Merry Christmas! One of my favorite things to do this time of year is to drive around and look at Christmas lights. I always hear so much about all of the fabulous places to see Christmas lights in Los Angeles. I have never heard too much about where to see Christmas lights in Orange County, so I thought I would do some research. I have lived in Orange County for almost 8 years but the only neighborhood I knew of that went all-out was one in Brea. I am so thankful to have found more places to share with you & will continue updating this post as I discover more!
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I made an LA Dreaming Podcast Episode on Where to See Christmas Lights in Los Angeles that you might enjoy. At the moment you can listen to the podcast through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, or Podbean. You might also enjoy our episode about the best things to do for Christmas in Los Angeles.
The Disneyland Resort
Of course, the Disneyland Resort is a great place to see Christmas lights. If you cannot get into the parks you can try getting a reservation at Rise at the Westin in Anaheim to see the fireworks from the rooftop. You can try to get free tickets to the KOST 1035 Holiday Party which is so much fun!
Eagle Hills in Brea
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My Grandparents introduced me to this neighborhood years ago and it has been my favorite local spot to take family and friends to. This year I came on Thanksgiving night and was disappointed that not many houses were decorated. However, I came back on 12/4 and the neighborhood was back to it’s normal Christmas spirit. You can enter the neighborhood from several locations but I always start at Birch and Starflower. I prefer to drive through the neighborhood but you can walk around if you would like.
OC Holiday Lights Tustin
I am so sad to say that this display will be gone. They have moved and are working to have a new display at their new home in 2023.
Irvine Park Railroad
Take an enchanting night ride through the historic Irvine Regional Park. The train will depart from the train station and stop at the North Pole. This year, passengers will remain seated on the train at the North Pole. Santa and Mrs. Clause will greet passengers from a safe distance as passengers remain seated. There is free parking after 6:00 pm. If you just want to go and see the village it is free but you will need tickets to ride the train. You can find more information here.
Dana Point Harbor
I love stopping in this area for dinner and then taking a stroll to see the lights. Parking is free so even if you don’t come here to eat, the lights are nice to see.
Tanaka Farms
I previously blogged about the Halloween experience at Tanaka Farms in Irvine. They are now offering a drive-through holiday event called Hikari – A Festival of Lights. The event is said to take 30 to 40 minutes. You can find more information on their website here.
Knotts Berry Farm
In 2019 I went to Knotts Merry Farm for the 104.3 My FM holiday party. This is such a fun experience as the park is closed just for those with special event tickets. Plus, for the holidays you will get to see the park decorated.
N Yale Ave in Fullerton
When you look this area up on your GPS it might show Sparkle Balls, the lights that the neighbors hang from their trees. This was one of those neighborhoods that I was so surprised to discover through TikTok as I had lived nearby for years and no one ever told me about it.
El Corzo Street in Rancho Santa Margarita
This street gets an honorable mention. It is not a must-see by any means because it is very far for most people and it doesn’t even take 10 minutes to see all the houses. But, if it is not too far for you to drive I would recommend it. The only way you’ll truly get to enjoy this one is to walk as there are way too many cars parked on the street blocking the houses. I was a bit disappointed as I thought it would be several streets filled with decorations but it is really just one area.
Great Park in Irvine
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Great Park has Christmas lights on display that are free to see. You can include this with a visit to The Spectrum for shopping, ice skating, and seeing their beautiful tree.
Costa Mesa City Hall
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I think it is so cool that the Costa Mesa City Hall has such a fun display. Consider stopping by South Coast Plaza to see the beautiful trees while you are in the area.
Balboa Island
I have seen photos and heard great things about walking around Balboa Island to see Christmas lights.
Of course, Newport Beach also has a boat parade which is another great way to see lights in the area.
Nights of 1,000 Lights at Sherman Gardens
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The Sherman Library and Gardens is hosting a nighttime experience called Nights of 1,000 lights.
Capistrano Lights
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This looks like such a special place to enjoy lights. One of the coolest things about this experience is that your ticket gives you access to the mission during the daytime as well. Tickets range from $9 to $20 and can be purchased here.
Houses in Laguna Niguel
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MERRY AND BRIGHT 28891 VIA PASATIEMPO CROSS STREETS MOULTON & NUEVA VISTA
HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA 23841 WARDLOW CIRCLE CROSS STREETS NIGUEL & IVY GLENN
TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS 23852 HILLHURST DR CROSS STREETS CROWN VALLEY & HILLHURST
EMBRACING CLARK GRISWOLD 24741 KINGS RD CROSS STREETS LA PAZ & KINGS RD
TEAM SPIRIT COMMUNITY 24021 IRONHEAD LN CROSS STREETS ALICIA PKWY & KITE HILL NORTH
ANIMATION CELEBRATION 27926 CUMMINS DR CROSS STREETS ALISO CREEK & NIGUEL HEIGHTS
HONOR MENTION 24791 STRATTON LANE CROSS STREETS CROWN VALLEY & LA PLATA
HONOR MENTION 15 CHANDON CROSS STREETS MARINA HILLS DR & PARC VISTA
HONOR MENTION 31202 BOCA RATON PLACE CROSS STREETS CLUB HOUSE & NIGUEL
Christmas Lights in OC
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1431 North Shaffer St, Orange CA from 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm, every night. ⠀
After visiting more neighborhoods I stand firm in my belief that the Brea neighborhood is the best spot for Christmas lights in Orange County. They have the most amount of houses decorated which really makes it a worthwhile experience.
King Eider Lane in Aliso Viejo
This is another light display area that I haven’t checked out yet but have heard good things about it.
I have other Christmas-related blog posts that you can check out as well:
A Gift Guide For Someone Living In Los Angeles
20 of the Best Things to do in LA for Christmas Time
The Best Places to See Christmas Lights in LA
