Holiday Light Experiences in the San Francisco Bay Area

Winter season means early sunsets and while many of use would love to have some extra daylight, it does mean that we have a chance to take in an incredible holiday light experience in the Bay Area. Take a winter evening stroll through a park, botanical garden, or even a zoo and experience magical displays that fill the night with dazzling light and color. At many of these events, you'll find food and drink vendors so you can grab a hot chocolate or hot apple cider to keep you warm as you explore. (Opening photo: Holiday Lights at Filoli)

Note that many of these experiences, like Glowfari at the Oakland Zoo, are extremely popular and require timed and dated tickets sell out quickly while others are entirely free and you can visit and experience the nighttime magic as often as you like!

Glowfari, Oakland Zoo

The Oakland Zoo's annual Glowfari a family-friendly outdoor experience that features hundreds of giant, glowing, LED-illuminated animal lanterns throughout the zoo. Each year's version is a different experience, and this year features all-new lanterns depicting Oakland landmarks, the world of bugs, animals of the African savanna, life under the sea, and more. Make sure you ride in an illuminated gondola to California Adventure and meet Santa who will be there through December 23! Glowfari is open now and on view select evenings from 4:30–9 pm through January 25, 2026. Advance tickets are required. Learn more.

Lightscape, San Francisco Botanical Garden

Lightscape is a one-of-a-kind, immersive light and music experience that transforms the San Francisco Botanical Garden in Golden Gate Park into a mesmerizing world of wonder, food and beverages, and more than one million twinkling lights. Stroll through a mile-long trail of dazzling lights, dramatic colors, otherworldly lighted sculptures, and water features. Lightscape takes place from 5–8:15 pm from November 21, 2025–January 4, 2026. Advance tickets are required. Learn more.

Holiday Lights, Filoli House & Gardens, Woodside

This winter, Filoli transforms 16 acres of formal gardens into an immersive Night Garden — a dazzling landscape of twinkling lights, shimmering reflections, and radiant color. Stroll beneath illuminated trees, step into a magical tunnel of lights, and explore gardens that glow with festive brilliance. Visitors can also enjoy mulled wine, handcrafted cocktails, and seasonal treats, fire pits, live music, and holiday cheer! You can also tour the festively decorated Filoli mansion and visit the Thistlewyck holiday village with its tiny trains, fairy houses, and North Pole Post Office. Festivities take place November 22, 2025–January 11, 2026, from 6:30–10 pm, and advance tickets are required. Learn more.

Holiday Light Spectacular, Marin Center, San Rafael

Visit the Marin County Fairgrounds and the Marin Civic Center in San Rafael for a magical winter evening filled with thousands of dazzling twinkling holiday lights, photo ops, and other surprises. The fairgrounds will feature thousands of holiday lights, a vintage fire truck, hands-on crafts making, and more. The Civic Center building will feature illuminated North, South, and Middle Arches and fourth-floor dome at the library. the Holiday Light Spectacular takes place nightly from 4–9 pm from November 28, 2025–January 4, 2026 and admission is free. Learn more.

Let's Glow SF, Downtown San Francisco

Billing itself as the nation's largest free holiday projection arts festival, Let's Glow SF returns to downtown San Francisco from December 5–14 from 5:30–10 pm nightly. Eight iconic buildings will be transformed into colossal, colorful canvases with animated projections featuring work by 19 international artists. Locations include the Ferry Building, the Pacific Stock Exchange, the Transamerica Pyramid, and Salesforce Tower. Admission is free. Learn more.

Gardens Aglow, Sonoma Botanical Garden, Glen Ellen

This holiday season, the Sonoma Botanical Garden in Glen Ellen becomes a twilight wonderland for three weekends in December during Gardens Aglow! Stroll through a dazzling tunnel of light to arrive at the Winter Workshop, which offers festive crafts for all ages, festive music, lawn games, face painting, and more. Gather by the fireside to sip hot chocolate or local wines, making cozy memories under the glow of holiday lights. Gardens Aglow takes place Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from December 5–21, 2025 with entry times at 5 and 6:30 pm. Advance tickets are required. Learn more.

Northern Lights Winter Lights Art Walk, Santa Rosa

Experience the walk-through wonderland of Luther Burbank Center's 4th annual Northern Lights Winter Lights Art Walk in their outdoor Sculpture Garden. This family-friendly holiday lights display features whimsical scenes and colorful, dramatic lighting that celebrates art, transforming early winter nights into a fun group activity full of surprise and awe. The Northern Lights Winter Lights Art Walk runs from November 20, 2025–January 19, 2026, nightly from dusk to 9:30 pm. Admission is free! Learn more.

IlluminOdyssey, CuriOdyssey, San Mateo

Now in its ninth year, this winter light experience is an immersive, interactive installation that will mesmerize kids and adults of all ages. IlluminOdyssey is a fan-favorite for the whole family and is free with admission. The interactive glowing exhibits awaken kids’ curiosity, build critical thinking skills, and inspire an interest in science and the natural world. CuriOdyssey’s four-level Redwood Hall will transform into a glowing forest of science where visitors can explore the science of light. Open daily 10 am–5 pm, November 15, 2025–January 25, 2026. Learn more.

Christmas in the Park, San Jose

This treasured community holiday experience consists of two different events: The Downtown Park Experience features an enchanted forest of decorated trees, over 40 animated displays, a 50-foot Christmas tree, photos with Santa, entertainment, and refreshments; Admission is free and the event takes place downtown at Plaza de Cesar Chavez from November 28, 2025–January 1, 2026, 6–11 pm. Blinky's Drive Thru is a mile-long display of dazzling holiday light tunnels synchronized to favorite holiday music that you can enjoy from the comfort of your car. Tickets are required and the event takes place at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds in San Jose, daily from November 21–December 31, 2025, 5–9 pm Monday–Thursday and 5–10 pm Friday–Sunday. Learn more.

Doca Festival: San Jose Holiday Lights

This winter light experience in Discovery Meadow at San Jose's Guadalupe River Park features over five acres of larger-than-life glowing lanterns, lighted displays, and attractions, including themed zones, Christmas trees, rides, and a food court. It's open daily,from 4:30–10:30 pm (last entry at 10 pm), November 21, 2025–January 4, 2026. Advance tickets are required and are only available online. Learn more.