As the holiday season ramps up, neighborhoods across the Sacramento region light up with festive displays.
And here at SacramenKnow headquarters, we consider ourselves connoisseurs of local arts. So we’ve gathered some of the best neighborhoods to view holiday lights in the Sacramento area, from classics like the Fab 40s to lesser-known favorites all the way in Natomas.
The Fabulous 40s
One of the many houses who have decorated their house in the historic Fabulous 40s in East Sacramento.Keyshawn Davis/CapRadio
The famous East Sacramento neighborhood known as the Fabulous 40s is perhaps Sacramento’s best-known location for holiday light sightings. The affluent neighborhood is known for its distinct architecture — and owners of the suburban mansions go above and beyond decorating for the holidays.
Kyle Mickiewicz, publisher of the monthly magazine East Sac Local, said the light displays visitors see in the Fab 40s today are more of a recent phenomenon, but the tradition has been going on since at least the 1980s.
“The version we see today is not anything like how it used to be,” Mickiewicz said. “There were households like my grandparents, on 44th Street, who put up pretty modest displays every year, which was a pretty iconic Santa Claus sort of passing through the roof. But there were never strong carriages lining the streets, I wouldn't say, until maybe the mid 80s.”
Mickiewicz said he and his brother continue that tradition by helping their grandmother dig up decorations from her basement every year. Mickiewicz's grandmother, Joan Patrica O’Neil, made a cameo in “Lady Bird” as the titular character’s boyfriend’s grandmother. Her character lived in the iconic blue house in the Fab 40s, which Lady Bird herself pretended to live in at one point.
“She actually played herself in the movie, which is cool,” Mickiewicz said. “Greta is a long time family friend, really close with my brother, who I mentioned, but [my grandma’s] house is actually two doors down from the blue house. And you'll know it because it's brown and it has a giant Santa on the roof. So if anyone is curious, please stop by and wave to Santa and bring grandma some more cheer.”
While visitors often gather with loved ones to walk or drive down the light-adorned streets, they can also take in holiday displays from the comfort of a horse-drawn carriage, brew bike or tuk tuk. Organizations like Top Ranch Carriage Company, Sacramento Brew Bike and Capital Tuk Tuk offer tours through the neighborhood, sometimes including seasonal beverages.
Rockmont Circle, Natomas
One of the many houses that decorated their house in Rockmont Circle in North Natomas.Keyshawn Davis/CapRadio
Rockmont Circle, a neighborhood located in North Natomas, has been doing over-the-top Christmas light displays for over 20 years.
The tradition was started by a few homeowners living on Java Court. Over the years, it has spread to over 100 homes in the Rockmont Circle neighborhood, according to the co-founder of Rockmont Lights Jay Ross.
Ross said the light displays have taken off in the last five years, and ever since COVID, more people around the Sacramento region have started to visit.
Every Saturday through the end of the year, the neighborhood hosts character nights, during which visitors can see Santa Claus, elves, the Grinch, and more. A giant 25-foot Christmas tree is also placed in the middle of the street starting between 6:30 and 7 p.m.
“We had so much traffic coming through, and we got so many donations that we decided to create a nonprofit to help us manage the money because people will be very generous,” Ross said. “I think we collected almost $4,000 just from standing out there as characters and ringing a bell and asking people to donate to [our] charity while they enjoy the lights.”
Ross said the majority of Rockmont Circle residents decorate their houses after Thanksgiving. He said the best way to experience the neighborhood is to park at Westlake Charter School and walk to avoid all the traffic.
He added that Rockmont Lights is a charitable organization which collects non-perishable items to donate to local food banks..
Pebble Creek, Rocklin
I’m personally a big fan of the Pebble Creek Christmas Lights in Rocklin. Nearly all of the 130 houses in the neighborhood have their own unique displays, and I’m always excited to see so many other Sacramentans gathered, walking through the neighborhood and enjoying holiday festivities.
One commenter on Yelp who lives in the area described this location as the “BEST LIGHTS IN THE REGION.” I have to agree. Pro tip: The best way to view light displays at Pebble Creek is to drive slowly down the streets listening to Michael Bublé’s Christmas album.
Dovewood Court, Orangevale
Another popular holiday light stop outside of Sacramento proper is Dovewood Court in Orangevale. One home in particular takes the cake: Jason Evart and his mother have created a massive “Peanuts” display in their yard every year since the 1980s. Their display was even noticed by the queen of Christmas herself, Mariah Carey, who FaceTimed the family in 2018 to thank them for spreading the holiday spirit.
“A little back story on the Peanuts Christmas display: My Dad and I built Snoopy's doghouse in 1986 and my Mom cut the Peanuts characters out of plywood with a jigsaw,” Evart wrote on Facebook last year. “She's quite the artist and painted the Peanuts characters. The paint is still original 37 years later.”
Twinwood Loop, Roseville
Also outside of Sacramento proper is Twinwood Loop in Roseville, known for its dozens of homes whose light displays are synced to local radio stations playing holiday music.
Folsom Zoo, Sutter Street
Folsom features a number of light displays, both within neighborhoods and at local attractions. The city adorns its historic district with twinkling lights and foliage — plus an ice rink — and the Folsom Zoo Sanctuary also hosts an annual Wild Nights and Holiday Lights event featuring caroling, lighted animal displays and sparkling ornaments.
Honorable Sacramento mentions
If you’re looking to stay within city limits for your holiday light viewing, Old Sacramento puts on an annual Theatre of Lights performance. Every Friday and Saturday, performers descend on the rooftops of the district’s historic buildings for a light show and performance of “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” and other stories about Sacramento pioneers.
And for a less crowded — but still exciting — light pilgrimage, both the State Capitol and the Governor’s Mansion State Historic Park (within walking distance of one another) boast their own displays. This year, a 60-foot tree cut down from LaTour Demonstration State Forest in Shasta County sits on the steps of the Capitol, adorned in lights and ornaments. And the Governor’s Mansion is completely decked out in twinkling white lights and foliage.
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