Best Neighborhoods to See Christmas Lights in Orange County 2026
If you're looking to find an area with a large concentration of decorations in one place, here's a list of the best neighborhoods to see Christmas Lights in Orange County.
One of the best holiday traditions is driving around with the kids to look at Christmas lights. So grab your thermos, fill it with hot chocolate, and turn on the holiday tunes!
See also our list of where to see unbelievable Christmas lights displays, which has individual house addresses and the big 2026 light events.
Check before you go: Neighborhood displays change from year to year, and not every street is lit every season. Please be respectful of residents: drive slowly, park legally, keep noise down and stay off lawns and driveways.
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2026 Neighborhood Decorating Contests & Maps
| Contest | City | 2026 timing |
|---|---|---|
| Ladera Ranch Holiday Decorating Contest | Ladera Ranch | Map voting Dec. 3–15 |
| Holiday Home Lighting Contest | Mission Viejo | Winning addresses posted Dec. 11 |
| Candy Cane Lanes | Dana Point | Reported Dec. 14–20 |
| Holiday Home Decorations Contest | Balboa Island | Judging Dec. 10–12; winners announced Dec. 14–15 |
| Holiday Lights Contest | Laguna Niguel | TBA (map posted Dec. 19–31 in 2025) |
Aliso Viejo
King Eider Lane
Cross Streets: El Toro Road and Calle Corta
The residents of King Eider Lane join together to create a festive holiday neighborhood with decorated trees, twinkling lights, and a curbside forest.
Aliso Viejo Community Association
The AVCA has hosted a holiday decorating contest in past years; 2026 details TBA. See more Aliso Viejo addresses on our Christmas Lights in Orange County list.
Anaheim Hills
The Bel Air Neighborhood of Anaheim Hills near Weir Canyon and Santa Ana Road has a festive neighborhood holiday display, and it’s an easy add-on to a drive past other Anaheim Hills homes. See more Anaheim Hills addresses on our Christmas Lights in Orange County list.
Brea
Eagle Hills Neighborhood
Primrose Avenue, Brea 92821 - Enter off of Birch Street at Starflower
Put your hot chocolate in a thermos and stroll the neighborhood. The best way to view the lights at this well-known spot for holiday lights displays is to park at Olinda School or Brea Sports Park and walk. See more Brea addresses on our Christmas Lights in Orange County list.
Coto de Caza
Gooseberry Court in Coto de Caza puts on a dazzling display of holiday décor. See more Coto de Caza addresses on our Christmas Lights in Orange County list.
Dana Point
The Dana Point Youth Board’s Candy Cane Lanes home decorating contest is reported for Dec. 14–20, 2026. Look for the Candy Cane Lanes map of participating homes posted on the city website and social media to view all the entries. See more Dana Point addresses on our Christmas Lights in Orange County list.
Fountain Valley
Heil and Brookhurst, Shadbush Street and surrounding neighborhood
Across from Mile Square Park
Many houses along this street and throughout the neighborhood decorate festively for the holiday season. In past years, this neighborhood has known to get quite busy with families coming in to look at lights. Consider parking and strolling for a few blocks to take in the season’s sights. When we visited on Dec. 21, 2025, it was fairly dark, so check before making a special trip. See more Fountain Valley addresses on our Christmas Lights in Orange County list.
Fullerton
Sparkleball Street
North Yale Avenue (Major Cross Streets Chapman and Raymond)
This neighborhood teams up to create a festive holiday display that includes the 500–600 block of North Yale Avenue strung with flashing sparkleballs. The display usually starts around Dec. 1. See more Fullerton addresses on our Christmas Lights in Orange County list.
Huntington Harbour
Davenport Island, Humboldt Island, Trinidad Island, and Gilbert Island
You can see some of the lights from the street, but if you really want to get the full experience of this neighborhood, you'll want to do it by boat. Many of the homes decorate for the holiday boat parades so you'll get to experience some of the best light displays here. In 2026, the Huntington Harbour Boat Parade is Dec. 12–13, and the Philharmonic Society's Cruise of Lights narrated harbor tours run Dec. 19–23. See more Huntington Beach addresses on our Christmas Lights in Orange County list.
Ladera Ranch
Baudin Circle: The Neighborhood pitches in to put on a festive holiday display along the whole street.
Shively Road, Sutherland Drive and Bramford Street: This area is another reported favorite for holiday lights. Use the official Ladera Ranch Holiday Decorating Contest interactive map (voting Dec. 3–15, 2026) to find this year’s entries. See more Ladera Ranch addresses on our Christmas Lights in Orange County list.
Laguna Hills
Nellie Gail Ranch
Nellie Gail Road and Oso Parkway
Nellie Gail Ranch is a well decorated neighborhood during the holiday season. Follow along Nellie Gail Road and explore the surrounding streets to enjoy an evening driving around sipping hot cocoa listening to Christmas tunes. See more Laguna Hills addresses on our Christmas Lights in Orange County list.
Laguna Niguel
The City of Laguna Niguel hosts a holiday lights home decorating contest. A map to all participating homes is usually posted on the city website in the second half of December (Dec. 19–31 in 2025); 2026 details TBA.
Elder Court: The Elder Court Neighborhood is a full street of holiday light displays. See more Laguna Niguel addresses on our Christmas Lights in Orange County list.
Lake Forest
22981 Belquest Drive, Lake Forest, CA: Pay a visit to this neighborhood in Lake Forest to see a home with 40,000 lights that blink in synchronized fashion to holiday music, then enjoy the other festively decorated homes nearby. The lights are reported to run from late November through Dec. 31, about 5:30–10 p.m. (until 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday), with music on FM 89.7. See more Lake Forest addresses on our Christmas Lights in Orange County list.
Mission Viejo
The City of Mission Viejo hosts a holiday home lighting contest. You can print a map to see all the home displays that entered the contest here. For 2026, the Mission Viejo Activities Committee says winning addresses will be posted Fri., Dec. 11.
Amato and Buscador: These two streets won the 2025 contest’s “Light Up Your Neighborhood” award (2025 winners list), so they’re worth a drive in 2026. See more Mission Viejo addresses on our Christmas Lights in Orange County list.
Newport Beach
Balboa Island is a magical place to stroll and view the Christmas lights. From themed to animated, these homes compete in the annual Ring of Lights Waterfront Home Decorating Contest (judging Dec. 14, 2026) to showcase their color and creativity. Plus, the Newport Beach Boat Parade (official site) runs Dec. 16–20, 2026 and is reported to circle Balboa Island around 7:43–8:10 p.m. See more Newport Beach addresses on our Christmas Lights in Orange County list.
Orange
Old Towne Orange aka the Orange Circle has many residential streets that are decorated with Christmas displays and glittering lights. One particular place is Pine Street at Chapman: There are many houses along the street that decorate for the Christmas Season. There is plenty to look at for either driving or strolling. Other streets in the neighborhood, including Almond Street, have additional light displays to enjoy. The neighborhood near Palm Avenue is also worth a look; it was one of our favorites last season. See more Orange addresses on our Christmas Lights in Orange County list.
Rancho Santa Margarita
El Corzo Lane
Cross Streets: Melinda Road and Las Fieras
Locally referred to as Candy Cane Lane, this street in Rancho Santa Margarita really gets into the holiday spirit. One of the houses even had It's A Wonderful Life projected on the garage door, and another house had a replica of Flick, from A Christmas Story, with his tongue stuck to a pole. See more Rancho Santa Margarita addresses on our Christmas Lights in Orange County list.
Westminster
Northwestern Way
The majority of the houses on this street decorate festively for the holiday season. See more Westminster addresses on our Christmas Lights in Orange County list.
Yorba Linda
East Lake Village
5325 Village Center Drive, Yorba Linda, CA 92886
The East Lake Village community decorates festively for the holiday season. The walkable neighborhood is about two miles round trip if you explore the whole way. The community also hosts a holiday boat parade on the lake each December (2026 date TBA). See more Yorba Linda addresses on our Christmas Lights in Orange County list.
