Last December, Fantasy of Lights at Vasona Lake County Park ran as a drive-through for three straight weeks. It opened Dec. 9 and ran through Dec. 30, from 6 to 10 p.m. each night except Christmas Day, and a carload of up to 12 people paid $30. This December, the drive-through is gone. Santa Clara County Parks has made the show walk-through only, and it runs four nights: Dec. 5, 6, 12 and 13, from 4 to 9 p.m.
That turns the show into a short, ticketed weekend event, and its opening night falls on the town's most crowded holiday weekend. The Town's tree lighting is on Friday, Dec. 4. The 70th annual Children's Holiday Parade comes down North Santa Cruz Avenue on Saturday morning, Dec. 5. The light show opens that same afternoon. Between 5 p.m. Friday and 9 p.m. Sunday, Los Gatos hosts three of its December traditions, and each one depends on a different organization, a different street and a different clock.
Why the Drive-Through Ended
The show has been a county-run tradition since 1999, and for most of that time it was strictly a drive-through, NBC Bay Area reported in October. Families drove the 1.5-mile route at Vasona, and walking nights were added only in recent years. The County spokesperson Audrey Ann Díaz told NBC Bay Area, "We did not make this decision lightly," and pointed to rising operating costs. She also called past walk-through nights "wildly successful," with a drone show, live entertainment and more food options.
The County's Fantasy of Lights FAQ gives the same reasoning. The walking-only format and an added second weekend are meant to keep the event going. The County is also adding family engagement zones, photo areas, live entertainment, more food choices and drone light displays on all four nights. In short, the County has swapped many nights of a cheaper event for a few nights with more going on.
What the Change Costs a Household
Ticket prices now apply per person. Adults 13 and up pay $25, children 4 to 12 pay $10, and children 3 and under are free. Every attendee still needs a ticket, including infants. Here is how that compares with last year for one household of two adults and two children between 4 and 12:
| Format | Pricing basis | Two adults, two kids ages 4–12 |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 drive-through | $30 per vehicle, up to 12 passengers | $30 |
| 2025 walk-through | $17 adult, $8 youth | $50 |
| 2026 walk-through | $25 adult, $10 youth | $70 |
The bigger jump is from the old drive-through, not from last year's walking nights. Larger groups felt the change most. Last year a van of 12 paid one $30 fee. This year each of those 12 people needs a ticket.
For households where cost is a barrier, the County's Jingle Pass Program is giving away 4,000 tickets for the walk-through nights. The passes are distributed to county residents through the County Social Services Agency.
Tickets went on sale in three phases: Nov. 1 at 8 a.m., Nov. 6 at 6 p.m. and Nov. 9 at noon. With the last release scheduled for Nov. 9, the County's event page is the place to check which nights still have tickets. Only a prepaid ticket guarantees entry.
The Weekend, Hour by Hour
Without the drive-through, the event no longer stretches into late December. If you plan to go, you'll most likely be choosing between the opening weekend, which overlaps the town's other traditions, and Dec. 12–13. Here is the opening weekend in order:
- Friday, Dec. 4, 5 to 7 p.m. Los Gatos in Lights, the Town's winter celebration, takes over Town Plaza Park with the traditional tree lighting and other winter activities. The Los Gatos Chamber's listing credits the Town as the organizer.
- Saturday, Dec. 5, 11 a.m. The 70th annual Children's Holiday Parade steps off rain or shine from Almendra Avenue and North Santa Cruz Avenue. It heads south on North Santa Cruz to Main Street, then east on Main to Church Street.
- Saturday, Dec. 5, 3:45 p.m. Free shuttles start running from the Netflix parking area at 121 Albright Way to the Vasona entrance.
- Saturday, Dec. 5, 4 p.m. Fantasy of Lights opens at 333 Blossom Hill Road.
- Saturday, Dec. 5, 8:15 p.m. The last shuttle leaves Netflix for the park.
- Saturday, Dec. 5, 8:30 p.m. The park entrance closes. Everyone must be out of the event by 9 p.m.
- Sunday, Dec. 6, 4 to 9 p.m. Second night of the opening weekend, on the same schedule.
Saturday has the tightest timing. The parade route ends at Church Street around midday, and the light show opens across town at 4 p.m. If you want both on the same day, you have the afternoon in between, and the light show requires a ticket bought ahead of time.
The parade is sponsored by the Los Gatos Lions Club and LGS Recreation, working with the Town of Los Gatos and Los Gatos High School. Every entry must carry a Christmas or holiday theme. The Town runs the Friday tree lighting, and the County runs the light show. Three organizations with three separate schedules happen to land on the same 52 hours.
A One-Way Mile With No Parking Inside
The new format also changes how you get there. There is no event parking inside Vasona Lake County Park, and the County describes street parking nearby as very limited. The County's main recommendation is the free parking and shuttle at Netflix. Netflix is also listed among the event's partners. Shuttles back from the park to Netflix run until about 9:15 p.m. The County asks visitors not to block neighbors' driveways or business lots.
The route is one mile and one-way, with a single entrance at 333 Blossom Hill Road. All other trails and park entrances close during the event. You exit on University Avenue, and there is an additional ADA exit on Blossom Hill Road. Because you enter on one road and leave on another, you'll need a plan for getting back to your car or ride.
- Rideshare drop-off is across from the entrance, at the southeast corner of Blossom Hill Road and Roberts Road. You can also get picked up there if you leave before finishing the route.
- Rideshare pickup at the end is on University Avenue, south of the exit, at Cooper Court.
- ADA shuttles run at both the entrance and the exit, connecting to the Netflix parking area.
- Tickets must show a scannable QR code when you arrive, whether printed, saved in a phone wallet or opened from the confirmation email.
The paths are paved, and the event includes a low-sensory zone with sensory bags to borrow. Pets are not allowed, but service animals are. The County asks for accommodation requests at [email protected] at least 48 hours ahead. The drone displays are scheduled for all four nights, weather permitting.
The Second Weekend Is the Last Chance
The County describes Dec. 12–13 as an added weekend, part of its effort to keep the show going in its new form. It runs the same 4 to 9 p.m. hours, with the same Netflix shuttle and the same one-way route. It does not overlap the parade or the tree lighting. Sunday, Dec. 13, is the final night. Last year the show ran until Dec. 30. This year the lights at Vasona go dark 12 days before Christmas.
If you're planning family visits around the holidays, Dec. 13 is the date to plan around. Any guests arriving the week of Christmas will miss the show entirely this year.
Stilla Raissi watches this kind of change closely, because the town's calendar affects when Los Gatos homes are shown and when they're photographed. If you're thinking about a sale in the new year, request a private valuation from Stilla Raissi and plan the timing around the town's own calendar.