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Christmas lights at night in Los Angeles
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Christmas lights · Los Angeles, CA

Christmas lights in Los Angeles

Los Angeles has the oldest big outdoor Christmas display in the country — a mile of lit cedars in Altadena, since 1920 — and a lot of ticketed trails in its gardens and parks. The free neighborhood streets are the ones locals drive.

6 displays · 2 free · 2 with 2026 dates announced

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Where to see them

Where to go: with kids, on a date, with friends

With kids

Short walks, Santa, rides and something to do besides looking.

For a date

Somewhere to walk slowly, a drink in hand, and look good in the photos.

Free neighborhoods

No ticket, but the best-known ones get very crowded. Go on a weeknight if you can, and read the card for how to get in.

Christmas Tree LanePhoto: Geographer · CC BY 2.5
Christmas tree lane signChristmas Tree Lane Altadena W

Photos: Geographer · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Photos: Burton Frasher · Public domain

Neighborhood·AltadenaFree

Christmas Tree Lane

A mile of towering deodar cedars along Santa Rosa Avenue in Altadena, strung with lights every December since 1920 — the oldest large-scale outdoor Christmas display in the country, kept alive entirely by volunteers and donations. Drive it slowly with the windows down.

✨ Date night🧒 With kids

What's there

  • Lit every year since 1920
  • A mile of giant cedars
  • Free
  • Lighting ceremony and Winterfest

Worth seeing for the history alone — a short, free drive that takes you back a century.

Season
A 2026 lighting ceremony is planned; the date is on the association's events page.
Cost
Free
Start at
Santa Rosa Avenue

Getting in and parking

  • Santa Rosa Avenue in Altadena, north of Woodbury Road. Street parking only and limited — park on a side street and walk.
  • Public restrooms are at the Altadena Main Library during its open hours.

On the map

Worth knowing

  • The deodars are lit by a volunteer association and funded by donations.
  • Wear light clothes and keep children and dogs close — the road stays open to cars.

Checked 2026-09-23 · christmastreelane.net

Official site
Candy Cane Lane — illustrationIllustration
Neighborhood·Woodland HillsFree

Candy Cane Lane

A few Valley streets near Lubao Avenue and Oxnard Street where neighbours have decorated together for decades. Park and walk, or roll through slowly with snacks in the car.

🧒 With kids

What's there

  • Free
  • Walk or drive
  • About an hour with the kids

What visitors sayGoogle 4.1 ★ · 69 reviews

First-timers with small children still find it magical. Long-time visitors are sadder: several say far fewer houses decorate now, with inflatables where there used to be home-built moving figures, and the narrow streets have no sidewalks.

Fine for a short evening with young kids if you live nearby; not worth a long drive any more.

2025 season
December 2025 – January 2026
Last year's dates — this year's aren't out yet.
Cost
Free
Start at
Lubao Avenue and Oxnard Street

Getting in and parking

  • Lubao and Oakdale Avenues off Ventura Blvd in Woodland Hills. Park on a nearby street and walk the loop; cars crawl here on weekends.

On the map

Worth knowing

  • Residents light up from early December. Weeknights before the 15th are the easiest.

Checked 2026-09-23 · Discover Los Angeles (2025)

Full 2026 guide

Walk-through: gardens, zoo, parks

Mostly ticketed per person, and on foot. Check the hours before you set out.

L.A. Zoo Lights: Animals Aglow — illustrationIllustration
Zoo·Griffith Park

L.A. Zoo Lights: Animals Aglow

The LA Zoo after dark: giant light sculptures of animals, birds, insects and flowers, glowing lanterns of Southeast Asian wildlife, with food and drink stands and play areas along the way. Parking is included.

🧒 With kids✨ Date night

What's there

  • Giant animal and flower light sculptures
  • Glowing lanterns
  • Food and drink stands
  • Interactive kids' areas
  • Free parking

What visitors sayGoogle 4.3 ★ · 21,988 reviews

People who went to Zoo Lights call it fun and magical, with something different in each section. It gets busy — especially on Fridays — so reviewers say to buy tickets in advance.

A reliable family night out; book ahead and go on a weeknight.

2026 season
Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 10, 2027
6 – 10 pm
Cost
From $29 adults, $18 children, parking included (last published prices)
Where
Los Angeles Zoo, Zoo Drive, Griffith Park

Getting in and parking

  • The zoo is at the junction of the 134 and 5 freeways; parking is included with the ticket.

On the map

Worth knowing

  • Animals start going in for the night at 4 pm, so come for the lights rather than the zoo.
  • Service animals must be registered at Guest Services; pets aren't allowed.

Checked 2026-09-23 · lazoo.org

Official site
Enchanted Forest of Light — illustrationIllustration
Garden·Descanso Gardens, La Cañada Flintridge

Enchanted Forest of Light

A mile-long light walk through the forest at Descanso Gardens, with music, laser shows and glowing sculptures under the old oaks — the 2026 edition adds a laser show that ends in snowfall and giant koi for the Japanese Garden's anniversary.

✨ Date night🧒 With kids

What's there

  • Forest light walk with music
  • Laser show with snowfall
  • Giant glowing koi
  • Holiday market

What visitors sayGoogle 4.7 ★ · 10,694 reviews

Families make it a yearly tradition and couples come for birthdays; the lights and music feel dreamy and relaxing. One regular notes the displays don't change much from year to year.

The prettiest light walk in LA — perfect for a date.

2026 season
Nov 22, 2026 – Jan 9, 2027
Cost
Timed tickets; members get a discount.
Where
1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011

Getting in and parking

  • Descanso Gardens is off the 2 and 210 freeways in La Cañada Flintridge. Parking is on site but limited — carpool if you can.

On the map

Worth knowing

  • Runs 5:30–10 pm, Nov 22, 2026 to Jan 9, 2027; closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
  • No pets and no emotional-support animals.
  • The route works for strollers and wheelchairs.

Checked 2026-09-23 · descansogardens.org

Full 2026 guideOfficial site
Holiday Road — illustrationIllustration
Walk-through·King Gillette Ranch, Calabasas

Holiday Road

A walking trail through the oaks of King Gillette Ranch in the Santa Monica Mountains, lit with installations from the team behind the Halloween event Nights of the Jack.

✨ Date night🧒 With kids

What's there

  • Lit trees in the Santa Monica Mountains
  • Timed entry
  • Large parking lot
  • Food and drinks

What visitors sayGoogle 4.1 ★ · 67 reviews

Visitors love how the trees are lit and call it a Christmas-spirit evening for kids and adults. The price is the sore point: around $40 per person plus $10 parking, and several only went with a coupon. Bring a warm jacket — it's cold in the canyon at night.

Beautiful, but pricey — look for a discount code before you go.

2025 season
Nov 22 – Dec 26, 2025
Holiday Road is taking a break for the 2026 season; the organizers point to the 2027 season.

Getting in and parking

  • King Gillette Ranch is off Mulholland Highway near Las Virgenes Road in Calabasas. Parking passes must be bought in advance — none are sold on site.
  • The parking lot closes at 8:45 pm and the trail at 9 pm.

On the map

Worth knowing

  • Advance tickets only, and they sell out.
  • No dogs; service animals only. The grounds and restrooms are ADA-accessible.

Checked 2026-09-23 · Discover Los Angeles (2025)

Full 2026 guideOfficial site
Holiday Light Festival train ride — illustrationIllustration
Walk-through·Griffith Park

Holiday Light Festival train ride

A ten-minute ride on the little Griffith Park train through a route of Christmas lights and a giant Santa display, with hot dogs and hot chocolate while you wait in line.

🧒 With kids

What's there

  • Short train ride through lights
  • Giant Santa display
  • Free parking
  • Food stands

What visitors sayGoogle 4.5 ★ · 1,564 reviews

Families with toddlers love it, some have come for decades, and the giant Santa is a favorite. The ride is short and lines can reach 90 minutes on busy nights; priority passes sell out fast but cut the wait.

A sweet outing with little ones — buy a priority pass early.

2025 season
Nov 28, 2025 – Jan 11, 2026
Last year's dates — this year's aren't out yet.

Getting in and parking

  • In Griffith Park off Crystal Springs Drive; there's ample free parking in the park lots.

On the map

Worth knowing

  • Rides are cheap: about $3 for kids and seniors.
  • No pets on the train. The antique cars can't take wheelchairs on board.

Checked 2026-09-23 · Discover Los Angeles (2025)

Official site

Before you go

Why some dates say 2025

Most displays announce the season in October or November. Until they do, we show last year's dates and say so, rather than guess this year's. Every card shows the day we last checked it and where the facts came from.

Santa services in the USChristmas markets in Los Angeles

Christmas lights in other cities

Questions

Which Christmas lights in Los Angeles are free?
Christmas Tree Lane (Altadena), Candy Cane Lane (Woodland Hills). None of them sell tickets, but some charge for parking and the busiest neighborhoods have long lines, so check each card and go on a weeknight.
When do the Los Angeles light displays open this year?
So far L.A. Zoo Lights: Animals Aglow (Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 10, 2027) and Enchanted Forest of Light (Nov 22, 2026 – Jan 9, 2027) have announced their 2026 dates. The rest publish in October and November; until then this page shows last year's dates, marked as such.