Public light displays, ice skating, sports events, concerts, movie screenings and New Year’s Eve celebrations across the San Antonio area will give holiday revelers plenty of opportunities to wind down the season.

Christmas at the Caverns

Stroll a 1/3 trail of lights or listen to classic carols inside Natural Bridge Caverns. Visitors can also check out Santa’s reindeer, listen to a story with Mrs. Claus, grab a s’mores or cocoa, and take a photo with Santa.

Hill Country Christmas

JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa offers guests and community members interactive holiday experiences, including a tubing hill made of real snow, a market square full of pop-ups with festive items, refreshments, games and more.

Windcrest Christmas Light-Up

A decades-old tradition, Windcrest residents decorate their homes with interesting displays of holiday lights. Dozens of participants compete in a variety of categories. Resident contest winners and participants are highlighted in a free map found at City Hall.

The Light Park



A drive-thru holiday wonderland filled with millions of twinkling and synchronized Christmas lights, tunnels, displays and festive music. The event is pet-friendly, and offers light refreshments and other accessories for purchase.

Garden Lightscape

San Antonio Botanical Garden will host Lightscape, an after-dark holiday experience where visitors can go down a 1-mile path adorned with more than 1 million Christmas lights and nature-inspired installations created by artisans worldwide.

  • Through Jan. 1, 5:30-9 p.m. daily
  • $18-$28 adults, $7-$18 children ages 3-12, free for infants through age 2
  • 555 Funston Place, San Antonio
  • www.sabot.org/light-scape

Hendrix Family Holiday Light Show

The Cibolo-based Hendrix family is again offering their homegrown holiday light display, synchronized to music and open to the community. Motorists are asked to drive slowly and carefully in front of the Hendrix property and dim their lights.

Light the Way

The University of the Incarnate Word hosts the 37th Light the Way event. Visitors may see hundreds of thousands of Christmas lights cast across the campus. The lights are turned on each night.

The South Pole



Residents may visit The South Pole, an illuminated holiday experience where visitors can drive through lighted tunnels and displays while Christmas music plays across the park.

  • Daily through Jan. 8, 6-10 p.m.
  • $30 per car (Mon.-Thu.), $35 per car (Fri.-Sun.)
  • 5135 N. Loop 1604 E., San Antonio
  • www.thesouthpolesa.com

Rotary Ice Rink

Rotary Club of San Antonio presents the Rotary Ice Rink at Travis Park, where visitors can skate, enjoy refreshments and other activities. Reserve a time online; general admission fee includes skate rentals.

  • Through Jan. 15, 5-10 p.m. (Mon.-Thu.), 5-11 p.m. (Fri.), 11 a.m.-11 p.m. (Sat.), noon-8 p.m. (Sun.), times vary on holidays
  • $15
  • 301 E. Travis St., San Antonio
  • www.rotaryicerink.com

Holiday Saxophones

Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center will present renowned local musicians—such as George Prado and the Regency Jazz Band, Al Gomez, Michelle Garibay-Carey, Joe Posada and Frank Rodarte—in a performance of holiday jazz, R&B and popular standards.

H-E-B Feast of Sharing

The chain grocer will sponsor its 31st annual holiday dinner, which is open to the community and includes music, arts and crafts, and kids activities.

  • Dec. 23, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
  • Free
  • Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, 900 E. Market St., San Antonio
  • www.heb.com/feast

Valero Alamo Bowl



The Alamo Bowl is the annual matchup of top teams from the Pac-12 and the Big 12 conferences. This year’s matchup pits Arizona and Oklahoma.

  • Dec. 28, 8 p.m.
  • Tickets start at $75
  • Alamodome, 100 Montana St., San Antonio
  • www.alamobowl.com

Movie in the park

Centro San Antonio and Slab Cinema will co-present a movie screening of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.” Bring a pet, lawn chairs, blankets and snacks.

  • Dec. 29, 7-10 p.m.
  • Free
  • Legacy Park, 103 W. Houston St., San Antonio
  • 210-207-6517

Celebrate SA

San Antonio Parks Foundation will present Celebrate SA, the city’s annual New Year’s Eve celebration featuring live music, refreshments, midnight fireworks and more.

Kids’ Countdown at The Doseum

Young families may safely bring in the new year early with a kid-friendly New Year’s Eve event, complete with music, treats, activities and a noon balloon drop.