Best Places to See Christmas Lights in SoCal
One of our favorite things to do as a family, is to get in the car, turn on the Christmas station, stop at Starbucks or McD’s for some peppermint hot chocolate, and go looking for Christmas lights. It is one of our absolute favorite Christmas traditions. It gets us in the holiday spirit, and it is doesn’t cost a cent, other than gas money. We can’t wait to do it again this year. If you’re looking for some fantastic places to watch Christmas lights, here is a list of the best neighborhoods and streets in So Cal. Enjoy!!!
Los Angeles:
- Sleepy Hollow Christmas Light Extravaganza – Torrance
- Naples Island – Long Beach
- Index Street – between Louise and White Oak – Granada Hills
- Candy Cane Lane -Lubao Ave and Oxnard Street – Woodland Hills
- Yolanda Lights – Reseda
- Christmas Tree Lane, Long Beach
Daisy Avenue between Willow Street & Pacific Coast Highway - Christmas Tree Lane – (Santa Rosa Avenue, between Woodbury Avenue and Altadena Drive) Altadena
- Candy Cane Lane – 1200 block of East Acacia Avenue – El Segundo
- St Albans Drive- St Albans Drive at Huntington Drive- San Marino
- Wakefield Court – Saugus
- Hastings Ranch – Pasadena
Orange County:
- Candy Cane Lane – El Corzo Street- Rancho Santa Margarita
- Eagle Hills Christmas Lights – Entrance is either via East Birch and South Starflower Streets or East Lambert Road and Sunflower Street – Brea
- Houston Ave – La Palma
- Fountain Valley Christmas Lights- Neighborhood of Heil and Sycamore (near Brookhurst)
- Sea Side Neighborhood – San Clemente
- North Yale Avenue – Fullerton
- Oak Knoll/Flintridge Village Neighborhoods – Ladera Ranch
- Nellie Gail in Laguna Niguel
- Eastlake Village(around the lake) – Yorba Linda
Inland Empire:
- Festival of Lights at the Mission Inn – Riverside
- Bainbridge Circle Holiday Extravaganza – Murrieta
- Candy Cane Lane – Winton rd- Corona
- Menifee Lakes Neighborhood – Menifee
- Thoroughbred Street /Sapphire – Alta Loma/Rancho Cucamonga
- Chino CA. just South of the 60 frwy on Walnut , between Mountain , and Euclid and on the Corner of Philidelphia and Monte Vista.
- Festival of Lights – Tom’s Farms – South Corona
San Diego:
- Carmel Mountain Ranch – Fairway Village/Stoney Gate Place – Carmel Valley
- Jingle Bell Hill – Pepper Dr Holiday Lights – El Cajon
- Tinseltown – Paseo Palmas Drive- Lakeside
- Candy Cane Lane – Poway
- Christmas Card Lane – Oviedio Street – Rancho Penasquitos
- Holiday Hill – Stadler Street- La Mesa
- Hotel Del Coronado – Coronado
- Sunburst Santee – Tomel Court, off Magnolia- Santee
Anything for San Diego?
Hi Amie,
I just added about a dozen neighborhoods in San Diego. Enjoy!
This website has a very large list for San Diego and a nice map too – http://www.sandiegofamily.com/component/content/article/348
Festival of lights (pictured) is at The Mission Inn in Riverside
Thanks Laura 🙂 I had posted about the festival in a separate post but completely forgot to add it to this post. Thank you for the reminder. Just added it 🙂
This year’s Festival of Lights at the Mission Inn looks pretty festive indeed. Carriage rides and the whole bit 🙂
It sure does. I had posted about it earlier and just now realized I didn’t add it to this post. Thanks for the reminder 🙂
there’s also Hastings Ranch in Pasadena and Christmas Tree Lane in Altadena 🙂
Thank you Heidi! I just added both neighborhoods. Thanks again!
There’s an amazing house on Vista del Gaviota in orange!
Have you been to Balboa Island this year? Is it worth a visit with small kids?
I just went and looked at thoroughbred st in Alta loma the other night is was nice my 5 yr old told me “when Santa sees all the lights he is gonna say ‘woah these are awesome” there is another street in Ontario area Baker Street above 9th they do the street up real nice also.
There is a house in Buena Park on Santa Rita Circle that does a HUGE light and music presentation every year. I can never find any data online for it but they are definitely set up this year. 7023 Santa Rita Circle, right at the corner of Santa Rita and Knott.
For nearly 25 years the “people of Thoroughbred Lane” (Near Hillside and Sapphire north of the 210 Freeway) in Rancho Cucamonga have been putting on some of the best Christmas lights displays in the Inland Empire. The light displays are usually on beginning just after Thanksgiving and stay up only until Christmas day. They light up around dark and to keep the neighborhood sane, are usually turned off by 11pm. Police usually setup barricades and control traffic as Christmas approaches so to beat the crowds it’s best to come early in the month of December – Don’t wait until Christmas Eve or Christmas night!
The light displays are around Thoroughbred near Sapphire. If coming on the 210 Freeway, exit Carnelian and go north (toward the mountains). Come early and expect to sit in a line of cars especially if you come in the days just before Christmas.
This is by far the best neighborhood display of lights I have ever seen. Some of the families will have groups of people sitting around a firepit in their driveways or in their garages having holiday parties and or watching the game on a big screen in their garage as you walk by. They encourage you to take pictures and some will even be selling food, treats and drinks. Take the whole family but definitely prepare for cold temps and carpool because parking can be an issue and be prepared to walk. Wear warm clothing and good shoes for walking. Go with a group of friends and family everyone will have a great time!
Old Towne Orange (especially Pine Street) always has excellent Christmas light displays. 🙂
This would be a great family outing on a not so cold night. Planning on making some hot cocoa and checking out the homes in Orange County 🙂
Great Christmas light’s in orange ca on 100 – 300 block at North Pine St Orange, CA 92866
There is also a music light show on a house in the 300 block it is a must see.
Come check it out.
The Lights on Winton Rd are animated lights that dance to Christmas lights. My Wife and I have been doing the show for about 5 years and love spreding the joy of Christmas through our lights. Please come and enjoy our show.
Our address is 20666 Winton rd, Corona Ca
Our Area doe not have street signs.
if you exit El Cerrito from the 15 go West.
El Cerrito become Foothill.
You will make a left on Crossroads 2nd light from the freeway.
You will then make an imediat right then an imediate left and that will be Winton rd. We are down the street on the left.
Enjoy our Show..
Merry Christmas
Hi i was wondering if this house still does music displays.. I am dying to go to
One and cant find any.. Im from south
california
Whats the address that i can use for the one in chino?
For Wakefield Winter Wonderland, any tips on where to park if we want to walk? Thanks!
Are the lights on walnut in chino still going on?
Is this list still good for 2014
Yes it is! 🙂
are these still valid?
Yes they are 🙂
I’ll be visiting southern California for the first time Dec 26th – Jan 3rd. What’s the ONE absolute cannot miss neighborhood, that still runs after Christmas day? 🙂
Please email – I’d so greatly appreciate it! Thank you so so much for this page!!
Hi Laura,
I would definitely recommend the Eagles/Brea neighborhood. It is amazing and is blocks and blocks of gorgeous lights!!
is chino still doing their annual display this year?