Best Christmas Lights & Holiday Displays in San Francisco (2026)
Garden trails, downtown projections, hotel traditions and waterfront trees, plus the Bay Area outings worth the trip.
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San Francisco does the holidays its own way: a glasshouse washed in color, a gingerbread house big enough to walk through, a Christmas tree with the bay right behind it. The best evening might be a mile of garden lights, or three free stops and a hot chocolate on the way home.
We've picked 27 places, starting in the city and then the nearby trips we'd make for something different. For a first visit, start with the Fairmont and Union Square. For a full light show, book Lightscape or SF ZooLights. During its short December run, Let's Glow SF is our favorite free night out.
San Francisco Holiday Lights at a Glance
| Display / area | 2026 dates | Admission |
|---|---|---|
| Let's Glow SF · Downtown | Dec 4–13 | Free |
| Lightscape · Golden Gate Park | Nov 20–Jan 3, selected evenings | Adults from $32; ages 5–17 from $20 |
| SF ZooLights · Ocean Beach | Nov 6–Jan 3, Wed–Sun | Adults $30; ages 2–11 $21 |
| Conservatory Photosynthesis · Golden Gate Park | Oct 1–Jan 30, nightly | Free |
| Union Square tree & Macy's windows · Union Square | Tree typically lit by mid-Nov; windows Nov 20–Dec 31 | Free to view |
| Fairmont gingerbread house · Nob Hill | Nov 21–Dec 31 | Free lobby viewing |
| Westin Sugar Castle · Union Square | Usually Thanksgiving week–early Jan | Free lobby viewing |
| Huntington Park · Nob Hill | Lighting Nov 30 | Free |
| World Tree of Hope · Nob Hill | Dec–Jan 8; ceremony Dec 7 | Ceremony free; cathedral rules otherwise |
| Ritz-Carlton tree · Nob Hill | Lighting Dec 2 | Free ceremony |
| PIER 39 tree & snowfall · Fisherman's Wharf | Lighting Dec 3; through Jan 10 | Free to view |
| Ghirardelli Square tree · Aquatic Park | Lighting Nov 27 | Free to view |
| Embarcadero Center lights · Financial District | Lighting Nov 18; through December | Free to view |
| Glow at the Exploratorium · Pier 15 | Nov 19–Jan 24 | Museum admission; adults $39.95 |
| Civic Center Plaza tree · Civic Center | Lighting Dec 2 | Free |
| Thrive City tree · Mission Bay | Lighting Nov 27 | Free |
| Yerba Buena Gardens tree · SoMa | Lighting Nov 28 | Free |
| Castro tree · Castro | Lighting Nov 30 | Free |
| Lighted Boat Parade · Northern waterfront | Dec 11 | Free from shore |
Bay Area Holiday Lights at a Glance
| Display / area | 2026 dates | Admission |
|---|---|---|
| Filoli Holiday Lights · Woodside | Nov 14–Jan 10, with closures | From $45; parking included |
| Glowfari · Oakland Zoo | Nov 6–Jan 31, selected nights | Date-based tickets; parking included |
| Garden of D'Lights · Walnut Creek | Nov 20–Jan 10, selected evenings | Adults $29–$35 + fees; ages 5–17 $16–$18 |
| Marin Holiday Light Spectacular · San Rafael | Nov 27–Jan 3, nightly | Free admission and parking |
| Christmas at Temple Hill · Oakland | Nov 27–Dec 31, nightly | Free admission and parking |
| Alameda Christmas Tree Lane · Alameda | Usually early Dec–New Year's | Free |
| Christmas in the Park · San Jose | Nov 27–Jan 1, daily | Free; parking extra |
| Fantasy of Lights · Los Gatos | Dec 5, 6, 12 and 13 only | Ages 13+ $25; ages 4–12 $10 |
Downtown, Union Square and Nob Hill Christmas Displays
The city's most familiar holiday scenes sit within a few blocks of each other. Do the Macy's animal windows and Grace Cathedral earlier, then save the trees, hotel lobbies and Let's Glow SF projections for evening.
The Union Square rink is in our holiday ice skating guide, and Winter Walk on Maiden Lane is in our San Francisco Christmas markets guide.
Let's Glow SF
1 Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA 94105, USA
For ten nights, downtown's buildings become the show, with animated artwork moving across stone, glass and old architectural details. It's the free night out we'd pick for friends who want to wander, take photos and stop for dinner. Start at Yerba Buena Lane and work toward the Ferry Building. Details: December 4–13. Projections 7–10 p.m. on Dec 4, then 5:30–10 p.m. Opening celebration Dec 4, 6–7 p.m. at the Ferry Building. Sites: Yerba Buena Lane, Hobart Building, Pacific Exchange, 101 California, Ferry Building, plus the top of Salesforce Tower. Free.
Union Square Holiday Tree & Macy's Windows
San Francisco, CA 94108, USA
The easiest place to start a traditional San Francisco Christmas outing, with the big tree, the skating rink and decorated shopfronts in one small area. Make the SF SPCA animal windows at Macy's (Stockton and O'Farrell) your first stop. Details: Tree typically lit by mid-November. Animal windows Wednesday–Sunday, noon–5 p.m., November 20–December 31 (closed Nov 26 and Dec 25). The Bill Graham Menorah is lit each night December 4–11, with a family celebration December 6, 2–6:30 p.m. Skating is a separate ticket.
Fairmont San Francisco Gingerbread House
950 Mason St, San Francisco, CA 94108, USA
The hotel stop to make time for. The life-size gingerbread house scales every confectionery detail up to an actual doorway, and this year's Holiday Lane carries trees and garlands down the Loggia hallway. Details: November 21–December 31; gingerbread lighting Nov 21 at 11 a.m. Free lobby viewing; teas and meals booked separately. Allow 30–45 minutes.
Westin St. Francis Sugar Castle
335 Powell St, San Francisco, CA 94102, USA
A stop for people who like to look closely. The nearly 12-foot sugar castle has towers, lit rooms and a running train, and kids love hunting for the details. No tea booking needed to enjoy it. Details: 2026 viewing dates to come (last year late November into early January). Check that it's up and which lobby it's in before making a special trip. Free.
Huntington Park Holiday Lights
California St & Taylor St, San Francisco, CA 94108, USA
Lit trees and Nob Hill's architecture take the outing back outside, a nice place to slow down after a busy hotel lobby. Pairs naturally with the Fairmont. Details: Free lighting celebration Monday, November 30, 5:30–7:30 p.m. Nob Hill is steep, so take the cable car or a ride up if hills are hard going.
World Tree of Hope at Grace Cathedral
1100 California St, San Francisco, CA 94108, USA
Thousands of folded paper cranes and stars, each carrying a wish, make the World Tree of Hope one of the city's most thoughtful trees. A different mood from a light tunnel, so give it a few minutes. Details: Free celebration Monday, December 7, 6:30–8 p.m.; on view through January 8. Other visits follow the cathedral's normal hours and admission.
Ritz-Carlton San Francisco Holiday Tree
600 Stockton St, San Francisco, CA 94108, USA
The Ritz-Carlton's front-drive lighting is a polished little scene, with carolers, trumpeters, the tree and Santa. A public, outdoor taste of hotel Christmas atmosphere. Details: Free ceremony December 2, 5:30–7:30 p.m. Overlaps with the Civic Center lighting, so pick one. Teddy Bear Tea and dining are separate.
Civic Center Plaza Holiday Tree
335 McAllister St, San Francisco, CA 94102, USA
City Hall gives this lighting real occasion: a 50-foot fir across from the lit dome, with performances, kids' activities and snow flurries. Details: Free event December 2, 4–7 p.m., rain or shine; tree lights at 5:30 p.m. SPECTRA in nearby Fulton Plaza is a good extra stop.
SPECTRA at Fulton Plaza
Fulton St, San Francisco, CA 94102, USA
SPECTRA is a suspended wave of LEDs between the Main Library and the Asian Art Museum, an easy extra after the Civic Center tree lighting. Details: Year-round outdoor light art at 147 Fulton Street. Free.
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Holiday Lights Along the San Francisco Waterfront
There are two natural clusters: Ghirardelli Square and PIER 39 to the north, and the Exploratorium, Embarcadero Center and Ferry Building farther along, with Yerba Buena Gardens and Thrive City a short ride south. Pick one stretch for a relaxed evening.
PIER 39 Christmas Tree & Snowfall
The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94133, USA
A 60-foot tree at the pier entrance, a bayfront setting and new simulated snowfall make this the easy family pick at the Wharf. Details: Tree lighting Thursday, December 3, 5–9 p.m. Snowfall every half hour, 5–10 p.m., December 4–January 10. Free to view; $15 flat-rate parking.
Ghirardelli Square Christmas Tree
900 North Point St E204A, San Francisco, CA 94109, USA
Our pick when the evening calls for a Christmas tree and something warm to drink. The 46-foot tree and old brick buildings feel cozy once the light fades, and it pairs well with a walk along Aquatic Park. Details: Santa lights the tree Friday, November 27, at 4:45 p.m. with the SF Boys Chorus. Santa visits Dec 4, 11 and 18, 4–7 p.m. Free.
St. Francis Yacht Club Lighted Boat Parade
San Francisco, CA 94133, USA
Holiday lights on moving boats are a very San Francisco winter evening. Pick a waterfront spot (Pier 43, PIER 39 or Aquatic Park), bundle up and let the St. Francis Yacht Club's decorated boats come to you. Details: Lighted Boat Parade Friday, December 11. Sailing time and route to come. Free from shore.
Embarcadero Center Building Lights
Three Embarcadero Center, San Francisco, CA 94111, USA
A reminder to look up: lights outline the Embarcadero Center towers above the Financial District. A good link between the Ferry Building, dinner and a look at the Bay Lights. Details: Lighting and holiday-market kickoff November 18, 4–6 p.m., at Three Embarcadero Center's street-level patio. Decorations through December. Free.
Glow at the Exploratorium
Pier 15 Embarcadero at, Green St, San Francisco, CA 94111, USA
Glow is the answer when you want light and color without standing outside. Moving mirrors, luminous sculptures and shadow experiments make it great for curious kids and adults. Details: November 19–January 24, included with museum admission (adults $39.95, ages 4–17 $29.95). Tuesday–Saturday 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Sunday noon–5 p.m. Thursday After Dark is 18+.
The Bay Lights (view from Rincon Park)
The Embarcadero & Folsom St, San Francisco, CA 94105, USA
End a waterfront evening watching The Bay Lights shimmer across the Bay Bridge from Rincon Park. Year-round light art, back since March 2026. Details: Dusk to dawn nightly. Free. A short walk from the Ferry Building.
Yerba Buena Gardens Holiday Tree
750 Howard St, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA
A good holiday extra when the afternoon already belongs to the nearby museums. The tree lighting gives the area an early-evening gathering point. Details: Free lighting Saturday, November 28, 4–6 p.m.; RSVP optional.
Thrive City Winter Wonderland
1725 3rd St, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
The 90-foot tree outside Chase Center is the reason to come, and the opening night adds music, performances and simulated snow. Handy for a Mission Bay evening with restaurants close by. Details: Lighting Friday, November 27, 4–6 p.m.; RSVP encouraged. Check the Chase Center calendar first, since event nights change the crowd. Free.
Golden Gate Park, the Castro and the West Side
The park holds the city's biggest ticketed trail and its best free light show, and the zoo is a short drive west. Watch for Uncle John's Tree too: the lighting of the giant cypress outside McLaren Lodge has been a city tradition since 1929, and this year's lighting is Thursday, December 3, with the countdown at 6 p.m..
Lightscape at San Francisco Botanical Garden
1199 9th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94122, USA
Lightscape fills a mile-long route through the Botanical Garden with glowing sculptures, lit planting and music. It works as well for a date as for a family night. Book a weekday if you can and eat around Ninth Avenue and Irving Street after. Details: November 20–January 3, selected evenings. Adults from $32, ages 5–17 from $20, under 5 free. Timed entry; popular nights sell out. Use the Ninth Avenue entrance. Allow 60–90 minutes.
Photosynthesis at the Conservatory of Flowers
100 John F Kennedy Dr, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA
The Conservatory's white facade becomes a canvas for moving color, and the front lawn gives you room to take in the whole building. A warm drink, a coat and half an hour outside. Details: October 1–January 30, nightly, starting 30 minutes after sunset and running about 30 minutes. Free. Exterior show only; Lightscape is a separate ticket across the park.
San Francisco ZooLights
Sloat Blvd &, Upper Great Hwy, San Francisco, CA 94132, USA
ZooLights is back for the first time since 2018, with glowing animals, a frozen photo zone, light-up playgrounds and dinosaurs lit after dark. Give it its own evening and bring an extra layer for the coast. Details: November 6–January 3, Wednesday–Sunday, 5:30–9 p.m. (10 p.m. Fri–Sat). Adults $30, ages 2–11 $21; parking extra. Separate from daytime zoo admission.
Castro Holiday Tree
501 Castro St, San Francisco, CA 94114, USA
The Castro holiday tree is as much a neighborhood get-together as a display, and a natural start to an evening of local shops and dinner. Details: Free lighting Monday, November 30, 6–6:30 p.m., at Bank of America Plaza, 501 Castro Street.
Bay Area Holiday Lights Worth the Trip
Cross a bridge or head down the Peninsula for a different kind of display. Traffic and entry windows make one main stop per evening the sensible plan.
Holiday Lights at Filoli
86 Cañada Rd, Woodside, CA 94062, USA
Filoli is the trip for a slower, more grown-up holiday evening: lit formal gardens, a long tunnel of light and a decorated historic house. Details: Holiday Lights November 14–January 10, 4–10 p.m., last entry 8 p.m. Closed Nov 26 and Dec 12, 24, 25. Tickets from $45, house and parking included. Allow about 2 hours.
Glowfari at Oakland Zoo
9777 Golf Links Rd, Oakland, CA 94605, USA
Glowfari spreads giant animal lanterns across Oakland Zoo, with more up the hill by gondola. One of the Bay Area outings most worth planning around for kids. Details: November 6–January 31, selected nights. Entry 4:30–6:30 p.m.; everyone out by 9 p.m. Date-based prices; parking included. Live animals not on view.
Garden of D'Lights at Ruth Bancroft Garden
1552 Bancroft Rd, Walnut Creek, CA 94598, USA
Garden of D'Lights lights up cacti, succulents and sculptural plants with this year's Desert Nights theme. A strong pick for garden lovers and photographers, and compact enough to fit around dinner. Details: November 20–January 10, selected evenings; entries at 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. Adults $29–$35, ages 5–17 $16–$18, plus fees. Leashed dogs welcome.
Marin County Holiday Light Spectacular
San Rafael, CA 94903, USA
The Marin County Holiday Light Spectacular is a proper holiday outing with no tickets to buy: lit paths and photo stops made for strolling with family. Details: November 27–January 3, every night 5–9 p.m. Free admission and parking. Accessible paths; leashed pets welcome outside.
Christmas at Temple Hill
4770 Lincoln Ave, Oakland, CA 94602, USA
About half a million lights wrap the palms and trees around the Oakland California Temple, with Nativity scenes and wide views across the Bay. Head up to the rooftop gardens for the best vantage point. Details: Christmas at Temple Hill, November 27–December 31, dusk–9 p.m. Free admission and parking. Festival of Trees indoors Nov 28–Dec 22, 6–9 p.m. The grounds are open to all; the temple itself is not.
Alameda Christmas Tree Lane
3200 Thompson Ave, Alameda, CA 94501, USA
Alameda's Christmas Tree Lane: Thompson Avenue has decorated together since 1938, each house in its own style. A slow walk for families who'd rather stroll than keep to a ticket. Details: 3200 block of Thompson Avenue, between High Street and Fernside Boulevard. 2026 dates to come; usually opens early December. Free. Keep driveways clear.
Christmas in the Park
194 S Market St, San Jose, CA 95113, USA
The South Bay pick for a whole downtown holiday evening: community-decorated trees and animated displays in Plaza de Cesar Chavez. Details: November 27–January 1, daily noon–10 p.m.; go after dark for the lights. Free; food and parking extra.
Fantasy of Lights at Vasona Lake County Park
333 Blossom Hill Rd, Los Gatos, CA 95032, USA
Fantasy of Lights is four walk-through nights this year: a one-mile, one-way stroll through the park's displays, with Santa, food trucks and hot cocoa. Details: December 5, 6, 12 and 13, 4–9 p.m. Ages 13+ $25, ages 4–12 $10, under 4 free with ticket. No parking in the park: use the free Netflix lot at 121 Albright Way and the shuttle.
Three Easy Ways to Plan the Evening
The classic first visit. Start at Macy's animal windows around 4 p.m. on a Wednesday–Sunday, wander Union Square and the Westin, then ride up to the Fairmont and finish at Huntington Park before dinner on Nob Hill. Allow about three hours. Grace Cathedral is better on an earlier afternoon.
The free December walk. Between December 5 and 13, start at Yerba Buena Lane around 5:30 p.m. and follow Let's Glow SF to the Hobart Building, Pacific Exchange, 101 California and the Ferry Building. Finish at Rincon Park for the Bay Lights. Allow two to three hours with dinner.
The waterfront evening. Start with the Ghirardelli tree and a hot chocolate, then follow the water to PIER 39 and stay for a snowfall (from December 4). On December 11, the boat parade can be the main event. Allow two to three hours.
Add a drink or dinner. Our guides to San Francisco Christmas bars and the city's most festive restaurants have the decorated rooms closest to each route.
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