Christmas Lights in Santa Cruz, CA

Popular picks this season include Santa Cruz Holiday Lights Train (From Nov 27), Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Holiday Lights (Nov 27 – Dec 24), Roaring Camp Holiday Tree Walk (From Nov 27) and Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Winter Wonderland (Nov 26 – Jan 3). In all, 21 displays are mapped in and around Santa Cruz, from decorated houses and neighborhoods to ticketed light shows.

Free options include Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Winter Wonderland, Winter on the Wharf, Santa Cruz Harbor Lighted Boat Parade and Downtown Santa Cruz Holiday Parade. 12 of the 21 displays near Santa Cruz are free to visit; most home and neighborhood displays cost nothing to drive by.

Yes. Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Holiday Lights ($11.50-$42 depending on ticket), Sparky's Holiday Lights and Fantasy of Lights at Vasona Lake County Park (Ticketed per vehicle, bought in advance). Drive-thru shows usually charge per car, and buying tickets online ahead of time is often faster.

Yes. North Pole Nights at Gilroy Gardens, Los Gatos in Lights - Winter Celebration and Fantasy of Lights at Vasona Lake County Park (tune to Holiday music via car radio). Synced displays broadcast their soundtrack on a low-power FM station so you can listen from your car.

The earliest Santa Cruz-area displays turn on Nov 21, 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.