Tickets are now on sale for Hikari: Festival of Lights, the holiday light show returning to Tanaka Farms in Irvine from Nov. 27 through Dec. 27, running Wednesday through Sunday evenings from 5 to 9 p.m., with last admission at 7:30 p.m. The farm will go dark on Dec. 24 and 25, but otherwise the lights, rides and games stretch across a full month of the holiday season.
Hikari — which means light in Japanese — began as a small farm selling fresh Christmas trees before growing into one of Orange County's favorite holiday events, according to Tanaka Farms. The event is hosted at the farm's longtime grounds, a decades-old agricultural destination better known for fall pumpkin patches, spring strawberry tours and fresh produce the rest of the year, as reported by NBC Los Angeles. In recent holiday seasons, the farm has strung thousands of colorful lights across its grounds, turning the property into a glowing nighttime attraction.
What's New This Year
The biggest addition for 2026 is Santa's Hilltop Village, which will make its debut at Hikari this season, per the same NBC Los Angeles report. Santa himself is set to join visitors for group snapshots at the new village, giving families a dedicated photo stop amid the illuminated displays.
Beyond the new Santa setup, Hikari keeps its familiar mix of tractor-pulled wagon rides and illuminated sights, with wagon rides running from 5:30 to 8 p.m., according to Tanaka Farms. A corn maze and a barnyard educational exhibit will also be open during the event, and two games with offbeat names — Festive Fling and Tree Chop — are part of the lineup this year, the station notes.
Ticket Prices and Discounts
Admission runs higher on weekends than on weekdays. Adult tickets cost $33 Friday through Sunday and $28 Wednesday through Thursday, while children ages 3 to 12 pay $23 on weekends and $18 on weekdays. Military admission is priced at $16.50 Friday through Sunday and $14 Wednesday through Thursday, the article states.
College students can also catch a break: scholars will receive 50% off on several nights beginning Dec. 2, the report notes. Teachers, healthcare workers and first responders may qualify for free admission on select dates, though eligible visitors must show identification when purchasing that free-entry admission on-site, and professional ID is required for the discount to apply.
Parking costs $12 per vehicle and is required Friday through Sunday, as well as on the special holiday nights of Dec. 21 through 23, according to Tanaka Farms. With tickets for the 2026 run just now on sale, weekend nights are expected to fill up quickly, per the NBC Los Angeles report — a pattern organizers have seen in past years as the farm's light display has become a go-to seasonal outing across Orange County.
