The holiday lights in this guide are downtown and by the water: Avenida Del Mar’s lit holiday night, a tree at the pier and, next door, Dana Point’s boat parade. Displays without a 2026 date are marked, so check before you go.
Avenida Del Mar’s holiday night
Where: Avenida Del Mar, downtown, and the San Clemente Community Center
In 2025 the San Clemente Times reported that the street was pedestrian-only, with string lights and decorated storefronts for the evening (San Clemente Times), and the City held the tree-lighting ceremony at the Community Center (City press release).
In past years: Saturday, December 6, 2025, per the City’s press release.
2026: Confirmed for Saturday, December 5, 2026. The dated details are just below.
Puttin’ on the Glitz at Santa’s Village by the Sea
When: Saturday, December 5, 2026, 4 to 9 p.m. · Where: Avenida Del Mar
The Downtown Business Association hosts the night with the City. SCDBA events.
Santa’s Village by the Sea at the Community Center
When: Saturday, December 5, 2026, 4:30 to 9 p.m. · Where: San Clemente Community Center, 100 N. Calle Seville
The City’s December calendar lists its part of the evening here. City calendar, December 2026.
The pier tree
Where: the base of the San Clemente Pier
PierPride holds a tree lighting at the pier each year. In 2025 it was Friday, December 5, around sunset, the San Clemente Times reported.
In past years: Friday, December 5, 2025.
2026: No 2026 date had been posted on October 31, 2026. We will look for a PierPride announcement again in early December.
Gingerbread houses
Where: the San Clemente Art Gallery (2025 display)
The City’s gingerbread house contest reached its sixth year in 2025, and the entries stayed on show at the San Clemente Art Gallery through Thursday, December 11, 2025 (City press release).
In past years: the 2025 contest was part of Santa’s Village by the Sea, with the gallery display afterward.
2026: No 2026 date had been posted on October 31, 2026. Our next look at the City’s listings is in early December.
Next door: Dana Point’s boat parade
51st Annual Boat Parade of Lights
When: Friday to Sunday, December 11 to 13, 2026, nightly at 6:30 p.m. · Where: Dana Point Harbor
This year’s theme is Harboritaville, and Dana Point Harbor suggests watching from the boardwalk and parkscapes. Dana Point Harbor.
The rest of the month, weekend by weekend, is in our San Clemente fall and holiday weekend guide.
A few easy tips
- Downtown is calmest early in the evening, before dinner crowds arrive.
- Ocean air turns cold at night in December; a light jacket is worth carrying.
- Re-open the organizer’s page that morning for any change.
San Clemente lights questions
When is the San Clemente tree lighting in 2026?
In 2025 the City’s tree lighting was part of Santa’s Village by the Sea at the Community Center. For 2026 the City lists Santa’s Village by the Sea on Saturday, December 5, from 4:30 to 9 p.m. PierPride’s tree lighting at the pier had no 2026 date when we checked.
Is Avenida Del Mar closed to cars for the holiday night?
It was pedestrian-only during Puttin’ on the Glitz in 2025, the San Clemente Times reported. Check the Downtown Business Association page for 2026.
When is the Dana Point boat parade?
December 11 to 13, 2026, nightly at 6:30 p.m., at Dana Point Harbor.
Sources, checked Oct 31, 2026: San Clemente Times, Dec 11, 2025 (Puttin' on the Glitz); City of San Clemente press release, Nov 10, 2025; San Clemente Times, Dec 11, 2025 (PierPride); City of San Clemente calendar; Dana Point Harbor, Boat Parade of Lights; San Clemente Downtown Business Association.
The City, downtown merchants, PierPride and Dana Point Harbor run these events; this site is not part of any of them. We verified each place and date on October 31, 2026 against the linked pages. Public streets and sidewalks are the place to watch from.
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