Top Bay Area Holiday Light Displays of 2025

Holiday Light Displays Across the Bay Area

The Bay Area is brimming with festive holiday light displays that are sure to bring joy and cheer to families this season. From San Francisco to San Rafael, there's something for everyone. Whether you're looking for free events or ones that require tickets, these displays offer a magical experience that captures the spirit of the holidays.

Berkeley

Holidays on Fourth Street

Fourth Street transforms into a winter wonderland during December with a variety of Christmas events. The area is adorned with a dazzling display of lights stretching three blocks around Delaware Street. Visitors can enjoy caroling and a Winter Holiday Fest & Craft Party while soaking in the festive atmosphere.

Tilden Park Merry-Go-Round

The carousel at Tilden Park is illuminated with holiday lights, creating a magical setting. Santa will be present nightly from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. through December 23. While reservations aren't required, they are encouraged, and tickets can be purchased online beforehand.

Oakland

Glowfari, the Oakland Zoo

The Oakland Zoo's annual Glowfari features hundreds of giant, LED-illuminated animal lanterns. This year’s theme explores the future of Oakland, coexisting with wildlife, fascinating bugs, and animals of the African savanna. Santa will be on-site Fridays through Sundays until December 23, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Glowfari opens at 4:30 p.m.

Fairy Winterland, Children’s Fairyland

For the final three weekends in December, Children’s Fairyland becomes Fairy Winterland. This 20-year tradition includes Christmas lights, arts and crafts, and educational holiday displays.

Temple Hill

The grounds of the Oakland Mormon Temple become a wonderland of more than 100,000 lights throughout December. The display features 42 lit palm trees lining the reflecting pool, with lights coming on each day at dusk and staying on until 9 p.m.

Alameda

Christmas Tree Lane

The 3200 block of Thompson Avenue transforms into Alameda’s own Christmas Tree Lane. The residential neighborhood is lit up with holiday cheer every evening from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Fremont

Crippsmas Place

More than 90 homes on five streets showcase holiday displays visible between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. through Christmas night. This event, which has been running for over 50 years, continues to attract visitors with its festive charm.

San Francisco

Lightscape, San Francisco Botanical Garden

Lightscape offers an immersive light and music experience along a mile-long trail. The event runs through the end of the year, including Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Let’s Glow SF, Downtown San Francisco

Let’s Glow is the largest, free holiday projection arts festival in the country. It features animated projections on eight iconic buildings across the city’s core, transforming them into canvases featuring work by 19 artists from around the world.

Woodside

Filoli Gardens

Filoli Gardens transform into a festive fairyland through the holiday season through January 11. The event offers three separate holiday adventures: Gilded, Thistlewyck, and Holiday Lights.

San Rafael

Holiday Light Spectacular, Marin Center

Both the Marin County Fairgrounds and the Marin Civic Center will be transformed for the winter holiday. The fairgrounds feature thousands of lights, photo opportunities, and seasonal treats. The Marin County Civic Center offers a drive-through viewing of illuminated arches and a dome at the Marin County Free Library.

San Mateo

IlluminOdyssey

An immersive, interactive installation at CuriOdyssey’s four-level Redwood Hall, IlluminOdyssey features a maze of luminous botanical geometry, rainbow refraction, swirling projections, and painting with light on phosphorescent surfaces. It is free with CuriOdyssey admission or membership.

San Jose

Christmas in the Park

Christmas in the Park includes two different events: The Downtown Park Experience and Blinky’s Drive Thru. The Downtown Park Experience features a 50-foot Christmas tree, photos with Santa, and over 40 animated displays. Blinky’s Drive Thru is a mile-long display of holiday light tunnels synchronized to holiday music.

Doca Festival, San Jose Holiday Lights

The Doca Festival, hosted at Discovery Meadow, features five acres of glowing lanterns, lighted displays, themed zones, Christmas trees, rides, and a food park. The event is open daily from 4:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. and runs through January 4.

Vacaville

Candy Cane Lane and Lollipop Lane

Two streets, Arlene Drive and Shady Glen Avenue, turn into Christmas wonderlands each holiday season. Parking is available on Fruitvale Road, with a small walking trail leading visitors to the display.