🎄 The Best Christmas Lights in Costa Mesa & Newport Beach: A Local’s Guide to the Most Festive Streets

The holiday season transforms Costa Mesa and Newport Beach into a magical coastline of twinkle lights, festive displays, and neighborhood traditions that locals wait for all year long. Whether you're planning a night out with family, cruising with friends, or showing homes to out-of-town guests, these neighborhoods offer some of the best Christmas lights in Costa Mesa and beyond.

As a lifelong Mesa Verde resident and local real estate expert with Torelli Realty, here’s my guide to the can't-miss holiday hotspots.

🌟 1. Mesa Verde’s Inner Loop – Samar, Maui, & Boa Vista

If you’re searching for iconic Mesa Verde Christmas Lights, start in the Inner Loop. These streets are beloved for their walkable, family-friendly feel and festive, community-driven décor.

✨ Samar Drive, Maui Place, & Boa Vista

These streets consistently deliver bright, creative holiday displays. Expect:

• Homes decked out in classic lights

• Inflatable characters and themed décor

• Crowds strolling with hot cocoa in hand

• A true neighborhood-community vibe unique to Mesa Verde

This area is perfect for families, evening walks, and anyone who loves seeing entire blocks participate.

🎅 2. Iowa Street & Colorado Place – Mesa Verde

These two streets have become well-known locally for spectacular holiday decorations. Iowa Street especially is known for synchronized lights, detailed home displays, and a high level of neighbor participation.

If you want the “small-town Christmas” feel right in Costa Mesa, don't skip this stop.

🎄 3. Snoopy House at Costa Mesa City Hall

A Costa Mesa classic.Located at City Hall, Snoopy House draws thousands each year with:

• A full Peanuts-themed holiday village

• Animated scenes

• Photo ops for families

• Free entry and easy parking

This is one of the city’s longest-running traditions — and a must-see before touring nearby neighborhoods.

🚲 4. Mesa Del Mar – The Famous Golf Cart Christmas Parade

Mesa Del Mar goes beyond decorated homes — it has its own holiday parade.

Neighbors dress up golf carts with lights, wreaths, and over-the-top themes, cruising through the neighborhood while residents cheer from lawn chairs.

You’ll also find homes throughout Mesa Del Mar participating with bright, fun Christmas décor.

🏠 5. College Park – A Hidden Gem for Holiday Home Décor

College Park is a can't-miss neighborhood for anyone wanting a large concentration of festive homes.Particularly along College Avenue, you’ll find:

• Larger-than-life inflatables

• Roofline lighting

• Coordinated block displays

• Candy-cane walkways and nativity scenes

This area delivers one of the best “park-the-car-and-walk” experiences in Costa Mesa.

✨ 6. Eastside Costa Mesa – Irvine Avenue

If you're doing a driving tour, make sure to include Irvine Avenue.Many homes along this corridor dazzle with bright lights and lawn displays, creating a festive path that pairs perfectly with a visit to Newport Heights or Balboa Island.

🎁 Newport Beach Holiday Highlights

🌊 7. Balboa Island – The Crown Jewel of Coastal Christmas Lights

When you think of Christmas lights by the water, you think of Balboa Island.

This is one of Orange County’s most famous holiday destinations thanks to:

• Waterfront homes glowing with themed décor

• The iconic Ring of Lights competition

• Walkable streets perfect for picture-taking

• Reflections of holiday lights shimmering over the bay

You can walk the island, take the ferry, or pair your visit with the Boat Parade (below).

⛵ 8. Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade

One of Southern California’s signature holiday events.Boats of all sizes cruise the harbor covered in:

• Moving light displays

• Christmas music

• Themed decorations

• Fireworks on select nights

Even if you don’t get on a boat, you can enjoy the lights from Balboa Peninsula, Lido Island, or waterfront parks.

🎅 9. Newport Heights – Home of the Giant Santa Blow-Up

Newport Heights is a fun stop for anyone who loves unique, over-the-top décor. Each year, residents put up elaborate displays — including the famous towering Santa inflatable that has become a holiday photo tradition.

The neighborhood is walkable, festive, and easy to pair with a trip to Balboa or Eastside Costa Mesa.

✨ Bonus Mentions – Other Festive Neighborhoods Worth a Drive

• Freedom Homes (Costa Mesa) – A mix of traditional and creative decorations.

• Cliff Haven (Newport Beach) – Classic décor and charming homes.

• Harbor View / Port Streets (Newport Beach) – Family-friendly holiday atmosphere.

These neighborhoods aren’t always on official lists, but locals know they deliver year after year.

🎄 Plan the Perfect Holiday Lights Route

Here’s a suggested loop that hits the highlights:

Start in Costa Mesa:Snoopy House → Mesa Verde Inner Loop (Samar, Maui, Boa Vista) → Iowa Street → Colorado Place → College Park → Mesa Del Mar → Irvine Ave

Then head to Newport Beach:Newport Heights → Balboa Island → Christmas Boat Parade (if running)

Perfect for an evening drive or a fun night out with family.

🏡 Holiday Spirit & Homeownership in Costa Mesa

One of the things that makes Costa Mesa so special — and why so many families choose Mesa Verde, Eastside, College Park, and Mesa Del Mar — is the way communities come together during the holidays.

These neighborhoods don’t just put up lights. They create moments, traditions, and memories that last a lifetime.

If you ever want to learn more about living in Mesa Verde or surrounding Costa Mesa neighborhoods — or if you’re thinking of making a move in the new year — I’d love to help.

Kendra Fisher | Torelli Realty Local Expert • Lifelong Costa Mesa Resident📲 714-606-3376