Willow Glen Holiday Lights Photos
More like Willow Glen Holiday Lights
Recommended Reviews - Willow Glen Holiday Lights
Start your review...
Reviews With Photos
Come here every year. Park and walk it. Love it. Dress warm! Sometimes there are little stands set up for hot drinks which is a treat. More neighborhoods need to do this.
We visited the Willow Glen Christmas lights after dinner to walk off our meal, and it quickly became more than just a walk. What we thought would be a short stroll turned into a full holiday experience, one of those nights where Christmas feels alive. We have seen many decorated streets and cul de sacs before, but Willow Glen surprised us. Multiple neighborhoods followed shared themes, with streets labeled things like Candy Cane Lane and Santa's Sleigh and Reindeer. It felt like walking through a storybook, where each street had its own chapter. The decorations were beautiful and thoughtful. Some areas felt like a small festival, with trains, horse carriages, brews on bicycles, and families everywhere enjoying the moment. Vendors selling churros, hot chocolate, hot dogs, and light up toys added to the fun. These streets truly embody Christmas, warm, joyful, and full of wonder. The highlight of the night was meeting Mrs. Santa Claus of Willow Glen. She was kind, welcoming, and full of heart. She hosted the churro truck and clearly gives so much back to the community. She felt like the soul of the neighborhood, a reminder that Christmas magic often comes from people, not just lights. Bring your family and friends and take your time walking around, or enjoy it from your car. There is so much to see and feel here. This is the kind of place that turns a simple evening into a memory, and it will definitely be an annual Christmas tradition for us.
Willow Glen gets it done with the Holiday spirit. A lot of homes have decorated Christmas trees in their front yards, this year there seemed to be "block theme" one block had lit up candy canes right by the sidewalks another block arched lit up walkways. There is so much to see "especially near the Dry Creek Road area" that it's impossible too see it all walking down the streets, we drove about 5mph for one hour and saw about 8 complete blocks. (Note) be very careful when driving as a lot of the area is very dark at night and people cross the street without looking and for some reason wear dark clothing that is not reflected to lights.
Happy Holidays everyone! Nice family-friendly holiday fun here. It's a neighborhood in San Jose with a few streets lined with homes all decked out with lights and decor. Some are more elaborate than others, but it's nice to see almost every home lit up on these streets. There's even a house that I believe had a band playing in their back yard. There's a good amount of cars driving along these streets, especially as Christmas approaches, so expect to move slowly.
My favorite holiday tradition driving or walking through all the Willow Glen lights! I loved the whoville addition that I saw this year at a few houses! Biggest tip would be to take the time to walk around!! Definitely more memorable to walk through and makes things a little less crowded on the street :)
Beautiful lights! Can get a bit crowded in the evening. Find a parking if you can and take a walk.
Amazing holiday tradition. We take our family to see the lights in this walkable family friendly neighborhood every year. This year due to time, we forgot to, and our little daughter asked if we were going to see the lights. Due to her request we had to make a stop after Christmas. Such a fun free activity and we noticed there were more street vendors (lights and hot dogs) than in years past.
During the holiday season, it's great to come down to Willow Glen and see the neighborhoods of Christmas Lights and decorations! It's fun to walk (or at least drive around) to see the elaborately decorated houses. It's fun.
I can't believe I've never visited this wonderful neighborhood of lights until this year! The residents of Willow Glen come together to put on an amazing display. There are several streets completely decked out. Sure you can drive but it's best seen by parking a little bit outside of the area and walking. The decorated streets have different themes with their tunnels and it's a fun, festive atmosphere. While there are no over the top displays, with the exception of the giant reindeer which line an entire block (!!!) all homes are nicely lit. It's a must see if you love looking at lights and want to go on a Christmas stroll. Plan to spend at least an hour or so walking around. To find the general area (since there are so many streets done up) you can type Willow Glen Holiday lights to google maps and it will take you to the general area. It's fun to see the community get together and visitors were all having a great time. Traffic and some gridlock aside (pack patience and park further away so you don't get too caught up in the traffic) it's a perfect local holiday display.
I've been coming to the Willow Glen Holiday lights for almost 10 years now, and it is pure magic...minus the crowds. It's amazing to see how all-out so many of the houses go, just about every single one has some sort of Christmas or Hanukkah display, light, or decoration. It's also amazing how much more crowded it gets every year. I used to drive it, but now I don't dare try. I'll typically park near one of the main streets and get out and walk. This is usually much more enjoyable since you aren't having to fight nonstop car and foot traffic. This year I went a little late in the season and even walking it wasn't all that enjoyable because of the groups of 15+ people together and the people running around doing a scavenger hunt, so lesson learned. This past year we parked a bit further and got to see some displays that I either haven't seen in the past or are newer, but it was nice to stroll the less crowded streets and still enjoy the holiday magic. Unlike in years past, there were even street dog vendors out this time around. Felt like I was leaving a concert or a sporting event! read more
The wonderful people of Willow Glen produces amazing holiday displays for both Halloween and Christmas. The festivities and major decorations are very much appreciated by those who may not have the resources to partake in decorating. There are a few neighborhoods in Willow Glen you can walk through and look at beautiful displays. It is animal and kid friendly Another way to view these decorations is something called the Holiday Trolley Ride that you purchase to participate and The trolley rides through the decorated neighborhoods. (Not pet friendly) I recommend bundling up because it gets chilly at night. Don't miss out! Thank you people of Willow glen! read more
MUST SEE! The houses at willow glen really care for Christmas cheer. There's a tractor sleigh being pull by Santa that you can ride. There are bikes; pay to ride. There's a petal bike that you can hop on with your friends and ride. SOOOoooo many houses in the neighborhood celebrating. If you love Christmas you should definitely come here. Its free to park and walk around or you can drive through for faster viewing however it does get congested with traffic. Some houses sell hot chocolate, cookies, and other treats. read more
10 months ago
We visited the Willow Glen Christmas lights after dinner to walk off our meal, and it quickly became more than just a walk. What we thought would be a short stroll turned into a full holiday experience, one of those nights where Christmas feels alive. We have seen many decorated streets and cul de sacs before, but Willow Glen surprised us. Multiple neighborhoods followed shared themes, with streets labeled things like Candy Cane Lane and Santa's Sleigh and Reindeer. It felt like walking through a storybook, where each street had its own chapter. The decorations were beautiful and thoughtful. Some areas felt like a small festival, with trains, horse carriages, brews on bicycles, and families everywhere enjoying the moment. Vendors selling churros, hot chocolate, hot dogs, and light up toys added to the fun. These streets truly embody Christmas, warm, joyful, and full of wonder. The highlight of the night was meeting Mrs. Santa Claus of Willow Glen. She was kind, welcoming, and full of heart. She hosted the churro truck and clearly gives so much back to the community. She felt like the soul of the neighborhood, a reminder that Christmas magic often comes from people, not just lights. Bring your family and friends and take your time walking around, or enjoy it from your car. There is so much to see and feel here. This is the kind of place that turns a simple evening into a memory, and it will definitely be an annual Christmas tradition for us. read more
Willow Glen gets it done with the Holiday spirit. A lot of homes have decorated Christmas trees in their front yards, this year there seemed to be "block theme" one block had lit up candy canes right by the sidewalks another block arched lit up walkways. There is so much to see "especially near the Dry Creek Road area" that it's impossible too see it all walking down the streets, we drove about 5mph for one hour and saw about 8 complete blocks. (Note) be very careful when driving as a lot of the area is very dark at night and people cross the street without looking and for some reason wear dark clothing that is not reflected to lights. read more
Happy Holidays everyone! Nice family-friendly holiday fun here. It's a neighborhood in San Jose with a few streets lined with homes all decked out with lights and decor. Some are more elaborate than others, but it's nice to see almost every home lit up on these streets. There's even a house that I believe had a band playing in their back yard. There's a good amount of cars driving along these streets, especially as Christmas approaches, so expect to move slowly. read more
My favorite holiday tradition driving or walking through all the Willow Glen lights! I loved the whoville addition that I saw this year at a few houses! Biggest tip would be to take the time to walk around!! Definitely more memorable to walk through and makes things a little less crowded on the street :) read more
9 months ago
Beautiful lights! Can get a bit crowded in the evening. Find a parking if you can and take a walk. read more
10 months ago
Amazing holiday tradition. We take our family to see the lights in this walkable family friendly neighborhood every year. This year due to time, we forgot to, and our little daughter asked if we were going to see the lights. Due to her request we had to make a stop after Christmas. Such a fun free activity and we noticed there were more street vendors (lights and hot dogs) than in years past. read more
During the holiday season, it's great to come down to Willow Glen and see the neighborhoods of Christmas Lights and decorations! It's fun to walk (or at least drive around) to see the elaborately decorated houses. It's fun. read more
2 years ago
I can't believe I've never visited this wonderful neighborhood of lights until this year! The residents of Willow Glen come together to put on an amazing display. There are several streets completely decked out. Sure you can drive but it's best seen by parking a little bit outside of the area and walking. The decorated streets have different themes with their tunnels and it's a fun, festive atmosphere. While there are no over the top displays, with the exception of the giant reindeer which line an entire block (!!!) all homes are nicely lit. It's a must see if you love looking at lights and want to go on a Christmas stroll. Plan to spend at least an hour or so walking around. To find the general area (since there are so many streets done up) you can type Willow Glen Holiday lights to google maps and it will take you to the general area. It's fun to see the community get together and visitors were all having a great time. Traffic and some gridlock aside (pack patience and park further away so you don't get too caught up in the traffic) it's a perfect local holiday display. read more
8 months ago
10 months ago
If you are looking for a safe place to walk and enjoy holiday lights, this is it! I brought my 16 month old for a walk to tire him out on 12/25 around 5 pm and there were a lot of folks walking around. It's so fun to see the themes on the various streets and awe at the beautiful homes. We came back on 12/31 and most homes still had lights on around 6 pm. I loved the Candy Cane Lane (Carolyn Ave), the Frosty Lane (Lester Avenue), and the Tree Lane (Crescent). Though many drive, I highly recommend you park and walk around. There are a lot of people walking with kids and pets and it is well lit due to holiday lights. It's a great way to get some fresh air, walk off the heavy holiday meals, and enjoy the beautiful bay area weather. It is a short walk from the Lincoln Ave downtown restaurants and shops, so make it a date and fun adventure after grabbing a bite (I personally love Halal Amigos and Willow Glen Creamery). read more
10 months ago
10 months ago
1 year ago
4 years ago
We went for a stroll on a cold rainy night, when no one was out, as my friend lives in Willow Glen and we thought this would be a great addition to our already awesome evening together. Obviously the weather wasn't very pleasant, but with an umbrella on hand and the streets still lined with bright and colorful decorations and lights after 9pm, we had a good time. I'd say it's a bit low-key compared to other holiday light shows I've been to (no moving parts or homes collaborating together on their props/decor to create elaborate scenes). But it was still lovely in this charming neighborhood, with fallen leaves everywhere, trees lit, giant inflatable Santas, candy canes and snowmen lining front lawns, one of the houses even had a bunch of puppies on display with festive accessories, instead of just typical reindeer ornaments. If you're looking for something uniquely spectacular, this is not it. But if you are more interested in keeping it simple, taking a walk with loved ones, and would enjoy exploring the beautiful neighborhood a bit, this is a lighthearted activity and great way to get into the holiday spirit. read more
Willow Glen was highly recommended to me by my colleagues. This isn't my favorite spot to check out holiday lights as I've been spoiled by Christmas Tree Lane in San Carlos. However, the decor isn't half bad! The neighborhood is large so you can spend a hefty amount of time walking around. I wonder if there were more decorated houses pre-pandemic - I saw many houses who did not participate on Christmas Eve this year. My husband and I found parking easily as many folks just drove through. I'd recommend parking and walking though as drive thru traffic looked/sounded stressful! read more
This is definitely one of the best Christmas lighting in Bay Area, there are not only one street but a few blocks are coordinated with different patterns lighting. We came here every year but still found it fascinated from the amazing lightings. You can stroll around if weather is nice, we usually just drive around in car due to limited parkings if you come on Christmas Day. read more
2 years ago
11 months ago
10 months ago
11 months ago
Another yearly tradition during this time of the year is a visit here! I always leave more cheerful and more optimistic in humanity. I recommend parking and walking the streets and taking in the sights. I love how coordinated all the streets are with their themes, how much effort they put into it and how awesome it all looks. It does get cold, I recommend wearing layers and bringing some hot chocolate if you can. Well done Willow Glen, well done! Don't ever stop! PS - Please don't be the people in the car who go super slowly, stopping for pictures and blocking traffic. read more
2 years ago
Driving though This Willow Glen neighborhood to see their great Christmas displays has been one of our family traditions for years. It's a coordinated multi-block light show that you can drive through or park and walk though. The folks in this neighborhood go all out and have some amazing displays. I would say that it's on par with some of the other light shows that you have to pay for. In fact we went to Blinky's Illuminated Holiday and then we came here the same night and our daughters (7 & 9) preferred the Willow Glen expereince. In fact they asked that we go back a 2nd night which we did. Kudos to the folks in this neighborhood for doing such a great job and putting up with all the extra traffic year after year. read more
6 years ago
Willow Glen's annual holiday lights festival has gotten more grand and festive ever year. We love that every neighborhood has its own slight theme, and the coordination among neighboring homes is admirable to say the least. This is a very fun event for family members and friends of all ages. To drive around and see all the main attractions takes about half an hour, but walking would probably take a at least 1.5 hours. Whether you're walking or driving, I recommend being mindful that these displays are in front of people's homes. It's important to be respectful of people's properties and the cleanliness of the neighborhood. read more
Drive through WG to get into the holiday spirit! Tune into 92.6 when you are in the neighborhood to listen to holiday music. Don't mind the major traffic, everyone is doing the same thing... driving slowly and safely through to look at the well decorated neighborhoods. read more
This is our 2nd year visiting Willow Glen for their Xmas lights. Thankful that the community comes together to do this year after year. I love that each street has a theme and the houses and neighbors are all working together. It does get busy and there is traffic, if you choose to walk it that can be nice too! My mom used to take us to a neighborhood years ago where they had Xmas lights and decorations like this, so it's very nice to see it now and be able to bring my family here. Rule of thumb out of respect to the neighbors, please don't block their driveways to park, and don't step in their yard to take pictures. Keep garbage to yourself as well. Hopefully with consideration from visitors, they can continue this tradition for years to come. read more
Page 1 of 3
More info about Willow Glen Holiday Lights
Glen Brook Ave
San Jose, CA 95125
Willow Glen
Directions
Hours
Indoor Amenities
Other Amenities
Ask the Community - Willow Glen Holiday Lights
When do they put up lights ?Before or after thanksgiving?
When do they take the lights down? Will they still be tonight (12/26)?
They normally take them down around January 1st! They'll definitely be up tonight - it's only the day after Christmas!
Do the lights actually come on at 7pm or earlier? We have a baby so we're hoping to walk through as soon as the sun sets. TIA!
I came on 12/25 and 12/31 between 5- 6 pm and most homes had lights on!
What's the best street to start on (walking)? Are there any streets you can't miss?
They all have different themes. No single starting point , just follow the light
Can we park somewhere and walk around? Or does it cost money for the drive thru?
Its completely free. Its a neighborhood so just park on the street somewhere and walk around.
Is there a best day to go? I was told that sometimes the neighbors hand out hot chocolate and things like that. Is that every day or just weekends? What a lovely tradition!
There's a home near the corner of Cherry & Glen Eyrie that gives out free hot chocolate! They accept donations that gets used for Toys for Tots. I think it's weekends only though. Hope this helps!
Are the lights going to be up for the 2022 Christmas season?
I went to see the lights tonight, 12/2, and not every street was decorated yet, but many lights were up! I'm sure more will be up as the month progresses. Enjoy :)
Does it still function even when it rains?
It's just a neighborhood. You can go rain or shine. There is no entrance per se.
Will the lights still be up through New Year's Eve?
I came on 12/31/23 and most homes had their lights on!
When are the lights up...planning to go thanksgiving week with family from out of town...is it too soon?
Usually starts the first week of December. This year on 12/4/2021 most everything should be up and running but some lights and decorations are already up. The date is not coordinated so you may see more lights and decorations as time goes on.
Does anyone know if this is still happening (jan 9-10)?
When is the last day of the event?
Not 100% but i'm sure it runs thru at least New Year's Day
Review Highlights - Willow Glen Holiday Lights
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
5 reviews that are not currently recommended
The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.
4 years ago
2 years ago
2 years ago
3 years ago
5 years ago
