"Holiday lights are a fun and festive way to get into the holiday spirit! In this article, you can find some ticketed events as well as lights you can see from the comfort of your car." -- CB omand, 8th grade.
Holiday lights are a fun and festive way to get into the holiday spirit! In this article, you can find some ticketed events as well as lights you can see from the comfort of your car.
TIcketed events
Glowfari at the Oakland Zoo
Glowfari is the bigger and better version of its sister event, ZooLights. Glowfari took over for ZooLights in the fall of 2020. It includes “larger than life” lantern sculptures.
“This year's experience features new themes, including the forests of North America with iconic native wildlife like mountain lions and wolves, our frosty friends of the Arctic with puffins and polar bears, the Deep Ocean featuring rarely seen sea creatures, and a stroll through the swamp as you encounter alligators and other animals of the bayou!” says the Oakland Zoo Website.
Mila Boyden, an 8th grader at OSA, has been going to Glowfari since it was ZooLights. “It was just really impressive how creative everyone was with the sculptures,” she responded when asked about her experience. Glowfari is open December 1st, 23rd, 26th, and 31st, as well as January 1st, 7th, 10th, 14th, 17th, 24th, and 28th. The event runs from 5-9pm.
Prices: Adults: $26, children (2-14) and seniors (65-75): $22, under 2 and over 76 get in free. (Members get a 10% discount on tickets and parking is free for everyone.)
Glowfari is the bigger and better version of its sister event, ZooLights. Glowfari took over for ZooLights in the fall of 2020. It includes “larger than life” lantern sculptures.
“This year's experience features new themes, including the forests of North America with iconic native wildlife like mountain lions and wolves, our frosty friends of the Arctic with puffins and polar bears, the Deep Ocean featuring rarely seen sea creatures, and a stroll through the swamp as you encounter alligators and other animals of the bayou!” says the Oakland Zoo Website.
Mila Boyden, an 8th grader at OSA, has been going to Glowfari since it was ZooLights. “It was just really impressive how creative everyone was with the sculptures,” she responded when asked about her experience. Glowfari is open December 1st, 23rd, 26th, and 31st, as well as January 1st, 7th, 10th, 14th, 17th, 24th, and 28th. The event runs from 5-9pm.
Prices: Adults: $26, children (2-14) and seniors (65-75): $22, under 2 and over 76 get in free. (Members get a 10% discount on tickets and parking is free for everyone.)
Holidays at Filoli
The Filoli gardens are beautiful year-round, but especially magical around the holidays. Aside from sprawling gardens on the 16-acre property, there is also a fully furnished historical house built in 1915 and opened in 1917. The Filoli Gardens and historical house can also be referred to as The Bourn-Roth estate.
Amy Omand, a mother of two, went with her family a few years back. “I really enjoyed getting hot chocolate and warming up by the fire pits,” she said. “Step into the magic of the house decked in holiday cheer and explore the winter Garden, where inspiration glows,” The Filoli Garden website promotes,
As well as dazzling lights at night, there are specific days when Santa flies down from the North Pole to hang out with friends at the gardens. If you want to meet Santa, he visits the gardens on December 16th, 17th, 21st, 22nd, and 23rd.
There is also an option to reserve a private fireplace during the chilly evenings. “Cozy up under the glow of the dining room terrace with your own private bar and unlimited beverages!” continues the Filoli website.
Pricing: Holiday Evenings - $45 for adults, $35 for children 5-17, and kids under 5 for free. (Members get 20% off general admission all season.) Santa days are $41 for adults, $31 for children 5-17, kids under 5 for free. Firepits - $750 for up to 8 guests, $75 per extra guest.
The Filoli gardens are beautiful year-round, but especially magical around the holidays. Aside from sprawling gardens on the 16-acre property, there is also a fully furnished historical house built in 1915 and opened in 1917. The Filoli Gardens and historical house can also be referred to as The Bourn-Roth estate.
Amy Omand, a mother of two, went with her family a few years back. “I really enjoyed getting hot chocolate and warming up by the fire pits,” she said. “Step into the magic of the house decked in holiday cheer and explore the winter Garden, where inspiration glows,” The Filoli Garden website promotes,
As well as dazzling lights at night, there are specific days when Santa flies down from the North Pole to hang out with friends at the gardens. If you want to meet Santa, he visits the gardens on December 16th, 17th, 21st, 22nd, and 23rd.
There is also an option to reserve a private fireplace during the chilly evenings. “Cozy up under the glow of the dining room terrace with your own private bar and unlimited beverages!” continues the Filoli website.
Pricing: Holiday Evenings - $45 for adults, $35 for children 5-17, and kids under 5 for free. (Members get 20% off general admission all season.) Santa days are $41 for adults, $31 for children 5-17, kids under 5 for free. Firepits - $750 for up to 8 guests, $75 per extra guest.
Free events
Entwined in Golden Gate Park
Entwined in Golden Gate Park is an art installation by Charles Gadeken that has been in the park every winter since 2020. This year it has changed a bit, “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 moved in the wind,” says the San Francisco Park Alliance. The installation commemorates Golden Gate Park's 150th Anniversary. It is up from December 7th, 2023, to April 28th, 2024.
Entwined in Golden Gate Park is an art installation by Charles Gadeken that has been in the park every winter since 2020. This year it has changed a bit, “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 moved in the wind,” says the San Francisco Park Alliance. The installation commemorates Golden Gate Park's 150th Anniversary. It is up from December 7th, 2023, to April 28th, 2024.
Candycane Lane Alameda
It is well established that the 3200 block of Thomson Ave has one of the best light displays in the East Bay. You can try to brave the parking if you want to walk around, but if you'd rather stay in the car, the traffic makes for a nice and slow drive through all of the lights. The lights will be up from December 3rd to the 31st, from 5-10 pm. If you can find them, there are mailboxes that will deliver your letter straight to Santa at the North Pole, and if he can read the return address you may just get a reply!
It is well established that the 3200 block of Thomson Ave has one of the best light displays in the East Bay. You can try to brave the parking if you want to walk around, but if you'd rather stay in the car, the traffic makes for a nice and slow drive through all of the lights. The lights will be up from December 3rd to the 31st, from 5-10 pm. If you can find them, there are mailboxes that will deliver your letter straight to Santa at the North Pole, and if he can read the return address you may just get a reply!
Other streets/houses with lights
San Francisco:
Lights are always fun to go see and enjoy with family or friends. I hope this guide will help to bring some holiday spirit to you this season, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!
- 68 Castro St.
- Rainbow Christmas Tree: 18th & Castro in the Castro District
- 1960 10th Ave.
- 1929 7th Ave.
- 363 Wawona St.
- 515 Crestlake Dr.
- 488 Gallert Dr.
- Livermore:
467 Knottingham Circle - Brentwood:
Tunnels of Joy: La Costa Dr. This display is a fundraiser for a child with cancer. - Newark:
6716 Fontaine Ave. - Hercules:
145 Onxy Ct. - Concord:
219 Rock Oak Rd. - Union City:
32247 Valiant Way - Fairfield:
2132 Calder Pl.
- San Carlos:
1900 Eucalyptus Ave. - San Jose:
Santana Row - Santa Clara:
Cathedral of Faith: They have a live show on weekends from 6-9 p.m. in Dec. except on Christmas. - Campbell:
750 Harriet Ave.: Tune your car radio to 92.9 for the music to go along with the show. - Los Altos:
Estate Dr. at Grant Rd.
Lights are always fun to go see and enjoy with family or friends. I hope this guide will help to bring some holiday spirit to you this season, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!
