Garden of D’Lights: A Holiday Light Experience in Walnut Creek
Walnut Creek is full of fun activities for families, and the Ruth Bancroft Garden is one of those experiences that kids of all ages will love. While it’s open all year, the holidays make it extra special when the beloved Garden of D’Lights illuminates the garden annually on select nights each November, December, and January.
At an hour and a half drive from Sacramento, Walnut Creek is an easy day trip. Our family regularly takes day trips to enjoy fun activities in Walnut Creek.
Recently, we checked out Garden of D’Lights and really enjoyed it. There’s nothing like this in Sacramento, so it’s worth the short drive to check it out if you’re looking for a unique holiday light show. I will also provide you with a few ideas on how to combine Garden of D’Lights with other activities in and near Walnut Creek, so you make the most out of a day trip from Sacramento.
What To Expect at Garden of D’Lights
At Garden of D’Lights, you’ll stroll through the Ruth Bancroft Garden at your own leisurely pace, taking in all the beautiful, illuminated sights and sculptures at night. It’s a very peaceful outing with mellow music accompanying the surreal setting. Think lots of neon lights highlighting the garden’s plants and cacti, and pathways strewn with holiday lights to lead the way.
Every Garden of D’Lights order also includes two free daytime passes. Visitors can return to the Ruth Bancroft Garden at a later date (within 6 months) to see the garden in a new light, for a completely different experience in the daytime.
Garden of D’Lights tickets are available online in specific hourly time slots (5:30pm, 6:30pm, and 7:30pm). I’d estimate the experience to take approximately an hour. As of 2025, tickets are $29 for adults and $16 for youth ages 5-17. Children four and under receive free admission.
What Makes Garden of D’Lights Unique?
Sacramento does not have an illuminated nighttime holiday lights experience in a garden. The only botanical garden near Sacramento is the UC Davis Arboretum. While it’s a spectacular free experience, there is no holiday light show at this time. This experience sets the Ruth Bancroft Garden apart and makes it worthwhile for families to visit during the holiday season, as there’s nothing else like it near Sacramento.
Is Garden of D’Lights Good for Kids?
Yes! My kids really enjoyed seeing all the captivating lights at the Garden of D’Lights. They were mesmerized by the lights dotting the grounds, and the calm music set a relaxing tone. There were some light tunnels that my 3-year-old especially loved running through.
Garden of D’Lights is stroller-friendly, making it easy to wheel kids around at night when they might be nearing bedtime. It does get chilly, so make sure kids are dressed warmly in layers. I’d suggest bringing some extra blankets.
When visiting the Garden of D’Lights with kids, don’t miss trying to find the elf on the shelf in the Ruth Bancroft Nursery. Kids who spot the elf can get a small prize at the kiosk.
Children ages four and under always receive free admission to the Ruth Bancroft Garden, which includes the Garden of D’Lights.
Since Garden of D’Lights runs through January 11, 2026, it makes a fun option for winter break activities for kids in Sacramento, as you can still do the experience after Christmas while kids are off from school.
Tip: If you have light-up toys, bring them along. We got the kids light-up Christmas trees when attending Wild Nights & Holiday Lights at the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary, and they’ve been a hit to take along with us on nighttime holiday lights outings.
Ruth Bancroft Garden for Families
When visiting the Ruth Bancroft Garden during the day, kids can embark on a Bingo Scavenger Hunt through the garden, making it an interactive experience for families.
I also recommend combining an outing to the Ruth Bancroft Garden with the nearby Heather Farm Park playground. This playground is easily one of the best in the Bay Area, and both of these outings are fun for kids in Walnut Creek.
Tip: Families can get free tickets to the Ruth Bancroft Garden through the Discover & Go Program with their Sacramento Public Library card. The offer includes free admission for up to 2 people. However, the pass is not valid for the Garden of D’Lights.
Food, Shopping, & Restrooms
Hot chocolate and spiced wine are available for purchase at Garden of D’Lights. Purchase drink tickets at the front kiosk after admission tickets are scanned. You’ll then take your drink tickets to a nearby booth to redeem your warm beverages. The hot cocoa was delightful to take along in the garden on a chilly December evening.
The Ruth Bancroft Garden Nursery is also open during the event to purchase succulents, plants, and other garden supplies.
Restrooms are available at the Ruth Bancroft Garden, which was especially helpful with little kids before the drive back to Sacramento.
Weather & Parking
Garden of D’Lights takes place rain or shine, so prepare for unexpected weather elements.
Since this is a popular holiday event, parking can get a little chaotic. We did have to wait in line on the street for about 10 minutes before being able to enter the parking lot. Parking spots were available once we got into the lot. Passing cars in Walnut Creek seemed annoyed that there was a line of vehicles blocking one of the street lanes, but we just followed the other cars.
Once we got in the lot, the parking attendant mentioned that there was an option to park in the nearby neighborhood and walk over to the garden. With little kids, especially at night, our preference is to park in the actual lot since we have gear such as strollers that we need to unpack and take along.
Where to Eat Near Garden of D’Lights
Food is not available for purchase at Garden of D’Lights, so I recommend eating in Walnut Creek before or after visiting the Ruth Bancroft Garden. We chose to eat before our 6:30pm entrance time.
Our family’s favorite place to eat in Walnut Creek is Gott’s Roadside. Think of it as a modern roadside diner with interesting takes on classics and seasonal specials. This family-friendly dining option is counter-service, making it a quick, casual, and ideal choice with kids. There’s a kids’ menu with staples like chicken tenders, fries, cheeseburgers, and French fries.
The Gott’s Roadside Walnut Creek location is spacious with tons of indoor seating, high chairs and booster seats, and nice restrooms. Note that it is pricier than your standard fast food chain. The parking lot in the adjacent shopping complex can fill up quickly on a weekend evening, so you might have to do a few circles before finding a parking space.
Other Holiday Attractions for Families Near Walnut Creek
If you plan to make Walnut Creek a day trip from Sacramento or the Bay Area, combine the Garden of D’Lights with these additional holiday experiences.
1. 219 Rock Oak Rd., Walnut Creek
You’ll be able to see this home in Walnut Creek a mile away due to the huge holiday lights on its roof. This house is near Ruth Bancroft Garden, and its holiday decorations are impressive. It’s definitely worth a stop to check out their Christmas lights in Walnut Creek, especially if you’re already near the area when going to the Garden of D’Lights.
2. Winterfest at Tilden Park Steam Train
Time it right, and you can do Winterfest, one of the best holiday activities in the Bay Area for kids, the same day as Garden of D’Lights. This is what our family did to make the most of our day trip to Walnut Creek. However, Tilden Park is in Berkeley, which is 20 minutes from Walnut Creek.
For two weekends in December, the beloved Tilden Park steam trains get a holiday transformation and a special appearance from Father Time. It’s a magical experience for families. Nighttime gets really busy, so you’ll have a much shorter wait if you go during the day.
On the first Saturday of Winterfest in 2025, we rode the train at 3:30pm. We only waited 15 minutes compared to hour-long waits at night. We then grabbed dinner at Gott’s Roadside, checked out some Christmas lights, and went to the Garden of D’Lights.
3. Candy Cane Lane & Lollipop Lane in Vacaville
If you’re driving back to Sacramento, you’ll pass right through Vacaville. During the holiday season, Candy Cane Lane and Lollipop Lane are must-visit festive streets. Homes on these two adjacent streets go all-out with unbelievable Christmas light displays. It gets busy, and you might not initially realize the scope of all the homes to see. These two joyful streets are on Arlene Drive and Shady Glen Ave.
According to Visit Vacaville, there is ample parking on Fruitvale Road in Vacaville if you plan to see the two streets on foot. From Fruitvale Road, there’s a short trail to Arlene Drive; however, bring flashlights as it’s not well-lit.
Stay Overnight in Walnut Creek
After a long and fun day of exploring holiday activities in the Bay Area, it might be worthwhile to consider staying overnight when traveling with kids. If you plan to extend a Bay Area holiday adventure to an overnight trip, a family-friendly accommodation is the Renaissance Walnut Creek Hotel.
One of the main reasons this hotel stands out for families is the Kids Club, a drop-off childcare service with fun activities for children. There’s also a children’s wading pool.
Ruth Bancroft Garden Address: 1552 Bancroft Road | Walnut Creek, CA 94598
