Christmas Lights Near Me

San Francisco Christmas Lights 2026Every light trail, lantern walk, projection show and lighting night in San Francisco and the East Bay, with what's confirmed for this year and what isn't yet. We check every one and update this page each week through New Year's.

Updated Monday, September 14
11 displays
3 confirmed for 2026
9 free

This weekWhat changed since our last update

Confirmed for 20262026 dates not announcedLast year's details, unverified

The big ones

Four displays cover most of what people mean by lights in San Francisco. Three are confirmed for 2026. If you only do one, we'd pick Lightscape, and book it early.

Glow at the Exploratorium Confirmed 2026

Nov 19, 2026 – Jan 24, 2027 Museum admission, free for members Pier 15, Embarcadero

Artist-made light sculptures spread through the Exploratorium's Pier 15 building. It's included with regular admission, so it's the pick if you have kids who'd rather touch things than walk a trail. It runs to January 24, so it's a good one to save for after Christmas.

Check Glow's hours separately. They can differ from regular museum hours, especially evenings and member times. Weekday evenings are quieter, and it's a lot of walking, so dress for the pier.
Official page Directions

Lightscape at the Botanical Garden Confirmed 2026

Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027 Ticketed, under 4 free Golden Gate Park, 9th Ave entrance

A one-mile trail through the Botanical Garden with a million lights, new installations for 2026 and soundscapes along the way. It's the closest thing San Francisco has to a proper light walk. Tickets are timed and the good nights go early.

Park on MLK Jr. Drive. Street parking is free there and on Nancy Pelosi and Bowling Green Drives, but overnight rules kick in after 10pm. Arrive up to 30 minutes before your entry time; there's food and drink for sale at the gate.
Official page Directions

Glowfari at the Oakland Zoo Confirmed 2026

Nov 6, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027 Ticketed Oakland, 15 mi east

Hundreds of large animal lanterns through the Oakland Zoo, new ones this year, built around wildlife and conservation stories. It's lanterns rather than string lights, so it photographs differently from everything else here. It opens first of the big ones, the first week of November.

Buy ahead. Capacity is limited and popular nights sell out. Last year entry was timed between 4:30 and 6:30pm with gates closing at 7:30, and the zoo was dark on scattered weeknights, so check the calendar before you drive over.
Official page Directions

Let's Glow SF, downtown Last year's details

Last dates we've seen: Dec 6 – 15, 2024 5:30–10pm nightly Free, event parking $15 Downtown, 8 sites including the Ferry Building

Animated projections on eight downtown buildings from 16 international artists, billed as the country's largest holiday projection event. It's free and you walk between sites, with a Glow on Front block party one night. The Ferry Building is the crowd-puller, so get there early.

Free bus between sites. On select dates a Big Bus loop runs between the projection sites. Flat $15 event parking at 100 Pine, 225 Bush, 455 Market, 7 Fremont and Post Montgomery Center, but get in before the garages close.
Annual, but our listing is from 2024. We haven't seen 2026 dates yet.
Official page Directions

Free

City Hall, and a tree in Golden Gate Park that changes color when you scan it. Let's Glow SF downtown is free too, it's up in the big list.

City Hall lit for the holidays Last year's details

Every evening at sunset From sunset, nightly Free Civic Center

Over 220 LEDs wash City Hall's dome and facade every night from sunset, warm white most of the year and holiday colors in season. It's a ten-minute stop, not an outing, but it's free and it's downtown. Garages at 355 McAllister and 360 Grove.

Pick a clear night. The lights read better against a clear sky. Special schemes get posted on the City Hall events site.
Lit year-round. We haven't seen a 2026 holiday lighting schedule yet.
Official page Directions

Entwined: Elder Mother, Golden Gate Park Last year's details

Winter installation, with monthly events starting December 7. Free Peacock Meadow, JFK Drive

A monumental wind-animated tree sculpture in Peacock Meadow that shifts color after dark. Scan the QR codes on its leaves and you control the lighting from your phone. Last year there were monthly events from December 7, including a holiday tree lighting.

Go after dark. It's just a sculpture until the sun goes down. The Parks Alliance site posts the December event date.
Winter installation. We haven't seen 2026 dates yet.
Official page Directions

Lighting nights and town squares

One-night events. None have posted 2026 dates yet. We list last year's so you can plan around the same weekend.

Parol Lantern Festival

Last year Dec 13 at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. Filipino parol lanterns, lantern-making workshops and a Taste of Christmas food fair, in its 23rd year. Take transit.

Official page Directions

Santa Lights the Square, Ghirardelli Square

Last year Nov 29. The SF Boys Chorus sings, then Santa turns on the square. Free.

Official page Directions

Fourth Street lights night, Berkeley

Last year Nov 8, 5–7pm. Three blocks of Fourth Street lit, free cocoa and cookies, magic shows at 5:45 and 6:30. Free.

Official page Directions

Embarcadero Center building lighting

Last year Nov 18. Carnival games and Santa, then a light show as Embarcadero Center comes on with 17,000 lights. Free.

Official page Directions

It's a Wonderful Night, San Leandro

Last year Dec 5, 5–9pm, tree lighting at 5:30. Santa, holiday train rides and a market. Free.

Official page Directions

Know a display we're missing?

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