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5 of the biggest and brightest holiday light displays across Texas

Zilker Park in Austin is transformed into a winter wonderland every December.

When it’s still a balmy 70 degrees in December but you really, really need to get your holiday fix, we’ve got two words for you: Christmas lights. Texas is filled with huge holiday light displays that are an instant cure for the holiday blahs. There are plenty in the Fort Worth area, of course. But if you're up for a road trip, here are five of the biggest and brightest.

Santa's Ranch in New Braunfels
If you’d rather keep the kids corralled in the car while you gaze at holiday lights, Santa’s Ranch in New Braunfels is your best bet. For just $22 per vehicle, you’ll cruise through numerous impressive displays, including lit-up nativity scenes, giant gingerbread houses, and even a Christmas dinosaur or two.

Know before you go: If you’re not in the mood to sit in traffic, we highly recommend heading to Santa’s Ranch during the week. However, if you’ve become used to traffic after sitting on I-35 for years of your life, check it out anytime through December 31 (Sunday through Thursday, 6-10 pm; Friday and Saturday, 6-11 pm).

The River Walk in San Antonio
San Antonio’s ever-popular River Walk is also one of the best places in Texas to get into the holiday spirit, thanks to the explosion of lights that drape over every square inch of this area. Now would be the time of year to take a gondola ride up and down the river to properly take in this festive spectacle.

Know before you go: This year, the lights will remain on through January 7, starting at 5:30 pm every night.

Zoo Lights in Houston
Every year, the Houston Zoo undergoes a wintertime makeover to become a holiday lights attraction the likes of which you’ve never seen — we’re talking 15 miles of lights; a 1958 Cadillac festooned with a musical light show; an enchanted forest; and an interactive, rather chatty zebra.

Know before you go: Zoo Lights runs through January 15; check out ticket pricing and times here.

Lights Spectacular in Johnson City
If your idea of a good holiday lights display involves feeling like you’ve stepped into an old-fashioned Christmas card, you’re in luck: the Lights Spectacular in Johnson City is exactly that. Every year (for the last 28), the Blanco County Courthouse and its surrounding trees have sparkled brighter than the night sky, thanks to over 100,000 twinkly white lights. Nearly every home and business in the town square joins in on the action, rendering this one of the loveliest, quaintest spots in the state to enjoy a holiday lights show.

Know before you go: The Lights Spectacular runs every weekend through January 2, from 6-9 pm.

Austin Trail of Lights in Zilker Park
It isn't really Christmas time in Austin until everyone's taken a leisurely stroll through the city’s Holiday Lights Bonanza 2.0, otherwise known as the Trail of Lights in Zilker Park. The official grand opening this year took place Saturday, December 9, and the Trail will remain open until December 23. Gather up your crew and take your time strolling through the 2 million lights and 40 displays — just don’t chug eggnog or drink too much spiked hot chocolate before taking a twirl under the Zilker Tree.

Know before you go: The Trail of Lights is open through December 23, from 7-10 pm. General admission is just $3, but there are some free nights, as well.

holidays

Holiday News

Travel on Thanksgiving 2024 is expected to break all-time records

Courtesy of ABIA Facebook

Many planes waiting to take off.

A new forecast by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) predicts that 2044 will be the busiest Thanksgiving travel period on record.

According to a release, the agency is projected to screen 18.3 million people from Tuesday, November 26 through Monday, December 2 — representing a volume increase of approximately 6 percent from 2023.

Passenger volumes have reached record highs in 2024, with an increase of 17 percent since 2022.

TSA projects the three busiest travel days with their expected volumes as follows:

Tuesday November 26: more than 2.8 million people
Wednesday November 27: more than 2.9 million people
Sunday December 1: more than 3 million people

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas says the TSA team is standing by with metal detection wands in hand.

“Many members of the TSA workforce will be on duty throughout Thanksgiving Day and week and I am immensely grateful for their selfless dedication and professionalism," Mayorkas says in a statement. "I encourage travelers to plan ahead, follow TSA’s travel tips, and take advantage of programs like TSA PreCheck – simple steps that will make everyone’s journey smoother, our skies safer, and TSA’s job easier.”

TSA has screened more than 2.9 million passengers on multiple days in 2024. The record for the heaviest passenger volume in TSA history was Sunday, July 7, when Transportation Security Officers screened more than 3 million people at airport security checkpoints nationwide.

“The 10 busiest travel days in TSA’s history have all occurred in 2024, and we anticipate that trend to continue," TSA Administrator David Pekoske says.

TSA's Travel Tips

TSA advises passengers to pack smart and start with an empty bag. Passengers who do so are less likely to bring prohibited items through the checkpoint.
For carry-on bags, all liquids, gels and aerosols must be 3.4 ounces or less.
Foods such as gravy, cranberry sauce, wine, jam, and preserves – considered liquids or gels – must be packed in a checked bag if they exceed 3.4 ounces.
Passengers can bring solid foods such as cakes and other baked goods through the checkpoint.

The TSA PreCheck Trusted Traveler Program offers faster checkpoint screening with wait times that are almost always 10 minutes or less. Passengers enrolled in TSA PreCheck do not need to remove shoes; belts; 3-1-1 liquids, aerosols and gels; laptops; food items and light jackets during security screening. TSA PreCheck members are reminded to make sure their Known Traveler Number (KTN) is in their airline reservation so it appears on their boarding pass.

holidays