The top places to see Christmas lights in Oakland this season are Glowfari at Oakland Zoo (Nov 6 – Jan 31), Holidays at Filoli: Holiday Lights (Nov 14 – Jan 10) and Lightscape at San Francisco Botanical Garden (Nov 20 – Jan 3). We've mapped 6 displays in Oakland and 50 more nearby (15 events, 11 home displays, 10 neighborhoods). 32 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 Oakland? Add it free.
Christmas lights in Oakland: common questions
What are the best Christmas lights in Oakland?
Popular picks this season include Glowfari at Oakland Zoo (Nov 6 – Jan 31), Holidays at Filoli: Holiday Lights (Nov 14 – Jan 10), 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, 56 displays are mapped in and around Oakland, from decorated houses and neighborhoods to ticketed light shows.
Where can I see free Christmas lights in Oakland?
Free options include Lightscape at San Francisco Botanical Garden, Marin Holiday Light Spectacular, Temple Hill Christmas Lights and Circle of Lights at Mountain View Cemetery. 32 of the 56 displays near Oakland are free to visit; most home and neighborhood displays cost nothing to drive by.
Is there a drive-thru Christmas light show near Oakland?
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 Oakland?
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 Oakland?
The earliest Oakland-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 Oakland 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.
