It’s finally December, and the holidays have just arrived! Not only do kids love this time of year, but they are all excited to see twinkling lights and colorful holiday decorations and join festive Christmas events in Fresno. This season is bursting with jovial celebrations, Christmas attractions, and large-scale-illuminated displays perfect for bringing the family together. Find your way to the best places to have a spectacular view of Christmas Lights in Fresno!
Christmas light shows have become more popular each year and the abundance of holiday lights in Fresno is proof of it. As more and more spectators are flocking these holiday destinations, it is best that we plan ahead on our to-do list to avoid the holiday rush. From the opening night at the Christmas Tree Lane to the IllumiNature at Fresno Chaffee Zoo — here’s where you can find the coolest and much anticipated Christmas lights and holiday events in Fresno!
Fresno Chaffee Zoo
894 West Belmont Ave., Fresno, CA 93728
Phone Number: (559) 498-5910
November 24-26, 30, 2023
December 1-3, 7, 9-10, 14-23, 26-30, 2023
January 5-6, 12-13, 19-20, 26-27, 2024
February 2-3, 9, 2024
Select Days | 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Experience the festivity of the holidays as you experience this colorful event featuring various themed handmade Chinese lanterns. Guests can get into the holiday spirit as they surround themselves in wonder at our Christmas Wonderland, featuring purchasable family photos with Santa that include a custom Fresno Chaffee Zoo border, holiday-inspired food and drinks, live entertainment, reindeer feedings, and so much more!
The Fresno Chaffee Zoo is another popular place to experience Fresno Christmas lights. Formerly Zoolights, the zoo is transformed into a multicultural light display, including Christmas lights and Chinese Lunar New Year displays on select evenings. The evenings also feature live entertainment and festive treats for purchase.
3671 N. Laverne Ave., Fresno, CA 93727
November 20 – December 31, 2023
Daily | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
The lights are turning on for the Davis Family Christmas 2023 opening night! Enjoy some great music to start off the Christmas season. Since 2016, The Davis Family has welcomed the Fresno Community to their musically animated light show outside their home in Fresno. Their light show improves every year as they continue to add to it.
Every year, they try to add something to their Christmas show to make it bigger, better, and brighter than the year before. This year, they have a new selection of 16 songs, accompanied by 40,747 lights, including some new smart pixel snowflakes and a wreath. Bring your family some snacks, and come out and say hi!
Brehler Square
1430 7th St., #1400, Sanger, CA 93657
Phone Number: (559) 875-4575
November 29, 2023
Wednesday | 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Join Sanger Chamber for a fun evening of surprises as they kick off the holiday season in their beautiful Brehler Square in Downtown Sanger. They will have Buddy the Elf help welcome the Spirit of Christmas as the City of Sanger Fire Department brings Santa to Sanger.
Pioneer Park
1044 G St., Reedley, CA 93654
Phone Number: (559) 638-3548
December 1, 2023
Friday | 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Kick off the holiday season in beautiful Downtown Reedley and join the community for their annual tree lighting ceremony and holiday parade. Enjoy food and retail booths, train and pony rides, crafts, photos with Santa, and more. Experience the chill in the air as an amazing light show honoring local agricultural heritage parades through Downtown Reedley.
Watch over 50 tractors, buses, combines, and many antique vehicles all lit up with Christmas lights. The Greater Reedley Chamber of Commerce still accepts late entry forms for Reedley’s Electrical Farm Equipment Parade. This year’s theme is “Christmas Stories!”
Fig Garden
3204 N Van Ness Blvd., Fresno, CA 93704
Phone Number: (559) 348-9200
December 2–25, 2023
Sunday – Thursday | 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Friday – Saturday | 6:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Christmas Tree Lane is the most popular holiday lights experience in Fresno and is one of the country’s most historic events. Located in the historic Fig Garden area, Van Ness Boulevard becomes a one-way street lined with trees and homes decorated with over two million lights. This two-mile stretch between Shaw and Shields makes for a truly spectacular sight.
Some 140 homes and 300 trees are decorated. With the beautiful Christmas lights, displays, the backdrop of gorgeous historic homes, Christmas music on a local radio broadcast, and Santa Claus. Drive through the neighborhood to see homes decorated to the nines with holiday decorations.
Mariposa Plaza
845 Fulton St., Fresno, CA 93721
Phone Number: (559) 490-9966
December 2, 2022
Saturday | 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
The Annual Christmas Parade is back on December 2, 2023! This year’s theme is Winter Wonderland on Fulton Street, so get ready for a white Christmas. Enjoy festive floats and performances in a joyful procession of lights, music, and holiday cheer. They are having this parade rain or shine, so prepare for any weather and have a holly jolly time together.
Every year on Fulton Street, the parade features festive floats, local vendors, live music, and of course, Santa Claus. Stick around after the parade for Santa’s Workshop at Mariposa Plaza until 3 pm. There will be photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, arts and crafts, and wonderful makers selling perfect gifts for the holiday season!
Downtown Fowler
128 S. 5th St., Fowler, CA 93625
Phone Number: (559) 834-3113
December 6, 2023
Wednesday | 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Mark your calendar for this special evening as the City of Fowler continues the tradition of its annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. Help decorate the Merced Street Christmas tree with a custom ornament to represent your family. They have a limited supply of ornaments for purchase at the Senior Center, or you can purchase your own.
Take a ride on the Polar Express train as it takes you on a journey through Fowler’s Winter Wonderland. Enjoy shopping for tasty holiday treats from local vendors and stores along Merced Street with special discounts for one night only. And don’t miss this opportunity to ride a pony for kids only. Some restrictions apply.
Old Town Clovis
456 Clovis Ave., Ste .2, Clovis, CA 93612
Phone Number: (559) 575-4311
December 2, 2023
Saturday | 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Every December, Valley residents look forward to the Clovis Children’s Electric Christmas Parade, ushering in the holiday with a parade featuring a spectacular display of holiday cheer alive with thousands of local children, adults, animals, and floats, all blanketed in a blizzard of lights. Local school clubs and organizations will showcase their love for Clovis by having students and members wave from the parade floats and celebrate the holiday season.
The Children’s Electric Christmas Parade is a community event hosted by The Old Town Clovis Kiwanis Club to help spread holiday cheer to local families. With Christmas right around the corner, there are still several events, such as lights display and festive parades, to get you in the holiday spirit in Fresno. Free shuttle rides will run from the Sierra Vista Mall to the parade all night long to ease traffic and parking.
City of Clovis Civic Center
1033 Fifth St., Clovis, 93612
Phone Number: (559) 324-2000
December 4, 2023
Monday | 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Join the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in Old Town Clovis and enjoy a great time with holiday music, lights, and treats. This outdoor event, which takes place at the Clovis Civic, is full of holiday cheer for the whole family. There may even be two special guests from the North Pole delighting the children and families with his presence, and he becomes the center of attention as he lights the Christmas tree along with the Mayor of Clovis.
There will also be a drawing for ten turkeys for those interested. Bring your camera to take pictures with Santa. Join in on the merriment and enjoy the magic of this special time of year. The event is free, and so is the parking.
CrossCity Christian Church
2777 E. Nees Ave., Fresno, CA 93720
Phone Number: (559) 323-9675
December 1, 2023
Friday | 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Free Community event! Join everyone in the courtyard for an evening of fun for the entire family. Amazing Drone show produced by Skye Dreams with live music, school choirs, cookie and ornament decorating, horse-drawn carriage rides, bounce houses and inflatables, and selfies with Santa.
Christmas is a perfect time to gather and make new memories with family and loved ones. And looking for fabulous places to visit and seeing Christmas lights in Fresno is a holiday tradition that every family should participate in and enjoy. Whether you opt for a walk-through or drive-through excursion, these amazing displays of lights throughout the city will get you into the yuletide celebration—and the quality family time will surely be memorable!
Fresno offers so many opportunities for kids to enjoy and have fun all year round! Check out our list of resources, or browse through our things to do in Fresno with kids. Still looking for more activities for kids in Fresno? No problem! Check out our comprehensive listing of places to go in the region and our highly recommended seasonal blog posts.
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