Up on Cañada Road this week, the pumpkins are coming down. Filoli's Nightfall event ran through November 1, with 25 sold-out nights before it closed. Between then and opening day on November 14, more than 200 staff have 13 days to turn the estate from autumn to the holidays, according to Filoli's October 20 announcement. By that date, more than 26,000 Holidays at Filoli tickets had already sold, three and a half weeks before the gates open.
The lights get most of the attention. But the two biggest additions this year are on the daytime ticket, and the daytime hours are shorter than they look.
The farm and the village only run by day
Two of this year's headline features are daytime experiences, and a third shows up on both tickets.
The first is the Filoli Family Farm, the first one the estate has run. It brings mini cows, goats, sheep, piglets and a mother donkey with her baby into the redwoods. Filoli calls it a nod to its years as a working country estate. The announcement describes the farm as being there "for daytime visits."
The second is the Historic House's Celtic Connections theme. The House is on both tickets, so you can see the theme by day or after dark. It draws on the Bourn family's link to Muckross House in Killarney, Ireland, which William Bowers Bourn II bought in 1911 as a wedding gift for his daughter Maud and her husband, Arthur Vincent. Expect layered tartans, jewel tones and evergreen garland across the rooms. The Holiday Daytime page counts 42 decorated trees inside the House and more than 200 real Christmas trees across the estate, including an 18-foot Nordmann fir in Woodland Court.
The third is a bigger Thistlewyck Village, the miniature railway and holiday village in the redwoods. Filoli introduced it as new in 2025 and now calls it "expanded," with more family activities. Visitors can try the Elf Academy, write letters to the North Pole and take the Thistlewyck Elf Oath. The Holiday FAQ says Thistlewyck is part of the daytime experience only, so getting in takes a Holiday Daytime ticket.
A Holiday Lights ticket gets you into the House and Garden after dark. It doesn't include the farm or the village.
Two tickets, two different outings
| Holiday Daytime | Holiday Lights | |
|---|---|---|
| Hours | 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. | 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. |
| Last admission | 1:30 p.m. | 8 p.m. |
| Starting price | $40 | $45 |
| Members | Free with reservation, plus a members-only hour from 9 to 10 a.m. | Discounted; Circle members free |
| Includes | House, Garden, Thistlewyck Village, Family Farm | House and Garden after dark |
| Runs | Nov. 14 to Jan. 10, but Thistlewyck closes Jan. 3 | Nov. 14 to Jan. 10 |
Daytime hours read 10 to 3:30, but the Holiday FAQ sets the last daytime entry at 1:30 p.m. That leaves a weekend afternoon about three and a half hours to get through the House, the Garden, the village and the farm. If you're bringing grandparents in from out of town after lunch, you can easily get to the gate too late.
The evening has new things of its own. Filoli's announcement puts the count at 350,000 lights on 28 miles of strands. That's enough, by Filoli's math, to reach from the estate to Oracle Park. New displays this year include light orbs and glowing flowers in the 16-acre gardens. The 210-foot light tunnel returns, and the Holiday Lights page lists 78 lanterns in the Rose Garden. Filoli says it went through more than 2,500 pounds of chocolate for its hot cocoa last season.
The evening also has the most new ticket options. Holiday Lights Anytime+ is new for 2026. You pick a date, arrive any time that evening and can change dates easily. It also comes with a festive drink, a light-up necklace, 3D light glasses, a collectible pin and 20% off eligible retail. Only a limited number are sold each night. Regular timed tickets don't allow entry before the time you booked, though late arrival is allowed. For a bigger evening, Filoli offers the Ballroom Champagne Lounge at $125 for adults and $60 for ages 5 to 20, with a nonalcoholic option. A private fire pit costs $950 for up to eight guests or $1,500 for up to 12, with Lights admission included.
The village closes a week early
The season runs through January 10, 2027. Thistlewyck Village doesn't. The Holiday FAQ lists the village from November 14, 2026, to January 3, 2027. The daytime page puts it more playfully, saying the village "disappears into the mist on January 3." A family that waits for the quieter week after New Year's will find the House and Garden still decorated but the railway gone.
Here are the dates to plan around:
- Friday, November 13: Merry & Bright Preview Night, 6 to 10 p.m., one night with very limited capacity. It includes carolers and hot drinks in a keepsake mug.
- Saturday, November 14: Holiday Daytime and Holiday Lights open to the public.
- November 23 and 24: Flora Party workshops for Thanksgiving centerpieces.
- Thursday, November 26: Closed for Thanksgiving.
- December 1 through 18: Holiday Teas in the Historic Garden House, served family-style with tiered treats and sparkling wine.
- December 5, 12, 19 and 26: Filoli Reserve, a legacy wine tasting.
- December 8 to 11 and 15 to 18: Flora Party sessions for holiday wreaths.
- December 24 and 25: Closed for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
- Sunday, January 3: Last day for Thistlewyck Village.
- Sunday, January 10: Last day for Holiday Daytime and Holiday Lights.
What a membership covers in each half
Since the season is really two visits, a Filoli membership covers each half differently. The Holiday FAQ says all members get free daytime admission, including Thistlewyck, plus 20% off up to four extra daytime tickets. Members still have to reserve ahead, and spots are subject to availability. Members can also book the 9 to 10 a.m. hour, when the Historic House and Thistlewyck are open to members only. That gets you to the trains and the decorated rooms before the 10 a.m. crowd, with plenty of time before the 1:30 cutoff.
Evening benefits vary by level. Filoli's membership page advertises 20% off Holiday Lights for members, while the holiday FAQ limits that discount to "Guild level members and above." Guest Services can confirm which applies to your level before you buy. Standard levels run from $139 for Filoli 1 to $329 for Filoli Family, which covers three adults and six children under 18. The Circle tiers start at $1,000 for Heritage. They include free admission day and night with no reservation, even on sold-out days. With 26,000 tickets sold before November, sold-out days are likely.
Getting there from the neighborhood
- Route: Filoli's directions page names Edgewood Road off I-280 as the fastest approach, then about 1.25 miles on Cañada Road to a left turn at the entrance.
- Parking: Free and on-site, with directions to overflow lots on busy days.
- Weather: Holiday evenings go ahead rain or shine. Guest Services can move a ticket to another date for $10 per ticket, and processing can take up to 48 hours.
- Re-entry: Allowed if you show your wristband.
Re-entry and the timing make one plan worth considering. You can't book the farm and the lights as one visit, but you can book them for the same day. A daytime ticket used before the 1:30 p.m. last entry, a break in town, and a Lights ticket for after 4 p.m. covers the whole season, new and returning, in one day with the estate a short drive up Cañada Road.
If you're hosting family this season and want help sorting out which Filoli days work best, or anything else about holiday life on the Peninsula, I'm always happy to talk it through. Debbie Elowson has called the Mid-Peninsula home for years, and some of its best December traditions start a few miles up the road. Work with Debbie.
