The top places to see Christmas lights in San Mateo 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 2 displays in San Mateo and 38 more nearby (12 events, 11 neighborhoods, 8 tree lightings). 26 are free. 7 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 Mateo? Add it free.
Christmas lights in San Mateo: common questions
What are the best Christmas lights in San Mateo?
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 IlluminOdyssey at CuriOdyssey (Nov 14 – Jan 24). In all, 40 displays are mapped in and around San Mateo, from decorated houses and neighborhoods to ticketed light shows.
Where can I see free Christmas lights in San Mateo?
Free options include Lightscape at San Francisco Botanical Garden, Crippsmas Place, Christmas Festival at 3Crosses Church and Christmas Tree Lane, Thompson Avenue. 26 of the 40 displays near San Mateo are free to visit; most home and neighborhood displays cost nothing to drive by.
Are there Christmas lights synced to music in San Mateo?
Yes. Lightscape at San Francisco Botanical Garden, Great Dickens Christmas Fair and Santa Clara Holiday Tree Lighting. 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 Mateo?
The earliest San Mateo-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 San Mateo 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.
