One of the reasons my family moved to the Houston area was that it was so convenient to so many other interesting cities in Texas. Just this morning, we planned one of our weekend get-a-ways to the city of San Antonio. Since it is Thanksgiving weekend, I decided to see if San Antonio can best Houston in its offering of holiday entertainment.
Possibly most well-known on the San Antonio Winter Holiday scene is the FORD Holiday Parade and Lighting Ceremony, which has taken place for over 20 years. This lighting ceremony takes place on Friday, November 23, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. Approximately 150,000 people will line the River Walk to participate in the lighting ceremony which is the official beginning of the Paseo Del Rio Holiday Festival. A thrown switch and the River Walk lights will form a canopy of approximately 122,000 ornamental lights. The holiday parade, themed this year A Musical Christmas, is approximately one hour long and features decorated floats, celebrities and costumed participants. Admission tickets are $10, $15, and $18.00. The $20.00 tickets are sold out. Tickets are not available online, but by calling the Paseo Del Rio Association at 210-227-4262. Don’t feel like fighting the crowd at the parade after fighting the crowds all day while shopping? That’s ok, the parade and lighting ceremony are also televised so you can pour yourself a drink, pop some popcorn and enjoy the festivities from the comfort of your home.
If you would like to get out to enjoy the Christmas lights but think the walking is too tiresome, then try the SegCity Tours. SegCity PT is a “green” machine, which is an electronically powered transportation device. You can ride the machine which moves much faster than walking, just about anywhere that you can walk-but you get there much faster and without all the effort. The SegCity tours in San Antonio will guide you through the River Walk, La Plaza de las Islas (the main plaza), the historic King William District, La Villita and the San Fernando Cathedral, just to name a few historic and memorable places. The tour will take you through each of these areas especially lighted and decorated for the holiday season, by virtue of a guided tour, with information about the area and history of all that you see. No special talents are needed to “ride” the SegCity PT. Upon arrival you are given a short orientation as to how the cruiser works and how to operate it. You must be accompanied by a parent or guardian if under 18, wear closed toe shoes, be at least 12 years of age, and weigh between 100-265 lbs. You must be able to steer the wheel and walk up and down steps unaided. The Holiday tours are $65/day/per person for a three hour tour (Gilligan’s Island fans rejoice you do come back!); or a sunset tour is from 6:00-8:00 p.m for $45.00/person. Yes, it’s a shorter tour, and a little less money, but just imagine all the lights you will be able to enjoy during the sunset tour. To schedule your tour contact SegCity Tours or call 210-224-0773 for reservations.
Windcrest Light Up is a 50 year old tradition, with the city of Windcrest holding its annual lighting contest among the city and neighborhoods. Hundred of homes in the Windcrest area will compete to decorate their homes in amazing, unique and over the tops ways. People come from all around San Antonio and elsewhere to drive along the neighborhood streets and enjoy the “homey-ness” of this event. A contest is held with different categories, thus encouraging a health competition within the displays, winners are announced on December 15th when the Light Up event begins. It ends New Year’s Eve. Maps are made available to the public via the Windcrest City Offices or viewable/printable online. How could you go wrong viewing these lights? You can do it from the comfort of your car, no one cares if the children fall asleep, and you may get some ideas of your own to decorate your home for next year. Sounds like a family date night to me! Best of all, it cost nothing but your gas. This event and the next have even been featured on the Travel Channel for the best holiday light displays.
More and More Holiday Lightings Available:
Fiesta de las Luminaries: Every weekend in December. The Fiesta de las Luminaries are located on the River Walk. The Riverwalk will be light by over 2500 glowing candles set in uniquely designed luminaries. These candles are a symbolic lighting of the path traveled by Joseph and Mary.
Hill Country Holiday : As you drive through gently sloping hills on 50 acres of land you will encounter varying Christmas stories being displayed by over one million lights on this one mile drive. At the top of a hill, the midway point, you are able to get out and visit Santa, pet the animals and reindeer in the petting zoo, enjoy a cup of hot cocoa and decorate a Christmas cookie. Holiday tour hours begin on November 23 and are as follows:
Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, the weekends of Nov. 23-25, Nov. 30, Dec. 1 and 2, Dec. 7-9 and Dec. 14-16 from 6:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. Admission is not granted from 10:00 on, but if the park does not close until every one is gone. The week of December 17-24 the park is open nightly from 6:00-10:00 p.m. but Santa will be busy delivering toys on Christmas Eve, so will not be available. Admission is $7/per person (aged 2 and younger are free) and includes the drive-thru, visit with Santa, a view of the live reindeer, a cup of hot cocoa, a Christmas cookie to decorate and eat, and a visit to the petting zoo. Should you wish to take the hayride through the displays it is $1.00 more and there is an additional charge for pictures.
Santa’s Ranch is a drive through lighted exhibit approximately one mile long. There are over 1 million lights and over 100 lighted displays and animations with a variety of holiday scenes depicted (both religious and secular). The “ranch” is open November 9- December 30th, on Sunday-Thursday from 6:00-10:00 p.m. and open Friday-Saturday from 6:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. Admission is $17.00/per vehicle, no vehicles over 8 feet and season passes are available for $35.00. Pack up the minivan partner and head on over!
Santa’s Railroad Wonderland s held at the Texas Transportation Museum over weekends in December (December 8th-9th, 15th-16th, 20th-23rd) from 6:00-9:00 p.m. Tickets are $7.00 for adults, $5.00 for children under 12, and a family special for $20.00. You and your family can take a in a brilliantly lit train, hay ride or an antique fire truck. Each of the buildings at the museum as well as all the transportation are festively decorated – so much so that they claim “not to know how many lights are up because there are so many!”
Six Flags Fiesta Texas, where winter wonderland meets Bugs Bunny, holiday Latin music, lights, holiday displays, visit with Santa, a reenactment of the Nativity, special musical performances, and special winter treats to eat and drink. The holiday celebration will be held from November 23 through January 6; however they are closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Years Eve. Season ticket holders get to attend the Holiday events with their season ticket pass. Purchase a season ticket for the 2008 year and get to attend both 2007 and 2008 holiday events. Tickets are $46.99 or purchase them online for $34.99; children tickets are $31.99 online and children 2 and under are free.
Whatever light displays you may be in the mood for this holiday season, from religious to secular, country, western, Latin, animated, or historical, San Antonio has it all available to you. For the holiday season it is definitely giving Houston and any other city a run for its money.
