Three Christmas light displays in and around San Francisco Bay Area have 2026 dates: all walk-throughs. One is free. For an early bedtime, the earliest evening start is 6:30 p.m. at Glowfari at the Oakland Zoo. They’re spread over three areas, from Oakland to downtown San Jose.
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Checked Oct 29 on the official page
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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens · Sloat Blvd. at the Great Highway, San Francisco, CA 94132
Checked Oct 29 on the official page
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Plaza de César Chávez · Plaza de César Chávez, downtown San Jose, CA
Little-kid take: Free, so it’s an easy one to try for a short visit.
Checked Oct 29 on the official page · Source
Report a problemNothing is lit yet. Glowfari at the Oakland Zoo opens first, on Nov 6. Glowfari at the Oakland Zoo, ZooLights at the San Francisco Zoo and Christmas in the Park, San Jose run into the new year.
In early December the sun sets around 4:50 p.m. in Bay Area (the dashed line). Here’s when each display opens, on a scale from 4 to 9 p.m.
6:30 p.m. start · plan about an hour
Timed entry 4:30–6:30pm; exit by 9pm
9 p.m. start · plan about an hour
Wed, Thu and Sun 5:30–9pm; Fri–Sat 5:30–10pm
10 p.m. start · plan about an hour
Daily noon–10pm, including Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Day
No drive-thru with 2026 dates in town yet.
Picks: Glowfari at the Oakland Zoo, ZooLights at the San Francisco Zoo, Christmas in the Park, San Jose
Mittens on a stringLittle hands get cold fast after dark.
Warm drink in a thermosA treat to look forward to at the halfway point.
Hat and a blanketFor the stroller, or the car once the heat is off.
PJs before you goSo a car-seat nap can turn straight into bedtime.From each venue’s own page. Check whether a price is per car or per person before you book.
| Display | Price | Little kids | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glowfari at the Oakland Zoo | Adults $26, kids 2–14 $22, under 2 free; parking included | under 2 free | Walk-through |
| ZooLights at the San Francisco Zoo | Adults $30, kids 2–11 $21; members $3 off | See the venue | Walk-through |
| Christmas in the Park, San Jose | Free | See the venue | Walk-through |
See all 6 Santa outings in and around Bay Area: breakfasts, photo spots and evening visits, with 2026 prices.
Santa in Bay Area →
Yes. Christmas in the Park, San Jose is free in 2026.
Going by the lowest posted 2026 price: ZooLights at the San Francisco Zoo (Adults $30, kids 2–11 $21; members $3 off); Glowfari at the Oakland Zoo (Adults $26, kids 2–14 $22, under 2 free; parking included). Check whether a price is per car or per person before you compare.
We didn’t find a drive-thru with 2026 dates yet. Walk-throughs (three here) are better for kids who want to run around.
The earliest evening starts: Glowfari at the Oakland Zoo at 6:30 p.m., ZooLights at the San Francisco Zoo at 9 p.m. and Christmas in the Park, San Jose at 10 p.m. The first hour after opening is the easiest with an early bedtime.
Little ones get in free at Glowfari at the Oakland Zoo (under 2 free). With a baby, a drive-thru keeps everyone warm in the car.
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page, and links to it. We list dates, times and prices only when that page shows them for 2026; anything without posted dates goes in “Dates not posted yet” instead. These were last checked Oct 30, 2026, and we recheck them in early November and again in early December. How we choose and check.
Keep planning: This week in Bay Area · San Francisco Bay Area city guide · Visiting Bay Area
One short email every Thursday evening with what works for ages 0–6 in Bay Area that weekend, including the Santa and light-show dates worth knowing.
Every year
Each of these comes back every year. Its page keeps the last confirmed dates, and the new ones go up there once they’re posted.
By month
Things to do with kids in San Francisco Bay Area in November · Things to do with kids in San Francisco Bay Area in December
Christmas trains
Christmas train rides near San Francisco Bay Area: Holiday lights trains, Polar Express rides and more. 4 with 2026 dates, ages, prices and booking notes.
More holiday outings
The Nutcracker with kids in San Francisco Bay Area: 6 shows with 2026 dates, run times, ages and sensory-friendly performances. Christmas markets in San Francisco Bay Area: 3 markets and winter wonderlands with 2026 dates, hours and stroller notes.
Glowfari at the Oakland Zoo