Your Guide to Holiday Light Displays in The Lone Star State

Check out this expansive guide to holiday and Christmas light displays, from San Antonio to Grand Prairie.

By Marika FlattNovember 26, 2015 9:30 am

‘Tis the season to enjoy the Christmas light displays around Texas. A few of the most well-known holiday light displays include the courthouse in Johnson City and the nearby library; downtown Christmas parades in Bandera, Boerne, and Fredericksburg; and Belton’s drive thru display. These aren’t the only ones, there are others sprinkled around the Lone Star State that light up the night.

Santaland is Texas’ original drive-thru Christmas Park off I-20 in Tyler. Pack up the car and take a ride through rows of dancing Christmas trees and hundreds of multi-colored twinkle lights. Open thru January 4 every night from 6 to 10 p.m. There is a drive-thru display and you can jump on a hayride most nights, too.

Just a bit farther east on I-20 is the City of Marshall. They’re gearing up for the 29th annual Wonderland of Lights. Historic downtown Marshall will once again be transformed into a winter wonderland, where they will instantly turn on the Harrison County Courthouse lights with an iPad. Apparently, Marshall is known far and wide for wonderful holiday festivities associated with Wonderland, which will run through New Year’s Eve. 

Just outside of San Antonio, you can visit Christmas Light Fest at Don Strange Ranch near Boerne. Until December 31, dazzle under the glow of two million lights along two miles of scenic, historic ranch land for $25 per car. You can also take a stroll through Santa’s Village for holiday treats, hand-crafted finds, hay rides and meet Kris Kringle himself.

Santa’s Wonderland has been open since 1998, just six miles south of College Station. This wonderland, open to early January, has a heart-felt preservation and interpretation of the true meaning of the Christmas Spirit. You can see Santa’s Town, a nostalgic Christmas Village, take a horse-drawn carriage tour and their main attraction – the Trail of Lights.

If you’re in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, check out Grand Prairie’s Prairie Lights. Upon arriving at the entrance, you will be dazzled with four million lights set along two miles of path. Be amazed by hundreds of displays and arches over the road. Also included is the Holiday Village, an indoor Holiday Show, and a Holiday Walk-Thru Forest.

Don’t forget that Austin has its famous Trail of Lights and Round Rock offers a smaller version at Old Settler’s Park.