PLANNING AHEAD? So many of us dutifully gaze weeks or even months down the road when it comes to holiday happenings. Shopping for gifts, scheduling parties, considering crafts we'll make, and the other merry must-dos of the yuletide season have a way of entering our thoughts far in advance. But the busy elves behind the Cambria Christmas Market move into planning mode nearly a year before its sparkle-packed extravaganza opens in the pine-pretty place: Lodging packages are now available for purchase for the 2026 event, which opens Nov. 27.

More than 3 million holiday lights will stay up for a few extra weeks at the Cambria Pines Lodge.

Organizers announced Monday that the Cambria Christmas Market light display has been extended through Jan. 18, but only for lodge guests.

The market says the added dates allow guests “a chance to enjoy the magic without the seasonal crowds.”

Cambria – A Magical Christmas Market and Light Display Experience
Nestled along the central California coast, Cambria offers a charming Christmas market and an outdoor light display that is sure to leave visitors in awe. The Cambria Christmas Market runs from November 28 to December 31, 2025, and is a must-see for anyone in the area. The market is modeled after traditional European Christmas markets, with artisan vendors, festive food, and fire pits creating a cozy atmosphere perfect for a winter stroll.

Blair Hake of Stockton captured lights that illuminated an artisan marketplace in Cambria, located on the state’s Central Coast. The Cambria Christmas Market features more than 3 million holiday lights.

Other holiday highlights include the Cambria Christmas Market, open through Dec. 31. Lohnes said the event transforms the town into a festive winter destination.

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“It’s a German-inspired market with over 300 million lights, festive food and drinks,” Lohnes said. “They have a holiday train, and the Cambria Nursery’s whimsical winter wonderland is happening now until Jan. 15. It’s really a great holiday charm.”

Cambria’s holiday story is built around the Cambria Christmas Market, a Central Coast production that borrows the grammar of traditional European markets—artisan vendors, biergarten-style food, live music, and fire pits—then scales it up with spectacle lighting.

Organizers advertise three million lights and a season spanning November 28 through December 31, 2025 (select dates), making it one of the longer-running small-town holiday anchors in the state.

Want to wander through a winter wonderland this December? California’s Central Coast has one of the best small towns to visit for Christmas in the country, according to HGTV.

The Cambria Christmas Market, running from November 28 to December 31, 2025, features traditional German foods, handcrafted ornaments, and a stunning light display. Visitors can enjoy over three million Christmas lights, visit with Santa, and take a holiday train ride. The market is located on the grounds of the Cambria Pines Lodge, a pet-friendly hotel offering a cozy retreat amid the festive atmosphere.

Taking place most dates between November 28 and December 31, 2025, the annual Cambria Christmas Market features open-air stalls selling Glühwein, traditional German foods, nutcrackers and glass-blown ornaments from Germany, and other handmade gifts. After you’re done shopping, you can visit with Santa, take a holiday train ride, sit by a firepit, enjoy live music, and admire more than three million Christmas lights.

The Cambria Christmas Market is returning for its 14th year. At this outdoor festival, you can take in more than three million twinkling holiday lights, taste traditional German snacks, buy gifts from artisan vendors and take photos with Father Christmas.

The Cambria Christmas Market has grown from a small community event into one of the most dazzling holiday experiences in the Golden State. It sits on the grounds of the Cambria Pines Lodge, a cozy hilltop hotel that’s been hosting the market for over a decade, 14 seasons, to be exact.

The Cambria Christmas Market is returning for its 14th year. At this outdoor festival, you can take in more than three million twinkling holiday lights, taste traditional German snacks, buy gifts from artisan vendors and snap photos with Father Christmas.

The six-acre top of a forested hillside near downtown Cambria is all dressed up for the season again, because as of Friday, the festive annual Christmas Market will be back in town. It’s the 14th year for the Cambria Pines Lodge’s interpretation of classical European Christmas markets.

The Christmas spirit kicks off on the Central Coast this Friday. From festive holiday events to a monster truck show, a lot is happening this weekend. Here's a look at six events you won’t want to miss.

Cambria Christmas Market
After getting stuffed on Thanksgiving, you can walk it off at the Cambria Christmas Market. The popular annual event kicks off on Friday. It features three million twinkling Christmas lights, festive food, drinks, a train ride and a visit from Santa! Tickets start at $27.64. Kids under five get in for free. The event continues through December 31.

The charming town, with its boutique stores and places to eat, is a walk away from the coastline, and there are ample lodgings and guest homes to rent. Busy times are during the summer and mid-to-late November season when the popular Cambria Christmas Market unfolds.

California’s holiday season is in the spotlight this year, with two Christmas markets in the state appearing among the top 10 most popular ones in the country, according to a new study.

Cambria’s Christmas Market and Solvang’s Julefest ranked fourth and 10th, respectively, on the analysis this year by Winna. Cambria’s Christmas Market logged 10,568 average monthly searches, while Solvang’s Julefest clocked 2,038 searches. 

‘Tis the season to indulge in all the festive things. From glittering lights in historic town squares to artisanal gifts from local vendors, mulled wine, and cozy holiday cheer, this year’s nominees for TZR’s Readers’ Choice Best U.S. Christmas Markets capture the magic of the season across the country. Vote for your favorite hot spot and help us crown the ultimate destination that makes this time of year merry and bright.

With Christmas just around the corner, everyone is rushing to make plans. Some people have international travel in mind to visit the best Christmas markets across Europe, while others are keeping their holiday getaways in the country since countless magical towns in America go all out come December. One unlikely destination for the season is California. If you think the state is too warm and sunny to celebrate the North Pole festivities, Cambria will have you reconsidering your plans. Here, you can expect millions of Christmas lights, Santa meet-and-greets, warm pretzels and bratwurst, and guaranteed festive cheer — you might just forget you're on the Golden State's Central Coast.

Cambria concentrates its holiday programming around the Cambria Christmas Market at Cambria Pines Lodge and a village-centered weekend called Holidays in Cambria Village, creating a pair of complementary experiences for visitors. The Cambria Christmas Market runs most nights from late November to Christmas, and features over three million lights across the lodge. The market also hosts nightly live music on a scheduled roster, cozy fire pits for visitors to warm up at, and a children’s holiday train ride that circles the illuminated grounds. On the first weekend of December, the Cambria Chamber of Commerce stages Holidays in Cambria Village, a free community event with a Gingerbread House competition, a formal tree lighting with Santa Claus, flash-mob performances, and a complimentary trolley that shuttles guests between Main Street shops and the market site.

THREE MILLION HOLIDAY LIGHTS... have a way of colorfully captivating us and fully holding our holiday-obsessed attention, it is so very, very true. And that is especially so when all of those brilliant bulbs are lighting up nostalgic winter-inspired displays, oversized ornaments, and the sorts of fetching sights that speak to the season's festive nature

With festive light shows, larger-than-life characters, and tons of family fun on the schedule, Cambria Christmas Market is the Golden State’s premier celebration. There’s a large biergarten and dining area, along with live music from carolers. There’s even a train ride for the kids and on-site hotels for anyone who wants to make a whole weekend of the traditional Christmas market experience.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year on the Central Coast! San Luis Obispo County transforms into a holiday wonderland filled with twinkling lights, joyful music, and heartwarming community traditions. From seaside parades and snowy downtown celebrations to cozy markets and visits with Santa, every corner of the county is brimming with seasonal cheer. Whether you’re shopping local, sipping hot cocoa under the stars, or watching the lights sparkle on the water, this guide to festive events will help you make the most of this magical season.

Christmastime brings hundreds of unforgettable holiday light displays, winter markets, and dazzling landscapes to our beautiful state. We found some of 2025’s best California Christmas towns and attractions, ranging from famous citywide events to underrated hidden gems.

Would you make the drive from Los Angeles to experience the Cambria Christmas Market? Check out this memorable winter landscape glowing with millions of colorful lights.

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‘Tis the season to indulge in all the festive things. From glittering lights in historic town squares to artisanal gifts from local vendors, mulled wine, and cozy holiday cheer, this year’s nominees for TZR’s Readers’ Choice Best U.S. Christmas Markets capture the magic of the season across the country. Vote for your favorite hot spot and help us crown the ultimate destination that makes this time of year merry and bright.

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Experience the magic of the Cambria Christmas Market, nominated as one of the Best Christmas Markets in the United States!

The Cambria Christmas Market, inspired by Germany’s traditional holiday markets, lights up California’s Central Coast with over 3 million twinkling lights, visits from Santa Claus, handcrafted treasures, and authentic German cuisine. This enchanting event seamlessly weaves Old World traditions with local charm, offering a truly unforgettable holiday experience for all.

Now in its 14th season, the Cambria Christmas Market features over 3 million lights, a German-inspired vendor market, visits with Santa, train rides, and live music. Guests can also enjoy seasonal food and beverages at the Biergarten and Amphitheater.

“Each year, we challenge ourselves to outdo the last—and 2025 is shaping up to be our most magical season yet,” said Mike Arnold, event director. “With new displays, expanded attractions, and more vendors than ever, it’s the perfect year to visit. We highly recommend getting your tickets or hotel package early. This event sells out quickly, and you won’t want to miss it.”

CAMBRIA IS AN ATMOSPHERIC PLACE, all year long, but around the end of November a certain shimmer takes happy hold. As for the sparkling source of this seasonal splendor? It’s the Cambria Christmas Market, an annual light-tacular filled with charming displays, yuletide vendors, pop-up concerts, a biergarten, and an array of fa, la, eats that are both holiday-inspired and hearty. The market, which unfurls like a pretty Christmas ribbon near the Cambria Pines Lodge and Cambria Nursery, was founded in 2011, and in the last nearly 15 years it has become a true California classic, with many families returning each November and December to enjoy its nostalgic Noël character. It may only be May, but 2025 tickets are now available for purchase, and overnight packages at a trio of local hotels. Given the popularity of the limited-time event, booking months out is as smart as Santa is jolly.

THE CENTRAL COAST SPECTACULAR… actually returns in late November, if you’d like to be among the earliest seasonal visitors, but whenever you hope to do, do consider this: 2025 Cambria Christmas Market lodging packages are now available, should you have a particular date, or dates, in mind. The stayover destinations are Cambria charmers — Cambria Pines Lodge, Sea Otter Inn, and The J. Patrick House & Inn are on the list — and breakfast is included. As for the merry market, a bundle-up experience full of twinkle, spots for snapshots, and booths selling crafts, Christmassy treats, and warm drinks? It’s a heartwarming holidayworld of whimsy and cheer, with over 3,000,000 lights upping the illuminated enchantment. Peruse the packages now, and do keep in mind that weekend overnights can fill up months in advance.

What if, once a month in 2025, you went to a California fair or festival?

…This holiday extravaganza, inspired by traditional markets in Germany, features 3 million Christmas lights, scores of artisans and vendors, a family-friendly train ride, live music, mulled wine, holiday mugs and a beer garden. There’s usually an appearance by Krampus (a folk figure who is supposed to punish misbehaving children) on Dec. 5.

The holidays are a magical time of year for families to come together and create new memories. Celebrating the holidays in a new destination can make those experiences even more memorable. From European-style Christmas markets to mountain hideaways, here are four of our favorite family-friendly destinations for the holidays.

‘Tis the season for holiday festivities! Whether you’re traveling or simply exploring near home, there are holiday markets abound this time of year, and strolling through them is a great way to boost your festive spirit!

Here are a few of our favorite winter wonderlands open through the holiday season, and be sure to visit each website for up-to-date details on days, hours and ticket information.  

With its new 15-year operating permit in hand, Cambria’s annual Christmas Market will be back, brighter than ever, for about a month starting Friday, Nov. 29.

And there are 50% more lights this year, more than 3 million of them now, up from 2 million in the 2023 show.

Get all dolled up and grab your camera! Don’t worry about the hashtag – we’ve already got it ready for you! The Cambria Christmas Market in Cambria, California is the 3rd most Instagrammable Christmas market in the nation. It’s only a four hour drive from Los Angeles, and the scenic cruise is well worth it!

THE BOUNTY OF BULBS — there are three million lights to wow-out over — is an eye-catcher, but there are many diversions at this expansive outdoor event, which finds its incandescent energy from the seasonal night markets of Germany. Look for “… an inspired vendor market, visits from Santa, a train ride, cozy fire pits, live music, festive food & drink, and more!” at the ebullient happening, which will glimmer on “most dates” for over a month (the concluding night is Dec. 31).

Experience over three million lights creating twinkling magical light displays, live music, delicious food and beverages, Santa, train rides, gifts, artisans, and more at an authentic German market. Tickets are on sale now for overnight stays. Tickets go fast for this event, especially for the weekends.

Millions of holiday lights will soon illuminate the Cambria Pines Lodge area for the annual Cambria Christmas Market.

The Christmas Market has been going on for the past 13 years, bringing in more than 70,000 people annually.

“It was originally an idea to bring tourists out to Cambria during a traditionally slow season. The owner of the lodge here is a big fan of the German Christmas markets and he wanted to bring a taste of that to the Central Coast,” said event coordinator Mike Arnold.

The Cambria Christmas Market announced its return for the 2024 holiday season, extending its run from Nov. 29 through Dec. 31. The annual event, known for its display of over 3 million lights, is now selling tickets and hotel packages.

The Cambria Christmas Market is known for featuring local artisan vendors and all the holiday magic that comes with Christmas. Two million Christmas lights will be on display starting this Friday.

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This will be the 12th year for the Cambria Christmas Market. A team of 40 people have been setting up lights five days a week since mid-August. The Golden Gate Bridge and rainbow tunnel are included in the displays and a new food menu featuring traditional German menu items is being offered during the event.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year and no holiday is complete without a visit to your local holiday market to shop for the perfect gifts for your loved ones. You’ll also find special foods, drinks, festivities and a magical time. Grab a hot cocoa and wander through the rows or pick up a new ornament to deck out your tree. A visit to one of these holiday markets is sure to be filled with holiday cheer.

Whether you’re looking for a fun and festive moment or you’re on the hunt for a candle for your new flame, here are the top holiday markets that will take the stress out of shopping. The Cambria Christmas Market is ranked number five on the list of top holiday markets in the US according to Yelp.

Cambria, CA: If you’re traveling during the holiday season, you’ll want to stop by the Cambria Christmas Market. This market is known to have a spectacular light show with over two million Christmas lights.

Tis the season as tickets and hotel packages are now on sale for the 2023 Cambria Christmas Market.

The market is a holiday event for all ages to walk through a path packed with more than two million lights. The event also offers a train ride, a picture with Santa, and live music.

Guests can also enjoy local beer in the Biergarten, taste international cuisine and drink, and shop for handmade gifts and imported German goods at the German Christmas market booths.

CHRISTMAS IN JULY: Breaking out the tinsel when temperatures are toasty and setting up the tree when three-digit temperatures are making headlines isn’t always the norm, but when the seventh month rolls around, lovers of the yuletide are ready to party. That means various “Christmas in July” events playfully pop up even when the weather is warm; think of sweet screenings of adorable, gingerbread-scented holiday romances to the brief return of decadent December-style desserts to some local bakeries. But here’s a summer-meets-Christmas happening that really does look to the actual season, the one that will kick off, with Christmassy cheer, in about five or so months: It’s the Cambria Christmas Market.

For many, the holiday season simply isn’t complete without a visit to the Cambria Christmas Market. Modeled after traditional German holiday marketplaces, the Cambria Christmas Market features more than 2 million lights, artisan vendors, visits with Santa and train rides, as well as festive food and drink.

For many, the holiday season simply isn’t complete without a visit to the Cambria Christmas Market. Modeled after traditional German holiday marketplaces, the Cambria Christmas Market features more than 2 million lights, artisan vendors, visits with Santa and train rides, as well as festive food and drink.

With Thanksgiving now behind us and Christmas right around the corner, the holiday spirit is already buzzing among businesses and Christmas Market goers in the small town of Cambria.

Friday evening, the Cambria Christmas Market made its debut for 2022, and ahead of its opening, city streets could be seen filling up quickly with cars, tourists and locals ringing in the holiday season.

Two million lights, booths offering German-style food and mulled wine, and more than two dozen artisan vendors are just a few of the attractions in store for visitors to the Cambria Christmas Market, an extravaganza that runs from late November to just before Christmas.

Sydney Rodriguez whips up traditional Mexican desserts such as flan and sweet tamales at her San Luis Obispo home during the holidays. However, once she hits the road for work at Cambria Pines Lodge‘s annual Christmas Market, she channels German culinary customs.

The weather on the Central Coast isn’t very frightful, but inside the Cambria Christmas Markets, the crowds might find it even more delightful.

“The tickets are selling like crazy. The hotel is almost completely sold out, so we’re way ahead of where we were in 2019,” said Michael Arnold, the Event Coordinator for the Cambria Christmas Market.

The Cambria Christmas Market opens on November 25th and goes until December 23rd. People can purchase tickets here.

The Cambria Christmas Market is officially reopening, returning to its pre-pandemic grandeur. The vendor market and train ride return this year after a multi-year hiatus, and new interactive light displays have been added to the over 2 million lights, making 2022 the event’s largest year yet. Tickets and hotel packages are on sale now and going fast!

Founded in 2011, the Cambria Christmas Market occupies the grounds of Cambria Pines Lodge and adjacent Cambria Nursery each year. The owner of Cambria Pines Lodge was inspired to host a European-style Christmas market after visiting Germany during the holidays. The Cambria Christmas Market features open-air stalls selling glühwein (hot mulled wine), traditional German foods, local vendors, and live entertainment.

The twinkly tradition is a Central Coast charmer, boasting booths brimming with gifts, warm drinks, and lights aplenty.

This joyous event takes place annually at Cambria Pines Lodge and Cambria Nursery and Florist and is finally returning to its pre-pandemic grandeur, according to the event manager.

This year the Cambria Christmas Market takes place from Nov. 25 – Dec. 23 at the Cambria Pines Lodge.

The market features a walk-through of different Christmas decorations that feature more than 2 million Christmas lights for spectators to enjoy.

Other activities include artisan vendors, photos with Santa, live entertainment and traditional German food and drinks.