Gilroy makes an easy holiday getaway from the Bay Area or the Monterey Peninsula: a theme park lit up for the season, a small-town parade, and one of the biggest outlet centers in the region, all within a few miles of each other.
North Pole Nights at Gilroy Gardens: select evenings, November 21 to December 31
Gilroy Gardens brings back North Pole Nights on select evenings from November 21 through December 31, 2026, with jolly characters, live shows, ice skating under the stars, festive food and drinks, and light displays throughout the park, including a 100-foot animated musical Tunnel of Lights.
- It is not every night. Check the park calendar for exact dates and hours.
- Admission is required. North Pole Nights is included with a single-day admission ticket or a valid membership. See gilroygardens.org for tickets.
- Dress warm. December evenings in Gilroy get cold once the sun goes down.
Downtown Gilroy Holiday Festival and Parade: Saturday, December 5
Downtown Gilroy's Holiday Festival and Parade takes over Monterey Street on Saturday, December 5, 2026. It is free, family-friendly, and happens rain or shine. Details from the Gilroy Downtown Business Association:
- 3 p.m.: live entertainment and activities, with Santa's Village, Grinchville, and a Holiday Trail of Treats.
- 5 p.m.: the Gilroy Holiday Parade, with illuminated entries from local groups and businesses.
- 6:30 p.m.: the downtown tree lighting.
Arrive early for a good spot along the parade route, and make an evening of it with dinner downtown.
Holiday shopping
Gilroy Premium Outlets is a short walk from Gilroy Inn, which makes it easy to shop in the morning and drop your bags at the room before heading out for the evening. Check the outlets' site for holiday hours.
Staying at Gilroy Inn
Gilroy Inn is a 100% smoke-free hotel on Leavesley Road just off Highway 101, next to the outlets, with free Wi-Fi and free on-site parking. Rooms have a king or queen bed, a refrigerator, and a microwave. It is about 12 minutes from Gilroy Gardens and 5 minutes from downtown. Book direct at gilroyinn.com.
Photo: UncleVinny, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.