Christmas lights in Gilbert, Arizona

We track 8 displays in Gilbert — the 4th-densest city for lights in Arizona. Every one of them is free to visit.

When to go

Displays here switch on around sunset. In Gilbert that means about 5:19 PM in early December and 5:21 PM by mid-month — the earliest sunsets of the year fall right in the middle of lights season. It is properly dark by about 5:49 PM, which is when the displays look their best. December nights in Gilbert typically drop to around 42°F.

DateSunsetFully dark
Dec 15:19 PM5:46 PM
Dec 155:21 PM5:49 PM
Dec 255:26 PM5:53 PM

The Gilbert lights loop — 8 stops

We ordered every display in Gilbert into the shortest sensible driving loop: roughly 9.3 miles and 54 minutes of driving, before you count time spent parked and looking. Start wherever is closest to you and follow it round.

  1. Encinas Ave Displays — 621-767 E Encinas Ave
  2. Gilbert Rd Displays — 1032-1100 S Gilbert Rd
  3. Riparian After Dark — 2757 E Guadalupe Rd (Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch)
  4. San Pedro Ave Displays — 4101-4199 E San Pedro Ave
  5. Gilbert Water Tower Lights — 45 W Page Ave
  6. Valor Christmas — 3015 E Warner Rd
  7. Agritopia — 3000 E Ray Rd
  8. Christmas on Comstock — 3702 E Comstock Dr

Driving estimate assumes a 25 mph average on residential streets plus four minutes stopped per display. Straight-line distances with a road-network allowance — treat it as a planning figure, not a satnav route.

Practicalities

Residential displays have no facilities of their own — no parking, no toilets, nowhere to warm up — so it is worth knowing what is around. Within about three miles of the Gilbert cluster, OpenStreetMap maps 2 public car parks and 4 public toilets. There is no shortage of cafés and takeaways for a hot drink on the way round.

All 8 displays in Gilbert

Gilbert Water Tower Lights

45 W Page Ave · Gilbert, Arizona

Nov 27 - Jan 2 · music-synced shows 5:30-10pm, every half hour

Freeattractiondancing lights on the water tower

Downtown Gilbert's historic water tower dances with music-synced lights every half hour between 5:30 and 10 p.m. The free shows run from late November into early January.

13 other displays within 5 miles

✓ Last confirmed for the 2025 season

Valor Christmas

3015 E Warner Rd · Gilbert, Arizona

through Dec 28 · Sun/Wed/Thu 6-9:30pm; Fri/Sat 6-10pm

Freeattraction2,000,000 lights

A two-million-light display in Gilbert open five nights a week through late December. One of the East Valley's largest venue-scale shows.

8 other displays within 5 miles

✓ Last confirmed for the 2025 season

Riparian After Dark

2757 E Guadalupe Rd (Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch) · Gilbert, Arizona

Dec 13-22 · typically dusk – 10 PM

Freeattractioncandlelit trailsluminariaslive entertainment

Gilbert's Riparian Preserve trades big wattage for candlelit trails, luminarias and thousands of holiday lights along its wetland trails, with live entertainment on event nights. A gentler, nature-focused lights experience.

13 other displays within 5 miles

✓ Last confirmed for the 2024 season

Christmas on Comstock

3702 E Comstock Dr · Gilbert, Arizona

typically late Nov – early Jan (check before visiting) · typically dusk – 10 PM

Freeresidential110,000 synchronized lightstune to 88.1 FM

Around 110,000 lights synchronized to music, with the soundtrack broadcast on 88.1 FM so visitors can listen from their cars. One of Gilbert's bigger single-property shows.

8 other displays within 5 miles

✓ Last confirmed for the 2025 season

Agritopia

3000 E Ray Rd · Gilbert, Arizona

typically late Nov – early Jan (check before visiting) · from dusk

Freeneighborhoodnearly every home decorated

This Gilbert community goes all-in for the season, with nearly every house in the neighborhood strung with lights. Cruise the streets slowly after dusk to take it all in.

8 other displays within 5 miles

✓ Last confirmed for the 2025 season

Encinas Ave Displays

621-767 E Encinas Ave · Gilbert, Arizona

typically late Nov – early Jan (check before visiting) · typically dusk – 10 PM

Freeneighborhoodresidential displays

A block of East Encinas Avenue in Gilbert where multiple neighboring homes put up holiday light displays. Best seen on a slow drive-by after dark.

13 other displays within 5 miles

✓ Last confirmed for the 2025 season

Gilbert Rd Displays

1032-1100 S Gilbert Rd · Gilbert, Arizona

typically late Nov – early Jan (check before visiting) · typically dusk – 10 PM

Freeneighborhoodresidential displays

A stretch of homes along South Gilbert Road puts up seasonal light displays each year. It makes an easy add-on to a Gilbert lights loop.

13 other displays within 5 miles

✓ Last confirmed for the 2025 season

San Pedro Ave Displays

4101-4199 E San Pedro Ave · Gilbert, Arizona

typically late Nov – early Jan (check before visiting) · typically dusk – 10 PM

Freeneighborhoodresidential displays

Several homes along this Gilbert block decorate together for the season. Pairs well with the nearby Encinas Avenue displays for a single evening loop.

13 other displays within 5 miles

✓ Last confirmed for the 2025 season

Nearby towns

Mesa16 displays · 5 miChandler5 displays · 6 miQueen Creek5 displays · 10 miTempe3 displays · 11 miSan Tan Valley1 display · 15 miScottsdale14 displays · 17 mi

Know a display we're missing in Gilbert?Add it to the guide.