From Merry Mariachis to the Riverwalk holiday boat parade, San Antonio celebrates the Christmas season in unique style on a grand scale. Families looking to add a little magic to the holidays, without the bite of cold winter temperatures, will love Christmas in San Antonio. These are the best San Antonio Christmas events for 2024!
Visiting San Antonio? You will definitely want to check out the best things to do in San Antonio with kids.
The Best San Antonio Christmas Events for Families in 2024
San Antonio Riverwalk Christmas Events
The Ford Holiday River Parade commences the holiday season in San Antonio on the Friday after Thanksgiving every year. Every inch of the Riverwalk glitters with lights as almost 30 decorated boats glide down the river for the parade. It’s a popular and rowdy event!
The Annual Ford Holiday River Parade kicks off the season on Friday, November 29, 2024. It is a televised event bt you can experience it in person as well.
Tickets for reserved seating along the parade route can be purchased here, but there are also free viewing areas (bring your own chair!) on the east side of Riverwalk between Pecan Street and Richmond Avenue.
Don’t worry if you miss the parade, you can still enjoy the lights on the Riverwalk all season long! Book a one-hour cruise on the Riverwalk with Go Rio Cruises for a tour of the lights with music, hot cocoa, and a comfy seat.
San Antonio Holiday Performances
Even the littlest members of the family can enjoy live theater this Christmas in San Antonio in 2022!
The Majestic Theater presents The Polar Express ballet December 6th and 7th, Folklorico Nutcracker December 6th and 7th, Hip Hop Nutcracker on December 1st, Nutcracker Magical Christmas Ballet Decembre 27th and 28th, and A Magical Cirque Christmas on November 23rd.
Families with older children have lots of options for holiday shows as well. The Tobin Center presents Cirque Musica Holiday Wonderland on December 26th and The San Antonio Ballet’s The Nutcracker is December 6 – 13, 2024
They also host a Holiday Art Market on November 30th with over 75 vendors. This event is free and includes pop-up performances, reindeer games, and festive food and drinks.
San Antonio Light Displays
Zoo Lights at the San Antonio Zoo runs from November 16 – December 31, 2024. Grab a photo with Santa and a hot chocolate and hop aboard the Holiday Sing-Along Express to see the splendid holiday displays. Don’t miss the lakeside light show or light tunnel before you call it a night.
The HEB Christmas Tree Lighting at Travis Park takes place on November 23rd at 4pm. The event is free and open to the public and includes holiday crafts, live music, a visit from Santa, and a showing of The Polar Express on the big screen. Don’t miss some time on the ice at The Rotary Ice Rink, open daily from November 15 to January 5th.
Of course, simply driving around and looking at Christmas lights is a time-honored tradition for many families. In San Antonio, your best bets are the King William Historic District, Alamo Heights, Monte Vista, and Windcrest neighborhoods.
Love Christmas? You won’t want to miss these awesome Texas Christmas Vacation destinations.
Christmas Events at San Antonio Theme Parks
SeaWorld Christmas Celebration in San Antonio
November 14th, 2024 is the first day of the nationally recognized SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration which runs through January 5th! The entire park transforms into a joyous jubilee featuring the largest light display in Texas, 12 themed areas for photo ops galore, unique performances, festive treats, parades, and a scavenger hunt.
SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration includes O Wondrous Night, the story of the nativity told by the animals that witnessed it using live animals as well as puppetry, special effects, and traditional Christmas music.
Other performances like the Merry Mariachis, Peace on Earth, and Ocean Discovery: A Splash of Christmas are sure to keep your family highly entertained.
Other highlights of the celebration include the Sesame Street Christmas Parade, a holiday scavenger hunt, and the opportunity to meet Santa or Rudolph and his closest friends for a holiday dinner (reservations required).
Holiday in the Park at Six Flags Fiesta Texas
Holiday in the Park at Six Flags Fiesta Texas runs from November 16, 2024 – January 5, 2025. Of course, the entire park is decked out in Christmas lights and decorations. Hop aboard the Holiday Express for a train ride around the park to see every last sparkle.
Holiday shows include a sing-along with Santa’s elves, a Looney Tunes Christmas, a light and water show set to music, and a nativity musical called the Majesty of Christmas.
Note: All theme park rides are open during Holiday in the Park!
Christmas at the Caverns at Natural Bridge Caverns
Christmas at the Caverns runs December 7, 8, 14, 15, and 20 – 23, 2024.
Listening to live singing inside a large, underground cavern is a unique experience any time, but Christmas carols inside the caverns is pure magic. It’s bound to set your holiday season off to a great start.
Additionally, Christmas at the Caverns features a trail of lights, story time with Mrs. Claus, s’mores on the firepit, a large outdoor reindeer maze, and a synthetic skating rink for kids 3-11.
Holiday Teas and Feasts in San Antonio
The Lambermont is a beautiful event space in central San Antonio. A prominent San Antonio family had the home designed to resemble the grand castles of Europe in the 1890s. Needless to say, it’s an inspiring, historic setting and the perfect place to enjoy a fancy, holiday tea with your most precious little ones. The Tea Party at The Lambermont is December 8th at 2:30pm.
The San Antonio Youth Ballet hosts a two hour Nutcracker Tea Party in the Ladies Parlor at the Scottish Rite Theater on December 15,2024.
If you want to see the holiday boat parade on the Riverwalk in style, most Riverwalk restaurants including Landrace, Paesanos, Rio Rio Cantina, and Little Rhein Prost Haus offer a ticketed meal with reserved seating on the Riverwalk to view the parade.
Find more fun things to do in Texas.
Is there a San Antonio Christmas event we missed? Does your business have updated information to share? Email [email protected] and tell us about it!
Find more Christmas events near you! Trekaroo has guides for dozens of cities across the country.
Lead image by Visit San Antonio
- These are the Best Resorts for Christmas Vacation in Texas - November 11, 2024
- The Best Houston Christmas Events in 2024 for Families! - November 4, 2024
- Christmas in San Antonio – The Best San Antonio Christmas Events for 2024 - October 29, 2024