Where to See the Best Holiday Lights in San Antonio

Looking for information about 2020 holiday light displays?

Click here for “Your Guide to the Best Holiday Light Displays in San Antonio and the Hill Country.” 

Click here for “My Family’s Favorite Things to Do During the Holidays in San Antonio (2020 Edition).” 

One of my favorite memories from childhood is getting in the car, cranking up the holiday music, and driving around with my family as we oohed and ahhed over twinkling holiday lights. With the holiday season upon us, I am excited to continue this tradition with my own little family and have done quite a bit of research to find the best holiday lights in San Antonio in 2019! There are many great ones, and if I missed any, let me know in the comments. Happy holidays!

Where to See Holiday Lights in San Antonio

holiday lights in san antonio

Old West Christmas Light Fest

  • Where: Enchanted Springs Ranch, 242 State Hwy 46 W, Boerne, Texas 78006 | 830.249.8222
  • When: November 28–December 15, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, 6:00–10:00 P.M., and every night December 19–December 29, 6:00–10:00 P.M.
  • Cost: $15 for adults, free for children ages 6 and under (when purchasing tickets online); $60 for a Family 5-Pack; $45 per person for a season pass; $5 discount for Military and First Responders.
  • What could be better than two million holiday lights? How about an entire town? To make even more Christmas dreams come true, Christmas Light Fest is bringing the holiday event everyone knows and loves to a new location, Enchanted Springs Ranch in Boerne. The beautiful  86-acre ranch is home to a true Texas Old West town, featuring more than 40 buildings brought to life in a holiday wonderland. To celebrate its fifth year in the lights and mark all of the new holiday fun people will enjoy, Christmas Light Fest is now Old West Christmas Light Fest, featuring more displays, more lights, more fun and of course, Santa! The event features both drive-thru displays and an Old West town sparkling with lights, family fun, and holiday magic. And it’s just a quick 15 minutes outside of San Antonio, making it an easy holiday destination for everyone to enjoy! Learn even more about this amazing event here.
Photo credit Chidgey Photography

Whataburger Zoo Lights: A Starry Safari

  • Where: San Antonio Zoo3903 N. St. Mary’s St., San Antonio, TX 78212 | (210) 734-7184
  • When: Grand Opening on November 16 then daily November 22–January 1, Monday–Friday 12:00–9:00 P.M., Saturday 10:00 A.M.–9:00 P.M., and Sunday 12:00–9:00 P.M.
  • Cost: Free for members of the San Antonio Zoo; check the website for the prices of individual tickets.
  • Thousands of lights adorn the San Antonio Zoo to create a magical holiday experience. There are games and activities for the kids as well as a chance to have your child’s picture taken with Santa and decorate cookies with his significant other, Mrs. Claus.

Ford Fiesta De Las Luminarias

  • Where: The River Walk | (210) 227-4262
  • When: December 6–December 22, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays only, at dusk
  • Cost: Free
  • Ford Fiesta De Las Luminarias features more than 6,000 luminarias, which are candles in sand-filled bags, along the San Antonio River. These are part of the Mexican Christmas tradition of “lighting the way” for the holy family. Teams of volunteers make this display possible for the citizens of San Antonio to enjoy every holiday season.

Ford Holiday River Parade and Lighting Ceremony

  • Where: The River Walk | (210) 227-4262
  • When: November 29, 6:00–9:00 P.M.
  • Cost: Tickets range from $15–$30 per person; children two and under may sit on the laps of their parents
  • There is something so special about the entire city of San Antonio coming together to celebrate the holiday season through this annual River Parade and lighting of the River Walk. This year’s parade theme is “Texas Music Christmas” and floats will depict Texas musicians and their Christmas music. A trip downtown to see this parade is a great way to kick off the holiday season. If you can’t make the parade, don’t worry—the lights will be up through December for everyone to enjoy.

Windcrest Light Up: A Hometown Christmas

  • Where: City of Windcrest8601 Midcrown, Windcrest, TX 78239 | (210) 655-0022
  • When: November 29–December 1, nightly
  • Cost: Free
  • The Windcrest Light Up holiday light display is truly one of a kind. For 60 years, the residents of Windcrest have been outdoing themselves with intricate and awesome holiday lights and decorations. Houses are decked to the nines, and there are several competitions including “Best Mailbox” and “Most Creative Lighting.” There is an opening ceremony the night of December 8. The theme for this year is “A Hometown Christmas.”

Light the Way at the University of the Incarnate Word

  • Where: University of the Incarnate Word, 4301 Broadway, San Antonio, TX 78209 | (210) 829-6001
  • When: November 23–January 6
  • Cost: Free
  • The holiday lights at University of the Incarnate Word are truly stunning. The entire campus is covered in sparkling lights, and the public is free to take a walking tour through the beautiful buildings and trees. If you haven’t been on the campus, it’s a good idea to check out a map before you go. This 130-year-old tradition is worth a trip!

Santa’s Ranch

  • Where: Santa’s Ranch, 9561 I-35 N., New Braunfels, TX 78130 | (830) 743-1293
  • When: November 8, 2019–January 2, 2020, Sundays–Thursdays, 6:00–10:00 P.M., and Fridays and Saturdays, 6:00–11:00 P.M.
  • Cost: $30 + tax per vehicle or $60 + tax per vehicle for a season pass
  • Located in New Braunfels, Santa’s Ranch is a drive-through holiday light display situated on over a mile of country road. There are lights as well as animated displays. This is a perfect option for a cold winter night! Food and beverages are available for purchase.

Christmas in Cuero

  • Where: 201 Leonard Roy Harmon Dr., Cuero, TX 77954 | (361) 275-8178
  • When: November 25–January 1, nightly from 6:00–10:00 P.M.
  • Cost: Free (donations are accepted)
  • The 18th annual Christmas in Cuero kicks off with an event, Christmas in the Park, on Monday, November 25. The self-guided driving tour features more than 130 holiday light displays! Every Thursday in December is a Free Hot Chocolate night, and there is a live nativity display (check website for dates). You can find out more info on the Christmas in Cuero Facebook page.

Holiday Lights in Travis Park

  • Where: 301 East Travis St., San Antonio, TX 78205 | (361) 275-8178
  • When: November 29–January 1, nightly
  • Cost: Free
  • H-E-B’s Christmas Lighting Ceremony takes place on Friday, November 29. There will be food trucks, photos with Santa, and local entertainment. The festivities start at 3:00 P.M., and the lighting of the tree will be at 6:00 P.M. More than 250,000 lights will be on display through the holiday season.

Six Flags' Holiday in the Park

  • Where: 17000 IH-10 West, San Antonio, TX 78257 | (210) 697-5050
  • When: November 23–January 5, varying days and times
  • Cost: Prices start at $50.99 for a single-day pass; free for season pass holders
  • Six Flags’ Holiday in the Park is a huge celebration with tons of holiday lights and festivities. There are two new attractions in 2019: Festive Treats with Jack Frost and Happy Holidays Show.

Sea World's Christmas Celebration

  • Where: 10500 Sea World Dr., San Antonio, TX 78251 | (210) 520-4732
  • When: November 23–January 5, varying days and times
  • Cost: Prices start at $59 for a single day pass; free for annual pass holders
  • SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration features 9 million sparkling lights and is the largest display of lights in South Texas. There are many fun festivities including a special dinner with Santa and a variety of Christmas shows.

Boerne's Parade of Lights

  • Where: A map to all entrants will be available here
  • When: December 10–January 1, nightly
  • Cost: Free
  • Businesses and residential homes in Boerne are part of an annual Parade of Lights throughout the city. Bundle up your family and enjoy the self-guided tour!

Elf Acres

  • Where: 1475 Grosenbacher Rd., San Antonio, TX 78245 | (210) 643-8662
  • When: November 20–December 29, Fridays and Saturdays, 6:30–11:00 P.M., and Sundays–Thursdays, 6:30–10:00 P.M.
  • Cost: $27 for one vehicle drive-through, $54 Fun Pass for three drive-throughs during the 2018 holiday season. $2 discount for military with valid ID.
  • Elf Acres is a 15-acre light display that was established in 2015. It has grown bigger each year and now features pictures with Santa, carriage rides, and more.
Lindsay
Lindsay is the co-founder of Alamo City Moms Blog. A native New Orleanian, Lindsay found her way to the Alamo City via her husband, Steven, who is a born and raised San Antonian. She is a mom to three young children. Lindsay earned her B.A. in Psychology from Rhodes College and her M.A. in Early Childhood Education from UTSA. She was a preschool and first-grade teacher for 10 years and is now a Reading Specialist and Dyslexia Therapist.

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