Starting in late November, cities and towns across California will be illuminated with holiday lights, transforming public spaces, waterfronts, and gardens into seasonal attractions. The displays begin as early as November and continue into January and February in some locations.
San Francisco will host the Illuminate SF Festival of Light from November 24 to January 31. The event features more than 60 light-art installations across the city, including 11 new pieces along the Light Art Trail. In Los Angeles, the Citadel Outlets will kick off their Tree Lights event on November 8, with light shows and snow flurries occurring every hour from 5 to 8 p.m. through December 31.
Dana Point’s Holidays at the Harbor runs from November 12 to January 4. The town is decorated with 700,000 lights, and events include a Boat Parade of Lights from December 12–14, menorah lightings, and harbor cruises. Beverly Hills will launch its Rodeo Drive Holiday Lighting Celebration on November 13 with live performances and fireworks. The lights will remain through January 5.
The USS Midway Museum in San Diego will be lit with 750,000 lights for its Jingle Jets Holiday Lighting Celebration from November 28 to December 30. In Redding, Turtle Bay Exploration Park’s McConnell Botanical Gardens will host the Redding Garden of Lights from November 21 to January 4. Visitors can walk illuminated paths or book private igloos for group experiences.
The San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas presents Lightscape from November 14 to January 4, featuring a mile-long path lined with one million lights. Riverside’s Mission Inn Hotel & Spa will display more than four million lights for its Festival of Lights between November 22 and January 6.
Filoli in Woodside opens its Holidays at Filoli event from November 22 to January 11. The estate features decorated Christmas trees and illuminated gardens over 16 acres. Palm Desert’s WildLights at The Living Desert runs select nights between November 25 and December 30, offering a tunnel of lights and animal-themed lanterns.
Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens in Fort Bragg hosts its Festival of Lights on weekends from November 28 to December 21. Downtown San Luis Obispo’s Holiday Plaza is open November 28 to December 24 and includes a carousel, menorah lightings, Santa’s House, and a musical light show.
Sacramento presents Theatre of Lights from November 27 to December 24 in Old Sacramento with projection-mapped shows on historic buildings. The Fabulous Forties neighborhood is also known for elaborate displays during this time.
Long Beach continues its Trees in the Bay tradition from November 27 to January 1 with wooden trees wrapped in lights placed throughout local waterways. Naples Island offers additional displays on homes and boats.
Santa Cruz offers Holiday Lights Trains on select nights between November 29 and December 23. Geyserville holds its Tractor Parade on November 29 featuring illuminated tractors downtown.
San Rafael’s Parade of Lights & Winterwonderland takes place on November 30 with two parades and an Elf Hunt running through January 6. San Diego’s Holidays by the Bay offers events along the Embarcadero from November 18 to December 30 including Santa sightings and menorah lightings.
Fresno’s Christmas Tree Lane has been suspended for the year but typically draws visitors each holiday season. Calistoga hosts its Lighted Tractor Parade on December 6 as part of Napa Valley celebrations.
Other annual parades include Stockton’s Lighted Boat Parade (December 6), Palm Springs’ Festival of Lights Parade (December 6), Marina del Rey Holiday Boat Parade (December 13), Huntington Harbour Boat Parade (December 13–14), Sausalito’s WinterFest (December 13–14), Santa Barbara Holiday Parade of Lights (December 14), Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade (December 17–21), Ventura Harbor Village Holiday Parade of Lights (December 12–13), Mammoth Lakes’ Night of Lights (December 13), and Napa Lighted Art Festival from January 17 to February 15 next year.
These events showcase California’s variety of holiday traditions across urban centers, coastal towns, and rural communities.
