A historic estate on the Peninsula has become a popular Bay Area destination for experiencing holiday festivities and twinkling light displays.
Every holiday season, the sprawling Filoli Historic House and Garden of 654 acres transforms into a Christmas-themed wonderland adorned in vintage decorations and elaborate light exhibitions that draws thousands of visitors.
A Christmas tree made of old books, pink and purple lanterns, a piano that plays by itself, and a 210-foot tunnel of lights that change color are just a few of the spectacles visitors can witness.
Filoli is nestled on a slope of the Santa Cruz mountains along Interstate 280 in Woodside. The estate was built in 1917 as a private residence for Agnes and William Bourn, with a 54,000 square foot Georgian revival-style mansion and 16 acres of English Renaissance gardens.
Light glow in one of the gardens at Filoli Historic House and Garden in Woodside on Dec. 20, 2024. More than 6,000 strands of lights were used in the display. (Alise Maripuu/Bay City News) 
Visitors to the Filoli Historic House and Garden pass through a walkway covered in blue Christmas lights on Dec. 20, 2024, in Woodside. (Alise Maripuu/Bay City News) 
Purple lights shine on the trees in one of the gardens at Filoli Historic House and Garden in Woodside on Dec. 20, 2024. More than 6,000 strands of lights were used in the display. (Alise Maripuu/Bay City News) 
Visitors explore the lighted gardens at Filoli Historic House and Garden in Woodside on Dec. 20, 2024. The displays harken back to a long-ago era of elegance. (Alise Maripuu/Bay City News) 
A garden at the Filoli Historic House in Woodside entices visitors with a dazzling array of lights on Dec. 20, 2024. More than 6,000 strands of lights were used in the outdoor display. (Alise Maripuu/Bay City News)
For the holidays, the mansion is dotted with 21 uniquely decorated Christmas trees and detailed dining tables covered in the Bourn’s 581-piece Tiffany & Co. silverware set.
“It gave me a taste of how people used to live,” said Harold Rusi, an attendee who visited Filoli for the first time with his family. “It felt like I was transported into a different era.”
The sprawling gardens are converted into a museum of lights with different themes in each section. In total, there are 6,000 strands of lights that stretch more than 28 miles.
“The lights were very well done,” Rusi said. “You could tell there was a lot of thought put into it.” Every day and evening until Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, Holidays at Filoli is open to visitors who purchase tickets. Much of the evening shows are sold out for the rest of December.