Taylor's Guide to the Top Holiday Light Displays in Southern California

It’s the most wonderful time of the year – the time for Christmas cheer (or any other holiday you might celebrate like Hannukah, Kwanza or more), hot cocoa, freshly-baked cookies, cozy pajamas and, of course, the beautiful lights and holiday decorations. It wouldn’t be a magical holiday season without the twinkling lights, wreaths and inflatables.

That being said, we’re halfway through December… I know, it’s hard to believe. I feel like it was Halloween just last week. Maybe you have no idea where to go to see Christmas lights, or maybe you have too many TikToks or Instagram reels of places to choose from that you’re feeling overwhelmed. Never fear, that’s why this article is here. I’ve narrowed down some of my favorite places to see Christmas lights and decor located throughout the beautiful SoCal.

Kicking off with my recency bias, since I just went to Balboa Island for my seven year anniversary (a shoutout to my boyfriend, Bradley), we’re starting this list at possibly the most popular Christmas lights spot in 2025. If you’ve been on TikTok anytime during the last three weeks, I guarantee you’ve seen a video telling you, “This is your sign to go see Christmas lights in Balboa/Newport.” And this article is your sign to listen to those posts, and to actually go if you have not already.

I advise people to start on the South Bay Front of Balboa Island, near Marine Avenue, which is where you enter if you drive to the island from Newport. Marine Avenue has free street two hour parking from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., but afterwards it’s a free-for-all. Parking can be limited, but sometimes you get lucky.

You can walk through the village and shops to get to the bayfront, which is already an adorable destination in itself. On the actual bayfront, you’ll see beautiful homes with even more beautiful Christmas displays. You’ll also get to see boats participating in the Christmas Boat Parade passing by, which also have fun and unique displays. From a penguin-themed ski lodge to a house covered head-to-toe in teddy bears, Balboa Island provides wonderful photo-ops and a chance to make lifetime memories with your loved ones during the holidays. 

Yet another of recency bias (since I go every year), this neighborhood in Brea has a large and diverse Christmas display. There are several entrances to the display, but the most popular route has you enter near East Birch Street and South Starflower Street, or Primrose Avenue.

For this location, you can choose to drive through the neighborhood, or you can park your car nearby and walk to see the displays up close, and possibly grab some Christmas-card-worthy pictures.

If you choose to walk through the display, it's best to park at the nearby Brea Sports Park or Olinda Elementary and walk in to avoid traffic jams, following signs for the "Santa’s Route" through the decorated streets. Otherwise feel free to follow “Santa’s Route” in your car, you’ll even be able to turn your radio to stations synced up with residents’ Christmas displays if you’re in a car. 

This is the oldest Christmas display on this list, as well as the oldest large-scale holiday displays in the United States. Originally begun in 1920, Christmas Tree Lane is made up of a mile-long stretch of deodar cedar trees decorated with Christmas lights.

The lights make a canopy over Altadena Avenue, which you can drive through or walk under, but I personally recommend doing both. Located on Santa Rosa Avenue, between Woodbury Road and East Mariposa Street, this display will warm your heart with the holiday spirit. 

The wildest and one of the more elaborate Christmas displays in Los Angeles, the L.A. Zoo Lights: Animals Aglow gives the zoo a holiday makeover. Landscapes get covered in lights, beautiful animal and insect lanterns fill every corner and Santa Clause himself is there for a photo-op. And the best part is that parking is free, a very rare find in Los Angeles.

Tickets start at $19 and can be purchased at the Los Angeles Zoo website. Animals Aglow runs until Jan. 11, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

I know, I know, most shopping plazas are decorated for the holidays. But do most plazas have a real, white fir Christmas tree standing at approximately 100 feet tall, and a statue of Santa Clause and his eight flying reindeer hanging above patrons as they approach the iconic spewing fountain? Well, The Grove certainly does.

While the decorations are there all day long, and are just as beautiful in the sunlight, the lights turn around a little after sunset, with nightly snowfalls recurring between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. The decoration display varies on its runtime, but it can be expected to be taken down sometime in late December to early January. So, if you have any last-minute Christmas shopping to do, you can kill two birds with one stone by visiting The Grove during the holiday season while it’s transformed into a winter wonderland. 

Over 10 million Christmas lights, horse drawn carriages and holiday vendors galore, it’s something straight out of a fairytale. The Mission Inn Resort and Spa transforms into a holiday paradise from Nov. 22 to early Jan. 6. This is one Christmas display that I tell everyone they had to have seen at least once in their life, just to say that they have since it’s so popular.

The hype is definitely worth it, especially since it’s a free event! You’re telling me I get to see gorgeous Christmas lights covering the Mission Inn from head-to-toe for free, and kiss my sweetheart under the giant mistletoe, too? It’s a Christmas miracle. 

I know Big Bear can be a bit of a drive for most people in SoCal, but I promise the drive is worth it during the holiday season. There are few parts of Southern California that get real snowfall (not the foam posing as snow), and Big Bear is one of them. Big Bear immerses you in a real white Christmas with its beautiful holiday lights and snow glittering on the ground in Big Bear Village, complete with a beautifully decorated Christmas tree.

All December long, from the 1st to the 31st, the entire town participates in a massive decorating contest, turning into a twinkling spectacle for locals and tourists alike.

The Alpine Zoo Wild Lights also run from November to January. Tickets can be purchased at the Big Bear Zoo website.

Hopefully you’re able to visit a couple of these locations decked out in holiday cheer. If you do, be sure to tag us on Instagram @xstsymedia, or feel free to DM us any pictures you take. I’d love to see that this list helped to spread the Christmas spirit.

Happy holidays and Merry Christmas from us here at XSTSY Media!

Taylor Moore can be reached at bytaylormoore@gmail.com.