Holiday Lights at Filoli
Filoli is my family’s favorite destination. I’ve already written about it more than once (especially in my previous post, Nightfall at Filoli). Among all their events, the Holiday Lights have become our quiet Christmas ritual. We visited last year, loved it, and decided this would simply be part of our December from now on.
This year, I finally joined the Filoli Family Membership. The benefits are straightforward and practical: free daytime admission, discounts on dining and the shop, and—the most valuable part—early access to special events. The Holiday Lights tickets sell out fast, so being able to book during the member pre-sale made everything painless.
The evening we went was rainy, like much of this winter, but luckily the rain was light when we arrived. One thing surprised me: the trolls were gone. They must have been a seasonal installation. I was a little sad to see them disappear, but I also liked the idea. It means Filoli is not trying to freeze itself into one experience—they let the place stay alive, change, and give visitors a reason to return.
The trails where the trolls used to stand were closed, so the walk focused on the main house and garden area, which we already knew well. Still, nothing felt recycled. Almost all the lighting and installations had been redesigned from last year. Familiar paths felt new again.
As the sky darkened, the lights became richer and deeper. Trees glowed from inside. The mansion slowly transformed into something theatrical and dreamlike. The highlight this year was the moon installation in the garden. A large glowing disc, light shining softly through fabric, suspended just above the landscape. It looked uncannily real. It also became the unofficial photo center of the night.
By the time we finished the walk, everything felt calm, warm, and quietly festive, the kind of atmosphere that makes you forget about schedules and weather and just stand still for a moment.
Filoli keeps finding ways to renew itself without losing its soul. That’s rare.
If you’re in the Bay Area during the holidays, I strongly recommend making the trip.
