The top places to see Christmas lights in San Diego this season are Coastal Christmas Holiday Lights Spectacular (Dec 11 – Dec 26), Lightscape at San Diego Botanic Garden (Nov 20 – Jan 3) and USS Midway Jingle Jets (Nov 27 – Dec 30). We've mapped 14 displays in San Diego and 17 more nearby (10 events, 7 neighborhoods, 6 parades). 21 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 San Diego? Add it free.
Christmas lights in San Diego: common questions
What are the best Christmas lights in San Diego?
Popular picks this season include Coastal Christmas Holiday Lights Spectacular (Dec 11 – Dec 26), Lightscape at San Diego Botanic Garden (Nov 20 – Jan 3), USS Midway Jingle Jets (Nov 27 – Dec 30) and Petco Park Holiday Wonderland (Dec 4 – Dec 23). In all, 31 displays are mapped in and around San Diego, from decorated houses and neighborhoods to ticketed light shows.
Where can I see free Christmas lights in San Diego?
Free options include Balboa Park December Nights, Hotel del Coronado Holidays, La Mesa Holiday in the Village and Poway Christmas in the Park. 21 of the 31 displays near San Diego are free to visit; most home and neighborhood displays cost nothing to drive by.
Are there Christmas lights synced to music in San Diego?
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 San Diego?
The earliest San Diego-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 San Diego 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.
