See Christmas Lights in California

Lights are fascinating, mesmerizing and everybody wants to see them at Christmas. In the past several years the popularity of large scale light installations has grown and now you can see them at tree lightings, boat parades, zoos, botanical gardens, and walking-through & drive-through attractions.

Here are few Lights to See in California:

Commercial Attractions

ANAHEIM: Disneyland Festival of Holidays November 14, 2025-January 7, 2026.

BAKERSFIELD: Holiday Lightasmic! November 29, 2025-January 3, 2026, 5:30 p.m. at  CALM ZOO

BIG BEAR LAKE: Big Bear Alpine Zoo Wild Lights November 6, 2025-January 4, 2026

BUENA PARK: Knott's Merry Farm Christmas November 21, 2025-January 4, 2026

CALABASAS: Holiday Road USA November 28-December 27, 2025, 5-10 p.m. King Gillette Ranch at King Gillette Ranch

CARLSBAD: Holidays at Legoland California November 22, 2025-January 4, 2026

COACHELLA VALLEY: Magic of Lights Drive Thru November 10-December 31, 2025, Opens at 5:30 p.m. at Empire Polo Club, Indio, CA

COSTA MESA: Winter Fest OC November 28, 2025-January 4, 2026 at Orange County Fairgrounds 

ENCINITAS: Lightscape November 14, 2025-January 4, 2026 at San Diego Botanic Garden

FOLSOM: Wild Nights, Holiday Lights December 5-22, 2025, 5-8:30 p.m. at Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary

FORT BRAGG: Festival of Lights at Mendocino Botanical Gardens November 28-December 21, 2025

FRESNO: IllumiNature November 22, 2025-January 31, 2026 at Fresno Chaffee Zoo

INDIO: Coachella Valley Magic of Lights Drive-thru November 10-December 31, 2025, Opens at 5:30 p.m. 

IRVINE: Dream Glow Lights Festival November 14-December 31, 2025, Wednesday-Sunday at Wild Rivers Waterpark

LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE: Enchanted Forest of Light at Descanso Gardens November 16, 2025-January 4, 2026, 5:30-10 p.m. LOS ANGELES: LA Zoo Lights, Animals Aglow November 13, 2025-January 11, 2026 at Los Angeles Zoo

LOS GATOS: Fantasy Lights Drive Through Holiday Display at Vasona Lake Park Walk-Through December 9-30, 2025
Walk-Through Dates: December 6-7, 2025

OAKLAND: Temple Hill Days of Christmas November 29-December 31, 2025

OAKLAND: Glowfari, Wildly Illuminating Lantern Festival at Oakland Zoo November 7, 2025-January 25, 2026

PALOS VERDES PENINSULA: Astra Lumina, An Enchanted Night Walk Amongst The Stars November 6-December 31, 2025 at South Coast Botanic Garden

POMONA: Imaginarium at Fairplex November 14, 2025 - January 4, 2026

REDDING: Garden of Lights November 21, 2025-January 4, 2026 at McConnell Arboretum

RIVERSIDE: Mission Inn November 22, 2025 - January 5, 2026 Landmark dazzles with millions of holiday lights.

SACRAMENTO: Imaginarium November 21, 2025-January 4, 2026 at Cal Expo

SAN DIEGO: SeaWorld San Diego Christmas Celebration November 14, 2025-January 4, 2026

SAN DIEGO: Jungle Bells at San Diego Zoo December 19, 2025-January 4, 2026

SAN JOSE: Blinky's Holiday Lights Drive Thru November 21-December 31, 2025, 5 p.m. at Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, 5-11 p.m. 

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO: Capistrano Lights at Mission San Juan Capistrano December 19-30, 2025

SAN LUIS OBISPO: Nature Nights November 26-December 27, 2025, 5-8 p.m. at San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden

SAN MATEO: IlluminOdyssey November 15, 2025-January 25, 2026 at CuriOdyssey

SANTA BARBARA: ZooLights lighted lanterns experience November 12, 2025-January 11, 2026, 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Santa Barbara Zoo

UNIVERSAL CITY: Universal Studios Hollywood Christmas November 24, 2025-January 4, 2026

VALENCIA: Six Flags Magic Mountain Holiday in the Park, November 28, 2025-January 5, 2026

WATSONVILLE: Santa Cruz Holiday Lights November 28-December 24, 2025, 5:30-9 p.m.

WOODSIDE: Filoli Holiday Lights November 22, 2025-January 11, 2026, 4-9 p.m., 10 a.m.-9 p.m. timed entry
 

Free Walk / Drive Through Attractions

ALAMEDA: Christmas Tree Lane December

ALTADENA: Christmas Tree Lane December 6, 2025-January 1, 2026

BALBOA ISLAND: Ring of Lights Bayfront homes - walk the entire perimeter of the island on a sidewalk next to the water throughout December

COSTA MESA: Snoopy House December 12-19, 2025

NAPLES: Trees in the Bay Thanksgiving-New Year's November 27, 2025-January 1, 2026 seen from 2nd Street Bridge and surrounding locations

NEWPORT BEACH: Newport Dunes Lighting of the Bay November -January

OXNARD: Oxnard Christmas Tree Lane 

PALO ALTO: Christmas Tree Lane December

Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.