Now Begins Car Reservations for S. Oregon Coast's Shore Acres Lights - Shuttles Added

Published 10/15/25 at 7:25 a.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Coos Bay, Oregon) - One of the Oregon coast's most beloved seasonal traditions is returning to illuminate the coast once again as Holiday Lights at Shore Acres State Park gears up for its 2025 run. The annual event, featuring more than 325,000 lights and dozens of animated sculptures, kicks off Thanksgiving evening and continues nightly through December 31. (Courtesy photo)

Now in its 38th year, the display has grown from a modest 6,000 lights in 1987 to a sprawling spectacle across seven acres of botanical gardens. Visitors can expect 26 decorated Christmas trees, whimsical lighted animals, and crowd favorites like a leaping frog, a pirate ship, and a 40-foot spouting gray whale.

"A visit to Holiday Lights at Shore Acres State Park is the perfect way to kick off the holidays and celebrate all season long," said Janice Langlinais, Executive Director of the Coos Bay-North Bend-Charleston Visitor and Convention Bureau, more commonly known as Oregon's Adventure Coast. "Whether it's your first time experiencing this amazing display or it's been a family tradition for years, Holiday Lights at Shore Acres is always a huge holiday hit."

Every time, it brings in tens of thousands from around Oregon – and other states.

Its popularity has created a unique problem and even more unique solution.

Timed parking reservations are required and available through Oregon State Parks. Entry slots begin at 4:30 p.m. and run hourly until 7:30 p.m. Half of the parking inventory is open for advance booking, while the remainder is released daily on a rolling seven-day schedule starting November 20.

To ease congestion, organizers are expanding the free Santa’s Shuttle service from Charleston Marina. Operating every 20 minutes between 4:15 p.m. and 8 p.m., the shuttle runs Fridays through Sundays and on key holiday dates including Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve. The service is supported by a coalition of local sponsors including Gib’s RV Superstore, PEAK Credit Union, and Three Rivers Casino Resort.

The event is coordinated by Friends of Shore Acres State Park, a nonprofit founded in 1987 by Shirley and David Bridgham. Originally, 900 people showed up to take in those 6,000 lights. It was the first time visitors were allowed inside the Garden House, built almost a century ago. Now, with the help of more than 1,500 volunteers, the display has grown exponentially.

Insider's Tip: keep an eye on Shore Acres waves forecast and see if the big show may erupt at the Coos Bay Weather page.

"People come from all around to see the lights. There have been a few years where we've had people from every state but one or two," David Bridgham said. "Shore Acres is kind of the go-to place for visitors, and you can be sure that when people come here this time of year, they are going to see the lights."

Holiday Lights at Shore Acres runs nightly from 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. For parking reservations and shuttle details, visit Oregon’s Adventure Coast at www.oregonsadventurecoast.com.

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