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.
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. Specific evenings will carry a theme, such as dog-friendly festivities Dec. 1, and a chance to meet SAFC and San Antonio Spurs players on Dec. 7. Tickets start at $21.
River Walk
San Antonians will gather on the Friday after Thanksgiving, Nov. 29, along the River Walk to enjoy the 43rd annual Ford Holiday River Parade. Specific spots along the parade route are ticketed, with prices ranging from $19 to $29. Other spots on the route are free.
Afterward, anyone can stroll along the River Walk and enjoy 100,000-plus Christmas lights illuminated in 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.
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 6-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, and 6-11 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. The city’s Light Up celebration begins at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 7 at City Hall, 8601 Midcrown Dr. The kickoff will include music, vendors, food, hot chocolate and photos with Santa. 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 5:30-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, and 5:30-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday through Jan. 5. The park is open until 11 p.m. daily during Thanksgiving and Christmas weeks. 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 6-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, and 6-11 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
The University of the Incarnate Word kicked off the season with the 38th Light the Way Holiday Festival last week. Through Jan. 6, visitors can stroll through campus to see the more than 1 million Christmas lights strung up for the season.
Travis Park
The downtown park at 301 E. Travis St. will again be a hub of holiday activity starting with the lighting of the H-E-B Christmas tree 4-9 p.m. on Nov. 29. Admission is free. The tree-lighting event will include live entertainment, food trucks, letters to Santa, giveaways, crafts, a visit from Santa, and a screening of Home Alone 2.
Anyone can see the tree and other Christmas lights strung up around Travis Park any night during the holiday season. The Rotary Ice Rink is open at Travis Park now 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.