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Christmas Lights in Castro Valley, CA

The top places to see Christmas lights in Castro Valley this season are Holidays at Filoli: Holiday Lights (Nov 14 – Jan 10), Glowfari at Oakland Zoo (Nov 6 – Jan 31) and Lightscape at San Francisco Botanical Garden (Nov 20 – Jan 3). We've mapped 1 display in Castro Valley and 54 more nearby (12 events, 12 neighborhoods, 12 home displays). 32 are free. 7 are synced to music. Tap any display for dates, hours and directions.

Updated Nov 12, 2026

Christmas Festival at 3Crosses Church

Event · Castro Valley, CA · Free admission; ice skating $15-$18

Opens soon

Nov 27 – Jan 3

Near Castro Valley (within 25 miles)

Glowfari at Oakland Zoo

Walk-thru · Oakland, CA · Ticketed; prices on the zoo's ticket page (10% member discount)

On now

5.0 miNov 6 – Jan 31

San Francisco ZooLights

Event · San Francisco, CA · Ticketed

On now

23 miThrough Jan 3

Christmas Tree Lane, Thompson Avenue

Neighborhood · Alameda, CA · Free

Opens soon

8.6 miDec 1 – Dec 31

Temple Hill Christmas Lights

Neighborhood · Oakland, CA · Free

Opens soon

9.7 miNov 27 – Dec 31

Fairy Winterland at Children's Fairyland

Event · Oakland, CA · Ticketed

Opens soon

12 miDec 12 – Dec 27

Lighted Yacht Parade on the Oakland-Alameda Estuary

Parade · Oakland, CA · Free to watch from shore

Opens soon

12 miDec 5 – Dec 5

Circle of Lights at Mountain View Cemetery

Event · Oakland, CA · Free

Opens soon

12 miFrom Dec 1

IlluminOdyssey at CuriOdyssey

Event · San Mateo, CA · Included with CuriOdyssey admission

Opens soon

15 miNov 14 – Jan 24

Crippsmas Place

Neighborhood · Fremont, CA · Free; donations for local charities

Opens soon

16 miDec 5 – Dec 26

Garden of D'Lights at Ruth Bancroft Garden

Walk-thru · Walnut Creek, CA · Ticketed (price not confirmed for 2026)

Opens soon

16 miNov 20 – Jan 10

Holidays on Fourth Street

Neighborhood · Berkeley, CA · Free

Opens soon

16 miNov 14 – Dec 31

Great Dickens Christmas Fair

Event · Daly City, CA · Tickets online; parking $20

Opens soon Music

18 miNov 21 – Dec 20

Embarcadero Center Holiday Lights

Event · San Francisco, CA · Free

Opens soon

18 miFrom Nov 18

Pier 39 Christmas Tree Lighting and Tree Show

Tree lighting · San Francisco, CA · Free

Opens soon Music

19 miFrom Dec 3

Holidays at Filoli: Holiday Lights

Walk-thru · Woodside, CA · Ticketed; 2025 evening adult tickets ran $45-$49

Opens soon

19 miNov 14 – Jan 10

Holidays at Filoli

Event · Woodside, CA

Opens soon

19 miNov 27 – Jan 3

Magic of Lights at Toyota Pavilion at Concord

Drive-thru · Concord, CA · Tickets from about $55 on resale listings

Opens soon

20 miFrom Nov 21

Lightscape at San Francisco Botanical Garden

Walk-thru · San Francisco, CA · $32 adult, $20 youth 5-17, free 4 and under (members less)

Opens soon Music

21 miNov 20 – Jan 3

Mountain View Community Tree Lighting Celebration

Tree lighting · Mountain View, CA · Free

Opens soon Music

21 miDec 7 – Dec 7

Los Altos Holiday Tree Celebration

Tree lighting · Los Altos, CA · Free

Opens soon Music

23 miDec 4 – Dec 4

Half Moon Bay Tree Lighting

Tree lighting · Half Moon Bay, CA

Opens soon

24 miDec 4 – Dec 4

Sausalito Lighted Boat Parade and Fireworks

Parade · Sausalito, CA · Free to watch; paid VIP seating available

Opens soon

24 miDec 12 – Dec 12

Christmas Tree Lane (Fulton Street)

Neighborhood · Palo Alto, CA · Free

Opens soon

21 miDec 5 – Dec 31

Light Up the Season at Hayward City Hall

Tree lighting · Hayward, CA

1.7 mi

Christmas at Villa de Amore

Home display · Hayward, CA · Free

2.0 mi

Holiday Lights at McConaghy House

Event · Hayward, CA · Free

2.2 mi

It's a Wonderful Night

Tree lighting · San Leandro, CA

3.9 mi

Picardy Drive

Neighborhood · Oakland, CA · Free

7.7 mi

Festival of Lights Parade

Parade · Fremont, CA

10 mi

Holidays at the Plaza

Event · Fremont, CA

12 mi

Candy Cane Lane Pleasanton

Neighborhood · Pleasanton, CA · Free

12 mi

Widmer World

Home display · Pleasanton, CA · Free

12 mi

418 Aragon Blvd home display

Home display · San Mateo, CA

16 mi

Ruth Bancroft Garden D'Lights

Walk-thru · Walnut Creek, CA · Older listing: members/non-members ticketed, advance booking required

16 mi

Christmas Tree Lane, Eucalyptus Avenue

Neighborhood · San Carlos, CA · Free

16 mi

Eucalyptus Avenue Christmas Lights

Neighborhood · San Carlos, CA · Free

16 mi

The Arlington house

Home display · Berkeley, CA · Free

17 mi

713 Atrice Lane Santa Nights

Home display · Pleasant Hill, CA · Free

17 mi

Let's Glow SF

Event · San Francisco, CA · Free

17 mi

5390 Aspenwood Ct Light Show

Home display · Concord, CA · Free; food donations collected

Music

18 mi
18 mi

Union Square Christmas Tree

Event · San Francisco, CA · Free

18 mi

Union Square Christmas Tree and Holiday Lights

Tree lighting · San Francisco, CA · Free

18 mi

Sundar Shadi Holiday Display

Neighborhood · El Cerrito, CA · Free

19 mi

Deacon Dave's House of the Dove

Home display · Livermore, CA · Free

19 mi

Concord Tree Lighting and Mayor's Sing-Along

Tree lighting · Concord, CA · Free

20 mi

1728 Elmhurst Lane

Home display · Concord, CA

20 mi

4549 Lincoln Dr Light Show

Home display · Concord, CA

Music

20 mi

Richmond Christmas Tree Lighting

Tree lighting · Richmond, CA · Free

22 mi

Skyline Drive Decorated Homes

Neighborhood · Daly City, CA

22 mi

Onyx Court Dunn Family Display (Hercules)

Home display · Hercules, CA

23 mi

Benicia Holiday Open House & Tree Lighting

Tree lighting · Benicia, CA · Free

24 mi

Tunnels of Joy, La Costa Dr

Neighborhood · Brentwood, CA

25 mi

The Disney House (Vistalli family)

Home display · Antioch, CA

25 mi

Tap + Tour on a few displays to get one driving route you can send to your phone (how it works). Missing a house or show in Castro Valley? Add it free.

Christmas lights in Castro Valley: common questions

What are the best Christmas lights in Castro Valley?

Popular picks this season include Holidays at Filoli: Holiday Lights (Nov 14 – Jan 10), Glowfari at Oakland Zoo (Nov 6 – Jan 31), Lightscape at San Francisco Botanical Garden (Nov 20 – Jan 3) and Garden of D'Lights at Ruth Bancroft Garden (Nov 20 – Jan 10). In all, 55 displays are mapped in and around Castro Valley, from decorated houses and neighborhoods to ticketed light shows.

Where can I see free Christmas lights in Castro Valley?

Free options include Lightscape at San Francisco Botanical Garden, Christmas Festival at 3Crosses Church, Crippsmas Place and Christmas Tree Lane, Thompson Avenue. 32 of the 55 displays near Castro Valley are free to visit; most home and neighborhood displays cost nothing to drive by.

Is there a drive-thru Christmas light show near Castro Valley?

Yes. Magic of Lights at Toyota Pavilion at Concord (Tickets from about $55 on resale listings). Drive-thru shows usually charge per car, and buying tickets online ahead of time is often faster.

Are there Christmas lights synced to music in Castro Valley?

Yes. Lightscape at San Francisco Botanical Garden, Great Dickens Christmas Fair and Los Altos Holiday Tree Celebration. Synced displays broadcast their soundtrack on a low-power FM station so you can listen from your car.

When do Christmas lights start in Castro Valley?

The earliest Castro Valley-area displays turn on Nov 6, and most are running by the weekend after Thanksgiving. Many stay lit through New Year's; check each display's page for its exact dates and nightly hours.

Want your house to look like this?

Professional Christmas light installers in Castro Valley hang, maintain and take down your lights, or install permanent lights you control from your phone. Tell us about your house and get free quotes.

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