San Francisco Christmas Lights 2024

San Francisco is always festive during the holidays, and there is no better way of getting into the Christmas spirit than to check out the best San Francisco Christmas light displays and brightly decorated Christmas Trees and to witness impressive switch-on ceremonies.

Macy's Great Tree Lighting in Union Square Park (late November 2024)

Union Square hosts the most important Christmas Tree in the city as well as the greatest and most colorful holiday lights display. Children especially love the Macy’s store holiday displays since it features kittens and puppies.

The Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony takes place in Union Square Park across from the Macy's store. The reusable Christmas tree is decorated with 43,000 LEDs and over 700 ornaments. The San Francisco Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony always features live entertainment, like various choirs, bands, and Santa.

The Building Lighting Ceremony at Embarcadero Center (November 18, 2024)

Embarcadero Center features four buildings decorated with 17,000 lights. The Building Lighting Ceremony at Embarcadero Center is the official kick-off of the holiday season. It is accompanied by fireworks and a Disney on Ice show.

Tree Lighting Ceremony at Civic Center Plaza (December 4, 2024)

Civic Center Plaza across from City Hall boasts an impressive Christmas Tree and a light display. The Tree Lighting ceremony is a huge show featuring festive performances, a toy giveaway, and appearances by Christmas characters and Santa. The event takes place from 4 to 7 pm.

Tom and Jerry House (December)

Tom and Jerry House could be the most popular single-house light display in SF. Located in the Castro district, Tom and Jerry work for months on their fantastic installation. It has been so famous that a documentary was shot about it. The future of this lighting display is currently up in the air due to the passing of Tom Taylor who was one half of the duo that made the decorations possible.

Let’s Glow SF (December 6-15, 2024)

The country’s largest holiday projection returns to downtown San Francisco in 2024. The high-tech projectors and lasers will create a large-scale piece of animated art across the facade of four iconic SF buildings every night. For a complete holiday experience, visitors will have the opportunity to try tasty food and exciting join entertainment. Let’s Glow at the foot of Market Street facing the Ferry Building from 5:30 to 10 pm nightly, except on the first night, when it will run from 7 to 10 pm.

Illuminate SF Light Festival (November 29, 2024—late January 2025)

A dozens of site-specific artworks, made by talented creators from all over the world will be on display across San Francisco's many neighborhoods. Most of these artworks are available for free. With San Francisco's typical clear and mild winter weather, you can visit many installations in one evening.

South San Francisco Christmas lights in the Bay area (December 2024, unconfirmed)

South San Francisco Christmas Lights are famous all over the Bay area. Stroll by Chestnut Avenue houses, and you won't be disappointed since it has the most significant collection of Christmas lights in the Bay Area. Neighbors' competition drives Christmas lights displays to new levels of complexity every year.

Christmas Tree Lane in Alameda (December 2024, unconfirmed)

The best place to observe Christmas lights in the East Bay area is in Alameda. Christmas Tree Lane at the 3200 block of Thompson Ave, between High & Fernside, is very special and nostalgic. The displays are switched on in early December and stay on through New Year's Eve.