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San Antonio’s long had plenty of options for getting into the Christmas spirit with dazzling light displays — and this year is no exception.
Many locals make the pilgrimage to suburbs such as Windcrest to drive past informal but impressive holiday light displays. Local parks and attractions also have great immersive walking experiences, the San Antonio Botanical Garden, Six Flags Fiesta Texas and SeaWorld among them.
Folks also can venture a little bit out of town for impressive annual displays throughout Hill Country, including Santa’s Ranch and Christmas at the Caverns.
With all these cheery choices a short drive away, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.
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 ParkUniversity 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 WordWestover 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 ChurchLights 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 AliveTrying to get through the crowds on the River Walk during Christmas time Yes, the lights are pretty, but is it worth the claustrophobia? Credit: Shutterstock / Kevin SeagraveSan 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 ZooWimberley’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 & GardensMuseum 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 AuthorityOld 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 RanchAlamo 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 TrustMarble 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 FallsSanta’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 RanchThe 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 / PearlSix 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 FlagsNatural 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 CavernsSeaWorld
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 / SeaWorldDickens 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 MainIlluminate at the San Antonio Botanical Garden 555 Funston Place, (210) 536-1400, sabot.org/lightscape
Billed as a “holiday walking trail,” Illuminate transforms the grounds of the San Antonio Botanical Garden into a twinkling wonderland that can be explored on select evenings from Nov. 29-Jan. 12. Visitors can enjoy illuminated art pieces including fields of light-up flowers, and amp up their holiday spirit with festive food and drinks. Credit: Jaime MonzonWindcrest
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: Facebook / City of Windcrest