The Best Places to See Christmas Lights in California 2024
Last Updated on November 29, 2024
Duration: November 29, 2024 – December 31, 2024 (closed on 2-3 December, 9-10 December and 24-25 December)
Cost: Starting from $27.64
Cambria Christmas Market
The Cambria Christmas Market always comes around to deliver awe-inspiring light displays, stellar artistic performances, and a vast array of shopping vendors–and this year is no exception! This market shines over 3 million lights all across the small SoCal town of Cambria and mostly gives off a very German-like holiday vibe.Â
If you’re visiting for the lights, be sure to check out the Train Ride. It’s an extra $5 per person and brings you through new light shows across the park. It’s also a quaint way to celebrate with the whole family.Â
Check out my video from last year’s Cambria Christmas Market!
Imaginarium Light Festival at Cal Expo, Sacramento
Duration: November 22, 2024 – January 5, 2025
Cost: $24 + $3 service fee for adults (full price list on their ticketing site)
Imaginarium Light Festival
Showing off a blinding 5 million LED lights across a fantasy world of magical creatures and countless attractions, the Imaginarium Light Festival really knows how to set the bar high! This year is the festival’s tenth anniversary, so it’s a double festive occasion for the people of Sacramento.
The park has over 24 unique photo boxes for photography lovers (like me!), along with endless mirrors and other eye-catching points of interest. On top of all the pretty lights, there’s also a free daily circus performance and a few new games for the family this season.
Garden of Lights at Turtle Bay Exploration Park, Redding
Duration: November 22, 2024 – January 5, 2025
Cost: $20 – $25 for adults, depending on the nights (for more information see here)
Garden of Lights at Turtle Bay Exploration Park
If you’re in North California for the holidays, Turtle Bay’s Garden of Lights is a must-see spot this season. The display boasts over one million lights across the stunning McConnell Botanical Gardens, with fairy lights covering the trees and pathways like snow.Â
The Sundial Bridge also lights up in festive reds and greens this season, making it an even more unique view than it was before. Turtle Bay is also one of the best spots to visit in Redding all year round, so it’s definitely worth checking out even in the daytime!
Christmas Nights at 123 Farm
Duration: November 7, 2024 – December 23, 2024
Cost: Approximately $30-40 for adults (plus $3 service fee), entrance only and dependent on dates (see full price listing on their ticket site)
Christmas Nights at 123 Farm
Lavender fields in 123 Farm
As SoCal’s biggest lavender farm, 123 Farm has had a history of holding spectacular festivals all year round. The Christmas Nights festival is uniquely special, though, for its enchanting light paths along the lavender gardens and the glow of the farm’s thousand-year-old oak tree.
You’ll need to book your reservation online, as the busiest season of the year makes it almost impossible to get a ticket offline on the day. Over a million lights are scattered all around the lavender fields, and there are loads of Christmas-themed attractions like Elvesville, Christmas Village, and even a life-sized gingerbread house!
The main highlight of 123 Farm has always been its organic and freshly baked goods at the eatery. If you want to indulge while enjoying the holiday displays, consider picking up the farm’s Shopping & Dining tickets–they’re pricier but have discounts for the eatery and retail stores.
Watch my experience from Christmas Nights here!
Enchant San Jose, San Jose
Duration: November 22, 2024 – December 29, 2024
Cost: $25 – $40, depending on the date and time
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Enchant San Jose holds a massive, magical winter wonderland every year, with brilliant white lights and stunning electric displays. It has the world’s largest Christmas light maze (yes, the world, not just California), stretching over 80,000 square feet around PayPal Park.
The highlight of the area is its awe-inspiring maze and gorgeous Christmas tree display, which is called the Gathering Tree. By the Gathering Tree is a Sparkling Tunnel that’s also perfect for photos or long walks enjoying the holiday cheer.Â
Best Free Christmas Displays in California
The holiday season is all about the spirit of giving–gathering and sharing a special moment together. While some of the biggest displays this season may come with a price tag, there are still plenty that are completely free to visit! Here are just five of my favorite free Christmas lights in California:
Duration: November 23, 2024 – December 31, 2024 (closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day)
Festival of Lights
I’ve talked a little before about the cozy town of Riverside and its gorgeous vintage European Mission Inn Hotel, but did you know the hotel also has one of the most brilliant Christmas displays in California? With over 4.5 million lights and 400 different animated figures, the Festival of Lights at Mission Inn is one of the most eye-catching spectacles in SoCal.
It’s also completely free to enter! The Festival begins every year with a show-stopping Switch-On Ceremony on November 23 at 5 PM at Orange St. and Mission Avenue. At this point in the evening, they send out sparkling fireworks all across the hotel, lighting up the Riverside sky.
From then on, Mission Inn invites all attendees to a month-long cycle of bountiful shopping vendors, a splendid ice rink, live music, and a few wandering Santa Clauses for kids to take pictures with.Â
Watch my video on last year’s Festival of Lights here!
Dana Point Harbor Holiday Lights, Orange County
Duration: November 13, 2024 – January 12, 2025
Dana Point Harbor Holiday Lights
Have you ever walked along a coastline at Christmas? It may not be the typical setting for holiday festivities, but the cool ocean air and sparkling lights are really quite special.
Dana Point Harbor’s Holiday Lights (or Festival of Lights) covers the coast with bright light tunnels, shining sea creatures, and other gorgeous displays. It gets busy during the weekends, so come along on a weeknight if you can!
Duration: November 25, 2024 – Early January, 2025
The Grove
LA residents, prepare for many nights of grand excitement as the Grove returns for Christmas with a stunning light display–and a star-studded cast of performers!
This upscale shopping center at the heart of LA is celebrating its 23rd Annual Tree Lighting this Christmas in a big way. The Grove’s 100-foot tall white fir tree sits at the center of all this excitement, surrounded by fireworks, snow, and celebrity events on Christmas Night.
You’ll be able to see the Grove Tree light up at 7 PM on November 25. This year’s event is hosted by Lance Bass of NSYNC, with performances from singers like Ryan Tedder and Rachel Platten.Â
Rodeo Drive Holiday Lights, Beverly Hills
Duration: November 14, 2024 – Early January, 2025
Rodeo Drive
The Grove’s Tree Lighting Ceremony is far from the only celebrity-laden Christmas light show. Set in California’s most glamorous palm-lined street, the luxurious Rodeo Drive will display a free light show full of sparkling tunnels and fantastic displays.
Along with the usual festivities (Santa Claus’ arrival, fireworks, and colorful costumed characters), this year also has musical performances! Among the cast includes BlueGrass Strings and the Red Hot Band.Â
While the ceremony happened earlier on November 14 from 5-8 PM, many of the lights will still be available to enjoy right up until early January.Â
Hotel Del Coronado Lightshow, San DiegoÂ
Duration: November 21, 2024 – January 5, 2025
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Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego may have the honor of the tallest and most dense gathering of Christmas lights in California. This eclectic display shows off the beauty of the Norfolk Island Pines growing along the hotel’s premises, now dressed in twinkling lights.
Somewhere in between the sparkling pines, you’ll find the first electrically lit Christmas tree in history, first lit in 1904. The Del’s free display starting on November 21 serves as a celebration and reminder of this fateful moment in Christmas history. There will also be live jazz music played this year–very complementary to the bright scenery.
Watch my experience from last year’s lightshow here!
Unique Christmas Experiences in California
Want to see something novel and different this holiday season? Maybe you’re trying to find something new to discover while exploring during winter. These light shows all have a unique twist to them, whether because of their unfamiliar settings or fantastical themes.Â
This year, consider checking these uniquely marvelous light shows out:Â
Duration: November 22, 2024 – January 5, 2025
Cost: $39.99 for adults
Winter Fest OC
The Winter Fest OC in Los Angeles is closer to a theme park than a simple light show, which makes it all the merrier! This winter wonderland comes with a rainbow light tunnel, a shimmering merry-go-round, an ice rink, and other carnival thrills.
What makes this SoCal attraction unique is the snow-laden entertainment, including simulated snowtubing and ice skating. There’s even a little igloo to rest by and enjoy the holiday lights shining from the distance.Â
Watch my video on Winter Fest OC from last year here.
Duration: December 18, 2024 – December 22, 2024
Cost: $38 for a holiday cruise, free to view at Marina Park
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Christmas on the coastline is one thing, but you hardly see a line of Christmas boats rocking along the sea every day. Every year the Commodores Club invites resident kayak and yacht owners to deck their vessels in glittering lights and decorations to parade along Newport Beach.
While these spectacular and shiny cruises can be viewed for free at Marina Park, you can also pay to ride on one and join the parade yourself. It’s certainly a novel way to enjoy Christmas by the Californian sea!
Old World Huntington Beach Christmas Event, Huntington Beach
Duration: November 12, 2024 – December 31, 2024
Cost: Free admission
Old World Huntington
Old World lives up to its name through its jolly, old-school European architecture and shops. With over 50 shops styled in a Christmas Carol-like aesthetic along cobblestone roads, it brings a real old-world charm to the shimmering SoCal beaches.Â
It’s not just for show, either–you can actually find all sorts of unique European imported treats in the pop-up market. Shopping here under all the colorful street lights and by the fairy-lit port feels like a real treat for this holiday season.Â
Watch my experience at Old World Huntington here!
Duration: December 8, 11, 15, 18 and 22, 2024 (every Sunday and Wednesday from December 8 – December 25)
Cost: Free admission
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Old World isn’t the only old-school-inspired Christmas event in California, thankfully. Further up in Nevada City, the local council is holding a splendid Victorian Christmas event, complete with costumed actors and quaint displays.
During the holiday season, Nevada City’s old gold rush buildings are transformed into a Victorian dreamland with starry lights and droves of carolers wandering the streets. There’ll be walking Christmas trees and toy soldiers, artisan vendors and boutiques, and a tall tree at the Robinson Plaza. This year, the town also has a little Dicken Village display in the Alpha Building.
Duration: November 14, 2024 – January 5, 2025
SkyPark at Santa’s Village
The holiday season at Skypark is a special and warm occasion. With life-sized gingerbread houses, massive Christmas trees, and cozy Santa Claus cottages, the park shines bright with festivity and cheer.Â
Along with the beautiful Northwood forest, Skypark’s Santa Village also has the Northwood Express, a magical nighttime walk with narration, and quite a few entertainment venues. This Christmas display is especially great for families, considering its wild cast of characters.Â
Watch my reel on Skypark village from last year here!
Descanso Gardens Enchanted Forest of Light, Los Angeles County
Duration: November 17, 2024 – January 5, 2025
Cost: $15–38 (members), $22–45 (non-members) (more details here)
Enchanted Forest of Light
The Descanso Gardens are known for their bright and colorful natural sceneries, but they transform completely during holiday nights into a world of crystal lights and cheer. This unique Christmas experience shows off more artistic displays, from stained glass houses and geometric installations to glittering lights through the garden’s Ancient Forest.
Bonus Light Displays
While these light displays aren’t exclusively open during the holiday season, the chill and festivities make them perfect to visit. You can also find them all year round, so there’s no rush to check them out.
Astra Lumina, Palos Verdes Peninsula
Costs: Approximately $39 + $3.9 booking fee
Available from: November 8, 2024
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Many dream of one day touching the stars–but what if the stars could come down and touch you?
The Astra Lumina project brings that experience to Californians with cosmic light displays glowing in a trail of constellations. This looping exhibition shows off 8 different displays with shimmering LEDs accompanied by music and wonderful garden sceneries. The journey takes around 45-60 minutes and is well worth the visit this holiday season!
See my video on Astra Lumina here!
Costs: $65 for General Admission
Available from: All-year-round
Sensorio
Sensorio is one of California’s largest art exhibitions, showing off over a hundred thousand glowing bulbs in a magical field of lights. There are also unique exhibitions like polygons made of light, tall light towers, and a small field of electric fireflies.
I’ve mentioned Sensorio in some of my posts, and I still love it. If you love looking at light displays but haven’t visited, it’s definitely worth checking out.Â
