Holiday joy comes to life this month in the form of Christmas light displays. We’ve compiled a list of the best and brightest from Oceanside to Chula Vista. Displays range from a single decorated home or street, to entire neighborhoods. We’ve also included annual holiday parades and local Christmas traditions unique to San Diego County, such as the Mission Bay Christmas Boat Parade of Lights and Jungle Bells at the San Diego Zoo. Before you head out, check your local map or Thomas guide for exact locations, or plan your route using an online service like Mapquest.com, Maps.google.com or Maps.yahoo.com. Hop in the car or put on your walking shoes and prepare to take in San Diego County’s spectacular light shows.
Click here to download our map and listings of Christmas light displays or view the listings below.
2009 Map of Christmas Lights
For more information and addresses Click A Neighborhood Below:
1 Allied Gardens, 92120
2 Carmel Mountain Ranch, 92128
3 Chula Vista, 91910, 91911, 91914, 91915
4 Clairemont, 92117
5 East San Diego, 92113
6 El Cajon, 92021
7 La Mesa, 91941
8 Lemon Grove, Lomita (San Diego)
9 Poway, 92064
10 Rancho Penasquitos, 92129
11 San Carlos, 92119
12 San Marcos, 92069
13 Santee, 92071
14 Tierrasanta, 92124
15 Vista, 92081
A – M Commercial Holiday Lights Displays
7048 Hillsboro St.
Off Waring and Princess View.
Dec. 12 – 26, 5:30-9 pm.
2 CARMEL MOUNTAIN RANCH, 92128
Fairway Village, west side of Stoney Gate Pl.
65+ homes decorated.
Nov. 27 to Jan. 1, 5:30-10:30 pm.
Neighborhood Block Party on Dec. 19, enjoy food, drinks and cookies from 6-10 p.m.
3 CHULA VISTA, 91910, 91911, 91914, 91915
EastLake Greens Community.
Off Otay Lakes Rd., right on EastLake Pkwy.
Home for Holidays contest held Dec. 16. View the winners (listed on www.eastlakegreens.org)
Dec. 16 – 31, 5-9 pm.
Whitney St./Mankato.
Circle between First and Second Ave. off H St. & 1st Ave. “Christmas Circle.”
Over 55 homes decorated.
Dec. 12 – 26, 5-10 pm.
Lana Dr. & Jamar.
Off Mt. Abernathy Ave.
Circular street. Over 40 homes decorated.
Dec. 13- 27.
4670 Norwalk Ave.
Off Clairemont Mesa Blvd./Moraga Ave.
Dec. 1 to Jan. 1, 6-10 pm, 11 pm weekends.
1523 48th St.
Off Federal Blvd. & 48 St.
Dec. 5- 27, 5-10 pm.
4641 Craigie St.
Off Highway 94 and 47th.
Nicely decorated home.
Dec. 1 – 31.
Jingle Bell Hill (also known as Pepper Dr. Lights).
Solomon Ave./Pegeen Pl. and surrounding area.
Off 67 & Bradley.
Dec. 4 to Dec. 26, Mon-Th 6-9 pm, Fri-Sun 6-10 pm.
1838 El Pico Dr.
Off Hacienda Dr.
46th year of decorating the 20-ft. star over 100 ft. in air, overlooking El Cajon valley.
View it on the first weekend of Dec.
Also see a 55-ft. train. Dec. 13 – 31, dusk to 10 pm.
7171 Cornell Ave.
Off Harbinson.
1000s of lights, numerous animation, miniature villages,carnivals, zoo and trains. Real helicopter in the front yard. You will have to get out of your car and walk entirely around the house to see it all.
Dec. 18 – 31, 5-9 pm.
8 LEMON GROVE, Lomita (San Diego)
689 Meadowbrook Dr.
Off Jamacha Rd. South of Lemon Grove.
Many lights on home.
Dec. 8 to Jan. 1, dusk to 10 pm.
Santa and Mrs. Claus may be out to greet the week of Dec. 15 – 23.
12631 Stoutwood St.
Off Twin Peaks Rd. & Deerwood St.
Nicknamed “The Griswolds.”
Dec. 1 to Jan. 4, 5:30-10 pm weekdays, 11 pm weekends.
Hickory Ct./Hickory St., 12659 Butterwood Ct. and Rockrose Ct.
All off Twin Peaks Rd. & Silverset St.
named “Candy Cane Courts.”
Entire cul-de-sacs are lit up.
Dec. 11 to Jan. 1, 6-9 pm.
Oviedo St.
Off Black Mountain Rd.
“Christmas Card Lane.”
Also enter off Twin Trails Dr., Carmel Mountain Rd., (southwest corner of the area), Ellingham St., Renato St., Oviedo St., Twin Trails Dr., Barrymore St., Rotherham Ave., Talca Ave., Talca Ct., Allenbrook Way, Davenport Ave., Amber Sky Ln.
Dec. 13 to Dec. 31, dusk-10 pm.
Block of 7900 and 8000 Hillandale Dr.
Off Mission Gorge & Deerfield.
Many lights plus tree on top of home.
Dec. 1 – 31, 5-9 pm.
8500 block of Harwell Dr., near Cowles Mtn. & Grossmont College.
Enjoy hot chocolate and cider while strolling down neighborhood sidewalks lined with luminaries.
Dec. 24, dusk to midnight.
1639 Knob Hill.
Off Nordahl Rd. Between Tam O’ Shanter Dr. & Augusta Dr.
89,000+ lights, Disney characters and more.
Santa will be out from 6:30-8pm every evening except Wednesdays from Dec. 11to Dec. 23.
Thanksgiving to Jan. 1, 5-9 pm.
660 Elm Tree Lane.
Off Borden and Mulberry Rose Ranch Rd.
Beautifully decorated home.
Santa may be out on Saturdays. Nov. 23 to Jan. 1, 5:30-9 pm.
Sunburst Santee.
Tomel Court, off Magnolia.
Many homes, Starlight Circle.
Dec. 20 to Dec. 26, 7-10 pm.
5306 Belardo Dr.
Off Via Valarta & Via Playa De Cortes.
65,000 lights, many homemade decorations, all sequenced and animated to music.
Tune radio to 89.7 FM to hear the lights dance.
Nov. 28 to Dec. 27, 5:30-10 pm.
www.belardolights.com
11626 Papagallo Ct.
Off Colina Dorado or Calle De Vida.
Dec. 6 to Jan. 2, 6-9 pm.
10927 Baroque Lane.
See a 20-ft. angel on the roof and a train made of lights on the lawn.
Dec. 4 – 28, 6-9:30 pm.
1505 Roma Dr., corner of Lupine Hills and Roma Dr.
Inflatables and over two dozen homemade plywood cutouts of Disney and other holiday characters.
Nov. 28 to Dec. 31, Sun-Th 6-10pm, Fri-Sat 6 pm-midnight.
Commercial Holiday Lights Displays
A Anderson Farms/Victoria’s Gardens
12150 Woodside Ave., Lakeside.
Located behind Arby’s. 2.5 acres of lighted wonderland. Over 100 life-sized items and 50,000+ lights.
Nov. 27 to Dec 24, 10 am-7 pm. 619-390-9571.
www.victoriasgardens.us
B Del Mar Fairgrounds Holiday of Lights
Jimmy Durante Blvd./Via De La Valle.
Off Highway 5.
Animated holiday lights.
Nov. 26 to Jan. 3, Sun.-Thurs, 5:30-10 pm; Fri.-Sat., 5:30-11 pm;
$14/vehicle (up to 5 people), $19/van or car (6 or more), $49/bus.
858-755-1161. www.sdfair.com, www.holidayoflights.com
C Gaslamp for the Holidays.
Trees of the Gaslamp will be illuminated from Nov. 27 to Jan. 1, 5 pm-midnight.
www.gaslamp.org
D Hotel Del Coronado
1500 Orange Ave., Coronado.
Tree in the lobby is beautifully decorated plus 100,000 lights illuminate the resort from Nov. 26 to Jan. 3.
Lighting of the tree outside Dec. 2, 5:00 pm.
619-522-8490, www.hoteldel.com
E La Jolla Storefront Decorating Contest
Vote for your favorite La Jolla storefront decorations.
Five categories, go to www.ljparade.com.
Nov. 21 to Dec. 5.
F Mission Bay Christmas Boat Parade of Lights
Over 100 vessels. Begins on Quivira Basin.
Dec. 12, starts at 7 pm and ends with fireworks at 9 pm.
858-488-0501, www.missionbayparadeoflights.org
G Oceanside Harbor Parade of Lights
Boats decorated in holiday lights circle Oceanside Harbor.
Sponsored by the Oceanside Yacht Club.
Dec. 12, 7 pm. 760-722-5751.
H Rady Children’s Hospital
3020 Children’s Way, San Diego
Off Hwy 163
Dec. 7 to Jan 8
www.rchsd.org
I San Diego Bay Boat Parade of Lights
“Christmas at the Zoo” theme.
Dec. 13 & Dec. 20
Fireworks, 5:30 pm then parade til 9 pm.
Starts off at Shelter Island, goes through the harbor and ends at the Ferry Landing on Coronado.
www.sdparadeoflights.org
J San Diego Botanic Garden “Garden of Lights”
230 Quail Gardens Dr., Encinitas
100,000+ lights illuminating the plants and trees
Dec. 10-23 and Dec. 26-30, 5-9 pm
Different activities nightly
Admission: Adults $12, children 3-12 $4
760-436-3036. www.SDBGarden.org
K San Diego Downtown Tour of Lights
Downtown offices, hotel lobbies and storefronts decorated for the holidays.
Nov. 27 to Jan. 1
www.sandiegodowntown.org
L San Diego Zoo’s Jungle Bells
Balboa Park.
Dec. 11-23, Dec. 26-30 and Jan. 1-2, 5-8 pm.
Snow at the Zoo’s entrance, hand-bell choirs, nightly tree-lighting ceremony, ice carver, and skating at a “hybrid ice” skating rink.
www.sandiegozoo.org
M Victorian Mansion/The Forward House
108 Ivy St.
Corner of First and Ivy, San Diego.
Nov. 26 to Dec. 31, 5-9 pm.
See Santa on Dec. 11 from 5-9 pm.
619-533-7900.
2009 Map of Christmas Lights from San Diego Family Magazine
