2023 Holiday Lights & Sights Guide – San Francisco Bay Area

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Embrace the Winter Chill and Check out Lights & Sights!

To make things easier for you, we have put together our top picks of
this year’s holiday lights and sights in the San Francisco Bay Area. Take your pick and make your rounds. Have fun!

Don’t forget to check out our community calendar of events happening around the Bay in the Fall, and you can even add your own public events to the calendar.

Light Up Your Life!

 

Ruth Bancroft Garden of D’Lights

The Garden of D’Lights at Ruth Bancroft Nursery showcases 3.5 acres of cacti, succulents, and trees under beaming lights sure to make you feel like you’re wandering through wonderland.

DATE November 25 – January 8

LOCATION  |  1552 Bancroft Road, Walnut Creek, CA Map It

OPENING HOURS  |  Open daily 10 am – 9 pm

ENTRY  |

Member: Adult $20 | Child (ages 5 – 17) $12 | Child (ages 0 – 4) FREE
Non-Member: Adult $28 | Child (ages 5 – 17) $16 | Child (ages 0 – 4) FREE

Christmas in the Park, San Jose
Plaza de Cesar Chavez, 1 Paseo de San Antonio, Downtown San Jose, CA

November 24 – January 1 | 12 pm – 10 pm | Free Admission

There is no public parking at the Park

Gilroy Gardens
3050 Hecker Pass Hwy, Gilroy, CA

November 24 – December 31

Visit their website for detailed schedules and ticketing info.

California’s Great America
4911 Great America Pkwy, Santa Clara

November 24 –  December 31

Check their website for details schedules and ticketing info.

Fantasy of Lights Vasona Park
333 Blossom Hill Rd, Los Gatos

December 5 – December 30 (closed December 25) | 6 pm – 10 pm | Tickets required

Enjoy a magical evening in the warmth of your vehicle as you drive through 1.5 miles of large animated displays while listening to holiday music on your car radio. See the sights and sounds of an erupting volcano in the dangerously fun Dinosaur Den, cheer on Santa shooting hoops, wave at a pen of playful penguins, watch blazing pirate cannons, and sail through tunnels of moving lights. Over 50 themed displays and a 90-foot twinkling tree will have you oohing and aahing throughout your adventure.

Enchant
1123 Coleman Ave – San Jose, CA

PayPal Park | November 24 – December 31, 2023 | $27 (Adult) and $22 (Junior)

Enchant is an immersive experience weaving magic into every corner, perfect for joyful seasonal celebrations. Adventure through Santa’s Magic Timepiece, a captivating, larger-than-life light maze that is the cornerstone of the Enchant experience.

Neighborhood lights
1900 Eucalyptus Ave, San Carlos

Lights start the first weekend of December and until December 26

Willow Glen Holiday Lights
Glen Brook, Ave San Jose 

Tunnels of Joy Brentwood
La Costa Drive, Brentwood 

Christmas season starting on December 1st

Neighborhood with a beautiful light display and light tunnels

Christmas Tree Lane, Alameda
3200 block of Thompson Ave between High and Fernside 

December (start date TBD) | 5:30 pm to 10 pm

Neighborhood with beautiful light displays 

Holiday Parade of Lights & Tree Lighting
Broadway Plaza Walnut Creek

NOVEMBER 30, 2023 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM | BROADWAY PLAZA STREET

The “Parade of Lights” is the highlight of Broadway Plaza’s holiday season kick-off and includes music, refreshments, and a special Tree Lighting Ceremony initiated by Santa Claus himself!

Crippsmasplace.org Fremont
The 70+ homes of Crippsmas Place are on Cripps Place, Asquith Place, Nicolet Court, Wellington Place, and the stretch of Nicolet Avenue between Gibraltar Drive and Perkins Street in Fremont

Donations appreciated | Facemasks requested 

December 9 –  December 31 | 6 pm – 10 pm

There will be candy canes handed out from 6-10 pm starting December 9 through December 27.

Massaro Family Lights
625 Robinson Way, Benicia

starting 12/3 | Nightly from 5:30-9:30
Tune your cars radio to 88.7 FM

Oakland Zoo Glowfari
9777 Golf Links Rd, Oakland, CA

December 26-31 (Sold Out), 2023 | January 1-7, 10-14, 17-21, 24-28, 2024

All Ages | 5 pm – 9 pm | Free Parking

Adults $26 | Children (2-14)/Seniors (65-75) $22 |
Members 10% discount | Under 2 and over 76: Free

Neighborhood Lights
 Ascot Drive –
Woodland Drive, San Ramon, CA

Beautiful display of lights

Neighborhood Lights
Candy Cane Lane – Arlene Drive, Vacaville, CA

Beautiful display of lights

Winterfest Sausalito
Sausalito Waterfront – Gabrielson Park

December 14, 2024 | 6 -7:15 pm
5:00 pm Reserved Seating Opens
6:00 pm Lighted-Boat Parade begins
7:15 pm Fireworks

Lighted Boat Parade and Fireworks

Cornerstone Sonoma
23570 Arnold Drive, Sonoma 

 –  | LIGHTING OF THE CHRISTMAS TREE & SNOWMEN

Parking is limited to Cornerstone Sonoma. Please do not park on Arnold Drive. A ticket does not guarantee parking.

Winter Lights
Santa Rosa Courthouse Square

November 24 – December 31, 2023

Skating on the Square, the annual tree lighting celebration, live performances, and holiday shopping and dining.

Entwined
Peacock Meadow 240 John F. Kennedy Drive, San Francisco, CA

December 7, 2023 – April 28, 2024 

Entwined’s forest of illuminated color has lit up Peacock Meadow in Golden Gate Park every winter since 2020, immersing park visitors in a realm of art, technology, and nature. In 2023, the installation is returning as Entwined: Elder Mother, a new iteration of the art installation that features a monumental shade-bearing tree that moves in the wind.

Thrive City Winter Wonderland

Celebrate the holidays with an array of festive experiences. Winter Wonderland presented by Fanatics is designed for guests of all ages to enjoy the ultimate holiday season, inclusive of live entertainment, multicultural experiences, photo opportunities, whimsical attractions, seasonal treats, and more!

DATE Check website for event schedule

LOCATION  |  1725 3rd St, San Francisco, CA Map It

ENTRY  |  Free

Let’s Glow SF
525 Market Street, San Francisco 

Dec 1 – First Night 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM  |  Dec 2-10, 2023 from 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM

he FREE outdoor holiday event used high-tech Panasonic projectors and lasers to project large-scale art concepts across the facade of five iconic SF buildings from 5-10 PM nightly, including the Ferry Building for the first time. The Salesforce Tower showcased Let’s Glow SF artwork on the LED panel atop the building, visible throughout the Bay Area.

Castro Street House
68 Castro Street, Castro San Francisco, CA

Decorated house, known for its amazing display!

Neighborhood Lights
752 Valota Rd, Redwood City, CA & Nearby

Beautiful display of lights

Where’s your favorite spot to pick your Christmas trees? Post your photos with #SFBayAreaMoms for a chance to be featured on social media!
Be sure to check out our Winter Guide for events, recipes, gift guides, and more!
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