Best Christmas lights in SoCal

Candy Cane Lane (Pinecrest)

Mission Viejo

Resident-decorated streets ideal for a slow drive or stroll in south OC.

🗓️ December, nightly

Hikari — A Festival of Lights

Irvine · Ticketed event

Japanese-themed light festival with a tractor light-path ride, food and Santa on a working farm.

🗓️ ~Nov 28–Dec 28, evenings

💵 $$ ticketed

Roger's Gardens — Magic of Christmas

Corona del Mar

Famed garden-nursery holiday boutique with 28 themed trees and a walk-through display; no admission.

🗓️ Oct 20–Dec 31, 9am–6pm

Balboa Island (Marine Ave)

Newport Beach

Walkable island village with storefronts and bayfront cottages decked out; busy during the boat parade.

🗓️ December, nightly

Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade

Newport Beach

100+ decorated yachts on a 14-mile harbor route, with opening-night fireworks.

🗓️ Dec 17–21, ~6:30pm nightly

Sleepy Hollow / Christmas Tree Lane

Anaheim Hills

Hillside cul-de-sacs off Avenida de Santiago famous for dense, decades-old resident displays.

🗓️ Dec 1–Jan 1, nightly 5–10pm

Sparkle Ball Lane

Fullerton

Hundreds of glowing handmade 'sparkle balls' strung above N. Yale Ave since 2002.

🗓️ December, nightly 6–10pm

Eagle Hills

Brea

100+ homes with synchronized lights, music and live nativity scenes near Primrose Ave.

🗓️ Late Nov–Dec 27, nightly

Knott's Merry Farm

Buena Park · Ticketed event

Theme-park holiday overlay with snowfall, light displays and shows; included with admission.

🗓️ Nov 21–Jan 4, select days

💵 $$ park admission

Fillmore Street Lights

Chino

50+ decorated homes on and around Fillmore St.

🗓️ December, nightly

Mission Inn Festival of Lights

Riverside

~10 million lights on the historic hotel + downtown, with a switch-on fireworks night. A USA Today best-in-nation pick.

🗓️ Nov 22–Jan 6, nightly

Naples Island

Long Beach

Canal-island neighborhood with water 'platform trees'; peaks during the Dec boat parade.

🗓️ December, nightly

Thoroughbred Christmas Lights

Rancho Cucamonga

A 30+ year tradition where every home on Thoroughbred & Jennet Sts is themed.

🗓️ Dec 5–24, drive-thru 5–11pm

San Diego Botanic Garden Lightscape

Encinitas · Ticketed walk-through

A one-mile illuminated trail with international light-art installations (firefly field, laser garden).

🗓️ Nov 14–Jan 4, evenings

💵 $$ ticketed ($18–28+)

Sleepy Hollow (Seaside Ranchos)

Torrance

A 40-year tree-lined display; enter from PCH along Robert Rd.

🗓️ Day after Thanksgiving–~Jan 1, 5–10pm

Upper Hastings Ranch

Pasadena

A 74-year tradition with themed streets; rebuilding post-fire, with lost lots marked by stars.

🗓️ December, nightly 6–10pm

Christmas Tree Lane

Altadena

The oldest large-scale outdoor lighting display in the US (since 1920) — a mile of lit deodar cedars.

🗓️ Dec 6–Jan 7, nightly

Candy Cane Lane

El Segundo

A single-block tradition since 1949 with heavy decorations and Santa visits.

🗓️ Mid–late Dec, nightly

Enchanted Forest of Light

La Cañada Flintridge · Ticketed walk-through

A one-mile illuminated garden trail at Descanso Gardens with 10 interactive art installations.

🗓️ Nov 16–Jan 4, timed entry

💵 $$ ticketed ($27–45)

L.A. Zoo Lights: Animals Aglow

Los Angeles · Ticketed walk-through

Giant illuminated animal lanterns, a walk-in kaleidoscope and Santa photos in Griffith Park.

🗓️ Nov 13–Jan 11, select nights

💵 $$ ticketed (~$19–29)

Christmas Card Lane

San Diego (Rancho Peñasquitos)

~200 families display giant hand-painted Christmas-card cutouts on Oviedo/Ellingham Sts since 1985.

🗓️ After Thanksgiving–Dec 25, nightly

Candy Cane Lane

Poway

A long-running resident street display in north county.

🗓️ December, nightly