Del Mar Christmas Lights 2026: Fairgrounds Guide

Yes, the Del Mar Fairgrounds lights up again for the 2026 holidays, but not with the drive-thru many people remember. The current event is Coastal Christmas, a walk-through festival with a holiday light trail, Santa photos and live music, opening December 11, 2026 at 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd. The old drive-around-the-racetrack Holiday of Lights and the 2020-era Holidays in Your Car are not running.

Below is what to expect at Del Mar this season, plus the best San Diego light displays if the dates or format don’t suit you.

What happened to Holiday of Lights and Holidays in Your Car

For years, Holiday of Lights was a North County tradition: you drove slowly around the fairgrounds’ dirt racetrack past hundreds of lit and animated displays without leaving your car. NBC San Diego reported that the setup usually had more than 400 displays and drew nearly 20,000 vehicles in a season, and that it went dark in 2013 because of a track-widening project.

In 2020, when crowds were off the table, the fairgrounds hosted Holidays in Your Car, a 1.5-mile drive-thru show starting from the main parking lot with LED tunnels, holograms and projection mapping. That was a one-season format tied to the pandemic.

The fairgrounds’ holiday event today is Coastal Christmas, and it’s on foot. If you were specifically hoping to stay in your car, there is no drive-thru listed at Del Mar for 2026.

Coastal Christmas at the Del Mar Fairgrounds (2026)

Dates and hours

• Opens: Friday, December 11, 2026
• Runs: The San Diego Tourism Authority listing shows it daily through December 26, 2026
• Hours: 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Light trail: Opens at dusk, around 5:30 p.m.

The official Coastal Christmas site confirms the opening date and hours but, at the time of writing, did not show a closing date. Check it before you book a late-December night.

What general admission includes

• Festival entry
• The Holiday Light Trail, billed as millions of lights
• Photos with Santa and friends
• Live music and entertainment

What costs extra

• Skating on Glice, a synthetic eco-friendly rink. Skate rental is included when you buy skating, and you can add it to general admission or to an igloo or fire pit booking.
• Frosty’s Fun Zone, a kids’ area with inflatable bouncers, slides and rock climbing. You buy single ride tickets or an unlimited wristband; some specialty rides aren’t covered by the wristband.
• Holiday Wine Walk, which includes a souvenir tasting cup, a station map, eight wine samples and light trail access.
• Private igloos (admission for six, a furnished igloo with a fire pit and drink service) and fire pit tables (admission for four). Food and drinks aren’t included; charcuterie boxes and hot chocolate are paid add-ons. Bookings can’t be changed within 48 hours.
• Food and drink from local vendors: holiday cocktails, beer, wine, hot chocolate and cider.

Tickets and prices

Tickets are sold through Fever, linked from the official site. 2026 base prices weren’t posted at the time of writing, so check the ticket page for current adult and child rates. The organizer was running a promo code for half-off child general admission, which is worth checking before you pay full price.

Rules worth knowing before you go

• Rain or shine. No refunds unless you add purchase protection, and none for requests inside 48 hours of a reservation.
• No outside food or drink except sealed water. No backpacks or coolers. Bags are checked at entry.
• No pets. Service animals only.
• No tripods or professional camera gear. Phone photos and video are fine.
• The venue is ADA-compliant.

Getting there and parking

The fairgrounds sit just west of I-5 at the Via de la Valle exit, between Del Mar and Solana Beach. Parking is paid and on-site, and you can buy a parking pass in advance with your tickets, which saves time at the gate on busy weekend nights. The organizer hadn’t listed the 2026 parking price.

If you’d rather not drive, the Solana Beach train station (Coaster and Amtrak) is the nearest rail stop, though it’s a walk or short rideshare from the fairgrounds. Check NCTD for evening Coaster times before you plan around the train.

Tips for a better night at Coastal Christmas

• Time it for dusk. Doors open at 4 p.m., but the light trail doesn’t come on until about 5:30 p.m. Use the first hour for Santa photos and food while lines are short.
• Weeknights are easier. The run covers the two weeks before Christmas, and weekend evenings are the most popular slots.
• Dress for the coast. The fairgrounds are close to the ocean, and December evenings feel much cooler than a sunny San Diego afternoon.
• Budget for add-ons. Skating, Fun Zone rides and food are all extra, so decide with the kids in advance what’s in and out.
• Igloos suit groups. If you have six people and want a guaranteed place to sit, compare the igloo price with six general admission tickets; it includes admission for all six.

Other holiday things to do in Del Mar

North Pole by the Sea brings free holiday activities to Del Mar Village on Sunday, December 6, 2026, from 1 to 5 p.m. Expect kids’ crafts, snow play at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, letters to Santa on the Del Mar Plaza ocean-view deck, roaming carolers and a tree lighting at 5 p.m. at the Jim Watkins Amphitheater at L’Auberge Del Mar. Details are on the Del Mar Village site.

A daytime walk on Del Mar’s beaches pairs well with an evening at the fairgrounds, and the same venue hosts thoroughbred racing in season; see our guide to reading the Del Mar racing program if you’re coming back in summer.

The best San Diego Christmas lights if Del Mar doesn’t fit

If Coastal Christmas dates clash with your trip, or you want a different kind of light show, these are the strongest 2026 options.

Event	Where	2026 dates	Cost	Best for
Coastal Christmas	Del Mar Fairgrounds	Dec 11–26	Ticketed (check Fever)	Families wanting lights plus Santa, skating and rides
Lightscape	San Diego Botanic Garden, Encinitas	Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027	Adults from $28, kids from $18 (listing)	Art-style light trail through gardens
December Nights	Balboa Park	Dec 4–5	Free	Big free festival, food and music
San Diego Bay Parade of Lights	San Diego Bay, Shelter Island to Coronado	Dec 13 and 20	Free	Lit boats on the water
North Pole by the Sea	Del Mar Village	Dec 6	Free activities	Small-town tree lighting

Lightscape at San Diego Botanic Garden

Just up the coast in Encinitas, Lightscape is a timed-entry illuminated trail through the botanic garden at 300 Quail Gardens Drive. The season runs November 20 to January 3, so it covers dates Coastal Christmas doesn’t. A local event listing shows adult tickets from $28 and children from $18, with kids 2 and under free. Parking is $15 per car bought in advance and $5 more on the night, so buy it with your tickets.

December Nights in Balboa Park

The city’s December Nights is free and huge: Friday, December 4 (4 to 10 p.m.) and Saturday, December 5 (noon to 10 p.m.), 2026. The city says it draws more than 350,000 people over the two days. It’s more festival than light show, with stages, food and the park’s buildings lit up. The Cabrillo Bridge entrance is the classic way to walk in.

San Diego Bay Parade of Lights

Around 80 decorated boats cruise from Shelter Island past the Embarcadero and Seaport Village to the Coronado Ferry Landing on Sundays, December 13 and 20, 2026, starting at 5:30 p.m. It’s free to watch from shore. Our holiday parade guide covers viewing spots and the Holiday Bowl parade later in the month.

Who Coastal Christmas suits

It works best for families with kids under about 12, groups who want a festive night out with a drink and a fire pit, and anyone staying in North County who doesn’t want to drive downtown. If you mainly want to see lights and nothing else, Lightscape is the more focused experience. If you want something free, go to December Nights or the Parade of Lights.