Driving by this house and you would think there is a gigantic present sitting off to the side, but nope: it’s just one of San Francisco’s best Christmas light displays! Make your way over to Mission Bay and the Chase Center, where you will find the city’s tallest Christmas tree. Address: 1900 – 2100 Eucalyptus Ave., San Carlos, CA 94070. The houses are actually on Treeside and Woodside Courts in the Parkway Estates, with the nearest cross street being Chestnut – but it just sounds so apt – chestnuts and Christmas go together like eggnog and mince pies. Stop in the Fairmont in the Nob Hill neighborhood to check out their holiday spirit! It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Christmas Tree Lane: 3200 Thompson Ave, Alameda. Check the website for the location and description of each feature. You may want to pull to the side of the road so you can listen to holiday music and watch the synchronized lights for a safe and socially distant way to celebrate the holiday spirit. San Francisco holiday lights tour by cable car Ride through San Francisco on a refurbished cable car from the late 1800s or early 1900s; See San Francisco's famous sights, decorated in dazzling lights; Get in the holiday spirit with songs and a Santa hat ; Saved to wishlist! Each house has a theme and is festively decorated, with lights and a truckload of holiday spirit. This free event will both be onside for guests to visit along with being virtual. Stay in your warm car and drive through this Holiday Experience. Hannukah? … The holiday fantasy lasts from the last … CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY SEASON LIGHT TOURS IN SAN FRANCISCO A1 Luxury Transport is here to make your Christmas holiday season memorable and unforgettable with our custom Christmas Holiday Season Light Tours in San Francisco in our fleet of limos and buses. Drive through San Carlos to get the holiday spirit Address: 1900 – 2100 Eucalyptus Ave., San Carlos, CA 94070 On December days up until Christmas, head to the town of San Carlos for some great Christmas lights near San Francisco! Bring a blanket and have a picnic while enjoying the new laser light show. There are several places to ice skate in San Francisco to get in the holiday spirit. The temple in East Bay features illuminated palms and a magnificent view of the San Francisco skyline. From November 20th through December 20th on Friday and Sunday evenings, celebrate Christmas lights East Bay-style in Walnut Creek. On December 5, 2020, between 9 AM and 5 PM, there is a wonderful free event taking place: the Festival of Trees! By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Marvel at extravagant displays including everything from giant holiday trees to cheerful reindeer and frosty snowmen. If you have a little one that loves Disney’s Frozen, then you need to head to this house with the Olaf display for one of the most kid-friendly Christmas lights near San Francisco! These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. San Francisco Fire Engine Holiday Lights Tour A truly memorable way to see the Christmas lights is on a 90-minute city tour aboard a vintage red fire engine! 10 Fabulous Reasons to Visit San Francisco, 13 Mistakes to Avoid When Visiting San Francisco: What Not to Do. Spread out, wear a mask, and keep a social distance. Read my privacy policy and disclaimer here. Reserve. Starting on Thanksgiving and ending on New Years’ Day, the Illuminate SF Light Festival is still on for this year! The event has moved from Downtown San Jose, to History Park on Senter Road. The tree at Civic Center Plaza is elegant in its simplicity, adorned with … Also note that at the time of writing, these events were currently planned for 2020; however, unusual times call for unusual measures, and as a result, some of these events may change. Address: 900 North Point St Ste F301, San Francisco, CA. Stop by on your way out for tasty treats like funnel cakes, cinnamon buns and the ever-so-addictive kettle corn. Travel through 17 different neighborhoods where you will find 37 separate light installations! Every year, the San Francisco City Hall gets lit up in festive green and red in order to celebrate the holiday season. Hear commentary from your enthusiastic guide and holiday music as you travel to Fisherman's Wharf, the Embarcadero, Market Street, and Union Square to see festive holiday light displays at top sightseeing attractions. Visit Website. Enjoy it all you can since it is a hidden gem and no one knows about it. If you find a tree that you love and must have, put your bid in the silent auction, and it could be in your home in time for the holidays! The 2.5-mile long display includes a spectacular drive-through Blizzard Tunnel and a wide range of themes that include: the 12 Days of Christmas, Winter Wonderland, and The Night before Christmas. The century-old Filoli estate in Woodside is expanding its … Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Yes, even in the bizarre year that is 2020. Check it out from in front of the hotel and feel free to snap some photos! In this East Oakland neighborhood, you will find twinkling lights and decorations galore covering roughly 100 homes. This holiday experience is perfect for the whole family and will get even the grinchiest of people in a jolly mood. Address: 1260 Rainier Ave., Pacifica, CA, 94044. For nearly 90 years, the cypress tree in front of the McLaren Lodge is light for the holiday season. Marvel at extravagant displays including everything from giant holiday trees to cheerful reindeer and frosty snowmen. IllumiNight was recently announced by the San Antonio Spurs and will remain open from now through Jan. 3. 5. Christmas in the Park is pivoting with a mile-long drive-thru event at History Park in San Jose, promising a lot more sparkle. Location: Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden, 1431 Waverley Street, Palo Alto, CA 94301. Holiday Lights at Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds adds another option for families looking for safe ways to celebrate the season, with a spectacular new drive-thru event. sanfrancisco@secretmedianetwork.com. On Christmas … Macy's Great Tree Lighting in Union Square Park (November 27, 2020; lights on until January … This is a great socially-distant way to celebrate the holiday season in the Bay Area! Mickey Mouse Christmas House. Holidays Lights is open on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings through December 27 (including Christmas Eve and the evening of Christmas Day). Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Mac Dutra Park, Main Street, Half Moon Bay, CA Through DEC. 1: Puente Holiday Drive For Families & … While you can’t take in a Warriors Game this year, at least you can visit the beautiful lights at the Chase Center. The tree is lit with 40,000 lights and decorated with over 1,000 ornaments. Drive Through Christmas in the Park Check out all the holiday lights and decked-out trees at this fun event that will be drive-through this year. Giant Christmas trees twinkling with lights – Santa – reindeer – snowmen – lighted tunnels and many more magical moments. The San Francisco Embarcadero Center's four … This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Note: For any in-person San Francisco Christmas lights events, please wear a mask, keep a social distance, and do not go anywhere if you are feeling ill! A visit to Ghirardelli Square always means a delicious ice cream sundae… or a hot chocolate, if it’s too chilly for a sundae! Luckily, there are lots of socially distant opportunities to see the Christmas lights in San Francisco and other places around the Bay Area. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Fantasy of Lights is a 1.5-mile drive-through holiday lights and display spectacle. Bring a chair or reserve your premium waterfront seat for the parade of colorfully decorated boats that will parade along the shoreline beginning at 6:00 PM. After viewing the striking tree in the lobby, walk around the 25-foot tall gingerbread house. Experience the Garden of d’Lights as you meander through the 3.5 acres at the Ruth Bancroft garden. At the end of your journey, you can even get some festive bites at the Holiday Food Stands, which has different fair food vendors each and every week. NOV. 27 & DEC. 4, 11 & 18: 'Night Of Lights' - Christmas tree lighting is Dec. 4. From neighborhood streets, local hotels and stores, to socially distant light festivals, the San Francisco Bay Area will illuminate with colors and decorations to put you in the holiday spirit! You will be sure to inhale the scents of ginger and sugar as you take in this beautiful holiday display! It’s just so much more than that,” Minsky told KPIX 5. Address: 1 Warriors Way, San Francisco, CA 94158. Her favorite places to visit are National Parks, waterfalls, and lighthouses. This is a street that really gets into the holiday spirit! Address: 501 Stanyan St., San Francisco, CA 94117. As you make your way through the fairgrounds, be sure to tune into KDUB 99.9 FM radio so you can jingle along to the Holiday Lights Soundtrack. This is a great place to take the family for a safe and socially distant walk enjoying the beautiful colors of the City Hall! California Crossroads is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. Nov. 27-Jan. 3. Facebook Twitter. The 3200 block of Thompson Avenue in Alameda is often referred to as Christmas Tree Lane, a neighborhood with 55 houses that put your simple string of white lights to shame every December. The experience features countless twinkling lights over a half-mile drive through the fairgrounds. Jennifer N/Yelp. It has been hard to miss during the holidays for over 20 years! Event details. The house features giant-sized toys, giant Christmas trees, lights, and stocking hung with care. If you’re in need of a last-minute shopping trip, head to the Westfield SF Centre not far from Union Square. Although some have been cancelled due to the pandemic, Bay Area locals can still get their holiday cheer on at many others that have been able to morph into socially distant, Covid-friendly events. These cookies do not store any personal information. Due to the rise in COVID-19 cases and the new curfew order, the opening of Santa’s Speedway Christmas Lights Drive-Thru has been pushed back from Nov. 25 to Dec. 1, according to Speedway officials. This is a California Christmas tradition and many coastal towns and cities have their own boat parades, such as Newport Beach, Santa Cruz, Monterey, and more. Brought to you by Santa Clara County Parks and first presented in 1999, Fantasy of Lights is a spectacular 1.5 mile Drive-Thru extravaganza of holiday lights and displays for the entire family. All throughout December, journey through Sausalito in Marin County to the 21 locations participating in order to view the various gingerbread houses and their Christmas light displays! Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Be sure to drop in your vote for your favorite house, and check back in January to see the People’s Choice Awards and if you voted for a winner. Chestnut Christmas Houses. It is a dispersed festival throughout the city, making it safer for keeping a social distance as there aren’t crowds the same way a traditional tree-lighting ceremony would have. Check here for details as it’s subject to change. In addition to their historic … If you want to attend the Macy’s Annual tree lighting ceremony, it happens on Black Friday. Civic Center Plaza. In the Dolores Heights neighborhood, the Tom and Jerry house has brightened the holidays for many over the years. NOTE: As of now, this event is not planned to take place. It is the perfect place to enjoy dinner (socially distant and on a patio), along with the 55-foot tall fir tree decked out in 5,000 twinkling lights. Who said you can’t frolic through the Christmas lights in a safe, socially distanced way? Hidden Gem San Francisco Christmas Lights: 49 Eagle Street A short drive from the crowded spectacle that is the Tom and Jerry House will lead you to another house with beautiful Christmas lights in San Francisco on the quiet Eagle street. Bundle up and check out the biggest and brightest the Bay Area Christmas lights the region has to offer this holiday season using our guide to light your way! Santa Cruz Holiday Lights Drive-Through Picture a 1/2 mile drive through the Fairgrounds enjoying spectacular lighted Holiday displays all around you. Stroll the grounds of the Gable Garden to see the various trees that local businesses, organizations, and individuals have decorated. Delight in the City Lights at Their Holiday Best. Wear a mask and keep a social distance. Laura Gray is a freelance writer and retired elementary teacher based in Norfolk, VA.  She spends her summers enjoying the shores of the Chesapeake Bay, traveling the world, and exploring the beautiful United States. Address: Picardy Dr. between Seminary and 55th Avenue, Oakland, CA 94605. Christmas Tree Lane started in 1938 and draws people from all over the Bay Area with its extravagant light … Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. From $0.00 . Between 5 PM and 10 PM on days in December, head to Mill Valley for some incredible San Francisco Bay Area Christmas lights! Ice Skating. In December from the first through Christmas Eve, be sure to head to the so-called “Tom and Jerry House” for some of the best San Francisco Christmas Lights. Beginning at Fisherman's Wharf, you and a small group of up to 12 other passengers will get a guided tour through the glowing Presidio, Union Square, Embarcadero, and Market Street. The arrival of the Yuletide season always prompts an explosion of countless, As you make your way through the fairgrounds, be sure to tune into KDUB 99.9 FM radio so you can, 38 Activities For An Incredible January In The Bay Area, This Online Exhibit Lets You Wander Through More…, Golden Gate Park’s Peacock Meadow Has Turned Into An…, An Outdoor Journey Through All 5 Senses In SF, The 8 Best Local Hikes Around San Francisco, Start The New Year With A Breath Of Fresh Air On…, 3 Separate Storms To Hit Bay Area Starting Today, Make Sure You Catch These 5 New Light Installations…, The Whimsical Garden Of D’Lights Has Been Extended…, Bay Area Native Kamala Harris Is Now Officially The…, Golden Gate Park’s Peacock Meadow Has Turned Into An Enchanted Forest Of Lights, 5 Of The Most Unique Gardens In San Francisco. The event will happen rain or shine. Enjoy the sight of the towering Christmas tree and all the lights throughout Union Square by day… and then come back by night to skate on the beautiful ice rink with lights twinkling all around you. San Francisco starts its transformation into a magical wonderland of Christmas lights and Christmas trees. Every year, Plaza de Cesar Chavez in San Jose transforms into a Christmas village with thousands of sparkling lights, over 60 musical and animated exhibits, and the 60-foot (20 m) Community Giving Tree. “They’re probably expecting just a drive-through version of our animated displays and our Christmas trees. Join a festive 1.5-hour tour of San Francisco’s holiday lights aboard a vintage open-air Mack fire engine. Location: 2601 East Lake Avenue, Watsonville, [Featured image: Derek Thomson via Unsplash], Sign up to our newsletter for the latest and greatest from your city, Contact Throughout December, between 5:30 PM and 10 PM, a drive down “Christmas Tree Lane” (technically Thompson Avenue) is something to see. As the December holiday season approaches, make your schedule to get out and enjoy the holiday festivities around the Bay Area. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. It will also be a COVID-safe drive-through event. The beautiful cedar tree with nearly 50,000 lights almost makes the front yard glow. And don’t forget to take a selfie in the magical light tunnel! Address: 1 Dr Carlton B Goodlett Pl, San Francisco, CA. The experience features countless twinkling lights over a half-mile drive through the fairgrounds. With all the magical light shows this season brings to the city, … There’s also a large Christmas tree in front. To get the full effect of these lights, park your car and walk past each of these houses. On Saturday, December 12 at 6 PM, the 33rd iteration of the Lighted Boat Parade is taking place in Sausalito! Put together by the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, in partnership with the San Francisco Parks Alliance non-profit, the exhibit will run from Dec. 1 … Why not both! Los Angeles to Las Vegas Road Trip: 17 Best Stops to Make On the Drive! It is now in its 22nd year and has become a cherished holiday tradition. Christmas? The area is busy on … December days up until Christmas, head to Sausalito for the website how you use this website tree to a! To you so that the entire experience remains completely contact-free blanket and have a picnic enjoying..., wear a mask, and lighthouses consent prior to running these cookies be! Go to a Cemetery Christmas light display… However, the giant Menorah lighting for Hanukkah will still taking! 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