Best Holiday Lights in the Bay Area (2026)

Four places to enjoy Christmas lights and other holiday displays in the Bay Area are Filoli, Glowfari at Oakland Zoo, Christmas in the Park, and North Pole Nights at Gilroy Gardens. A shared bus ride lets your group travel together, with pickup and the return arranged in advance. You explore the attractions on foot.

An evening among the lights can suit a family gathering or a year-end outing with colleagues. Some groups want a garden stroll and time to talk. Others are bringing their kids to enjoy the shows and holiday displays. The choice comes down to what your guests would enjoy the most and how much of the evening they want to spend there.

Which holiday lights outing is right for your group?

Filoli is a good match for colleagues or friends who want to walk and catch up. Glowfari gives families an evening centered on animals, while North Pole Nights suits children who enjoy holiday characters and shows. Christmas in the Park works well when you want the lights to be part of a downtown evening, perhaps alongside dinner.

The options below were compared for their locations, holiday activities, and group arrival arrangements. The table brings together season dates and suggested fits. All four involve walking after arrival. A group with young children may want time for breaks, while guests using mobility aids need accessible paths as well as a suitable vehicle.

Why choose Filoli for a holiday lights group outing?

Filoli suits colleagues and friends looking for an evening walk through illuminated gardens in Woodside. A 210-foot light tunnel is one of its main attractions, alongside the decorated historic house. Holiday Lights runs from November 14, 2026 to January 10, 2027.

Paths lead through the formal gardens, with lanterns glowing in the Rose Garden and the house lit for the season. Colleagues can stop at the displays and catch up over hot cocoa, spending the evening together without the speeches or assigned seating of a formal company dinner.

Holiday Lights requires evening admission; a daytime ticket does not cover the evening visit. The house and garden are wheelchair and stroller-accessible, though the outing still involves time outdoors. Filoli welcomes visitors in rain or shine, so the garden experience is a better fit for guests comfortable with winter conditions.

Is Glowfari a good choice for families and mixed-age groups?

Glowfari suits families and mixed-age groups, with glowing animal sculptures that children can recognize and colorful scenes to discover together. The 2026–27 season runs from November 6 to January 31, with selected closure dates. Timed tickets are required for all guests.

The lanterns give everyone a reason to pause for a photo or point out a favorite creature. Scenes inspired by different habitats bring variety to the walk, making this especially appealing for children interested in wildlife. The emphasis is on animal lanterns rather than a traditional Christmas display.

Glowfari is an outdoor winter event. Each online order is limited to 25 tickets, so larger groups need multiple orders for the same entry time. Bus parking must be arranged in advance.

When does Christmas in the Park suit a group visit?

Christmas in the Park suits groups looking for a free downtown outing with community traditions at its heart. More than 600 decorated trees and animated displays fill Plaza de César Chávez in San José. The 2026 season runs from November 27 to January 1, 2027.

Trees decorated by local groups bring different ideas and personal touches to the celebration. Guests can wander among them and stop at the animated displays, with downtown San José around them. It suits colleagues spending an informal evening together or families with several generations who want to share a familiar holiday tradition.

A dinner nearby can make the lights part of a longer evening, rather than the only destination. Unlike a ticketed garden or theme park, this is a public downtown event. The group shares the space with other visitors, and bus loading depends on street access. Bauer’s can review pickup and return locations as part of the transportation plan.

Who should consider North Pole Nights at Gilroy Gardens?

North Pole Nights suits families who want holiday characters and live shows alongside the lights. A 100-foot animated musical tunnel is one highlight at Gilroy Gardens, with Santa’s Workshop adding another stop for children. The event runs on select evenings from November 21 through December 31, 2026.

This option gives children more to do between the light displays. Meeting holiday characters and watching a show can make the visit feel like a full family outing. For a company celebration that includes employees’ children, those activities offer a different experience from an adults-only dinner or a quieter garden walk.

A single-day admission ticket or valid Premium Membership is required. Some rides are closed during North Pole Nights, so the holiday program is the main reason to choose this visit. Gilroy Gardens provides free parking for tour buses carrying 10 or more people. The pickup location and return meeting point are agreed as part of the journey.

How can Bauer’s plan transportation for a holiday lights outing?

Bauer’s can match a vehicle to your guest count and plan the ride around your attraction’s entry time. Luxury vans seat 13 or 14 passengers, shuttles seat 23, 27 or 31 and coaches seat 38, 52 or 56. Accessible vehicles are available upon request, with advance notice so the appropriate vehicle can be scheduled.

Keeping the evening to one attraction leaves more time for the visit and avoids another trip between venues. If dinner is part of the outing, that stop can be included in the route discussion. The return schedule allows time for guests to walk back from the displays and gather at the agreed pickup point.

Start with your date, group size, and pickup location. Your chosen destination and entry time then help shape the route and return arrangements. Attraction tickets and transportation are arranged separately; the transport quote covers the agreed journey. Details such as parking and any additional stops can be addressed in the quote, rather than left for guests to sort out on arrival.

For more on the vehicle options, read our guide to shuttle buses and charter buses. You can also explore Bauer’s group transportation services when planning a family visit or a company outing.

Bauer’s has nearly 40 years in business and 300+ vehicles, all owned by us. Our chauffeurs are employed and trained by us, supported by our own dispatch operating 24/7/365. That means the company planning your ride also manages the vehicles and the team providing it.