The holiday season is finally almost here and with it comes some exciting ways to spend that time here in Galveston. Take your family on a memorable excursion to Galveston that will be cherished for years to come. You will find that Galveston brings out the holiday vibes while keeping the temperatures nice and comfortable. One of the best ways to spend your time here in Galveston during the holidays is by checking out the local Christmas lights and displays. Many local events feature all kinds of light along with the local neighborhoods. Take a look at the best spots where you can check out displays and Christmas lights in Galveston TX:
Festival of Lights
Each year, Moody Gardens puts on their much anticipated holiday event, the Holiday in the Gardens. This event is a month and a half long celebration that starts just before Thanksgiving and runs through the new year. You will be able to see all kinds of incredible holiday themed attractions that are transformed for the season.
One of the many attractions taking place this winter at Holiday in the Gardens is the Festival of Lights. This holiday event has become a staple for locals in the community to check out each year. The Festival of Lights returns once again to light up your holiday season. It is a one-mile journey that will take you through displays of holiday fun for a beautiful experience. Over two million Christmas lights are used for the Festival of Lights, making it one of the biggest holiday attractions in the entire Southwest. Holiday music is played in the background and synced up with the many Christmas lights and lighted scenes.
During your experience, you will be able to enjoy Star the Dancing Tree along with a concessions area that features hot chocolate, festival food, and the fireside S’mores experience. You will find there to be plenty of photo opportunities to snap a pic along the way. Visitors will need to purchase a Holiday Pass to allow entry into the Festival of Lights trail. The pass also entails guests into other winter areas such as Ice Land: Pole to Pole, trips down the artic slide, opportunities for little children to ride the kiddie train through the Festival of Lights, and the infamous aquarium and jungle pyramids. Don’t miss out on the Festival of Lights taking place November 23rd through January 1st here at Moody Gardens.
Downtown Galveston Tree Lighting
Each holiday season officially begins when the local Christmas Tree is lit up for the season. Galveston features our own tree lighting with the Downtown Galveston Tree Lighting that takes place the Saturday after Thanksgiving each year. You will be able to watch members of the local fire and police departments escort Santa Claus himself over to Saengerfest Park for the ceremony. Galveston’s mayor will also be there to provide a helping hand for this absolutely free event. Marvel at the giant tree and its abundance of Christmas lights on display here for the holiday season. While you are in the area make sure to explore Galveston Art Center’s ArtWalk nearby. This local event takes place every 8 weeks and times up with the local tree lighting ceremony. Enjoy the walk where you will find local businesses decked out in Christmas lights for the season. You will find incredible local artwork on display making it an enjoyable experience for everyone in the family.
Miracle Pop UP Bar at DTO
The adults in the group will want to enjoy an evening without the kids while experiencing holiday lights. Head on over to Daiquiri Time Out in Downtown Galveston for their Miracle pop up bar. This is a holiday themed pop up bar that features creative holiday cocktails made by hand. The setting includes unique holiday décor along with tons of Christmas lights on display. You will find that Miracle is able to make everyone a Christmas fan, even the Grinches in your family.
Galveston Holiday Lighting Celebration at Grand Galvez
Another great holiday tree lighting ceremony to experience can be found over on the front lawn of the Grand Galvez. This ceremony takes place the Friday after Thanksgiving for an evening full of festivities. Starting at 6:00 PM you will find Santa Claus to help out along with the Galveston Ballet and Galveston Symphony Brass Ensemble. The 35 foot tall Christmas tree will light up with hundreds of incredible lights. Don’t miss out on this free event that is open to the public!
More Holiday Fun in Galveston
As you can see, we do not skip out on the fun for the holidays here in Galveston. Make sure to reserve one of our vacation rentals in the area to experience Galveston the best way possible.
