The top places to see Christmas lights in El Cajon this season are Coastal Christmas Holiday Lights Spectacular (Dec 11 – Dec 26), Lightscape at San Diego Botanic Garden (Nov 20 – Jan 3) and Christmas at Gaylord Pacific and ICE! (Nov 20 – Jan 3). We've mapped 3 displays in El Cajon and 31 more nearby (11 events, 7 neighborhoods, 7 parades). 21 are free. 9 are synced to music. Tap any display for dates, hours and directions.
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 El Cajon? Add it free.
Christmas lights in El Cajon: common questions
What are the best Christmas lights in El Cajon?
Popular picks this season include Coastal Christmas Holiday Lights Spectacular (Dec 11 – Dec 26), Lightscape at San Diego Botanic Garden (Nov 20 – Jan 3), Christmas at Gaylord Pacific and ICE! (Nov 20 – Jan 3) and Hotel del Coronado Holidays (Nov 20 – Jan 3). In all, 34 displays are mapped in and around El Cajon, from decorated houses and neighborhoods to ticketed light shows.
Where can I see free Christmas lights in El Cajon?
Free options include Hotel del Coronado Holidays, Balboa Park December Nights, La Mesa Holiday in the Village and Poway Christmas in the Park. 21 of the 34 displays near El Cajon are free to visit; most home and neighborhood displays cost nothing to drive by.
Are there Christmas lights synced to music in El Cajon?
Yes. Coastal Christmas Holiday Lights Spectacular, Lightscape at San Diego Botanic Garden and USS Midway Jingle Jets. Synced displays broadcast their soundtrack on a low-power FM station so you can listen from your car.
When do Christmas lights start in El Cajon?
The earliest El Cajon-area displays turn on Nov 13, 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 El Cajon 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.
