If you're celebrating the holidays in L.A this season, we’ve got a whole host of special drive-thru lights, festive experiences, Santa visits, and more to keep you and your loved ones entertained. From an 11-story-tall Christmas tree made of lights at a NASCAR speedway to a “snowstorm” in the heart of the city, here's where to see the most stunning Christmas lights in Los Angeles this year.
Where to See Festive Christmas Lights in Los Angeles This Year (Including Drive-Thrus)
1. Santa's Speedway Christmas Lights Drive-thru Spectacular
Picture this: You're on an actual NASCAR track for the holidays when the Irwindale Speedway is transformed into a magical display of lights and attractions—but this year, instead of driving, you get to explore the spectacular displays on foot. Take in the signature 11-story Christmas tree of lights, a 35-foot teddy bear, towering ornaments and more. If you have kids (or even if you don’t, we’re not judging), don’t forget to stop by Santa’s Village and get a photo with Kris Kringle himself. Tram and hayride wagons are available too, if you’re not in a walking mood. This is all from the people who do up The Grove, Universal Studios and Warner Brothers for the holidays, so you know you're going to get a no-holds-barred and profesh light show. Open December 1 through January 1.
2. Enchanted Forest Of Lights
From November 20 to January 8, Descanso Gardens in La Canada-Flintridge bathes a mile of its forests, meadows, and garden paths in arty interactive light installations. This year’s nondenominational fantasia will include crowd favorites from previous years, like an entire town of magical stained glass in the Rose Garden by contemporary sculptor Tom Fruin, swirling hanging lamps from HYBYCOZO on the main lawn, and dramatic lighting effects in the ancient forest and a pathway that lights up when you walk on it, created by internationally renowned creator Jen Lewin.
3. Holiday Road
From November 25 to December 30, the sprawling grounds of King Gillette Ranch in Malibu will be filled with eye-catching, twinkling lights and festive installations to welcome visitors as they meander through the winding outdoor trail. Guests will be transported into a winter wonderland complete with everything from the North Pole, Elf Village, Gingerbread Lane, light tunnels, and Christmas tree forests.
4. Candy Cane Lane
Before the days of branded entertainment "experiences," there was an American small-town tradition of neighbors decorating their front yards with a Christmas creche, or, say, a wooden cutout of Saint Nick on his sleigh. What with one neighbor outdoing another, with more lights and ever-increasingly elaborate tableaux...behold, there was born the Christmas street. There are several in Southern Cali, and the one in Woodland Hills, Candy Cane Lane, is our favorite because it's been going on for 60 years on eight blocks around Lubao Avenue and Oxnard Street. Go just at sundown for the least-crowded time, and make a game of it with your family—who can spot the Santa hat–wearing minions first? How many Santas can you find? And what inspirations can you take back to your own home?
5. South Coast Botanic Garden Astra Lumina
Want to see something that's more artistic and less Santa-oriented? And maybe want to stretch your legs outside your car? Then. This. Experience. Has. Everything. At the South Coast Botanic Garden from December 8 to January 29, you can buy a timed ticket to walk through the famously lush greenery, now transformed into visually stunning art installations that bring the magic of the starry skies down to Earth using thousands of lights. Your celestial walk is cued to an artistically curated soundtrack guiding you through this unique and unforgettable after-dark event.
The Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade tradition began over 100 years ago with a dozen boats that set sail, strung with decorations by their owners. The parade will take place from December 14 through December 18, and you can watch from multiple public viewing spots on land. If you want to take the experience a step further, you can view the parade from the water while you cruise alongside elaborately decorated yachts. From December 2 to December 31, you can also take an evening cruise to enjoy a water-view of all the estates around the Newport Harbor that are decorated.
7. Mission Inn Festival Of Lights
What says California Christmas more than taking a refreshing plunge into a pool surrounded by the warm dusk air and 4.5 million twinkly lights? That's the plan at the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa in Riverside, the sprawling resort complex where all those lights, along with more than 400 animated toy soldiers and other seasonal elements, are lit from November 25 until January 6, and it's a great excuse for an overnight stay or just an evening meal so that you can stroll the grounds.
8. Lightscape
Starting early (November 11) and ending late in the season (January 8), this light exhibition at the L.A. County Arboretum includes a stroll through a cathedral made of light and incredible new installations along the trail (which has been expanded this year). You can grab a hot cocoa—or a hot toddy if that’s more your speed—to keep you warm as you explore the festive display.
9. Animals Aglow at the Los Angeles Zoo
From November 18 through January 22, while the animals of the L.A. Zoo are getting their beauty sleep, you can experience L.A. Zoo Lights. Featuring incredible lantern sculptures of wild animals among plants and trees, this immersive display is a great way to celebrate the holidays and provides a ton of photo ops. While outside food and beverages aren’t allowed, they do have them for sale inside the zoo. Cheers.
10. Holiday Light Festival Train Ride
Just a stone’s throw away from the zoo, you can find Griffith Park’s annual Holiday Light Festival Train Ride. The ten-minute train ride around the one-mile track in Griffith Park has been transformed into festive scenes using thousands of lights. This year, there are also several themed photobooths so you can ‘Gram the holiday cheer!
11. Venice Canals
If you haven’t been to the Venice Canals before, there’s no better time to check them out than around the holidays. This hidden gem on the Westside becomes even more charming when the bridges over the canals are decked out with twinkling holiday lights. Bring along a warm beverage and walk along the canals and through the neighborhood to see decorated homes too. It’s not quite the canals of Italy, but we’ll take it!
12. Christmas Tree Lane
At Christmas Tree Lane, an all-volunteer group lines nearly a mile of Santa Rosa Avenue in Altadena each year so that anyone who passes through can enjoy the holiday spirit. The tradition goes back a hundred years and is worth checking out if you’re nearby. You can park your car and walk the lane, or you can stay in your car and drive it if you’re not up for a walk. The lights are on every night in December from 5:30 p.m. until midnight.
13. Disneyland
The happiest place on Earth is even happier when the holidays roll around. Disney doesn’t mess around with getting in the spirit of the season—they deck out the entire park, down to the rides themselves. From November 11 through January 8, you can experience the Haunted Mansion Holiday ride (think Nightmare Before Christmas), World of Color with a festive theme, the twice-daily Christmas Fantasy Parade, and so much more. And to really get your winter fix, stick around for the evening fireworks to see some snowfall.
14. Beverly Hills
In LA, aside from the Hollywood Sign itself, it doesn’t get much more iconic than the sparkling streets of Beverly Hills. Window shop on Rodeo Drive under the glimmer of the lights and enjoy light installations all around the neighborhood—from sparkling light sculptures to a light show in the park. You can catch all the festivities from November 18 through January 1.
15. Winter Fest OC
If you’re up for a short drive south, the OC Fair & Event Center is transformed into a winter wonderland from November 25 to January 1. Along with ice skating, an ice tubing slide, a holiday market, and a snowboard simulator, you’ll find over one million lights surrounding you. With games, food and drinks, and tons of holiday activities, you can easily spend a whole day enjoying Winter Fest OC.
16. 123 Farm
If you’ve ever made the drive from L.A. to Coachella, you’ve passed 123 Farm. In Beaumont you’ll find this small farm tucked away from the 10 freeway, and from November 4 until January 8 you can experience Christmas Nights. Buy a cup of cocoa from a life-sized gingerbread house, take horse-drawn carriage rides on select nights, and take in over one million lights spread from the lavender fields to the oak trees and beyond. Just be sure to check traffic ahead of time, as it can be a significantly longer drive during peak hours.
17. Hikari - Festival of Lights
At Tanaka Farms in Irvine, what was once a drive-thru-only light display has grown into a full-blown winter festival. Now, your ticket will include a wagon ride and access to even more areas accessible by foot. With food, games, arts and crafts, photo ops and more, Hikari is more than just an exquisite display of lights—there’s even live music on weekend nights! You can visit Hikari from November 25 through December 30.
18. Snow at The Grove
Ah, The Grove. Every Angeleno has a healthy dose of fear of that parking garage, but for those brave enough to face their fears will be rewarded with fabulous shopping, a great farmers’ market, and Christmas spirit to boot. With a towering Christmas tree and lights everywhere you turn, it’s the perfect place to get your holiday light fix while also getting some Christmas shopping done—and if you happen to find the perfect present for yourself, we aren’t judging. Make sure you stick around to see the snow, which falls at 7 and 8 p.m. each night until December 25.