1. Fremonters Know Someone’s Trash Might Just Be Their Treasure
When it comes to buying other people’s trash, some cities stop at having a few antique shops or yard sales. And Fremont’s no slouch at those, but residents take it a step further with the Antique Fair and Flea Market, held every August in Niles. The event’s been happening for 50 years and shows no signs of stopping.
2. Fremont Folks Are Glad They’re Not In The Silicon Valley Club
There’s the Tesla factory of course, but you won’t find the likes of Facebook or Google in Fremont. Locals love getting to be close to tech hubs like Mountain View and Palo Alto, but they’re also happy to not have all the problems of a true techy city, like sprawling business parks taking over everything and making their rents skyrocket.
3. Everyone In Fremont Is A Little Artsy
Buying fancy art from thousands of miles away? No way. Fremont residents support their own. Art galleries abound in Fremont, and chances are every local knows at least one artist personally. And if they don’t they’ll easily find a friend at the Fremont Festival of the Arts that takes place the first weekend of every August.
4. And They’re All A Little Country And Proud Of It
California might not the first state that comes to mind when you think of country music, but Fremont locals still love it. You can find them every Friday and Saturday night learning how to line dance or attending a concert at The Saddle Rack. If they need a break, they head to Mission Pizza & Pub for even more country music.
5. Don’t Say Fremonters Are From San Jose or San Francisco…
Fremont is the fourth largest city in the Bay Area, with its own identity, and locals are proud to be from FMT. You won’t ever catch them saying they’re from anywhere else, no matter how big or famous that other city might be.
6. …Even Though They Live And Die By San Francisco Teams
In the Bay Area it’s practically a requirement to cheer on at least one San Francisco sports team. Fremonters go all out when it comes to the 49ers and the Giants—games draw huge numbers from the city.
7. Fremonters Practically Live Their Lives Outdoors
Who wants to stay inside when the hiking and the scenery are this good? Locals flock to Mission Peak for hiking no matter the season. They know the view is second-to-none. Lake Elizabeth and Central Park are also popular places for picnicking and boating.
8. No One In Fremont Can Live Without Their Curry
No one can deny that tasty Indian food abounds in Fremont, likely thanks to its large Indian population. Locals can’t get enough curry, whether it’s from Shalimar Restaurant, Pizza and Curry, Green Champa Garden, Chutney or Chaat Bhavan. In fact, Yelp lists more than 50 Indian restaurants in the city.
Even food trucks are getting in on the act, with trucks that have names like Got Curry? and Curry Up Now making a regular appearance at Fremont Street Eats, which runs every Friday from April to October.
9. Everyone In Fremont Loves Living In A Melting Pot
Source: Youtube user Stephen Khine
The 2010 census reveals that there’s a lot of diversity in Fremont, which isn’t that unique—but locals never pass up a chance to celebrate it. The Chinese New Year celebration at Fremont Main Library is a must for everyone, and the Festival of India & Parade has been going strong for 11 years. The library even holds story times that everyone can attend, given in Japanese, Mandarin and Spanish.
10. Fremonters All Know Living In A Quiet Town Isn’t So Bad
It’s true that smaller cities often lack the amenities and excitement of their bigger neighbors, but Fremont residents don’t mind. The city might still be working on a true downtown area, but locals know that spots like Niles and Warm Springs have a charm that’s hard to find in large cities. They’d never live anywhere else.
Did we miss anything? Tell us what you think of Fremont in the comments below!
