The glow of holiday lights makes this time of year feel especially magical. In San Diego County, many neighborhoods and attractions truly dazzle with elaborate light displays, typically up through Christmas Day. Here are a dozen of the brightest standouts.
Starlight Circle
Typically by early December, you’ll find dozens of homes decked out in lights and themes along East + West Glendon circles at this annual free neighborhood display. You can walk through the neighborhood or drive slowly. Sometimes, residents set up stands selling hot cocoa, cookies, and kettle corn — although the City of Santee is cracking down on other vendors at the attraction in 2024. Santana High School will serve as a parking lot for Starlight Circle visitors in 2024, too.
Candy Cane Lane
Hickory Street in Poway is the ultimate place to get into the spirit. Drive slowly through the free neighborhood display or park along Carriage Road or Saddlewood Drive and walk around.
Christmas Card Lane
The Rancho Peñasquitos at Ellingham, Oviedo + Renato streets is famous for its detailed, dazzling displays — also enjoyed by car or foot. This free RPQ tradition is typically up and running by the first or second week of December.
Clairemont Christmas Park
This Lana Drive neighborhood has been showcasing its free, festive displays for more than three decades, and it all began at the home of local Donna Park.
Lights at the Lakes: Campground Edition
Santee Lakes is decked out in holiday lights, which you can explore for free by foot or golf cart through Tuesday, Dec. 31.
The Forward House
This Bankers Hill home at 108 Ivy St. was built in 1905 for San Diego Mayor John Forward Sr. Today, it’s home to American Security Mortgage and makes spirits bright with its over-the-top, Griswold-style lights display.
Belardo Lights
Tierrasanta residents Randy and Brandon Schimka light up their gorgeous home display at 5306 Belardo Dr. each year, usually just after Thanksgiving. Pro tip: Tune your car radio to FM 106.1 to hear music synced up to the display.
Christmas Circle
This Chula Vista neighborhood at Whitney + Mankato streets, south of H Street, has been decking itself out in holiday lights for the past six decades, with free displays typically up and running by mid-December.
Lightscape
Now in its third season in SD, this attraction features dozens of dazzling art installations set to festive music along a 1-mile trail. It runs nightly, 5-10 p.m., through Sunday, Jan. 5, and admission costs $15-$31. Pro tip: Linger at the hanging poppies — so pretty.
Jingle Jets
For the second year in a row, the aircraft carrier is decked out for the holidays — from bow to stern — with 750,000 of twinkling lights. You can see the display on select nights through Monday, Dec. 23, 5:30-9:30 p.m. Tickets cost $18-$25; buy them online because they’re not available at the door.
The Coastal Christmas event at the Del Mar Fairgrounds has an entire area dedicated to holiday lights.
Photo via Coastal Christmas
Holiday Nights
Bernardo Winery twinkles with lights, carolers, and holiday vendors on Wednesday, Dec. 11-Sunday, Dec. 15 + Wednesday, Dec. 18-Sunday, Dec. 22, 5-9 p.m. Admission is free.
Coastal Christmas
Head to the Del Mar Fairgrounds for this Holiday Light Spectacular featuring millions of shimmering lights along a trail, glice skating, Frosty’s Fun Zone for the kiddos, and the Tipsy Elf Bar. This runs on select dates from Friday, Dec. 13 to Thursday, Dec. 26, 4-9 p.m.; tickets cost $13-$22.
