The holiday season is officially in full swing, which means the festive light displays are out in full force. The Bay Area has plenty of unique light displays, including some right in the city. The winter light displays are perfect weekend activities, or a great way to beat the early sunset gloom. Check out the full list of festive light displays in SF and the Bay Area below.
1. Union Square
Union Square’s 83-foot-tall holiday tree towers over the plaza all season long. See it lit up with those recognizable red and gold baubles and the glowing red Macy’s star. As the center of holiday celebrations in SF, Union Square will also be decked out with dazzling decorations throughout the plaza, including a 25-foot menorah, the always-busy ice skating rink, a giant ornament trail, and the popular Winter Walk. Read our full guide to Union Square during the holidays here.
🗓️ Dates: Now-January 19
📍 Location: Union Square, 333 Post Street, San Francisco, CA
2. Holidays at Filoli
The Filoli Estate and Gardens puts on an impressive holiday light display, perfect for getting in the festive spirit. Thousands of glittering lights will adorn the garden’s trees, plants, and hedges. You can also reserve a private fire pit, bring your kids to meet Santa, or make your own holiday wreath while sipping on mulled wine. The historic estate is just a short drive from San Francisco and a year-round destination.
🗓️ Dates: Now-January 11
📍 Location: 86 Cañada Road, Woodside, CA
3. Lightscape in SF Botanical Garden
Lightscape is a new immersive light show in the San Francisco Botanical Gardens. The show debuted this November and has been a major hit, prompting organizers to add more dates. You can expect to see over a million lights throughout the garden on a mile-long path. The show is family-friendly, and you can grab a hot chocolate or treat while you explore the gardens.
🗓️ Dates: Now-January 4, 32026
📍 Location: San Francisco Botanical Gardens
4. Garden of D’Lights
The Ruth Bancroft Garden is bringing back its whimsical Garden of D’Lights holiday event. Each year, they decorate the plants with multicolored lights, lasers, and more, transforming the already spectacular 3.5-acre space into an otherworldly outdoor experience. Guests can stroll through the beautiful, glowing gardens for 1-1.5 hours to discover countless beautiful lights and exciting displays.
🗓️ Dates: Now-Jan. 11, 2026
📍 Location: 1552 Bancroft Rd, Walnut Creek, CA 94598
5. Glowfari
Oakland Zoo’s light display isn’t your average holiday string lights. Hundreds of gigantic hand-painted animal lanterns have been placed throughout the Oakland Zoo’s campus, making for a totally unique zoo tour by night. Each year at Glowfari is different, so even if you’ve been in the past, you can still expect to be awed by new glowing creations.
🗓️ Dates: Now-Jan. 26, 2026
📍 Location: Oakland Zoo, 9777 Golf Links Rd, Oakland, CA 94605
6. Uncle John’s Tree in Golden Gate Park
Every year, the historic Monterey Cypress tree at the entrance of Golden Gate Park is decorated with hundreds of colorful lights. The tree lighting is a San Francisco tradition that started almost 100 years ago in 1929.
📍 Location: 501 Stanyan St, San Francisco
7. City Hall Winter Lights
City Hall is joining in on the festivities this year with a special winter light show. The show includes large-scale projections on the iconic building through January 2, 2026. The light show is 10 minutes long and runs every 30 minutes, starting at 5:30 pm and continuing until midnight. You can also enjoy music with the show via a mobile app.
🗓️ Date: Now-January 2, 2026
📍 Location: San Francisco City Hall
8. Fairmont gingerbread house
If you’re looking for an indoor light display to escape the cold, the Fairmont’s lobby is always decked out with festive lights and decorations. You can expect a two-story gingerbread house and a massive Christmas tree decked out in lights and ornaments.
📍 Location: Fairmont San Francisco
9. Christmas in the Park
Christmas in the Park is back in all its merry glory through the end of the year. The popular event has two main attractions in different parts of San Jose: the drive-through holiday light show at History Park, and the Downtown Park Walk-Through with Christmas exhibits and more at Cesar Chavez Plaza.
🗓️ Dates: Now- Jan. 1, 2026
📍 Location: Lake Cunningham Park and Cesar Chavez Plaza, San Jose, CA
10. Alameda Christmas Tree Lane
We love a neighborhood that goes all-out with holiday decorations, and this street in Alameda never disappoints. The neighborhood is easily walkable for kids and families and often features adorable characters from Paw Patrol, Star Wars, and Peanuts.
🗓️ Dates: Now-31, 2025
📍 Location: 3200 block of Thompson Ave, Alameda, CA 94501