Merry & Bright: The Best Holiday Displays in the Bay There’s something about driving through holiday lights displays that bring us back to our childhood. If spending hours on a ladder decking out your own roof is not your idea of fun, then take advantage of these options around the Bay where trains, cable cars, neighborhoods and parks are adorned with thousands of blinking lights. Tune your radio to some holiday favorites, set the kids up with the hot cocoa and enjoy the merriment. Classic Cable Car Holiday LightsWhat’s more San Francisco than a classic cable car ride?  For a unique holiday spin, take it up a notch by riding a bedecked, motorized cable car through the Northern part of the city. You'll view landmarks that are beautifully lit up for the holidays. Each tour comes with a (free) Santa hat.  This jolly tour lasts 70 minutes and departs from Fisherman’s Wharf.  What not to forget: blankets and a camera. photo credit: Classic Cable Cars Where do you go to get your holiday lights fix?

Let us know below! —Kate Loweth, Melissa Bouse, Mae Respicio & Erin Feher From Our Partners Tour Stratford School: Now Accepting Applications for the 2017-18 School YearIt’s officially the most wonderful time of the year and now that Thanksgiving has come to an end, we are beginning to see some incredible Christmas light decorations and sculptures popping up around the bay. If you’re looking for a fun and festive way to spend your evening, then check out some of these amazing Christmas light displays in San Francisco and the Bay Area. — Half Moon Bay This old-fashioned holiday event is held in downtown Half Moon Bay on the first Friday in December. There will be live music, carriage rides, and — of course — thousands of beautiful holiday lights decorating the trees and the shops. The stores in downtown Half Moon Bay will be open late on this special night, so after you get some holiday shopping done, make sure you check out the tree lighting ceremony in Mac Dutra Plaza and the Parade of Lights down Main Street.

The Fantasy of Lights drive-thru in Los Gatos may very well be the coolest Christmas light display in the Bay Area. This mile and a half long drive is filled with 50 incredible light displays, including dinosaurs, animals, and even a pirate ship. Of course, there are also the classic holiday displays such as Santa Claus, his reindeer, and elf helpers. If you want to take your time walking down this holiday lane in Los Gatos, you can opt to go for a walk amongst the lights instead of driving. Don’t miss this epic Christmas light display in the South Bay. Union Street Fantasy of Lights — San Francisco On December 3rd, the iconic San Francisco Victorians will be illuminated with thousands of holiday lights, transforming Union Street into a Winter Wonderland. This annual holiday event will have jugglers, face painters, balloon artists, costumed characters, singers, live music, and last but not least, ponies dressed as reindeer — because, why not? Take a photo with Santa, decorate an ornament for your Christmas tree, and take a ride in a horse drawn carriage down Union Street at this beloved San Francisco Christmas light show and holiday event.

Details: Free to attend Saturday, December 3, 2016 from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Hundreds of thousands of LED lights will be lighting up the Oakland Zoo this holiday season and if you’re looking for a unique Christmas light display in the Bay Area, look no further than Zoolights. Dozens of illuminated animal light sculptures will be placed around the zoo for visitors to admire while they enjoy a cup of hot cocoa and other specialty holiday drinks. exterior home decor colorsWhile the animal residents are resting, the rest of the zoo will be buzzing with activity on these special nights. bedroom decor ideas apartmentCheck out Zoolights’ to see when Santa will be making a visit and when the additional music-themed light show will be taking place.cheap decorating for christmas

If you’re looking for a truly spectacular Christmas light display in the Bay Area, head to Sausalito for their annual lighted boat parade and firework show. Stop in Gabrielson Park to see approximately 40 boats decked out (no pun intended) in Christmas lights compete for prizes in the Sausalito Lighted Boat Parade. The night comes to an epic conclusion with the winter fireworks show. Get there early because this beloved Bay Area holiday event draws locals and tourists alike.decorate for christmas office Since 1994, this lighted holiday boat parade has been delighting native San Franciscans and tourists with its eye-catching displays as a fleet of boats dressed in their best Christmas decorations sail around the bay. baby room decor treeSpectators can enjoy wonderful views from Aquatic Park, PIER 39, the Marina Green, and Crissy Field. living room sets for sale nj

In celebration of this annual San Francisco holiday event, restaurants along the wharf will be offering special holiday menus. Come to San Francisco this December to see this spectacle of light and holiday cheer. Bonus round: For the ultimate San Francisco Christmas light display experience, check out the from San Francisco Love Tours going on now through December 30th. This 90-minute guided tour will take you all over San Francisco to see the best light displays around the city by the bay. Your out-of-town visitors will love it — and so will you!NOTE Google Maps has restricted the number of map page views that are allowed at this site due to popularity, and want us to switch to their paid service. Without donations to help support the cost of Google maps I will have to discontinue the free mapping service. This website is the largest and most comprehensive collection of the best and brightest Christmas light and yard displays from all of California including the San Francisco Bay Area, Central Valley, Sacramento Valley, Los Angeles and San Diego.