It's a holiday tradition many begin as kids with their parents -- piling into the car and riding around town looking at Christmas lights. Sometimes the excursion involves hot cocoa or cider. Typically, it includes Christmas music on the radio. Some destinations merit a stop; others are best viewed as drive-bys. However it's done in your family, there are many places to view beautiful seasonal displays around Houston.
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 Night of Lights event in mid-December. Neighbors compete in several categories, such as best block, best house, and even best mailbox. Many of the decorations revolve around a theme, such as the Twelve Days of Christmas, Texas Christmas and more. Start on Prestonwood Forest Drive, just off of Texas Highway 249.
Typhoon Texas lights up for the holidays with their first annual WinterfestLight Festival! Admission includes The Miracle of Christmas 4D Show, WinterFest Express Train Ride, Reindeer Run Big Slide, Petting Zoo, Pony Rides, Santa’s Workshop, Hay Ride, and other attractions within the park.
You'll find a lot of large cutouts and dioramas in the Shepherd Park and Candlelight Park neighborhoods' holiday displays. Arches over the streets and big inflatables make this a winner for the kids. The best spot to start is north of West 43rd Street on either side of Ella Boulevard.
Each year, the Woodland Heights neighborhood comes alive for Lights in the Heights on a Saturday evening in early December. But the lights don't go dim in this charming neighborhood until well after Christmas. Awards for best decorations keep residents in the Heights creative. You'll find a concentration of lights along Highland Street and Bayland Avenue.
Zoo Lights is back and more spectacular than ever this year - now with more than 2 million lights! This special night-time spectacular transforms the zoo into a winter wonderland, filled with brilliant displays of colorful lights and festive holiday music. Sip hot chocolate as you stroll through the grounds and take in all the awe-inspiring sights, including more than a million twinkling lights adorning the magnificent live oak trees, whimsical colorful projections over 15 feet tall, and life-size animated animal sculptures. There is also a fascinating miniature train display along the Enchanted Forest Trail. Tickets can be purchased online or at the gate. General admission varies from $14.95 online to $21.95 at the gate.
Get in the coastal spirit with beautiful white lights encircling palms along Westheimer in Highland Village and on West Gray in the River Oaks Shopping Center. Another dazzling display decks out the Galleria area along Post Oak. The lights come as part of a big, family-friendly street party on Thanksgiving Evening.
For years now, the folks at Moody Gardens have been staging the Festival of Lights a big display on the grounds of the Galveston attraction. There are giant displays and more than 1 million lights along a driving tour through the park. The entire family will enjoy the ice rink, pictures with Santa, holiday films and more. Admission is $10.95 per person.
Moody Gardens takes the holidays to a whole new level of cool. A skilled team of master ice carvers has charted your course for the ultimate Caribbean Christmas. Embark on a breathtaking undersea journey made of two million pounds of ice! Imagine, a towering oil rig ice slide takes you to the breathtaking Flower Garden Banks and the Gulf of Mexico as you encounter spectacular schools of beautiful tropical fish, eagle rays, turtles, dolphins, hammerhead sharks and more on your way to your island destination!
The 2016 Magical Winter Lights comes to Houston this winter from November 18, 2016 to January 8, 2017 at Gulf Greyhound Park . The 52-day festival is the largest holiday light festival in Houston, and the largest lantern festival of its kind to ever take place in the U.S. MWL2016 differentiates itself from other more traditional holiday lighting events by basing its designs from Chinese lanterns and transforming them into larger-than-life remakes of well-known landmarks and landscapes in the world.
The third annual Sugar Land Holiday Lights returns to Constellation Field November 25 through January 8! The showcase of lights will feature over 100 walkthrough displays and 2.5 million lights throughout the park. This year will also feature Texas' largest inflatable snow globe and Santa Claus each night through December 23, along with a variety of food trucks and children’s activities. Sugar Land Holiday Lights features affordable fun for the whole family this holiday season!
Once again, the Houston Wave will take guests on a Holiday Lights Tour to check out all that dazzles and sparkles this holiday season. The tour will start at Market Square Park downtown before embarking on a journey past the tree at City Hall, the giant ornaments at Discovery Green, and the always decorated neighborhoods of River Oaks and the Woodland Heights.
www.VisitHoustontexas.com
Erase note
You currently have no custom folders