Best Christmas lights in San Diego 2026: free streets and ticketed shows
The big ticketed light shows start Nov 13 (SeaWorld) and Nov 20 (Lightscape, $28 adults), while the free neighborhood streets like Candy Cane Lane in Poway and Christmas Card Lane in Rancho Penasquitos typically light up around Dec 1.
- Cheapest ticketed lights
- From $18
- Free displays typically start
- About Dec 1
- Coastal Christmas opens
- Fri, Dec 11
- Hotel Del light show
- Free
Lightscape child ticket; adults from $28
Private streets; 2026 dates not confirmed
Del Mar Fairgrounds, 4 to 9 pm
Nightly 5 to 9 pm per La Jolla Mom; confirm with the hotel
The short version
- Lightscape at San Diego Botanic Garden: Nov 20, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027, adults from $28, kids from $18, 2 and under free
- Coastal Christmas at Del Mar Fairgrounds opens Dec 11 (4 to 9 pm); 2026 ticket prices were not posted on the pages checked
- Free streets: Candy Cane Lane (Poway) and Christmas Card Lane (Rancho Penasquitos) have typically run Dec 1 to Dec 25 or 31, but private displays can change
- Lights included with admission: SeaWorld (from Nov 13), LEGOLAND Christmas Bricktacular (from Nov 21), San Diego Zoo Jungle Bells (Dec 18 to Jan 3)
San Diego has two kinds of Christmas lights: free streets where neighbors go all out, and ticketed shows at parks, the Botanic Garden and the Fairgrounds. Neither kind is fully locked in for 2026 yet, so this page separates what an organizer has published from what is just tradition.
Christmas lights in San Diego, free to pricey
- Free
Street displays and the Hotel del Coronado lights. Bring a car and a thermos.
- Candy Cane Lane, Poway
- Free
- Christmas Card Lane, Rancho Penasquitos
- Free
- Hotel del Coronado light show
- Free to watch
- Included with park admission
You pay for the park, the lights come with it.
- SeaWorld Christmas Celebration
- Nov 13 to Jan 3
- LEGOLAND Christmas Bricktacular
- Kids from $39, adults from $69
- San Diego Zoo Jungle Bells
- Dec 18 to Jan 3
- Light-show ticket
A walk-through light trail is the whole product.
- Lightscape, Encinitas
- $18 to $36
- Holiday Wonderland, Petco Park
- From about $25
- Coastal Christmas, Del Mar
- Price not posted
Prices as published by each organizer where available; a secondary source is flagged in the notes below. Checked October 28, 2026.
Free neighborhood displays
These are private homes and streets, not city events, so there is no official 2026 schedule. The dates below are what listings have shown in past seasons, from a San Diego Family map page that does not print a year, and La Jolla Mom's guide (updated Oct 17, 2026) says displays change yearly. Drive by early in December and expect traffic on weekend evenings.
Free displays and their typical dates
| Display | Where | Typical dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Candy Cane Lane | Hickory St, Hickory Ct, Butterwood Ct and Rockrose Ct, Poway (off Twin Peaks Rd) | Dec 1 to Dec 25 | Listed by San Diego Family and La Jolla Mom |
| Christmas Card Lane | Oviedo St, Rancho Penasquitos (off Black Mountain Rd) | Dec 1 to Dec 31 | Park at Sunset Hills Elementary and walk, per San Diego Family |
| Belardo Lights | 5306 Belardo Dr, Tierrasanta | Through December in past years | Music on FM 106.1 |
| The Griswolds' Christmas Lights | 12631 Stoutwood St, Poway | Through end of December in 2025 | Per Times of San Diego, Dec 27, 2025 |
| South Park Luminaria | 30th and Fern streets, South Park | Through end of December in 2025 | Per Times of San Diego |
| Christmas Circle | Whitney St and Mankato St, Chula Vista (off H St) | No dates listed | Listed by La Jolla Mom |
Candy Cane Lane
- Where
- Hickory St, Hickory Ct, Butterwood Ct and Rockrose Ct, Poway (off Twin Peaks Rd)
- Typical dates
- Dec 1 to Dec 25
- Notes
- Listed by San Diego Family and La Jolla Mom
Christmas Card Lane
- Where
- Oviedo St, Rancho Penasquitos (off Black Mountain Rd)
- Typical dates
- Dec 1 to Dec 31
- Notes
- Park at Sunset Hills Elementary and walk, per San Diego Family
Belardo Lights
- Where
- 5306 Belardo Dr, Tierrasanta
- Typical dates
- Through December in past years
- Notes
- Music on FM 106.1
The Griswolds' Christmas Lights
- Where
- 12631 Stoutwood St, Poway
- Typical dates
- Through end of December in 2025
- Notes
- Per Times of San Diego, Dec 27, 2025
South Park Luminaria
- Where
- 30th and Fern streets, South Park
- Typical dates
- Through end of December in 2025
- Notes
- Per Times of San Diego
Christmas Circle
- Where
- Whitney St and Mankato St, Chula Vista (off H St)
- Typical dates
- No dates listed
- Notes
- Listed by La Jolla Mom
Sources: San Diego Family, La Jolla Mom (updated Oct 17, 2026), Times of San Diego (Dec 27, 2025). Checked October 28, 2026.
Ticketed light shows for 2026
Ticketed and admission-included light shows
| Show | Where | 2026 dates | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lightscape | San Diego Botanic Garden, 300 Quail Gardens Dr, Encinitas | Nov 20 to Jan 3, 5 pm nightly | Adults from $28, kids from $18, 2 and under free; parking $15 advance, $20 on site |
| Coastal Christmas | Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd | Opens Dec 11; runs to Dec 26, 4 to 9 pm | Prices not posted on pages checked; ice rink, food and drinks cost extra; paid parking |
| Holiday Wonderland | Petco Park, Gallagher Square | Select nights Dec 4 to 23 | From around $25, kids and adults the same; timed tickets |
| SeaWorld Christmas Celebration | SeaWorld San Diego, 500 Sea World Dr | Nov 13 to Jan 3 | Included with admission; 2026 prices not found |
| Christmas Bricktacular | LEGOLAND California, Carlsbad | Nov 21 to Jan 3; select days, see below | Kids from $39, adults from $69 (promo pricing) |
| Jungle Bells | San Diego Zoo | Dec 18 to Jan 3, closed Dec 24 | Included with zoo admission |
| Wild Holidays | San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Escondido | Select nights Nov 28 to Jan 3 | Included with admission |
| Jingle Jets | USS Midway Museum | Select nights Nov 27 to Dec 30 | Price not found; online tickets only per La Jolla Mom |
Lightscape
- Where
- San Diego Botanic Garden, 300 Quail Gardens Dr, Encinitas
- 2026 dates
- Nov 20 to Jan 3, 5 pm nightly
- Price
- Adults from $28, kids from $18, 2 and under free; parking $15 advance, $20 on site
Coastal Christmas
- Where
- Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd
- 2026 dates
- Opens Dec 11; runs to Dec 26, 4 to 9 pm
- Price
- Prices not posted on pages checked; ice rink, food and drinks cost extra; paid parking
Holiday Wonderland
- Where
- Petco Park, Gallagher Square
- 2026 dates
- Select nights Dec 4 to 23
- Price
- From around $25, kids and adults the same; timed tickets
SeaWorld Christmas Celebration
- Where
- SeaWorld San Diego, 500 Sea World Dr
- 2026 dates
- Nov 13 to Jan 3
- Price
- Included with admission; 2026 prices not found
Christmas Bricktacular
- Where
- LEGOLAND California, Carlsbad
- 2026 dates
- Nov 21 to Jan 3; select days, see below
- Price
- Kids from $39, adults from $69 (promo pricing)
Jungle Bells
- Where
- San Diego Zoo
- 2026 dates
- Dec 18 to Jan 3, closed Dec 24
- Price
- Included with zoo admission
Wild Holidays
- Where
- San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Escondido
- 2026 dates
- Select nights Nov 28 to Jan 3
- Price
- Included with admission
Jingle Jets
- Where
- USS Midway Museum
- 2026 dates
- Select nights Nov 27 to Dec 30
- Price
- Price not found; online tickets only per La Jolla Mom
Sources: sdbg.org, coastalchristmasdelmar.com, Padres/MLB, legoland.com, sdzsafaripark.org, sandiego.org, La Jolla Mom. Checked October 28, 2026.
Free streets
Ticketed
Free
Free street displays are approximate; the park and show addresses are the venue entrances.
See these on the full San Diego mapAlso see San Diego holiday events in December 2026 for the boat parades and December Nights, sunset times in winter for when it gets dark, and free things to do in San Diego for more no-cost ideas.
Is this still right?
We last checked this tip against its sources on October 28, 2026, and we re-research every tip on a schedule. Things in San Diego change, sometimes overnight.
Nature runs on its own schedule: seasons shift with the weather and the ocean, so treat the timing here as typical, not guaranteed.
This is general information, not legal, financial, tax, medical or safety advice.
KEEP READING
SOURCES
Everything above traces back to one of these. Follow them — if one has changed and we haven't, that's our mistake, not yours.
- PrimaryLightscape 2026
San Diego Botanic Garden · Checked October 28, 2026
Dates, adult/child prices and parking for Lightscape
- PrimaryCoastal Christmas Del Mar
Coastal Christmas · Checked October 28, 2026
Opening Dec 11, hours, what costs extra
San Diego Padres / MLB · Checked October 28, 2026
Dec 4 to 23 select dates, price from about $25
- PrimaryHolidays at LEGOLAND
LEGOLAND California · Checked October 28, 2026
Event dates, fireworks dates, ticket prices
La Jolla Mom · Updated October 17, 2026
2026 dates for SeaWorld, zoo, Safari Park, Midway; free street displays
Times of San Diego · December 27, 2025
Addresses for Griswolds, Belardo, South Park Luminaria
San Diego Family · Checked October 28, 2026
Typical dates for Candy Cane Lane and Christmas Card Lane (year not printed)