Even the Grinchiest among us have to admit there’s something heartwarming about twinkling Christmas light displays.

Whether you want to check out a festive attraction that’s pulled out the holiday stops or enjoy the simple pleasure of extra AF neighborhood holiday decorations, we’ve got you covered with this roundup of 24 light displays, all within driving distance of San Antonio.

The Light Park 1 Retama Pkwy., thelightpark.com Every day through New Year’s Day, The Light Park offers a drive-thru holiday light show at Retama Park in Selma. The show features millions of lights synchronized to an electric mix of music powered by DJ Polar Ice from the North Pole’s #1 Hit Radio station, K-GLO, in a mile-long series of displays and tunnels. Guests can pick up food and drink on site and experience the display from the comfort of their vehicle starting at 5:30 p.m. Credit: Courtesy Photo / The Light Park
University of the Incarnate Word 4301 Broadway, uiw.edu/lighttheway This beautiful display of lights across the UIW campus remains throughout the holiday season. You’ll find lights nestled on numerous trees that illuminate this historic campus. Credit: Courtesy Photo / University of the Incarnate Word
Old West Christmas Light Fest 242 State Hwy 46 W. Unit C, Boerne, (830) 215-0686, christmaslightfest.com Just up the road in Boerne is Enchanted Springs Ranch, which hosts the Old West Christmas Light Fest each year. The magic of the holidays will be alive with this Texas-themed light display that’s synchronized to special tunes. In addition to admiring the lights, attendees can roast s’mores over a campfire and enjoy live music! The Christmas Light Fest is open on select dates from Nov. 29-Dec. 23. Credit: Courtesy Photo / Enchanted Springs Ranch
Lights Alive 5931 Roft Rd., seelightsalive.com Venture out to Alamo Ranch to enjoy a massive drive-thru light display, synchronized with music to complete the show. If that’s not enough, the attraction also features a variety of activities that even includes escape rooms, theme nights and ornament-making. The display is open nightly through Jan. 4, including holidays. Credit: Courtesy Photo / Lights Alive
The River Walk 849 E. Commerce Street, (210) 227-4262, thesanantonioriverwalk.com Want a super romantic date idea that won’t break the bank? Take your sweetheart to the River Walk and fall in love with the lights. The lights will be on every night from Saturday, November 30 to January 12, and special events like the Ford Holiday Boat Caroling and Ford Fiesta da Luminarias will take place throughout December. Credit: Shutterstock / Kevin Seagrave
Marble Falls Walkway of Lights Lakeside Park, 305 Buena Vista Dr., Marble Falls, (844) 635-4448, visitmarblefalls.org/christmas-season The Marble Falls Walkway of Lights is a great way for locals to take a short drive to get away and enjoy some seasonal goodness. The display features 2 million lights and over 350 lighted sculptures, and is open nightly from 6-10 p.m. through Jan. 4. A concession stand will also have goodies like cookies and hot chocolate. Credit: Courtesy Photo / Visit Marble Falls
Lightscape at the San Antonio Botanical Garden 555 Funston Place, (210) 536-1400, sabot.org/light-scape Back for its third year, Lightscape transforms the grounds of the San Antonio Botanical Garden into a twinkling wonderland that can be explored on select dates through New Year’s Day. This year, returning installations include the 40-foot-high Pixel Tree and 16-foot Star Show, and the attraction will also feature new displays like the Heart Arch Walk. Visitors can amp up their holiday spirit with festive food and drinks, like roasted s’mores. Credit: Courtesy Photo / San Antonio Botanical Garden
Austin Trail of Lights 2400 Barton Springs Road, Austin, austintrailoflights.org From Dec. 8-23, San Antonians can make the trip up to Austin to experience the famed Trail of Lights. The Zilker Park display features over 2 million lights, 90 lighted holiday trees and more than 70 other holiday displays and lighted tunnels. Credit: Kieran Reeves Photography
Westover Field of Lights 9340 Westover Hills Blvd., (210) 523-1505, westoverlights.com At Westover Sports Complex guests can view a walk-through light show with over 350,000 lights synchronized to classic Christmas music and get a free printed photo with Santa at his workshop. This illuminated experience also offers free games, and concessions are available for purchase on site. The Field of Lights is open on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings from Dec. 5-21 this year. Credit: Courtesy Photo / Westover Hills Church
Santa’s Ranch 9561 IH 35 North, New Braunfels, (830) 743-1293, santasranch.net Open daily through Dec. 31, this long-running light display is just a quick trip away in New Braunfels. Visitors can stay warm in the car as they take a drive through more than a mile of 3 million Christmas lights as well as animated Christmas displays. Treats like hot cocoa and kettle corn are available to enjoy during the ride. Credit: Courtesy Photo / Santa's Ranch
Travis Park 301 E. Travis St., (210) 207-3677, travisparksa.com The holiday season in San Antonio officially begins with the lighting ceremony of the city’s 50-foot H-E-B Christmas tree on Nov. 24. While the lighting won’t take place until later in the evening, seasonal activities are scheduled from 3-9 p.m. The Rotary Ice Rink is also back at the park so visitors can glide on the ice and enjoy the festive holiday lights throughout December. Credit: Courtesy Photo / City of San Antonio Center City Development & Operations
Museum Reach River of Lights sariverauthority.org It isn’t just the downtown portion of the River Walk that gets the holiday treatment. The San Antonio River Authority’s annual Museum Reach River of Lights extends the Christmas cheer further down the river. The holiday season kicks off on Dec. 4 with the annual Holly Jolly Kayaking event, followed by the River of Lights celebration on Dec. 14. Credit: Courtesy Photo / San Antonio River Authority
Natural Bridge Caverns 26495 Natural Bridge Caverns Road, (210) 651-6101, naturalbridgecaverns.com Experience Christmas on a whole new level — literally. On select nights from Dec. 7-23, guests will find holiday lights scattered about the grounds as well as fun activities like caroling in the caverns, ice skating, reindeer roundup maze, live music and s’mores at the campfire. Credit: Courtesy Photo / Natural Bridge Caverns
Elf Acres 1475 Grosenbacher Road, (210) 643-8662, elfacres.com There’s plenty of fun to be had at this Far West Side attraction, which boasts a 1-mile drive-thru trail and thousands of lights that are animated and set to music. This year’s season runs until Jan. 7, 2024. Credit: Photo via Facebook / Elf Acres
Monte Vista Residents of Monte Vista tend to deck the halls in a major way. Though not an official display or event, Monte Vista makes for a prime spot for tricked-out displays. Take a drive through the neighborhood and admire these homes that fit the season just right. Credit: Instagram / bellevoyage1
Alamo Lights 300 Alamo Plaza, (210) 225-1391, thealamo.org From Nov. 24-January 2, 2024, the Alamo will have its halls decked for the holiday season, giving San Antonio’s famous landmark an extra dose of festive cheer. The live oak, pecan and other trees on the Alamo grounds will be illuminated with twinkling lights, and historical light installations of the Alamo Defenders will also be up for viewing. Credit: Courtesy Photo / Alamo Trust
San Antonio Zoo 3903 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 734-7184, sazoo.org/zoo-lights The annual Zoo Lights at the San Antonio Zoo is full of animal-themed holiday cheer. Attractions include the NEW Lakeside Light Show, plus immersive worlds like Peppermint Path, Candy Lane and Starry Safari. Zoo Lights is open through Dec. 31. Credit: Courtesy Photo / San Antonio Zoo
Six Flags Fiesta Texas 17000 IH-10 West, sixflags.com The annual Holiday in the Park is a great time to visit Fiesta Texas. This enchanting experience brings holiday-themed sights, sounds, tastes and attractions (including Christmas lights) to the park on select nights through Dec. 23. Starting December 26, the park will switch over to the Rockin’ New Years Celebration featuring “the brightest lights and biggest thrills in Texas!” Credit: Courtesy Photo / Six Flags
Wimberley’s Trail of Lights 1101 FM 2325, Wimberley, emilyann.org A short drive away in Wimberley, is a free holiday display presented along a walking trail through eight acres of lighted exhibits. There’s also live music and concessions like hot chocolate with marshmallows and frito pie for visitors to enjoy while they walk the path and take in all the lights.The attraction, which is supported by donations, is open from Nov. 30 to Dec. 26 this year. Credit: Courtesy Photo / EmilyAnn Theatre & Gardens
The Historic Pearl
303 Pearl Pkwy., atpearl.com
In the heart of the Historic Pearl guests will find a tall, decked out Christmas tree that they may want to get a few selfies in front of. The tree lighting ceremony is Nov. 29. Aside from a photoshoot, visitors can also hit up a number of holiday events happening at the hotspot including photos with Santa and weekly Holiday Night Markets. Credit: Courtesy Photo / Pearl
Windcrest Checking out the Christmas lights in Windcrest is an unofficial tradition for many San Antonians. Plenty of Windcrest residents go all out, including one family that took home the $50,000 grand prize on ABC’s The Great Christmas Light Fight in 2021 for their over-the-top holiday display. Credit: Photo via Instagram / topo_tron
SeaWorld 10500 Sea World Dr., (210) 520-4732, seaworld.com Even for folks that don’t usually visit SeaWorld, the park’s holiday offerings are something special. Now through Jan. 5, locals have the chance to check out the park all decked out for its annual Christmas Celebration. SeaWorld is transformed into a wintery, but watery, wonderland with Christmas shows, music performances, Santa Claus appearances, festive foods and — of course — holiday light displays. Credit: Courtesy Photo / SeaWorld
Dickens on Main holidaysinboerne.com/dickens-on-main The city of Boerne gets even more picturesque during the holiday season. Main Street also transforms into the immersive world of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” on November 29 and 30. Attractions have expanded over the years and now, they even include a live ice carving show and battle. Credit: Courtesy Photo / Dickens on Main
Campfire Lights McGimsey Scout Park, 10810 Wedgewood Drive, Castle Hills, simpletix.com/e/campfire-lights-a-holiday-drive-thru-light-tickets-143152 New to San Antonio in 2023, Campfire Lights is a drive-thru light trail that winds through McGimsey Scout Park in Castle Hills. Run by the Alamo Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, the attraction made its debut in early November and will remain open through Dec. 30. Credit: Courtesy Photo / Campfire Lights

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