Los Gatos Fantasy of Lights Switches to Walk-Through Format Across Four December Evenings

Santa Clara County officials confirmed this week that the Fantasy of Lights holiday celebration at Vasona Lake County Park in Los Gatos will transition exclusively to a pedestrian walk-through format this winter and operate for just four days due to rising operational costs. Rather than hosting its traditional month-long drive-through attraction along Blossom Hill Road, the county department of parks and recreation will open the displays across two December weekends: Saturday, December 5, Sunday, December 6, Saturday, December 12, and Sunday, December 13, from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM. The shift marks the largest schedule reduction since the event launched in 1999.

Audrey Ann Díaz, Acting Senior Communications Officer for Santa Clara County, stated that county leadership did not make this decision lightly, explaining that escalating equipment, staffing, and traffic management costs forced the department to reevaluate the vehicular model. For over two decades, families from San Jose, Los Gatos, and the wider Bay Area drove along the 1.5-mile lakeside park route to view animated holiday light arches and themed displays. In recent years, an opening weekend walk-through preview proved popular with visitors while requiring lower nightly traffic control expenditures.

Under the revised 2026 pedestrian program, advance admission tickets cost $25 for ages 13 and older, $10 for children ages 4 through 12, and are free for ages 3 and under. County park officials emphasized that all tickets must be purchased in advance and that no on-site ticket sales or visitor parking will be permitted inside Vasona Lake County Park during event hours. Visitors will utilize designated off-site parking lots in Los Gatos with complimentary shuttle buses delivering pedestrians to the Blossom Hill Road entrance.

Local merchants, town council members, and traffic committees in Los Gatos noted that while residents will miss the weeknight drive-through tradition, eliminating nightly car queues will reduce evening gridlock along Blossom Hill Road and Highway 17. Disability advocacy groups urged park planners to ensure accessible shuttle boarding and smooth pathway lighting along the 1.5-mile lakeside route. Revenue from ticket sales will help offset county park setup and electrical expenses.

Bay Area families planning to attend the December walk-through nights can check ticket release dates, shuttle pickup locations, and weather policies online at parks.sccgov.org or by calling Santa Clara County Parks at (408) 355-2200. Advance reservation windows typically sell out quickly once registration opens in November. Questions regarding accessible shuttle accommodations or group reservations can be directed to county park guest services.