In San Antonio, the Christmas season doesn’t really get underway until the lights come on in the city of Windcrest. Back for its 66th year, the annual Windcrest Light-Up celebration is poised to welcome countless folks from the San Antonio area to drive its winding streets and take in the twinkling lights once again. But it wasn’t always such a beloved, citywide celebration.
Is Christmas the reason for this tiny San Antonio-area city’s booming growth?
The lights in Windcrest are always a sight to behold, and this year they are extra special. Summon your inner Windcrest Christmas spirit this year and be the light in darkness. (Robin Jerstad /Contributor)
Windcrest was founded in the 1950s, when Murray and Barbee Winn purchased 70 acres of cornfield in Bexar County, nestled where Loop 410 and I-35 would later be built. That was in 1953, and by 1959, the first homes had been constructed. As the population approached 200, the Winns petitioned residents to incorporate. By September 1959, the Bexar County Commissioners Court named the town of Windcrest an incorporated city.
Another big change happened that year with the first Windcrest Light-Up kicking off. It started with the Winns handing out strips of lights to residents in a friendly competition for who could decorate with them the best, in an attempt to get the word out about their new town. Now an iconic celebration, Light-Up has earned Windcrest its reputation for holiday spirit by the sleigh-load. Today, nearly 6,000 people live in the two-mile radius of the city – and perhaps its festive claim to fame has something to do with that.
Santa Claus is raised in a platform of a Windcrest Fire Department ladder truck to light the Christmas tree during opening ceremonies for the 64th annual Windcrest Light Up at Windcrest City Hall on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022. The theme was Fiesta De Navidad. (Marvin Pfeiffer/Staff Photographer)
Windcrest Light-Up returns for a 66th year near San Antonio
Light-Up officially gets underway on Saturday, December 6, and spreads festive cheer until Wednesday, December 31. This year’s theme is “A Storybook Christmas!” and encourages decorators to embrace their “favorite stories, whether they are classic Christmas tales or not.” However, many houses go off-theme and have displays inspired by beloved cartoons and Christmas movies, as well as traditional nativity scenes and more.
Brian and Sandy Pelton’s Windcrest Zoo at 601 Weatherly Dr. took the Best of Theme award during the 55th annual Windcrest Light Up on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2013. (MARVIN PFEIFFER/Prime Time Newspapers)
Though competition isn’t necessarily the reason for the season, Light-Up does crown winners each year. Throughout the run of the display, homes compete for awards in a few different categories, such as best street and/or cul-de-sac, craft/best use of homemade decor, best multimedia, best use of inflatables, religious, best use of lights, most welcoming, best business and best use of theme.
There’s also a People’s Choice Award, which was introduced in 2020 to give locals a say.
Ann and John White’s home at 8629 Windway Drive decorated in a Clark Griswald theme in Windcrest on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2019. (Marvin Pfeiffer/Staff Photographer)
What to know before heading to Windcrest Light-Up near San Antonio
Veteran Light-Upgoers may know the drill, but here’s how it works. In addition to the drive-thru lights, a holiday market will be held on Saturday, December 13, and a light-up bike ride on Tuesday, December 16, will allow cyclists to see part of the Light-Up celebration from their own two wheels.
Light-Up is free, but the city does offer a map of the houses in exchange for a donation. Traffic cones will guide you through the neighborhood, and there will be signs telling you what frequency to tune your car radio to to listen to some Christmas classics as you hit the streets. Bring some travel mugs full of hot cocoa, and you’re pretty much ready to see what Windcrest Light-Up has to offer.
John and Brenda Wilson’s house at 405 Waycrest Dr. was awarded “Best of Theme” during the 59th Annual City of Windcrest Light Up Celebration at City Hall on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017. The theme was “Enjoy the Lights of Windcrest.” (Marvin Pfeiffer/San Antonio Express-News)
This article originally published at How one of San Antonio’s favorite Christmas traditions came to be 66 years ago.