Grab your hot cocoa, your camera, and get ready to be wowed. Buena Park goes big for the holidays, and this self-guided tour gives you the brightest, boldest, and most festive stops in the city, no tickets, no rush, just pure Christmas magic on your own time.
Buena Park Christmas Tree at City Hall
Location: 6650 Beach Blvd
Start your night at the city’s iconic Christmas tree — tall, elegant, and glowing with classic holiday charm. It’s a clean, beautiful photo opportunity, especially with the city buildings lit behind it.
BONUS!
Take a quick walk through the courtyard for a peaceful moment before diving into the rest of the tour.
1st Place Winner – Stanton Ave Holiday Home
Location: 6351 Stanton Ave
This home took 1st place in Buena Park’s Holiday Home Decorating Contest last year — and it earned every bit of that win. The display is bright, detailed, and perfectly put together. It’s the photo op of the night, especially with Santa’s reindeer and sleigh set up right out front. Families love this stop, and honestly… adults do too.
Canterbury Way – Flower Tract
Area: Between Stanton Ave & Dale St, and the 91 FWY & La Palma Ave
This block brings the kind of holiday energy you can see from down the street. The highlight? A giant Santa and elf inflatable taller than the house itself. The neighbors in this tract take decorating seriously, and it shows. A slow roll through or a quick hop out for photos both work here.
Cyclamen Way – Flower Tract
Area: Between Stanton Ave & Dale St, and the 91 FWY & La Palma Ave
Turn your radio to 100.5 FM and watch the lights dance right in sync with the music. This street is a local favorite because of how interactive it is — kids lose their minds, adults suddenly become kids again. It’s one of the most entertaining stops of the whole tour.
Petunia Way – Flower Tract
Location: Between Holder & Valley View, and Crescent & Lincoln
Petunia Way delivers the kind of lights-and-installations combo you don’t want to miss. Expect big décor, detailed themes, and homes that truly commit. It’s a great “walk for a minute and take it all in” stop.
Cruise Orangethorpe → Beach Boulevard (E-Zone District)
Area: Beach Blvd (E-Zone District)
Next, head back to Orangethorpe and start your drive down Beach Blvd toward the E-Zone District, where Buena Park keeps the boulevard festive. The street glows with lights as you approach the heart of the city’s entertainment corridor — a fun transition on your way to the next landmark.
Knott’s Merry Farm — Marketplace & Walkways
Location: 8039 Beach Blvd
You don’t need a theme park ticket for this one. The outside of Knott’s is decked out with:
Festive walkways
Lit-up Calico front area
Holiday storefront displays
The Marketplace glowing with lights
It’s lively, cheerful, and one of the easiest places to get great holiday photos without stepping inside the gates.
San Francisco St – South San Tract
Location: Between Holder & Valley View, and Crescent & Lincoln
This neighborhood coordinates their displays with lighted sidewalk archways that get bigger every year. It’s a tradition that keeps growing, and walking underneath the arches feels like stepping into a holiday tunnel. Park nearby and stroll through — it’s worth it.
2nd Place Winner – 7475 Mohawk Cir
Location: 7475 Mohawk Cir
This house goes all out — roofline to walkway, every inch covered in glowing lights. It’s bold, bright, and completely unapologetic about its holiday spirit. Even better, it earned 2nd place in last year’s City of Buena Park Holiday Decorating Contest.
Expect fun photo ops and one of the most joyful displays in the area. It’s the perfect final stop to wrap up your night.
City of Buena Park Holiday Lights Nominees
The City has not yet posted the 2025 nominees, but you can view last year’s nominees here.
We’ll update the list as soon as the new nominees are released.
2024 Nominees
Buena Park, Calif. – Over 15 homes and businesses around Buena Park were nominated for our holiday decoration contest.
Wrap Up Your Night in Buena Park Magic
Buena Park shows up big for the holidays, and this self-guided tour is your ticket to the city’s brightest streets, award-winning homes, and hidden gems that make the season feel a little more magical. Whether you’re cruising with family, exploring with friends, or just chasing that spark of Christmas joy on your own, this route gives you everything from nostalgic classics to over-the-top displays.
So bundle up, turn up the holiday playlist, and enjoy the glow.
And check back soon — we’ll update the City of Buena Park Holiday Decorating Contest winners as soon as the 2025 list is released.
Here’s to a season full of wonder, warm drinks, and twinkling lights. 🎄✨
WANT TO FOLLOW THE FULL ROUTE TURN-BY-TURN?
Use this interactive map here!
Save it, share it, or pull it up on your phone during your drive — it makes the entire tour effortless.
