San Antonio is one of Texas’s top tourist destinations and a great place to visit during Christmas. I’m excited to help you have an unforgettable Christmas in San Antonio, Texas!
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As I mentioned in my post about the best places to visit in the USA during the winter, San Antonio is a great place to visit during winter.
Located in south Texas, with an average high temperature of 67 degrees and a low temperature of 40 degrees, it’s a great way to enjoy the Christmas season while avoiding the frigid cold, ice, and snow. Get ready to read about the family-friendly events that San Antonio has to offer.
San Antonio Go City Pass
I’m going to share a lot of fun things to do in San Antonio, but first I want to tell you about the Go City Pass options because if you are interested in it then you will be able to spot some of the attractions as I mention them.
I get the Go City Pass when I want to get the BEST VALUE while seeing several popular tourist attractions. There are 25+ attractions included in the San Antonio city pass.
Here’s how it works: You select the number of attractions you’d like to see (ranging from 2-5).
Then, you select one option from the premium choices and the rest of your choices from the remaining category. The best part is you don’t have a limited amount of time to use the pass, so you aren’t rushed to see everything in one or two days.
There are lots of sites to see in San Antonio beyond what I’m sharing for an Unforgettable Christmas in San Antonio, Texas. When you see this orange QR CODE next to one of the fun things to do in San Antonio, that means it’s included in the GO CITY PASS.
River Walk During Christmas in San Antonio
The first thing to get you in the holiday spirit is to go downtown and visit the San Antonio River Walk. (You might want to take a peek at this map because it’s a big area.) The iconic River Walk is the number 1 thing to do in San Antonio and you definitely don’t want to miss seeing the River Walk Christmas lights!
It is a 15-mile-long river, lined with beautiful cypress trees, excellent restaurants, hotels, and museums. There’s also great shopping from local independent small businesses so you can grab some one-of-a-kind holiday gifts.
You can walk, sit, or eat at one of the amazing restaurants while observing the lighted boats and the trail of lights hanging from the trees for FREE.
The River Walk cruise was my favorite thing to do in San Antonio. Don’t miss this unique experience to capture the magic of Christmas when it is decorated with over 100,000 lights and Mexican Christmas lanterns.
In December on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays before Christmas, you can see Ford Fiesta de las Luminarias. More than 2,000 Mexican Christmas lanterns float down the San Antonio River accompanied by fun Ford Holiday Boat Caroling.
On the Friday after Thanksgiving, San Antonio will hold the annual river parade and the lighting of the River Walk with an event called the Ford Holiday River Parade. It is one hour of fun for the whole family.
PRO TIP: The Ford Holiday River Parade will be packed so plan to get there early to get a good spot!
Are you looking for ideas on where to travel this winter? Check out the Best Places to visit for Winter in the USA?
Christmas Light Displays During Christmas in San Antonio
Aside from seeing the holiday lights while walking along the famous San Antonio River Walk, there are lots of other places to see different light shows in San Antonio, Texas and the surrounding areas.
Christmas Lights at the San Antonio Zoo
LOCATION: 3903 N St Mary’s St, San Antonio, TX 78212
Seeing the San Antonio Zoo transformed for Christmas is really magical. In addition to light displays made from animals, they also offer camel rides and train rides! Visiting the zoo is a great way to make fun memories during the holiday season.
When you’re done checking out the zoo lights you can visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus. You should expect to spend about 2 hours at the San Antonio Zoo.
PRO TIP: The San Antonio Zoo is open on Christmas Day
Elf Acres Christmas Light Park
LOCATION: 1475 Grosenbacher Rd, San Antonio, TX 78245
If you’re tired of walking, or not a fan of being chilly at night, then check out the 20-acre drive-through Christmas light display at Elf Acres. There is one flat fee per vehicle and you get to drive through and look at the different light displays while you listen to Christmas music.
If you have children who want to meet Santa Claus, stop by Santa’s village at the end for a picture and a cup of hot cocoa. This is a very family-friendly event.
PRO TIP: Avoid visiting on the weekends and during times right around Christmas Day to avoid large crowds.
Christmas Lights at the San Antonio Botanical Garden
LOCATION: 555 Funston Place, San Antonio, TX 78209
I’ve previously mentioned that one of my Christmas traditions is to travel for the holiday. I discovered that most times if there is a large botanical garden they will transform it with festive lights into a display for Christmas. We have seen this done in Atlanta and Nashville. San Antonio offers it too!
Walk through the 1-mile path to see all the great Christmas lanterns and lights displayed throughout the garden space. Don’t forget to grab your hot cocoa and roasted nuts to snack on while you are there!
Illuminate, the Christmas light display, is open from the end of November until just after the New Year. Make sure you get your tickets online in advance.
Plan to spend about 1 hour exploring the San Antonio Botanical Garden.
PRO TIP: Parking is limited so get your parking pass in advance online.
Christmas Lights at Santa's Ranch
LOCATION: 9561 I-35, New Braunfels, TX 78130
This light display is technically outside of San Antonio but I’m mentioning it because it has the most famous holiday lights in the San Antonio area.
Get ready for MILLIONS of lights in displays that are custom-made! This is also a drive-through light display with one flat fee per vehicle. Once again, at the end of the display, your family can enjoy hot chocolate and get some photos with Santa Claus.
Visit Santa’s Ranch from early November through just after the New Year, so there are PLENTY of opportunities to schedule a trip to see the largest light displays in the area.
Check out the Neighborhood of Windcrest
LOCATION: Windcrest City Hall, 8601 Midcrown Dr, Windcrest, TX 78239
One of the great FREE Christmas things to do in San Antonio is to see the lights in the neighborhood of Windcrest. This is a 60+ year-long Christmas tradition where this neighborhood has a Christmas lights competition centered around one theme and different categories.
City Hall has a map of the homes that won and what category they won for if you want to pick up the map before you drive around to see the spectacular display of lights.
See a Christmas Show in San Antonio
Majestic & Empire Theaters
LOCATION:224 E Houston St, San Antonio, TX 78205
Have you ever seen a Cirque du Soleil performance? I saw the Magical Cirque Christmas show in Nashville and it was amazing! The theater alone is worth the visit, but you are going to love the Christmas show. Check out their website to purchase your tickets in advance because they will sell out fast.
Ballet San Antonio
LOCATION: Tobin Center for Performing Arts, 115 Auditorium Cir #20, San Antonio, TX 78205
What better way to celebrate the holiday than watch a Christmas show? Check out The Ballet San Antonio to watch the annual performance of The Nutcracker.
Performances typically run the two weekends before Christmas. Get your tickets in advance so you don’t miss out on this Christmas tradition.
Visit the Spanish Missions During Christmas in San Antonio
There are five historic sites of Spanish missions in San Antonio that you can visit. Some will be decorated for the Christmas season.
You can do a self-guided visit to the missions or take a 3.5-hour guided tour to learn more about the UNESCO World Heritage sites. If you plan to visit on your own make sure there isn’t a San Antonio Christmas event that conflicts with your visit.
Visit the Historic Market Square and El Mercado
LOCATION: 514 W Commerce St, San Antonio, TX 78207
The historic market transforms into a Mexican-style Christmas market for the month of December. It’s the perfect place to find some last-minute unique gifts from local artists or get something to eat at one of the great restaurants or food vendors.
This is a 3 block outdoor plaza with tons of stores so plan to spend around 2 hours at the largest Mexican holiday market in the United States.
Visit the Natural Bridge Caverns During Christmas in San Antonio
LOCATION: 26495 Natural Bridge Caverns Rd, San Antonio, TX 78266
If you want the most unique Christmas experience, visit Christmas at the Caverns.
The Natural Bridge Caverns puts a twist on the underground adventure by adding Christmas carolers and Santa. When you finish touring the caverns you can check out the outdoor maze and Christmas light display or enjoy the campfire or hayride. Plan to spend more than 3 hours at the Natural Bridge Caverns.
Visit the Texas Transportation Museum During Christmas in San Antonio
LOCATION: 11731 Wetmore Rd, San Antonio, TX 78247
For the first 3 weeks in December, the Texas Transportation Museum is transformed for Christmas time.
As you ride on the train, of course, there will be Christmas lights on display, but you will also hear live music from bagpipers and Christmas carolers throughout the experience.
Hey! Maybe you’re thinking, “Dang Andrea, you know ALL THE GOOD TRAVEL TIPS!” GREAT NEWS… you can SUBSCRIBE with your email to get notified of new posts so you never miss a thing!
Visit Downtown San Antonio During Christmas
Downtown San Antonio uses 5 blocks of Houston Street to create an amazing holiday event. From Legacy Street to the Alamo, you will experience holiday Christmas lights, street performers, and live holiday music and entertainers. Check the calendar of special events so you don’t miss this incredible experience.
Watch Free Christmas MoviesThroughout San Antonio
The Slab Cinema offers FREE outdoor movies all year round throughout San Antonio. In December you can expect to see Christmas-themed movies and they will start at dusk.
Check the website to see what’s playing and the location of the movie you want to see. Don’t forget to bring blankets, lawn chairs, and snacks. You can also purchase snacks from local vendors!
Travis Park at Christmas Time in San Antonio
LOCATION: 301 E Travis St, San Antonio, TX 78205
Travis Park is a really great spot in downtown San Antonio. You can rent ice skates for 75 minutes of skating time on Rotary Ice Rink.
Even if you don’t want to ice skate, it’s fun to go to Travis Park and watch the holiday festivities.
There are lots of events so be sure to check the calendar of events. Thursday it snows (yes, you read that correctly) Friday there are food trucks and on Saturdays, they have story time with Santa Claus. On Sunday professional skaters come out so you can watch “Skating with the Stars”.
PRO TIP: Check out the Christmas tree in Travis Park on Christmas Day
Food Tour in San Antonio
I confess that I am a foodie. I love planning tours to make great memories and food tours are some of the BEST options. The city of San Antonio is known for its great food. Don’t be surprised to find San Antonio’s Christmas traditions of tamales.
The 1.5-hour Pearl District Walking Tour with Taco Tasting is a great way to learn some history about the area and enjoy delicious food.
San Fernando Cathedral
LOCATION: 115 Main Plaza, San Antonio, TX 78205
The beautiful light show that’s displayed on the facade of the San Fernando Cathedral tells a story about the history of San Antonio.
The light display is about 25 minutes long and runs Thursday through Sunday evenings. Bring a blanket chair if you want to sit to watch the show. It’s one of the fun free things to do in San Antonio, Texas.
Visit Theme Parks at Christmas Time in San Antonio
Seaworld San Antonio
LOCATION: 10500 SeaWorld Dr, San Antonio, TX 78251
The Seaworld Christmas celebration is a fun time of twinkling lights musical shows and appearances of popular holiday characters. Seaworld San Antonio is proud to have the largest Christmas light display in Texas!
You will have a great time in the theme park transformed into a winter wonderland to spread holiday cheer. Make sure you purchase your skip-the-line tickets in advance and expect to spend more than 3 hours at this amusement park.
Six Flags Fiesta Texas
LOCATION: 17000 IH-10 West, San Antonio, TX 78257
Another fun way to get in the festive spirit is at Six Flags Fiesta Texas. The holiday in the park theme includes light displays, a live nativity scene with real animals, holiday-themed music, musical shows, and holiday treats.
You should plan to spend more than 3 hours at the Six Flags Fiesta amusement park.
San Antonio on Christmas Day
If you’ve been following along you know I typically travel with my children on the holidays. When I shared my best holiday travel tips, I mentioned that one of my favorite things to do on Christmas Day is a self-guided mural tour. It’s free and it’s a PERFECT time to get pictures without crowds of people around.
Make sure you check out all of my best holiday travel tips before you visit San Antonio at Christmas so you know what to do and where to eat on Christmas Day.
The Perfect Gift for Your San Antonio Christmas Trip
I’ve got great news… I created a simple way to help you preserve the memories from your San Antonio Christmas trip with a USA-themed DIY travel activity journal.
Most of the work is already set up for you ahead of time. You just need to have a great time on your trip and fill in the blanks.
Here’s what you can expect to find in my ultimate travel journal activity books:
- Journal Pages – lined pages and journaling prompts to help get you thinking
- Activity Pages – themed travel games and activities to help pass the time during flights and drives
- Scrapbook Pages – attach photos and keepsakes like ticket stubs and mementos
The most important thing is to make the most of your experience by documenting your lasting memories for your travel legacy! Your travel journal scrapbook will be a treasured keepsake.
If you liked Unforgettable Christmas in San Antonio, Texas, then you might also want to read The Best Christmas in Nashville, Tennessee
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LET’S CONNECT: Which one of the suggestions from “Unforgettable Christmas in San Antonio, Texas” do you think you’d definitely want to try? Comment below!
