Where can you see the best holiday lights in SLO County? Check out our guide
Put on your coziest pajamas, grab a mug of hot cocoa and hop in the car.
It’s time to set out in search of the best holiday lights in San Luis Obispo County.
From city displays at spots like Mission Plaza and Paso Robles’ Downtown City Park to decorations at private properties, the county is lit up in holiday cheer.
Here’s The Tribune’s annual guide to the fun, festive and fabulous decorations at local homes and businesses. This list is based on submissions sent in from our readers, as well as past Tribune coverage.
Not on the list? You can still submit your home or favorite to be added here or in the form below.
Atascadero
Where: 2720 Ferrocarril Road
When: Open nightly in December
From elaborate light displays and inflatable decorations to a snow machine and a trail of lights with giant projections of Santa Claus, the Boydstons’ home is full of festive fun.
During Cookies and Cocoa events on Friday nights, the Boydstons sell popcorn, cookies, hot cocoa, fudge and other treats to raise money for charity.
Cambria
Where: Cambria Historical Museum, 2251 Center St.
When: Nightly through Jan. 6
The Cambria Historical Society celebrates a tradition started more than 25 years by lighting up the Port Orford cypress known as Cambria’s official Christmas tree. Planted in 1903, the evergreen is now three stories tall and decorated with 10 500-foot strands of crystal fairy lights.
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Cayucos
Where: Shoreline Inn on the Beach, 1 North Ocean Ave.
When: 6 to 11:30 p.m. daily
The Shoreline Inn is decorated “top to bottom” with more than 25,000 lights along with a snowman display and reindeer grazing on the lawn, Laila Kollman told The Tribune.
Nipomo
Where: Willow Road and Hetrick Avenue, off Highway 101
When: 5:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday
Members of Santa Maria’s Power of God Christian Center created Willow Lights in Nipomo as a tribute to late pastor Salvador Ortiz Jr.
Visitors can shop for gifts at the Christmas market, dine on food from Central Coast vendors, sip cocoa by the fire or enjoy a train ride on the Willow Express through stunning displays of animated lights. Kids and grownups can see a faux snowstorm every 30 minutes.
Paso Robles
Where: 4850 Tower Road
When: 5 to 11 p.m. daily
Just how holiday-ready is this house? Andrew Bittle said he “stopped counting after 10,000 lights.”
“The highlight is the massive Christmas tree made of lights with a red star on top that you can see coming down Jardine Road,” Bittle told The Tribune.
There are also “deer grazing out front, lighted trees everywhere, hanging candy canes and Merry Christmas on the roof,” he said.
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San Luis Obispo
Where: 1902 Chorro St.
When: 5:30 to 10 p.m. daily (extreme weather may cancel)
For the 10th year, Wayne and Leslie Terry have decorated their home at the corner of Chorro and Upham streets with lights synchronized to festive Christmas music. Visitors can experience the full effect by tuning their car radios to 89.1 FM. There’s also a speaker for cyclists and pedestrians.
Leslie Terry told The Tribune that there are at least “250 strands of lights (with) 100 individual bulbs per strand, for a grand total of 25,000 imported Italian twinkle lights,” add that “the count is always increasing.”
1619 Pereira Drive
When: Nightly
Marty Henderson has been decorating his home for the holidays for more than 30 years. You can see his latest lavish creation now.
Where: Madonna Inn, 100 Madonna Road
When: Hours vary
San Luis Obispo’s famed Madonna Inn is decorated for the holidays in grand style, with Christmas trees, lights, garlands and more positioned throughout the hotel and resort.
Visitors to Alex Madonna’s Gold Rush Steak House, for instance, are greeted by Santa Claus and a polar bear, while Mrs. Claus and her reindeer watch over diners. Decorations range from oversized poinsettias and pine cones to massive Christmas ornaments.
Where: Karson Butler Events at the Ah Louis Store, 800 Palm St.
When: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday
The historic Ah Louis store is glowing with greenery, from illuminated Christmas trees and topiary to wreaths and garlands. Giant ornaments hang from the balcony.
Where: Buckley Springs Storage, 901 Buckley Road
When: 5 to 10 p.m. daily
This is Buckley Springs Storage’s third year decorating its facility with “6-foot-tall Christmas trees, crazy elves ... hungry gingerbread and, most importantly, Santa’s Storage Unit!” The holiday displays feature more than 5,000 lights.
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Shell Beach
Where: 154 Leeward Ave
When: Dusk until 9 .m. or later daily. Knock for snow at other times.
Flurries of snowflakes greet visitors when they push a button as part of this award-winning traditional holiday home display.
“There is a lit-up snowbank with a polar bear and igloo,” Cynthia Brown told The Tribune, plus a “musical forest.”
Templeton
Where: 1428 Laura Court
When: 5 to 9:30 p.m. daily
Start with a two-story-tall Christmas tree along with a candy cane path and a giant candy cane on the roof.
“Throw in 100 feet of icicle lights and we’re lighting up the street!” home owner David Landers told The Tribune.
“This display is something I’ve been wanting to do since we bought the house,” said Landers, adding that the display features more than 3,000 lights. “I am so excited for it to finally come to life!”
Where: 363 Eric Lane
When: 5 to 10 p.m. daily
Tune into a radio station to watch 10,000 light bulbs dance to music during a 45-minute-long show.
This story was originally published December 12, 2023 at 5:00 AM.
