Day Trips & Beyond: Holiday Lights 2023

Around the state, colorful lights twinkling in the dark means the holiday season is upon us, so we've compiled a handy guide to displays around Texas and neighboring states.

All the Christmas lights help guide the man in the red suit to the good little boys and girls. (Photos by Gerald E. McLeod)

GULF COAST

Zoo Lights
Nov. 17-Jan. 7, Houston, www.houstonzoo.org

Magical Winter Lights
Nov. 17-Jan. 7, Katy, magicalwinterlights.com

Holly-Days at the Garden
Nov. 24-Dec. 16, Corpus Christi, www.stxbot.org

HILL COUNTRY

The Walkway of Lights in Marble Falls sparkles off the lake in one of the biggest lighting displays in Central Texas, and it’s free.

Holiday Lights Along the Llano
Nov. 1-Jan. 1, Junction, www.junctiontexas.com

Walkway of Lights
Nov. 18-Dec. 31, Marble Falls, visitmarblefalls.org

Georgetown Square
Nov. 24-Jan. 1, Georgetown, visit.georgetown.org

Lights Spectacular
Nov. 24-Jan. 7, Johnson City, www.lightsspectacular.com

The Pedernales Electric Cooperative at 201 S. Ave. F in Johnson City turns their lawn into an enchanted forest.

PEC Holiday Lights
Nov. 24-Jan. 7, Johnson City, www.pec.coop

Sights & Sounds of Christmas
Nov. 30-Dec. 9, San Marcos, sights-n-sounds.org

Annual Trail of Lights
Dec. 2-26, Wimberley, www.emilyann.org

Starry Starry Nights Lighted Christmas Park
Dec. 4-Dec. 31, Llano, www.llanostarrystarrynights.com

Buda Trail of Lights
Dec. 7-20, Buda, www.budatx.gov

PANHANDLE

Christmas in the Gardens
Nov. 26-Dec. 22, Amarillo, www.amarillobotanicalgardens.org

Comanche Trail Festival of Lights
Dec. 3-25, Big Spring, www.fb.com/comanchetrailfestivaloflights

Candlelight at the Ranch
Dec. 8-9, Lubbock, ranchingheritage.org

PINEY WOODS

The old county courthouse in Marshall anchors a lighting display that includes much of the downtown and an outdoor ice skating rink.

Walk of Lights
Nov. 17-Dec. 31, Palestine, www.tourtexas.com

Wonderland of Lights
Nov. 22-Dec. 30, Marshall, www.marshalltexas.net

PRAIRIES & LAKES

The massive lighting display at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls started as one family’s Christmas tradition in the 1920s, and now consists of over 45 handmade animated scenes.

Holiday at the Arboretum
Nov. 9-Jan. 5, Dallas, www.dallasarboretum.org

Luling Yule Trail
Nov. 15-Dec. 21, Luling, www.lulingmainstreet.com

Lightscape
Nov. 17-Jan. 1, Fort Worth, www.fwbg.org

MSU-Burns Fantasy of Lights
Nov. 20-Dec. 26, Wichita Falls, fol.msutexas.edu

Whistle Stop Christmas
Nov. 20-Jan. 1, Cleburne, www.whistlestopchristmas.com

Prairie Lights
Nov. 23-Dec. 31, Grand Prairie, www.prairielights.org

Wild Lights
Nov. 24-Dec. 31, Waco, www.cameronparkzoo.com

ElectriCritters: A Lighted Christmas Display
Nov. 24-Dec. 23, Wichita Falls, riverbendnaturecenter.org

River of Lights
Nov. 25-Jan. 2, Bastrop, www.visitbastrop.com/lost-pines-christmas

Christmas Spectacular
Dec. 2-Jan. 7, The Colony, thecolonytx.gov

Trail of Lights
Dec. 8-23, La Grange, www.thc.texas.gov

SOUTH TEXAS

Most lighting displays have food vendors on the premises with more than hot chocolate and candy canes.

Lightscape
Nov. 17-Jan. 1, San Antonio, www.sabot.org/light-scape

Zoo Lights
Nov. 18-Dec. 31, San Antonio, sazoo.org/zoo-lights

Holiday Lights on the River Walk
Nov. 24-Jan. 7, San Antonio, www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com

Windcrest Light-Up
Dec. 2-31, Windcrest, www.windcrest-tx.gov

Westover Field of Lights
Dec. 1-18, San Antonio, westoverlights.com

Ford Fiesta de las Luminarias
Dec. 2-17, San Antonio, www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com

OUT OF STATE

Natchitoches Christmas Festival
Nov. 18-Jan. 6, Natchitoches, La., www.natchitocheschristmas.com

Logansport Christmas Festival
Nov. 19-Jan. 6, Logansport, La., discoverdesoto.com

Holiday Lights 2023
Nov. 24-Jan. 7, Scottsdale, Ariz., www.therailroadpark.com

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 and follow him on Facebook.