The top places to see Christmas lights in El Cerrito this season are 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). We've mapped 3 displays in El Cerrito and 45 more nearby (13 events, 9 neighborhoods, 9 tree lightings). 28 are free. 8 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 Cerrito? Add it free.
Christmas lights in El Cerrito: common questions
What are the best Christmas lights in El Cerrito?
Popular picks this season include Glowfari at Oakland Zoo (Nov 6 – Jan 31), Lightscape at San Francisco Botanical Garden (Nov 20 – Jan 3), Garden of D'Lights at Ruth Bancroft Garden (Nov 20 – Jan 10) and Magic of Lights at Toyota Pavilion at Concord (From Nov 21). In all, 48 displays are mapped in and around El Cerrito, from decorated houses and neighborhoods to ticketed light shows.
Where can I see free Christmas lights in El Cerrito?
Free options include Lightscape at San Francisco Botanical Garden, Marin Holiday Light Spectacular, Christmas Festival at 3Crosses Church and Christmas Tree Lane, Thompson Avenue. 28 of the 48 displays near El Cerrito are free to visit; most home and neighborhood displays cost nothing to drive by.
Is there a drive-thru Christmas light show near El Cerrito?
Yes. Magic of Lights at Toyota Pavilion at Concord (Tickets from about $55 on resale listings) and Marin Holiday Light Spectacular (Free). 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 El Cerrito?
Yes. Lightscape at San Francisco Botanical Garden, Great Dickens Christmas Fair and Pier 39 Christmas Tree Lighting and Tree Show. 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 Cerrito?
The earliest El Cerrito-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 El Cerrito 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.
