Get Moving to These Christmas Light Displays!

Christmas Lights

Let It Snow! Only 20 More Shopping Days Till Christmas by Sister72 (CC BY 2.0)

Wondering where to go this holiday season for the best Christmas lighting displays? Wonder no more! Take a look at my favorite spots to see the treetops glisten in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Go by car or by boat, or even by foot, it doesn’t matter how you do it, as long as you get moving!

Los Angeles

Christmas Lights
Nutcracker Display
  • Make your way over to the L.A. Zoo for L.A. Zoo Lights, happening every night throughout December until January 3rd. Stop by from 6pm-10pm, and see the zoo transformed into an animal themed LED extravaganza! You can even romp with the reindeer and hang out with Santa on certain nights.
  • Head to the city for the Downtown LA Walking Tour, that takes place daily through December 30th. The tour starts at Union Station at 6:30pm. It’s $15 for adults, and free for children ages 13 and under. Stops include, Nutcracker Village and Pershing Square.
  • The Spectacular show at the Grove runs through December 24th. See the 100 foot Christmas tree, decorated with 10,000 ornaments. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! They’ve brought snow to SoCal! Every night at 7pm and 8pm, you will have a chance to marvel at the snowfall.
  • For folks located in the valley, you don’t have to make your way all the way into the city to have some Christmas fun. Get moving to Woodland Hills and ease on down Candy Cane Lane. CCL is made up a few neighborhood blocks full of houses with wonderful light displays and decorations. Some homes even sell winter snacks and hot chocolate. Yum!

    Christmas Candy Cane Lane
    Candy Cane Decorations by Wonderlane (CC BY 2.0)

San Francisco

  • See the city like never before, all lit up, on a special cable car ride for the holidays. Tours start at Fisherman’s Wharf and come with free Santa hats for guests.
  • Take a sleigh ride over to Noe Valley to check out Tom and Jerry’s Christmas display. They’ve got all your favorite holiday decorations done up on the big scale. It’s a supersized Christmas display including giant ornaments and visits from Santa. Happening every evening from 6:30pm-9:30pm throughout the month of December.
  • Go dashing through the snow in Widmer World in Pleasanton. WW has almost an acre of land turned into a Christmas town. It features interactive computer animated displays and entire winter wonderland village. Stop by daily from 6pm-9pm to catch the show.

    San Francisco City Hall - Holiday Lights by Ingrid Taylar (CC BY 2.0)
    San Francisco City Hall – Holiday Lights by Ingrid Taylar (CC BY 2.0)
  • The Glacier Lights in San Jose will have you laughing all the way down the street. They’ve got plenty of music, lights, and food. All proceeds go towards the Bay Area Make-A-Wish Foundation. What a great way to celebrate the holidays while giving back!

What displays are you looking forward to seeing this year? Tell me about them in the comments section below!