Christmas Lights near San Antonio

The River Walk is the first thing most people think of, and it's free. Switched on at the Ford Holiday River Parade on November 27, the lights stay up into early January, and you can walk under them any night. Everything else on this page costs money, so the choice comes down to how your family likes to see lights: on foot, from the car, or between rides at a theme park.

On foot, in the car, or with rides

For a walk, Illuminate at the Botanical Garden is the classic garden trail and runs latest, to January 10. The Old West Christmas Light Fest in Boerne puts the lights on a replica Western town. The only drive-thru is Santa's Ranch in New Braunfels, at $37 a car and open every night from November 6. For rides as well as lights, try Fiesta Texas or SeaWorld.

What a night out costs

For a family of four, Santa's Ranch is the cheapest ticketed option, since you pay once for the car. The Boerne fest comes to about $100 for two adults and two kids over 5, with Santa photos and parking included. Illuminate comes to about $126 with the ticket fees, plus parking. The theme parks are the most expensive per night, but the Fiesta Texas Silver Pass costs the same as a day ticket and covers every visit through 2027.

Timing

Santa's Ranch opens first, on November 6, and SeaWorld on November 12. Most others open in the week before or after Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving weekend is the busiest: the River Walk parade and Boerne's Dickens on Main both fall on November 27–28. For a calmer visit, pick a weeknight in early December. Zoo Lights hadn't confirmed 2026 dates when we checked. Our full comparison of San Antonio's light shows has every date and price side by side.