Tis the season to “ooh” and “ahh” while gazing upon cheerful Christmas lights — unless you’re a Scrooge, that is!

Here in San Antonio, options abound for enjoying the classic holiday activity, including the displays at the Alamo, the River Walk, the Zoo, SeaWorld, Six Flags and neighborhoods that go all-out, namely Windcrest.

You can also venture just outside city limits for even more options, including Crumbling Castle Lights, downtown Boerne’s light display, Natural Bridge Caverns, Santa’s Ranch and more.

Some are open only on select days, however. Check the website so you know when to go. We also recommend bringing a flask of adult eggnog for those who are naughty and want to feel nice.

Crumbling Castle Lights

571 FM 289, Comfort, crumblingcastlelights.com.

Located just outside of San Antonio, Crumbling Castle Lights is a truly magical drive-through lights experience. Five unique tunnels and thousands of individually wrapped trees illuminate over 30 acres. The property also has over one mile of enchanted forested trail. Use coupon code CASTLE2025 for $5 off the ticket price online.

Credit: Facebook / City of Windcrest

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: Jaime Monzon

Lightscape at the San Antonio Botanical Garden

555 Funston Place, (210) 536-1400, sabot.org/lightscape.

Billed as a “holiday walking trail,” Lightscape transforms the grounds of the San Antonio Botanical Garden into a twinkling wonderland that can be explored on select evenings from Nov. 19-Jan. 2. Visitors can enjoy illuminated art pieces including a field of light-up bluebonnets, and amp up their holiday spirit with festive food and drinks.
Photo by Jaime Monzon

Credit: Courtesy Photo / Dickens on Main

Boerne

Downtown Boerne, boerne.tx.us.

The city of Boerne gets even more picturesque during the holiday season. In addition to cute lights in the city center, Boerne’s residents also battle it out for who has the most festive display each year as part of the Boerne Parade of Lights. These houses make for the perfect little spot to enjoy lights without dealing with crowds or entrance fees.

Credit: Courtesy Photo / SeaWorld

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. 2, 2024, 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 / Natural Bridge Caverns

Natural Bridge Caverns

26495 Natural Bridge Caverns Road, (210) 651-6101, naturalbridgecaverns.com.

Experience Christmas on a whole new level — literally. On select nights starting Dec. 6, guests will find holiday lights scattered about the grounds as well as fun activities like caroling in the caverns, story time with Mrs. Claus and a maze to find Santa’s reindeer.

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 December 23. There’s also the Winter Wonderland, which lets visitors get their fix of snow. If you stop by, make sure to take a ride on the Holiday Express and catch some of the live entertainment perfect for the season.

Credit: Courtesy Photo / Pearl

The Historic Pearl

303 Pearl Parkway, 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. Aside from a photoshoot, visitors can also hit up a number of holiday events happening at the hotspot including holiday-themed Movie Mondays, a Chanukah Village and weekly Holiday Night Markets.

Credit: Courtesy Photo / Santa’s Ranch

Santa’s Ranch

9561 I-35 North, New Braunfels, (830) 743-1293, santasranch.com.

Open daily through Jan. 4, 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 Christmas light displays which vary from blankets of lights to specialized designs, and treats like hot cocoa and kettle corn are available to enjoy during the ride.

Credit: Courtesy Photo / Visit Marble Falls

Marble Falls Walkway of Lights

Lakeside Park, 305 Buena Vista Drive, 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 Dec. 31.

Credit: Courtesy Photo / Alamo Trust

The Alamo

300 Alamo Plaza, thealamo.org.

The trees around the Alamo are wrapped with Christmas lights each year. And with the recent unveiling of the renovated cenotaph, there’s even more reason to visit Alamo Plaza this year. You can also purchase a Light of Tribute to honor or remember a loved one by making a donation of $10 or more to the Remember the Alamo Foundation. Lights of Tribute will be displayed December 23 through 25.

Credit: Courtesy Photo / Enchanted Springs Ranch

Old West Christmas Light Fest

242 State Highway 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 until Dec. 23.

Credit: Courtesy Photo / San Antonio River Authority

Museum Reach River of Lights

Museum Reach, 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. 3 &10 with the annual Holly Jolly Kayaking event, followed by the River of Lights celebration on Dec. 13.

Credit: Courtesy Photo / EmilyAnn Theatre & Gardens

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 that wends its way 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 until Dec. 26 this year.

San Antonio Zoo

3903 N St Mary’s Street, (210) 734-7184, sazoo.org.

Zoo Lights returns so you and your loved ones can hit up this jam-packed Christmas offering. The annual event is back with winter wonderland complete with twinkling lights, camel rides, hot cocoa, s’mores, cookie-decorating with Mrs. Claus and visits with Santa. Zoo Lights is open now through January 4.
Photo via Instagram / sanantoniozoo

Credit: Shutterstock / Kevin Seagrave

The San Antonio River Walk

Yes, it can be a little claustrophobic with all those tourists, but the River Walk is still a sight to behold during the holidays. For the best holiday light viewing, park at River Center, get your parking validated and go down to river level from the mall entrance.

Credit: Courtesy Photo / Lights Alive

Lights Alive

5931 Roft Road, 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 and axe throwing. The display is open nightly through Dec. 31, including holidays.

Credit: Courtesy Photo / Westover Hills Church

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 300,000 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 weekends from Dec. 4-20 this year.

Credit: Courtesy Photo / University of the Incarnate Word

University of the Incarnate Word

4301 Broadway, uiw.edu/lighttheway.

Now through January 6, lights will adorn the University of the Incarnate Word. You’ll find lights nestled in numerous trees that illuminate this historic campus.

Credit: Courtesy Photo / The Light Park

The Light Park

1 Retama Parkway, 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 vehicles.

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