- When
- Select nights, Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027
- Earliest start
- 5–9pm
- Price
- Adults from $28, kids $18, 2 and under free; parking $15 in advance
- About 30 min drive from San Diego
Checked Oct 26 on the official page
Report a problemLights 2026 · San Diego
Christmas lights in San Diego for little kids, picked for early bedtimes.
Six Christmas light displays in and around San Diego have 2026 dates: all walk-throughs. Four are free. For an early bedtime, the earliest evening start is 5:30 p.m. at San Diego Bay Parade of Lights. They’re spread over four areas, with the most in San Diego.
6displays with dates
0drive-thrus
4free
5:30 pmearliest evening start
Last checked · How we choose
All 6 displays
Pick tonight’s lights
Tap a filter to narrow it down. Every card has hours, price and what it’s like with a little one.
- When
- Dec 4–5, 2026
- Earliest start
- Fri 4–10pm; Sat noon–10pm
- Price
- Free
- Balboa Park’s free holiday festival with lights, music and food
Little-kid take: Free, so it’s an easy one to try for a short visit.
Checked Oct 26 on the official page
Report a problem
Walk-through
San Diego Bay Parade of Lights
San Diego Bay, from Shelter Island · Viewing along the Embarcadero and at Coronado Landing, San Diego, CA
- When
- Sundays, Dec 13 and 20, 2026
- Earliest start
- 5:30pm
- Price
- Free
- Lit-up boats sail from Shelter Island past the Embarcadero
- Bring a blanket and get there early for a spot
Little-kid take: Opens at 5:30 p.m., so an early visit gets you home in time for bedtime.
Checked Oct 26 on the official page
Report a problem
Walk-through
Liberty Station Holiday Tree Lighting
Liberty Station, North Promenade and Vesper Venue · 2640 Historic Decatur Rd, San Diego, CA 92106
- When
- Nov 27, 2026
- Earliest start
- 5–9pm
- Price
- Free
- The 88-foot Norfolk pine lights up, with live entertainment, firetruck rides and a showing of The Grinch
Little-kid take: Free, so it’s an easy one to try for a short visit.
Checked Oct 26 on the official page
Report a problemWalk-through
Starlight Parade & Festival
Third Avenue, downtown Chula Vista · 847 3rd Ave, Chula Vista, CA 91911
- When
- Dec 5, 2026
- Earliest start
- See the parade site for times
- Price
- Free
- Chula Vista's evening holiday parade down Third Avenue, run by the city
Little-kid take: Free, so it’s an easy one to try for a short visit.
Checked Oct 26 on the official page
Report a problemWalk-through
Ups-N-Downtown Roller Rink
Maple Street, Downtown Escondido · Maple Street south of Grand Ave, Escondido, CA 92025
- When
- December 2026
- Earliest start
- Thu–Fri 4–8pm, Sat 12–8pm, Sun 12–4pm
- Price
- $5 rink fee, $5 skate rental
- A holiday roller rink downtown
- The Escondido Holiday Market runs on Maple Street Plaza on three December weekends
Checked Oct 26 on the official page
Report a problemNov 1 – Jan 3
When each one is open
Nothing is lit yet. Lightscape opens first, on Nov 20. Lightscape runs into the new year.
Lightscape Nov 20 – Jan 3
Liberty Station Holiday Tree Lighting Nov 27
Ups-N-Downtown Roller Rink Dec 1 – Dec 31
December Nights Dec 4 – Dec 5
Starlight Parade & Festival Dec 5
San Diego Bay Parade of Lights Dec 13 – Dec 20
Nov 1Dec 1Jan 1
Early bedtime plan
Lights before bedtime
In early December the sun sets around 4:40 p.m. in San Diego (the dashed line). Here’s when each display opens, on a scale from 4 to 9 p.m.
San Diego Bay Parade of Lights
5:30 p.m. start · plan about an hour
5:30pm
Ups-N-Downtown Roller Rink
8 p.m. start · plan about an hour
Thu–Fri 4–8pm, Sat 12–8pm, Sun 12–4pm
Lightscape
9 p.m. start · about 30 min
5–9pm
Liberty Station Holiday Tree Lighting
9 p.m. start · plan about an hour
5–9pm
December Nights
10 p.m. start · plan about an hour
Fri 4–10pm; Sat noon–10pm
Drive-thru or walk-through?
Which is better for little kids?
🚗 Stay in the car
- Babies and toddlers stay warm and buckled, PJs and all
- No stroller, no mitten battles, no lost hats
- A car-seat nap can turn straight into bedtime
- Check the listing for timed slots and refund rules
No drive-thru with 2026 dates in town yet.
🚶 Get out and walk
- Kids 3 and up love running ahead to the next display
- Bring the stroller where the venue allows it (see each card)
- Plan a snack stop and a bathroom break
- Check sensory notes for bright lights and crowds
Picks: Lightscape, December Nights, San Diego Bay Parade of Lights, Liberty Station Holiday Tree Lighting and 2 more
Bring along
The little-kid lights kit
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.2026 prices
Prices at a glance
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lightscape | Adults from $28, kids $18, 2 and under free; parking $15 in advance | 2 and under free | Walk-through |
| December Nights | Free | See the venue | Walk-through |
| San Diego Bay Parade of Lights | Free | See the venue | Walk-through |
| Liberty Station Holiday Tree Lighting | Free | See the venue | Walk-through |
| Starlight Parade & Festival | Free | See the venue | Walk-through |
| Ups-N-Downtown Roller Rink | $5 rink fee, $5 skate rental | See the venue | Walk-through |
Also this season
Want Santa with your lights?
See all 6 Santa outings in and around San Diego: breakfasts, photo spots and evening visits, with 2026 prices.
Santa in San Diego →
Good questions
Christmas lights in San Diego: questions parents ask
Are there free Christmas lights in San Diego?
Yes. December Nights, San Diego Bay Parade of Lights, Liberty Station Holiday Tree Lighting and Starlight Parade & Festival are free in 2026.
What’s the cheapest Christmas light show in San Diego?
Going by the lowest posted 2026 price: Ups-N-Downtown Roller Rink ($5 rink fee, $5 skate rental); Lightscape (Adults from $28, kids $18, 2 and under free; parking $15 in advance). Check whether a price is per car or per person before you compare.
Drive-thru or walk-through: which is better with little kids?
We didn’t find a drive-thru with 2026 dates yet. Walk-throughs (six here) are better for kids who want to run around.
What time do the Christmas lights start in San Diego? We have an early bedtime.
The earliest evening starts: San Diego Bay Parade of Lights at 5:30 p.m., Ups-N-Downtown Roller Rink at 8 p.m. and Lightscape at 9 p.m. The first hour after opening is the easiest with an early bedtime.
Which light shows are best for kids under 3?
Little ones get in free at Lightscape (2 and under free). With a baby, a drive-thru keeps everyone warm in the car.
How do you check these Christmas lights listings?
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 San Diego · San Diego city guide · Visiting San Diego
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Every year
Light displays that come back 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. Every year in San Diego
LightscapeBy month
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