Starting in late November, various locations across California will host a range of holiday light displays, many of which extend into January and even February. Events are scheduled in cities and towns from San Francisco to Palm Springs, offering visitors and residents a chance to experience illuminated art installations, decorated boats, and festive parades.
San Francisco will feature the Illuminate SF Festival of Light from November 24 through January 31. The event includes more than 60 light-art installations spread across the city, with new pieces along the Light Art Trail. In Los Angeles, the Citadel Outlets will host its Tree Lights event from November 8 to December 31, featuring musical performances and the world’s tallest fresh-cut Christmas tree. The tree lighting event will take place on November 8, followed by nightly light shows and artificial snow.
Dana Point in Orange County will be decorated with 700,000 lights for its “Carol of the Boats” themed holiday season from November 12 to January 4. The Boat Parade of Lights is scheduled for December 12–14, and additional activities include live music, menorah lightings, and boat rides with Santa. Beverly Hills will hold its Rodeo Drive Holiday Lighting Celebration on November 13, with live performances and fireworks. The display will remain until January 5.
The USS Midway Museum in San Diego will be transformed with 750,000 lights during the Jingle Jets Holiday Lighting Celebration from November 28 to December 30. In Redding, the McConnell Botanical Gardens at Turtle Bay Exploration Park will host the Redding Garden of Lights from November 21 to January 4. The event features illuminated pathways, wildlife-themed displays, private igloos with food and drinks, and firepits for s’mores.
Encinitas’ San Diego Botanic Garden will offer Lightscape from November 14 to January 4. Visitors can walk through tunnels of light and illuminated California poppies along a mile-long path. Riverside’s Mission Inn Hotel & Spa will display more than four million lights during the Festival of Lights from November 22 to January 6. Packages include dining credits and holiday treats.
Holidays at Filoli in Woodside will run from November 22 to January 11 at the historic Filoli estate. Decorations include over a dozen Christmas trees and lights throughout the gardens. Other festivities include drinks by firepits and holiday teas.
Palm Desert’s Living Desert will present WildLights from November 25 to December 30 on select nights. More than one million lights will be on display along with life-size animal lanterns and model trains. Fort Bragg’s Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens will host its Festival of Lights from November 28 to December 21 on weekend evenings.
San Luis Obispo’s Holiday Plaza will operate from November 28 to December 24, featuring a carousel, menorah lightings, Santa’s House, and a musical light show. Sacramento’s Theatre of Lights will run from November 27 to December 24 in Old Sacramento with projection-mapped shows on historic buildings. Long Beach’s Trees in the Bay tradition continues from November 27 to January 1 with wooden trees wrapped in lights placed in local waters.
Santa Cruz will offer Holiday Lights Trains on select nights between November 29 and December 23. Geyserville’s Tractor Parade takes place on November 29, while San Rafael’s Parade of Lights & Winterwonderland occurs on November 30. San Diego’s Holidays by the Bay runs from November 18 to December 30 along the Embarcadero.
Fresno’s Christmas Tree Lane has been suspended for 2025. Calistoga’s Lighted Tractor Parade is scheduled for December 6 in Napa Valley. Stockton’s Annual Lighted Boat Parade also takes place on December 6. Palm Springs’ Festival of Lights Parade occurs the same day.
Marina del Rey will host its Holiday Boat Parade on December 13. Huntington Beach’s Huntington Harbour Boat Parade is set for December 13–14. Sausalito’s WinterFest includes boat parades and fireworks from December 13–14. Santa Barbara’s Holiday Parade of Lights is planned for December 14.
The Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade will run from December 17–21. Ventura Harbor Village Holiday Parade of Lights occurs December 12–13. Mammoth Lakes’ Night of Lights is scheduled for December 13 at Mammoth Mountain.
The Napa Lighted Art Festival will take place after the holidays from January 17 through February 15. This free event features light art installations by local and international artists throughout downtown Napa.
