Day Trips & Beyond: Christmas Lights 2017

It’s that time of year when the state is bathed in elaborate displays of Christmas lights and decorations. Light up your holidays at one of these spectacles, or take a turn around an ice rink.

Christmas Lights

Holiday at the Arboretum
Nov. 4-Jan. 7, Dallas, www.dallasarboretum.org

Santa’s Wonderland
Nov. 10-Jan. 7, College Station, www.santas-wonderland.com

Magical Winter Lights
Nov. 10-Jan. 2, La Marque, www.magicalwinterlights.com

Walkway of Lights
Nov. 17-Jan. 1, Marble Falls, www.marblefalls.org/events/2017/walkway-of-lights

Heritage Museum Christmas Tree Forest
Nov. 18-Dec. 22, Big Spring, www.visitbigspring.com

Zoo Lights
Nov. 18-Jan. 14, Houston, zoolights.houstonzoo.org

Zoo Lights-Holiday Nights
Nov. 18-Dec. 31, San Antonio, www.sazoo.org

Whistle Stop Christmas
Nov. 20-Dec. 31, Cleburne, www.whistlestopchristmas.org

Christmas in the Park
Nov. 20-Jan. 1, Cuero, www.cuerochristmasinthepark.org

MSU-Burns Fantasy of Lights
Nov. 20-Dec. 25, Wichita Falls, fol.mwsu.edu

Holiday Wonder
Nov. 21-Jan. 7, Dallas, www.holidaywonder.com

Wonderland of Lights
Nov. 22-Dec. 31, Marshall, www.marshalltexas.net

Christmas Light Fest
Nov. 23-Dec. 31, Boerne, www.christmaslightfest.com

Gift of Lights
Nov. 23-Dec. 30, Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, www.tmsgiftoflights.com

Christmas on Main
Nov. 23-Dec. 23, Grapevine, www.grapevinetexasusa.com

Christmas on the Creek
Nov. 23-Jan. 1, Lampasas, www.fb.com/lampasaschristmas

Christmas Extravaganza
Nov. 23-Jan. 4, San Saba, www.visitsansabatexas.com

Holiday River of Lights
Nov. 23-Dec. 31, San Antonio, www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com

River of Lights
Nov. 24-Dec. 31, Bastrop, bastroptx.usachamber.com

Holiday Lights at Loy Lake
Nov. 24-Dec. 31, Denison, www.denisontexas.us

Community Christmas Tree and German Pyramid at Marktplatz
Nov. 24-Dec. 31, Fredericksburg, www.visitfredericksburgtx.com

Christmas on the Square
Nov. 24-Dec. 31, Frisco, www.visitfrisco.com

Lights Spectacular Hill Country Style
Nov. 24-Dec. 31, Johnson City, www.johnsoncitytexas.info/lights-spectacular.html

PEC Headquarters
Nov. 24-Dec. 31 Johnson City, www.pec.coop

Lighting of the Square
Nov. 24-Jan. 1, Georgetown, visit.georgetown.org/lighting-of-the-square

A Wonderland Christmas
Nov. 24-Dec. 23, San Antonio, www.morganswonderland.com

Yule Trail
Nov. 25-Dec. 31, Luling, www.lulingcc.org

Holiday Lights on the River Walk
Nov. 25-Jan. 7, San Antonio, www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com

Trail of Lights
Nov. 25-Dec. 28, Wimberley, www.emilyann.org

Starbright Village
Nov. 30-Jan. 1, Odessa, www.odessatxparks.org

Christmas Trail of Lights
Dec. 1-31, Burnet, www.burnetchamber.org/calendar

Christmas Light Fest at the Don Strange Ranch
Dec. 1-Jan. 1, Boerne, www.visitboerne.org

Prairie Lights Drive Thru Holiday Light Park
Dec. 1-Jan. 1, Grand Prairie, www.prairielights.org

Deerfield Lights
Dec. 1-30, Plano, www.deerfieldplano.org

Fiesta de las Luminarias
Dec. 1-17, San Antonio, www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com

Concho Christmas Celebration
Dec. 2-31, San Angelo, www.conchochristmascelebration.com

Comanche Trail Festival of Lights
Dec. 3-25, Big Spring, www.visitbigspring.com

Trail of Lights
Dec. 9-23, Austin, www.austintrailoflights.org

Ice Skating

Panther Island Ice
Nov. 17-Jan. 15, Fort Worth, www.pantherislandice.com

Outdoor Ice Skating
Nov. 22-Dec. 31, Marshall, www.marshalltexas.net

Eisbahn Outdoor Ice Skating
Nov. 24-Jan.2, Fredericksburg, www.skateinfred.com

Denison on Ice
Nov. 24-Dec. 31, Denison, www.denisonlive.com

Christmas Stroll/Winter Wonderland
Dec. 1-2, Georgetown, www.downtowngeorgetownassociationtx.org

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Gerald McLeod has been traveling around Texas and beyond for his "Day Trips" column for more than 25 years. Keep up to date with his journeys on his archive page.