The holiday season means Christmas lights — lots of them — and San Antonio residents and tourists will have no shortage of sparkling light displays to enjoy.
If you’re looking for something to do with the kids while they’re on winter break, check out one of the many colorful lightscapes adorning the city. From staples like Light the Way at the University of the Incarnate Word and Windcrest’s Light Up to newcomers like Coca-Cola’s Classic Christmas at Toyota Field, San Antonio will shine with Christmas cheer all season.
Classic Christmas San Antonio
Toyota Field, home to San Antonio FC soccer, has been transformed into a winter wonderland. Coca-Cola’s Classic Christmas features 55,000 square feet of light sculptures with custom and interactive Coca-Cola-inspired displays every night through Dec. 29 at 5106 David Edwards Dr.
Visitors can shop a market square with seasonal gifts and foods handmade by local vendors, enjoy an ice skating rink and snow slide, and take photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus. There’s also live entertainment, including Christmas caroling nightly. Tickets start at $21.
River Walk
Stroll along the River Walk and enjoy 100,000-plus Christmas lights illuminating the heart of downtown nightly though Jan. 12. River Walk visitors can check out other free nightly holiday activities, including the lighting of luminarias and boat caroling.
Museum Reach
Just north of the downtown stretch of the river, the Museum Reach will sparkle just as brightly. See the River of Lights starting Saturday, Dec. 14, with a free kickoff event at 550 Brooklyn Ave from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. The festivities will include performances by BCSO Mariachi La Ley and Stefani Montiel, cookie decorating, a snow slide and pictures with Santa.
Lights Alive!
Visitors to Lights Alive! will traverse a 1-mile-long drive-thru light show synchronized to music. At the end, visitors can enjoy a winter wonderland with holiday drinks and treats, photos with Santa, escape rooms, crafts, shopping, an animated Christmas tree light show and a children’s play area. Lights Alive! is located at 5931 Roft Rd. and open 6 p.m.-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, and 6 p.m.-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday through Jan. 5. Vehicle entry tickets start at $29.95.
Windcrest Light Up
The northeast suburb is famous for inviting residents to decorate their homes with creative, brightly lit displays, many of which carry a contest theme. This year’s theme is blue sapphire. Free maps of participating homes are available at City Hall.
The Light Park
Located at the Retama Park parking lot in Selma, The Light Park offers a drive-thru light display featuring millions of lights resembling a wintry scene. Music plays throughout the park, and snacks and beverages are available for anyone to enjoy during the trip. The Light Park is open 5:30 p.m.-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, and 5:30 p.m.-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday through Jan. 5. The park is open until 11 p.m. daily during the week of Christmas. Vehicle entry tickets are $39-$50.
Ice! at JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa
The Northside resort at 23808 Resort Parkway is hosting Ice! a Grinch-themed celebration of all things winter. Resort guests and visitors will explore 10 immersive scenes, two-story slides, and passageways, all made from 2 million pounds of hand-carved ice.
Holiday lights will twinkle throughout the resort while attendees enjoy holiday festivities such as visiting with Santa, shopping and taking part in scavenger hunts daily through Jan. 5. Admission fees vary and are available with a reserved time.
The South Pole
The South Pole is a drive-thru light display programmed to music, located at 5135 N. Loop 1604 E., between Judson and O’Connor roads. At the end of the tour, visitors may visit food trucks and a hot cocoa bar. The South Pole is open 6 p.m.-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, and 6 p.m.-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday through Jan. 4. Vehicle entry fee is $40.
Zoo Lights
The San Antonio Zoo, 3903 N. St. Mary’s St., is transformed into an illuminated winter wonderland. The zoo offers miles of Christmas lights, holiday music, a lakeside light show and whimsically named paths and realms, such as Candy Lane and Fa La La Flamingos. Zoo officials said the lights are environmentally friendly and energy efficient. Zoo Lights are on from sunset to closing through Dec. 31.
Light the Way
Through Jan. 6, visitors can stroll through the University of the Incarnate Word campus to see the more than 1 million Christmas lights strung up for the season.
Travis Park
Home to the H-E-B Christmas tree and the Rotary Ice Rink, the downtown park at 301 E. Travis St. is a hub of holiday activity.
The skating rink is open through Jan. 5. Admission varies. Proceeds from the ice rink support Rotary Club of San Antonio programs for scholarships, playground builds and fighting food insecurity.
San Antonio Botanical Garden
For something a bit different, head to the San Antonio Botanical Garden for its latest exhibition, Illuminate. The glowing display celebrates nature and is made up of hundreds of handcrafted lanterns by Tianyu Arts & Culture. Visitors can enjoy the exhibition through Jan. 12. Tickets purchased in advance are $21-$42, with discounts for botanical garden members.
