After more than two years of pandemic woes, creators of Holiday lights displays across the Bay Area are pulling out all the stops to create ever more spectacular shows for the 2022-23 holiday season.

That’s true for individual home decor enthusiasts, as well as illumination professionals brought in to transform public spaces into shimmering, glowing winter wonderlands. A few long-time favorites have closed, but new displays are popping up in neighborhoods near you or in the form of the world’s “biggest” light show, courtesy of the Hallmark Channel.

Here are the 24 best Bay Area displays we found but feel free to email [email protected] or fill out the submission form at the end of this story to let us know if we’re missing a great show. You can also visit the California Christmas Lights website to find details about displays throughout Northern California.

Unless otherwise indicated, you can visit these displays nightly after sundown and at no cost. Heavy rain or wind will make some displays go dark for the night. Some also ask that visitors wear masks for COVID-19 safety, especially in indoor settings, so check before going.

Step into a Hallmark movie, San Jose

Here’s a chance to place yourself in a picturesque holiday setting from your favorite Hallmark Christmas rom-com. The network is hosting what it says are the biggest holiday-themed light shows in nine U.S. cities, including San Jose. More than 4 million lights are set to sparkle and flash across 10-acre PayPal Park. In this immersive experience, guests can find their way through an illuminated maze, gaze up at a 100-foot tree, stroll through a cinematically cozy village and enjoy ice skating, visits with Santa, live entertainment, food and holiday cocktails.

Details: Starting at 4:30 or 5:30 p.m. nightly Nov. 25-Jan. 1 at PayPal Park, 1123 Coleman Ave., San Jose. Admission is $25-$44; https://enchantchristmas.com.

Deacon Dave’s world-famous display

Construction for the display at Dave Rezendes’ Casa del Pomba began Labor Day weekend, and the results should explain why his home has been showcased on cable and international TV for nearly 40 years. Get ready to be dazzled by hundreds of thousands of glowing lights fashioned into a theme that will be announced opening night.

Details: Starting at 6 p.m. nightly, Dec. 2 to Jan. 1, with an opening night procession on Dec. 2, at 352 Hillcrest Ave. in Livermore; http://casadelpomba.com.

Alex Dourov’s extravaganza

This home show by the founder of the California Christmas Lights website offers a mix of old-school decorations that Dourov has accumulated over the past 30 years, as well as high-tech light and sound effects. Be prepared to see a “Penguin Island,” start a laser light show yourself or make a 6-foot-tall “Joy” sign dance to music. Kids are invited to make calls to Santa, and guests can listen to music from the sidewalk or on 107.9 FM from their car.

Details: 5 to 10 p.m. from Nov. 26 through Dec. 29 at 467 Knottingham Circle in Livermore; http://californiachristmaslights.com.

Oakland Zoolights “Glowfari”

The Oakland Zoo hosts one of the Bay Area’s most unusual holiday displays, with gorgeous, detailed, larger-than-life animal lanterns arrayed around the zoo’s 525 acres. On a crisp winter night, visitors can stroll around the zoo and meet magnificent, glowing elephants and giraffes from Africa, pass through a tropical rainforest, time travel back to the age of the dinosaurs, spy whales, otters and other California coastal icons or take a walkabout through the land Down Under with kangaroos and koalas.

Details: Open from 5 to 9 p.m. most nights through Jan. 29 (closed for Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Day). Admission is $20-$24; www.oaklandzoo.org.

Historic lights in Woodside

Immerse yourself in classic holiday elegance with a visit to Woodside’s century-old Filoli estate. Inside the stately mansion, more than 22 elaborately decorated trees radiate celebration in the grand dining room and other elegantly appointed spaces. But what’s especially magical about Filoli are the twinkling lights arrayed around the extensive garden. Santa will be available for selfies on weekends. And visitors can pause their tour to enjoy mulled wine or hot whiskey cider around a fire pit in the Woodland Garden Court.

Details: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily through Jan. 8 at 86 Cañada Road, Woodside. Filoli will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  Admission is $23-$36; https://filoli.org.

Crippsmas Place

“Yes, Virginia, there will be a Crippsmas Place this year!” say the organizers of this cheerful neighborhood representation of community solidarity and goodwill. For six decades, residents of the 70 homes in this north Fremont neighborhood have illuminated their front yards, raised larger-than-life plywood cutouts of favorite cartoon characters and used their displays to raise money for worthy causes. This year, visitors can donate either in person or online to seven organizations, including the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and local groups that support families, foster children, wildlife and breast cancer support services.

Details: 6 to 10 p.m. Dec. 10 to 28 on Nicolet Avenue, Cripps Place and surrounding streets in Fremont; www.crippsmas place.org.

Lights in the Cacti in Walnut Creek

During “Garden of d’Lights,” visitors can meander along the paths of the 3.5-acre Ruth Bancroft Garden, where its world-famous collection of gorgeous cacti and other succulents and drought-tolerant plants are presented with fantastical and specially-programmed lasers and thousands of LED lights.

Details: 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. on Thursday through Sunday evenings through Jan. 8 at 1552 Bancroft Road, Walnut Creek. Admission is $16-$28 and must be purchased ahead; www.ruthbancroftgarden.org/lights2020.

Merry Merry-Go-Round

The famous Tilden Park carousel in Berkeley becomes a winter wonderland during the holidays, festooned with bright, colorful lights and graced by visits from Santa and his elves.

Details: 4 to 8 p.m., weekdays and noon-8 p.m. weekends Dec. 2 to Jan. 2 in Tilden Regional Park, at the intersection of Central Park Drive and Lake Anza Road, Berkeley. Tickets cost $4 each, and reservations are recommended; www.tildenparkmerrygoround.org.

Christmas on a Hill

Climb the hill at West Hills Community Church in Morgan Hill to watch a synchronized musical light display and explore the dazzling light tunnels, illuminated trees and hand-painted displays. This is the show’s second year in this distinctive hillside location.

Details: 6:30 to 9 p.m. select evenings Dec. 3-23. West Hills Community Church, 16695 DeWitt Ave., Morgan Hill; https://www.westhills.org.

San Jose’s Christmas in the Park

The beloved San Jose tradition is back with two locations. The popular walk-through takes place in the heart of downtown in Plaza de Cesar Chavez with a 50-foot illuminated tree and a forest of pines decorated by San José schools, community groups and businesses. A separate drive-through, Blinky’s Illuminated Holiday, features hundreds of thousands of lights at Lake Cunningham Park, near Raging Waters.

Details: Christmas in the Park starts with a tree lighting at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 25 and runs from noon to 10 p.m. daily through Jan. 1 at 194 S. Market St. between San Carlos and East San Fernando streets. Admission is free. The Blinky’s drive-through runs  5 to 10 p.m. Nov. 26 to Jan. 1 (Wednesday-Sunday through Dec. 11, nightly starting Dec. 12).  Admission is $30 per car; www.christmasinthepark.com.

History Park’s Heritage Holiday Light ShowStep back in time for a joyous light show at History Park’s Pacific Hotel with more holiday displays, themed music and family-friendly crafts nearby.

Details: 5:30-8 p.m. Dec. 9-18 at the south end of Kelley Park, corner of Senter Road and Phelan Avenue. Admission is $5-$10; https://historysanjose.org.

Bethlehem in Redwood City

For the 30th and final year, Redwood City’s Rise City Church will host its re-creation of Bethlehem on the first night of Christmas. Guests can walk through the village, populated with live camels and llamas, as well as costumed volunteers playing Roman soldiers, scholars and ordinary people cooking, making pottery and browsing the market. The highlight, of course, is a visit to the nativity scene with the Three Wise Men visiting a newborn Jesus.

Details: 6 to 9:30 p.m. Dec. 21, 22 and 23, 1300 Middlefield Road, Redwood City. Admission is free. View a virtual walk-through at www.risecitybayarea.com.

Los Gatos’ Fantasy of Lights

The 24th annual show at Vasona Lake County Park offers one of the Bay Area’s most popular drive-through holiday displays, with a 1.5-mile route taking families through a fantasyland of lights, animated figures and a 90-foot twinkling tree, courtesy of the Santa Clara County Parks Department.

Details:  6 to 9:30 p.m. Dec. 6 to 30 (closed Christmas Day). The route starts at 333 Blossom Hill Road in Los Gatos. Tickets ($20 per standard vehicle, $50 for oversized) must be purchased ahead online; https://parks.sccgov.org/fantasy-lights-2022 and www.eventbrite.com.

Christmas Tree Lane, Alameda

Alameda’s Christmas Tree Lane, a cooperative effort put on by more than 50 households, returns this holiday season. Local groups will perform, and kids can drop off letters to Santa in a specially designated mailbox that routes them to the North Pole.

Details: 5 to 10 p.m. nightly Dec. 3 to 31, 3200 block of Thomson Avenue, between High Street and Fernside Boulevard, Alameda; www.facebook.com/christmastreelane.

Widmer World, Pleasanton

For more than 30 years, the Widmer family of Pleasanton has presented a popular home display that includes a Big Tree of red and green lights, giant “Peace on Earth” sign and a tunnel of decorated trees, displays of popular cartoon characters and elaborate arrangements of life-sized Santas, reindeer and snowpeople.

Details: 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 1 to 31, 3671 Chelsea Court, Pleasanton; http://widmer-world.com.

Winter Wonderland in Oakley

A 19-foot singing tree, Mickey and Minnie riding in Santa’s sleigh and an ice-skating penguin are just a few of the highlights of this popular display created by homeowner Michael Wright.

Details: 5:30 to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 5:30 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 1 to Jan. 3 at 733 Solitude Drive in Oakley; http://californiachristmaslights.com.

Thornton Way Display, San Jose

The residents of this home in San Jose’s Fruitdale district joke that they mount their annual extravaganza of 50,000 music-synchronized lights to “help with PG&E’s debt.” But they have the same motivations as other illumination enthusiasts: to bring Christmas cheer and put smiles on kids’ faces. Don’t want to get out of your car? Guests can listen to the music on 92.9 FM.

Details: Nightly until 10 p.m., Thanksgiving weekend through Jan. 1 at Thornton Way at Downing Avenue, San Jose; http://www.xmasdisplay.com.

Foster Family Christmas, Redwood City

The lights show that Steven Foster has created at his Redwood City home for the past 25 years gets bigger every year, to the delight of his friends and neighbors. Known as the local “holiday guy,” Foster estimates this year’s show  will feature more than 35,000 lights, decorations, music, inflatable figures, a snow machine and a “Letters to Santa” box.

Details: 6 to 10:30 p.m. nightly Nov. 25 to Jan. 6, 411 Topaz St., Redwood City; https://www.instagram.com/fostersholidays/.

Friday “Nights of Lights,” Half Moon Bay

This coastal town’s picturesque downtown transforms into a festival of lights on Friday nights, when visitors can stroll by decorated store windows and shop for gifts. The town also hosts four special events: a tree lighting ceremony on Nov. 25, a lighted parade with Santa on Dec. 2, an ugly sweater party on Dec. 9 and a holiday movie night with “Elf” on Dec. 16.

Details: 6 to 8 p.m. Fridays from Nov. 25 to Dec. 16, Main Street, Half Moon Bay; www.visithalfmoonbay.org.

Neighborly spirit on Union City’s Queen Anne Court

Families from 20 homes on this Union City cul-de-sac deck out their front yards with lights, Santa figures and inflatables to celebrate their community and raise money for the Alameda County Food Bank. Visitors can donate via QR codes posted on signs along the court

Details: Nightly through Dec. 25, with some homes starting their displays Dec. 1 and others by Dec. 16;  http://californiachristmaslights.com.

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This Newark home, one of the contenders on the ABC show, “Great Christmas Light Fight” features giant inflatable Santas, snow people, candy canes and Christmas trees from 5 to 10 p.m. nightly Nov. 25 to Jan 1 at 6716 Fountaine Ave.

In San Jose, Bobby and Genée Bimbi are doing their 14th annual spectacular light display, with nearly 25,000 lights dancing and flashing to the beat of music from 5 to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursdays and 5 to 10 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Dec. 1 to Jan. 1 at 259 Kaybe Court.

Also in San Jose a a 6-foot-tall talking, singing Santa helps families celebrate the holidays, as kids climb aboard one of seven reindeer for a photo op. It runs nightly Nov. 25 to Dec. 25 at 578 Flagler St.

And at still another San Jose home, a reindeer merry-go-round and a light tunnel dazzle in this front yard from 5 to 10 p.m. Nov. 25 to Dec. 31 at 1450 Emory St.

Have we missed your favorite? Tell us about it here.

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