‘Tis the season for Christmas light displays. Today, our focus is on the Great State of Texas.
Cuero
A highlight of Christmas in the Park is the 17-piece Nativity on the Lake Island. Photo courtesy Christmas in Cuero
11th Annual Christmas in the Park
Dates: Monday before Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day, 6:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m., nightly.
General information: Self-guided tour with Seasonal Cutouts and Nutcrackers showing the way. Over 120 displays of Victorian, Western, Train, Gingerbread House, and other scenes. Highlights are the 17-piece Nativity on the Lake Island, the 85-foot Paddlewheel Boat, Sea Serpent, “Peace on Earth” Globe, the 30-foot U.S. flag, and Penguins. Santa and his reindeer fly over Lakeview Knoll while his elves are busy with gifts in other scenes. Watch Old Man Winter make snowflakes and Santa wish all a good night!
Look for the Christmas in the Park Arch at the entrance, the Twelve Days of Christmas, and the Lighthouse on the Lake’s pier.
Directions: Cuero Municipal Park, U.S. Hwy. 87 South (Broadway)
Admission: Free; donations accepted at end of tour
Dickinson
13th Annual Festival of Lights
Enjoy a walk through the park in Dickinson. Photo courtesy Dickinson Festival of Lights
Dates: November 27, 2010-January 1, 2010, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.; free parking and shuttle service December 20-23 from the parking lot behind the Shrine of the True Cross Church School, 300 FM 517 E., or 1 block east off of I-45
General information: A walk-through event at Paul Hopkins Park
Admission: Free
Directions: Located south of Houston off I-45 on the route to Galveston
Galveston
Moody Gardens
Dates: December 16, 2010-January 1, 2011; 6:00-10:00 p.m.
General information: The Gulf Coast’s largest holiday lighting event featuring a mile-long trail of over one million lights
Check out the Festival of Lights live cam
Admission: $5.95; add-on $5.00 per attraction; with purchase of the Festival of Lights ticket you can add other attractions for just $5 after 4:45 p.m. Choose from Aquarium Pyramid®, 3D Theater, Ridefilm Theater and Colonel Paddlewheel Boat (TOY STORY III 3D NOT INCLUDED). Tickets to the 4D Special FX Theater can be purchased for $10.95 adults/$8.95 child. Bring your own skates or skate rental is also available for just $5. New this year, play in the snow on Friday nights! Admission to the Festival of Lights Snow Zone play area for kids is $5 with the purchase of a Festival of Lights Ticket. The Snow Zone is open to children 11 years old and younger. Also on Friday, bring a non-perishable food item and receive 2-for-1 admission to the festival. The Moody Gardens Food Drive Fridays program benefits the Galveston and Houston foodbanks.
Directions: Located One Hope Boulevard, Galveston
Driving through the Christmas Light Park at Santa's Ranch. Photo courtesy David Ingram
Dates: November 5, 2010-January 2, 2011; Sunday-Thursday, 6:00-10:00 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 6:00-11:00 p.m.
General information: Drive through nearly a mile of spectacular holiday scenes with more than a million lights and over 100 displays and animations
Admission: $20/car; season pass $40 (sorry, no vehicles over 8-feet tall
Directions: Located on Interstate 35, 1 mile south of San Marcos between Posey Road and York Creek Road—look for the 50-foot Christmas tree out front.
If you have visited any of the above Christmas light displays or others not listed, please leave your comments below. Your insights may help others have a fantastic holiday experience.
Worth Pondering…
Too many get caught up in the noise of everyday life to hear the symphony of what life is really all about.