San Ramon Tour O' Lights: Family Holiday Display Returns For 38th Year

SAN RAMON, CA — For nearly four decades, the Fairbanks family has brought a spectacular light display with synchronized music to their block in San Ramon.

It all began with their father’s hand-bent rebar forms wrapped in incandescent bulbs 38 years ago. Today, the animated LED light display is recreated each year at 15 Molina Ct.

This year also marks a special milestone as the family has finally completed their father’s vision.

"For the first time in 25 years, we finally completed our father’s vision and have bent and welded together the final 2 reindeer for the upper roof this year," Zach Fairbanks told Patch.

Now, all nine of Santa’s reindeer — led by Rudolph’s glowing red nose soaring 45 feet in the air — fly above the display’s 18-foot Frosty the Snowman. Frosty, with his newly animated face, tips his hat to guests as they watch in wonder.

The display spans their home and neighboring properties, featuring over 30,000 pixels and nearly 300,000 synchronized light channels. For the first time in over two decades, a new character has joined the show: a 9-foot-tall animated gingerbread man.

"We invite you to watch and listen to the light show from the comfort of your vehicles while tuning the radio to 100.7 FM," Fairbanks said.

Visitors can also press a new giant red button near the sidewalk to hear the music from nearby speakers. The family asks visitors to be courteous and avoid blocking driveways while viewing.

Over the years, the family's display has garnered local fame. One year, NBC News filmed its evening news weather reports live from the roof with Santa and his reindeer, Fairbanks said.

"Most importantly though, our favorite part is seeing parents that grew up with the display, bringing their children back all these years later to share the memories they had as kids, with their own," he said.

The Fairbanks display runs until Jan. 1, 2025, each night from 5:30 to 10 p.m.

Check out this video from last year:

How To Submit Your Home

Can the holiday lights on your home be seen from space? Does it look like the Las Vegas strip?

If you've spent days or weeks painstakingly hanging strands of lights on your house, palm trees and shrubs, or hauling multiple figurines out to your lawn — Patch wants to hear from you.

This month, we're compiling a Patch California Tour O' Lights, where readers can explore the best holiday light displays in California.

We aim to have the list up as soon as possible — so email photos and a description of your winter wonderland to Kat Schuster at kat.schuster@patch.com.

A few details:

• If you’re including a video, please upload it to YouTube and send us the link so we can embed it (make sure it's marked “public”). We also request that the homeowner submit their own yard or a close relative.
• We’ll keep updating the list for your neighborhood and county throughout December.
• Once you've provided the information — and submitted a photo or two or a video (after you uploaded it to YouTube) — you will be entered and included in our roundup.
• Pro-tip: If you haven't photographed your light display before, a good time to take photos is at dusk.
• IMPORTANT: By submitting a photo, you're allowing Patch to publish it for this feature and future stories. Photos should be original and taken by the person submitting the photo.
• So, be sure to check back for updates and sign up for your local Patch.com newsletters as well!
• Please copy and paste the following information into an email, along with photos or videos, and follow these guidelines:
• Include the exact address of the yard display and your phone number (not for publication) in case we need to get in touch with you.
• Let us know the dates when your holiday display goes live and when it shuts off for the evening.
• Does your winter wonderland have a name? Be sure to include it, or we can help you make one up.
• Tell us what makes your twinkly lights special. Will you be planning anything special for your display, like Santa or other holiday characters, FM frequencies for your synchronized light show, walk-throughs, popcorn machines, etc.?
• Does your display have a Facebook page or website? Be sure to include the links.

We’re looking forward to hearing from you. Remember, email Kat Schuster (kat.schuster@patch.com) to submit photos of your holiday lights.