few spots worth a look. I haven’t tried them all yet. - At Fremont Hub: King Noodle for a meal, Chai Shai or Duet Tea for a drink, Cold Stone for dessert, or Half Price Books for a browse. - Along Niles Boulevard: Skillet’z Cafe, Devout Coffee, Joe’s Corner and Bronco Billy’s Pizza are among the neighborhood’s dining options. - For a walk: Central Park and Lake Elizabeth offer a two-mile walking path, picnic areas and playgrounds. Before You Go - Ghost House: 39169 Fremont Boulevard, Fremont, at the Chadbourne Carriage House in Williams Historical Park, next to Chili’s. - Admission: $5 for the Ghost House. - 2026 season: October 10–30; closed Monday, October 19. - Hours: Monday–Thursday, 6–9 p.m.; Friday, 6–10 p.m.; Saturday, 3–10 p.m.; Sunday, 3–9 p.m. - Plan your visit: Check Candle Lighters’ hours and ticket information before leaving. - Nearby pumpkin patch: ABC Tree Farms at Fremont Hub has its own hours and inflatable pricing. - Explore Niles: Find shops, dining and local attractions through the Niles Main Street Association. My Ghost House video will offer a preview of the visit. The story of the volunteers behind it is still to come. It’s out there. Let’s go find it. Find the Magic.