The lit tree at Alamo Plaza. Credit: Scott Ball / San Antonio Report
With temperatures steadily hovering around 50 degrees, it’s beginning to look (and feel) a lot like Christmas. The holiday season is upon us, and event calendars all over town are starting to fill up. To get you in the spirit, we’ve rounded up this holiday season’s must-dos and don’t-misses.
Every holiday season, Zoo Lights transforms the San Antonio Zoo into a winter wonderland full of twinkling lights and exotic creatures. In addition to beloved staples like hot cocoa, s’mores, and Holiday express train rides, the the Zoo has added a light show, camel rides, a life-sized snow globe, and an ice skating rink to the list of activities your whole family can enjoy. The Zoo will close at 4 p.m. and reopen for Zoo Lights from 6-10 p.m. for the remainder of 2016.
Evening admission is $14.99 and tickets are available here.
A boy inspects the Christmas tree at the Travis Park tree lighting in November 2014.
Visit the heart of downtown and witness Travis Park light up with more than 250,000 lights while you enjoy free hot chocolate, food from local vendors, live performances, photo opps, and more.
Nestled in the idyllic Hill Country on the outskirts of the bustling city, the JW Marriott San Antonio Resort and Spa has become a desired destination for San Antonians and visitors alike. During the holidays, the resort transforms into a Winter Wonderland filled with fun activities that aren’t just for hotel guests.
“Light Up the Night” is a spectacular show with thousands of twinkling lights that runs every 30 minutes nightly from 6-10 p.m.; an impressive gingerbread display including a 6-by-4-foot replica of the JW’s Sunday House graces the main lobby; real live reindeer visit the property on Sunday afternoons; kids can brunch with Santa and Mrs. Claus on Sunday mornings throughout December – and the fun doesn’t end there.
Prices vary per event, so head to the JW’s website for more information.
An established and long-standing San Antonio holiday staple, Light the Way kicks off the season with fireworks, music, and, most importantly, Christmas lights. The University of the Incarnate Word is known for its breathtaking display of millions of twinkling lights that will illuminate the campus and parts of Broadway all the way through Jan. 6, 2017.
The event is free and open to the public.
Mission Marquee Holiday Art Market: Nov. 19 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. (Mission Marquee Plaza)
‘Tis the season to give gifts: Those eager to get a head start on their holiday shopping can head to Mission Marquee Plaza for a holiday market featuring local vendors and artisans offering hand-made artworks, crafts, jewelry, and holiday decorations. The event, which is sponsored by the City of San Antonio’s World Heritage Office, will also include a farmer’s market, gift workshops, a tamalada, pop-up food and beverage vendors, and live music.
The morning will kick off with a free yoga class at 9:30 a.m. and a Zumba session at 10:30 a.m. provided by MIX FIT SA. The evening portion of the programming will conclude with a double-feature of the Thanksgiving classic Free Birds and the Christmas comedy ELF, beginning at sundown around 6 p.m.
Touted as the largest Christmas display in Texas, SeaWorld San Antonio will come alive with five million lights, Christmas shows, seasonal treats, downtime and photo opps with Santa and his helpers, dinner with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and more.
Every year, Six Flags Fiesta Texas transforms into a dazzling winter wonderland and adds holiday-themed attractions to its already exhilarating programming: the Holiday Express train, a live nativity show, and a caroling Christmas tree family are but a few ways to light up your children’s faces this holiday season.
The crowd looks up as this year’s tree is lit for the first time.
The 55-foot Christmas tree that marks the beginning of the holiday season in downtown San Antonio was erected Tuesday, but its highly anticipated unveiling and lighting ceremony is another week away. More than 10,000 red, white, and green lights as well as handmade gold and silver ornaments will make Alamo Plaza sparkle throughout the holiday season. The unveiling ceremony will also include cookie decorating, arts and crafts, live music, pet adoptions, story time, and a visit from Santa before the tree is lit at 6:20 p.m.
Pictures with Santa, a petting zoo, skating on a simulated ice rink, puppet shows, musical entertainment, rides, strolling superheroes, and, of course, lots of Christmas lights are just a few of the attractions that will get children and adults alike into the holiday spirit at Morgan’s Wonderland, the world’s first theme park designed with special needs children in mind.
A Wonderland Christmas will be open from 5-9 p.m. on Nov 25-26, Dec. 2, 3, 9, 10, and 16-23. Check for dates and ticket prices here.
A Hanukkah themed river float passes underneath the Arneson River Theatre bridge.
The 35th annual Ford Holiday River Parade ushers in the holidays San Antonio-style: around 30 festively decorated floats will pass through the downtown portion of the iconic River Walk as attendees enjoy food, drink, and fun along its banks. This year’s theme is Tinsel & Merriment and the Grand Marshal is Silver & Black Give Back, Spurs Sports & Entertainment’s nonprofit partner.
Tickets are selling out quickly, so don’t miss the chance to see the River Walk light up in all its glory. To purchase seats, click here.
Starting Thanksgiving weekend, Youth Orchestras of San Antonio Conductor Troy Peters and San Antonio Mastersingers Director John Silantien will lead the San Antonio Symphony through Baroque composer Georg Friedrich Händel’s Messiah. The 70-minute performances, which will be held in various locations across town, will include performances by four outstanding soloists, the Christmas portion, and the Hallelujah chorus.
To purchase tickets ranging from $12.50-25, click here.
Kate Maxted as Clara in the first act party scene.
A holiday classic, Ballet San Antonio will present an updated version of the iconic ballet with new choreography by artistic director Willy Shives. Based on the story by E.T.A. Hoffman and accompanied by the San Antonio Symphony’s live rendition of Piotr Ilych Tchaikovsky’s music, The Nutcracker spreads holiday cheer through festive costumes and a cast of nearly 100 local children.
The Botanical Garden will be adorned with seasonal blooms and arrangements – poinsettias, pinecones, bows, lights, wreaths, and a giant Christmas tree – and provide a festive photo opp for locals an visitors of all ages.
Holidays In Bloom is included in general admission price. For more information and tickets, click here.
The five-man a cappella band that skyrocketed to stardom after winning NBC’s The Sing-Off in 2013, is touring the country and sharing the holiday cheer. Home Free’s signature blend of all-vocal, no-instrument music and crowd-pleasing humor will delight attendees of all ages, as they reinterpret Christmas classics, pop hits, country and old-time favorites.
A first in San Antonio’s holiday line-up, the “East Meets West”-themed festival will not only display a breathtaking array of giant Chinese lantern and traditional Christmas light installations, but also feature performances by Chinese acrobats and folk dancers, a carnival with thrilling rides, parades with appearances by Santa himself, international arts and crafts, and delicious treats from all over the wold.
Tickets for this multicultural holiday extravaganza are available here.
Students perform during Trinity’s annual Christmas Concert.
Nearly 200 musicians from Trinity’s student choirs and other musical ensembles will delight their audience with holiday classics and sing-alongs. Alumni and community members are invited to enjoy the holiday tunes provided by members of the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, the Trinity Symphony Orchestra, the combined Trinity choirs, the Trinity Handbell Ensemble, the Trinitones and the Acabellas, Trinity Flute Ensemble, and Trinity Jazz Band before and after the show.
The event is free and open to the public and seating is on a first-come, first-seated basis. Those who cannot attend the live performance can stream is here.
If malls and strip centers just aren’t cutting it for your shopping needs this year, swing by the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center for Hecho A Mano, a three-day shopping event that showcases exquisite handmade goods by local and regional artists and vendors.
In celebration of the Guadalupe’s 30th anniversary, there will be an opening night preview and a membership holiday on Friday, Dec.2 from 6-9 p.m. (free for members, $10 for the public), followed by the market on Saturday and Sunday from 12-6 p.m. ($2 per person or free with a donation of two canned goods, which will benefit the Inner City Development Food Bank)
Luminarias are traditional Mexican Christmas lanterns which were originally made of a candle and sand set inside a small bag. More than 2,000 modernized versions of these holiday decorations will be on display along the banks of the River Walk starting at dusk on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays for three weekends in December. This is the perfect time to be a tourist in your own city or introduce visitors to one of San Antonio’s most famous landmarks – since it so rarely snows, we let it glow instead.
Jazz, TX “has all the class of an upscale jazz club with the grit of a traditional Texas dancehall.” Conveniently located in the cellar of the Bottling Department in the Pearl, visitors can combine various festivities in the area and round out their night with Jazz, TX’s eclectic mix of holiday-themed jazz, blues, big band, Texas swing, salsa, conjunto, and Americana.
Tickets to the concerts are $20 and available here.
Honoring half a decade of tradition, the King William Association (KWA) will host its annual tour of homes alongside a holiday market at King William Park this year. The market, which will feature local arts and crafts vendors, holiday nosh, refreshing beverages, activities for old and young, live entertainment, and a visit from Santa, will also offer collectible KWA ornaments, and commemorative medals and T-shirts.
The market is free and open to the public. The tour of seven magnificent King William homes will take place in walking distance of the park, and tickets can be purchased here.
Also on Saturday, Dec. 3, the Beethoven Maennerchor will host its annual free Kristkindlmarkt at 422 Pereida St.
Frosted windows, a snow day playscape, winter workshops, and, of course, a lavishly decorated Christmas tree are but a few attractions that will have your kiddos jumping for joy this holiday season. Adults get to partake in the fun during ReD0: Deck the Halls on Dec. 8, and visitors of all ages will enjoy the traveling holiday exhibit Holiday Lights exploration, which offers insight into the science behind the Christmas lights that illuminate our homes and our city.
Prices for events and workshops vary, so click here to learn more.
For one night only, URBAN-15 will present its 12th annual Holiday Laser Show, a multimedia laser, light, and 3D animation extravaganza accompanied by holiday tunes, both traditional and experimental. The collaboration between laser artist Tim Walsh and Music and Media Director George Cisneros is split into two parts: the first half of the show is family-friendly and holiday-themed while the second half focuses more on the laser technology and a saxophone performance by Tim Walsh.
General admission tickets are $15, military, seniors, and students $12, and children $10. Click here to purchase tickets.
Conspirare is a Grammy award-winning choral ensemble that excels in vocal artistry that celebrates life, love, and now, the holidays.
An exciting mix of seasonal favorites, pop, folk, and classical music, expertly arranged by composer Craig Hella Johnson in collaboration with Conspirare singers and special guest performers singer/songwriter Matt Alber and percussionist Thomas Burritt, is coming to the Tobin Center for one night only.
To get your tickets before they’re all gone, click here.
ReDo is a chance for 21-and-ups to unleash their inner children and play at the DoSeum: think Gingerbread Man and stocking decorating, a White Elephant gift exchange, adult beverages, and – oh yes – pictures with Santa. You don’t want to miss this adult holiday fun fest, so register now
If you’re looking for a more laid-back holiday experience, look no further than an open-air screening of Jon Favreau’s 2003 hit ELF on the Tobin Center’s plaza, sponsored by H-E-B. Bring your own lawn chair, cuddle up with a blanket and watch hilarity ensue as Buddy (Will Ferrell) tries to fit in with the rest of Santa’s helpers at the North Pole.
The event is free and open to the public. No outside food or drink is allowed, but concessions will be available for purchase.
A guest carries tamales and chicharones to a nearby seat.
No holiday season in San Antonio is complete without having at least one (dozen) delicious tamale(s). A local staple, most often made true to tradition from a recipe passed down over generations, this cornhusk wrapped, filled-with-goodness masa dish has a special place in San Antonio’s culinary scene and culture.
The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center and La Familia Cortez will host the annual community workshop which combines cooking and storytelling to promote tradition, learning, and cultural pride. Keep an eye out for Rivard Report Director Robert Rivard, who will follow up his culinary adventure with a column detailing the experience.
In this festive concert, the San Antonio Chamber Choir, led by Artistic Director Rick Bjella, will capture nuanced Christmas traditions and musical interpretations of the Baltic nations – Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia.
Tickets purchased in advance are $20; seniors, students, and military members are $15, and tickets at the door are $25. To purchase tickets, click here.
If the name Michael Flatley or his world-renowned shows Riverdance or Lord of the Dance ring a bell, this show is for you. Traditional Irish dancers, singers, musicians, and actors will fill the Tobin’s H-E-B Performance Hall an energetic performance full of joy, laughter, exuberance, and hope that will have you leaping out of your seat.
Tickets start at $23.60 and can be purchased here.
In honor of the plethora of indigenous customs and holiday traditions found around the world, UTSA’s Institute of Texan Cultures will celebrate this cultural diversity with student displays, a Pastorela play put on by members of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, two performances of the San Antonio Children’s Ballet “The Nutcracker,” and a food drive benefiting the San Antonio Food Bank.
Admission is free under the Institute’s Second Sunday Program. For more information, click here.
San Antonio’s finest young vocal artists will whisk you off to a winter wonderland with their performance of traditional Christmas carols and holiday songs. Organizers will offer free on-site childcare, so bring the whole family and friends to celebrate the season. Tickets start at $8 and are available here.
A show and shine car, truck, and bike show is paired with a new and used toy and clothing drive to help those in need in the San Antonio community. Donations will benefit the Cesar Chavez Foundation, Bring Joy to a Refugee Child, and other local charities.
Mystic Productions will be providing live music throughout the event. Admission is free with donated items and barbecue pits and ice chests are welcome. Following the event, the San Antonio Police Department will escort the annual cruise to the downtown shelter to donate the items collected.
Renowned country singer/songwriter power couple Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis will be swinging through New Braunfels on their 19th Annual Holiday Shindig Tour. This family-friendly tradition has become a Texas staple in celebrating the holiday season over the years, with popular songs like “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” setting the tone as the temperatures continue to drop. Historic Gruene Hall presents the perfect backdrop for Robison and Willis’ Texas country Christmas songfest.
General admission tickets are $25 and can be purchased here.
The Guadalupe Dance Academy will present Hiedi Cabral’s La Pastorela Folklorica, a fun rendition of the traditional shepherd’s play, enhanced with a folklorico and flamenco element. Music and dance by experienced company members will depict the central characters of the nativity story – Mary, Joseph, and the archangel – while the younger generation will play the parts of townspeople and shepherds welcoming the newborn king.
Tickets starting at $10 are available at the box office between 1-6 p.m. or by phone at 210-271-3151.
Eric Gratz, violinist and concertmaster, leads the San Antonio Symphony as he performs Vivaldi from L’estro Armonico as part of the Baroque Series at the San Fernando Cathedral.
Associate Conductor Akiko Fujimoto will lead the talented musicians of the San Antonio Symphony as well as the magnificent voices of the Symphony Mastersingers through one of the city’s holiday staples, Holiday Pops. Audience sing-alongs, special guests, and a mix of traditional and popular music to get you in the holiday mood.
With Regency Jazz Band leader George Prado at its helm, a selection of local and regional saxophone and horn players will come together to ring in the holidays San Anto-style. This fun and festive ensemble will have you grooving all the way into the new year.
The Guadalupe is offering a $5 early bird discount for Tier 1 tickets until Dec. 12. Tickets range from $20-30 and are available at the box office between 1-6 p.m. or by phone at 210-271-3151.
An instant classic since its TV premiere in 1965, A Charlie Brown Christmas has turned into a beloved and integral part of the holidays for both children and adults. Make it a family outing and witness Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and their Peanuts friends come alive on stage.
The Guadalupe invites its neighbors, their friends, and families to partake in a fun and culturally meaningful program, which will include theater, music, food, and bring together the community to celebrate the forthcoming holidays.
The most rock and roll of all the Christmas music events, this tried and trusted, most beloved rock opera is making its annual stop at San Antonio’s AT&T Center. If multimedia, light and laser shows, pyrotechnical effects, moving components on stage…oh, and everything Christmas to the sounds of electric guitars, strings, and percussion are your thing, grab some tickets before they sell out.
Queers and Beers 3 – Make the Holidays Gay Again: Dec. 22 from 8-11 p.m. (Paper Tiger)
In the spirit of unity and support, rapper and local LGBTQIA activist Chris Conde is bringing together local LGBTQIA acts to celebrate the holidays. Queers and Beers 3 will include an array of musical and artistic performances, a holiday market where local vendors and artisans will offer up their handmade goods, free STD and HIV testing provided by Beat Aids, and food and drinks.
Ever since Macaulay Culkin’s on-screen parents left him at home and to his own devices in 1990, families all over the world have gathered in front of the TV to watch the Christmas classic year after year.
The Academy Award-nominated score by John Williams quite literally rings a bell with everyone who’s seen the movie and will delight even more when it is performed live by the San Antonio Symphony alongside the picture.
The perfect Christmas gift for anyone who loves dance and ballet, the Moscow Ballet’s The Great Russian Nutcracker embodies both artistic tradition and holiday spirit. The fact that San Antonio will play host to two different renditions of the timeless ballet speaks to its popularity – Why not check out both?
Before moving to San Antonio in 2004, Hanna was a competitive rhythmic gymnast in her native Austria. She earned degrees from St. Mary’s University and the Texas State Graduate College before joining...
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