Provided/Houston First Corporation.
Holiday lights at Discovery Green’s Ice.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year — time to look at holiday lights.
All across the region, southeast Texans are putting on their best light displays throughout December. Whether you’re looking to pay for some of the biggest light shows in Texas, or you’re looking for a casual stroll through a local neighborhood, Houston Public Media has you covered.
Here are the best ways to see holiday lights across greater Houston.
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City Lights Downtown Holiday Magic
Downtown Houston has 11 different holiday hangout spots to check out throughout December. These are places to get photos, take in the downtown views, enjoy live entertainment and more. Here’s where you can go:
Winter Wonderlawn at POST Houston. POST Houston’s rooftop park has a 25-foot Christmas tree and more photo-ready scenery with a downtown view. Tickets are $10 Monday-Thursday and $15 Friday-Sunday.
Tinsel Town at Market Square Park. Santa’s Saturday Night Lights will have free photos with Santa, live music, face painting and holiday workshops. Plus, you can take on the Elf on the Shelf Scavenger Hunt.
Deck the Trees at Alley Theatre. All you need to know is 19 different Christmas trees, each with a different theme, will be inside the Alley Theatre.
Jingle Town at Lynn Wyatt Square. If you’re heading to a show in Houston’s Theater District, stop by Jingle Town before or after for live music, carolers and hot cocoa.
City Hall-iday Lights at City Hall. Mayor John Whitmire (and Hello Houston’s Ernie Manouse) kicked off the holiday season at City Hall by lighting the city’s massive Christmas tree. You can check out the tree every night.
Astros Light Up the Park at Daikin Park. For the first time, the Astros have a baseball-themed holiday lights experience. Tickets are on sale starting at $30 on the Astros website.
Texas Winter Lights at Marriott Marquis Houston. If you’re looking for some Texas-themed holiday lights, look no further than Marriott Marquis Houston. The Texas-shaped lazy river is surrounded by light displays out of the old West through Dec. 31. Tickets start at $24.
Ice at Discovery Green. The ice skating rink at Discovery Green is back open through Jan. 4, and even Santa himself is going to skate. Tickets start at $15.
Peppermint Plaza at George R. Brown Convention Center. Every Saturday evening, the Peppermint Plaza outside of the convention center hosts free live performances themed around “A World in a City.” Plus, a 42-foot Christmas tree makes for great photos.
Land of Sweets at Hilton Americas-Houston. More than 10,000 miniature lights fill the trees inside the lobby of Hilton Americas-Houston.
Twinkle Town at Trebly Park. Come for the pet-friendly photos with Santa, stay for the candy cane tunnel and holiday workshops.
Free lights displays around Houston
Pecan Grove’s holiday lights hayride is returning this year at Pecan Grove Elementary. Tickets are $8 for a 45-minute ride to see the lights in Pecan Grove. Visitors also can take their own self-guided tours through the neighborhood at no cost.
Prestonwood Forest’s self-proclaimed most beloved tradition — Nite of Lights — is back, starting Saturday, Dec. 13. Take a tour through the neighborhood to see some the best home holiday lights Prestonwood Forest has to offer.
River Oaks has some of the best spots for a holiday light stroll, particularly just off of Shepherd Drive, to see some extravagant lights displays.
Shepherd Park Plaza/Candlelight Plaza in near northwest Houston share a decades-old tradition of decorating their streets with themed holiday arches, which create the appearance of tunnels. Visitors can find themes as they venture from street to street, along with elaborate yard decorations.
Woodland Heights’ 38th annual Lights in the Heights event returns Saturday, Dec. 13, from 6-9 p.m. in the Woodlands Heights neighborhood. Houses are going to be judged based on most crafty, most colorful, most creative, most wattage — and more. Most residents leave their lights on display throughout the holiday season.
Other paid lights displays
Magical Winter Lights in Rosenberg. It’s a new location, but it’s still the same massive holiday lights display. Tickets start at $28.
Galaxy Lights at Space Center Houston. It’s an out-of-this-world holiday lights spectacle. Tickets start at $20.
Zoo Lights at the Houston Zoo. Take a walk on the wild side at Houston Zoo for its huge light displays. Tickets start at $30.
Santa’s Wonderland in College Station. Texas’ largest Christmas park is back in College Station. Get your tickets before prices increase on Dec. 15.