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Holiday Lights in Houston

🎉  Your guide to Christmas displays around the Bayou City 

When it comes to the holidays, Houston gets into the spirit of the season! From drive-thru winter wonderlands to a beautifully illuminated zoo, there are plenty of holiday decor exhibits for visitors and locals to enjoy. In this guide, we break down attractions by areas of town to ensure you and your family have the best holiday light experience!


Wonderland of Magical Winter Lights
November 17, 2022 – January 7, 2023

Magical Winter Lights

Explore illuminated castles and world landmarks, peek under the sea and step into imaginary lands of delight and adventure at Magical Winter Lights (MWL) in Baytown, Texas. Encompassing more than 7 dazzling themed displays and with more than 6-million lights, the 2022 MWL is held all holiday season from November 18, 2022, to January 7, 2023, including Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day at Houston Raceway in Baytown.  

HOUSTON BOTANIC GARDEN

Lightscape
Nov. 18, 2022 - Jan. 1, 2023
5:45 p.m. - 11 p.m.

You and your family are in for a treat at the Houston Botanic Garden this holiday season. With the internationally acclaimed Lightscape installations, the garden will transform into a dazzling illuminated trail featuring the works of local and international artists. Among the highlights of this new attraction is the Winter Cathedral, an impressive towering arch tunnel sparkling with 100,000 lights. The garden recommends purchasing tickets online as they cannot guarantee ticket availability at the door. Lightscape operates on select evenings. Check their website for more details.

 

Downtown

Texas Winter Lights
Nov. 11, 2022 – Jan. 8, 2023
5 – 10 p.m. Daily

Back for its third year, the interactive light experience on the deck of the Marriott Marquis Houston’s iconic Texas-shaped pool will feature bigger light displays and endless Instagram-worthy backdrops. Enjoy the view of downtown as you walk under lights and lanterns. You can also float through the illuminated – and heated – lazy river and enjoy holiday movies on Thursday nights. Open nightly from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. 

City Lights at Avenida Houston
Nov. 15, 2022 – Jan. 2, 2023

This holiday season Avenida Houston will be transformed into a winter wonderland filled with lights, ice skating, and decorated trees courtesy of the Alley Theatre. Bring the whole family and take in the holiday scenery at Avenida Houston and Discovery Green, where you can also enjoy themed nights at the skating rink and the new art installation “Mosaic of Light” by Hybycozo.

Deck the Trees 
Nov. 18, 2022 – Jan. 2, 2023
Recurring daily 

The Alley Theatre’s annual Deck the Trees celebration, which features a variety of festive trees decorated by Houston designers, will be at two locations this year. You can view the decorated tree display at the George R. Brown Convention Center windowscape that faces Avenida de las Americas, and at the Alley Theatre on Texas Avenue. This Houston tradition coincides with the holiday production of A Christmas Carol.

 

Museum District

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Houston Zoo (@houstonzoo)

Zoo Lights 
Nov. 18, 2022 – Jan. 8, 2023
5:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.

A favorite holiday tradition among Houston families, Zoo Lights at the Houston Zoo will once again wow visitors with its impressive array of attractions. This year’s event will feature animal-themed lanterns and glowing flowers, an Illuminated Ocean experience where you walk under illuminated jellyfish and other sea creatures, a 33-foot tall color-changing holiday tree (perfect for pictures), and the 125-foot-long Infinity Tunnel of Light. Visitors will also have a chance to take a photo with Santa. Make sure you buy your tickets online before you go. Tickets will not be sold at the gate.

 

River Oaks
 

Self-Guided River Oaks Christmas Lights Tour
Nov. 25 – Dec. 26, 2022

If you want to see one of Houston’s most beautiful neighborhoods transformed into a magical Christmas village, head to River Oaks. The residents of River Oaks spare no expense in adorning their homes and properties with thousands of Christmas lights. Start at the River Oaks Country Club and work your way around the neighborhood. The intriguing lighting displays and fanciful mansions are truly reminiscent of your favorite Hallmark holiday movies.

 

The Heights
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by WHCA (@whca_info)

Self-Guided Christmas Lights Tour in The Heights
Dec. 1 – Dec. 25, 2022

The charming Heights neighborhood has some of the best light displays in the city. Drive or walk around admiring the beautiful craftsman-style architecture of the area looking even more beautiful decorated for the holidays. Try starting Highland and Omar streets, between Studewood and Florence, and explore the area from there.

 

Space Center Houston
 

Galaxy Lights
Nov. 12, 2022 – Jan. 1, 2023
6  – 10 p.m. Daily 

Space Center Houston is ready to welcome you to an out-of-this world lights experience this holiday season. During Galaxy Lights, visitors experience interactive, technologically advanced displays like kinetic light shows, where dozens of suspended lights move to music in precise choreographed sequences. Other attractions include a light tunnel, an indoor meteor shower, and a brand new interactive show – “Celebrate Light” – that explores the science behind light. The show takes place every hour starting at 6:30 p.m. with the last show starting at 9:30 p.m.

 

Sugar Land 

Sugar Land Holiday Lights
Nov. 18, 2021 – Jan. 1, 2023
Sun. – Thurs. 6 pm. – 9 p.m., Fri. – Sat. 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Just 20 minutes south of Houston, you’ll find a sparkling wonderland featuring more than 3 million lights, eight themed areas, holiday shopping, food, and Santa Claus. The 8th Sugar Land Holiday Lights at Constellation Field is a holiday tradition that will surely make your holidays memorable. Make sure to check out the calendar of events to find out more about themed nights, discounts, and holiday movie showings. 


 

Galveston

Moody Gardens Festival of Lights
Nov. 19, 2022 – Jan. 7, 2023
4 p.m. – 10 p.m. Daily

Enjoy a festive stroll along the mile-long illuminated trail at Moody Gardens’s Festival of Lights. Featuring 2 million lights themed to holiday music with spectacular views of Galveston Bay, this beautiful attraction will get the whole family into the holiday spirit. Along the way, visitors can enjoy concession areas, hot chocolate, s’mores and plenty of opportunities for pictures. Moody Gardens also hosts other holiday activities, such as holiday 3D films, train rides, and an arctic slide.

 

Northwest Houston

Annual Nite of Lites
Dec. 11, 2022 – Jan. 2, 2023

The residents of Prestonwood Forest in Northwest Houston have been decorating their homes in grand fashion since the 1970s. Hundreds of homes participate in the neighborhood's annual Nite of Lites event. Neighbors compete in several categories, such as best block, best all-around, best house, best special effects, and even best mailbox. Start on Prestonwood Forest Drive, just off of Texas Highway 249, and you’re sure to run into other cars lining up to experience the neighborhood’s holiday hoopla.

Lights Alive!

Lights Alive!

Lights Alive! is a 100% computer-controlled, musically synchronized, drive-thru Christmas light show experience. The nearly mile-long attraction is the first of its kind in Texas and proudly showcases innovative new lighting technologies that are sure to dazzle and captivate viewers of all ages. The intensive and immersive experience is family-friendly and synchronized to a one-of-a-kind soundtrack with modern high-energy, up-beat, non-traditional remixes as well as popular Christmas classics.

 

Spring

The Light Park at Hurricane Harbor Splashtown
Nov. 4, 2022 – Jan. 1, 2023
5:30 p.m. – 11 p.m.

The Light Park is a very merry, drive-thru spectacular at Hurricane Harbor Splashtown. Brighten your holiday with this festive and safe holiday light display near Spring. This holiday attraction features millions of lights synchronized to a festive mix of music. Tickets start at $29 per vehicle, so pack your cars, bring some holiday treats and enjoy the ride. Keep in mind that tickets must be purchased online in advance with a reserved show time.

 

Uptown

34th Annual Uptown Holiday Lighting
Nov. 24, 2022
4 p.m. – 7 p.m.

The 34th Annual Uptown Holiday Lighting returns this Thanksgiving evening with tons of festive activities to kick off the holiday season. Head over to Post Oak Boulevard between West Loop and Richmond Avenue to enjoy the official lighting of Uptown’s 300, 20-foot holiday trees. Following the ceremonial lighting, visitors will enjoy a dazzling light show and fireworks. Santa will also make a special appearance. It’s the perfect way to get into the holiday spirit.

 

Hockley

Dasher’s Lightshow
Nov. 18  – Dec. 31, 2022
6 p.m. – 10 p.m.

For another magical drive-thru experience, head over to Hockley for Dasher’s Lightshow. Drive through light tunnels, past snowmen and other attractions synced to holiday tunes in your car. Tickets are $30 per vehicle and must be purchased online ahead of the event. Tickets will not be sold at the gate.

 

Holiday Events

Whether before or after viewing Houston's holiday light displays, discover holiday events the family won't want to miss and view our exclusive hotel deals if you want to be closer to family in town for the holiday season--but not too close.

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