Holiday Events on the Upper Texas Coast
Tis’ the season for holiday tree lightings, holiday festivals, and Santa sightings across the state, and the Upper Texas Coast won’t disappoint. To make your tour planning easier, below is a list of holiday events on the Upper Texas Coast. (check for current dates and details)
Nov. 12 – Jan. 1, Galaxy Lights at Space Center Houston. Touted as the most interactive and technologically advanced light display in Texas, we’re pretty sure this is a “must-do.” Presented by Reliant, high-tech light shows of suspended lights are choreographed to music in the Main Plaza, and there’s much more to see and experience. (Galveston County)
Nov. 17 – 20, Festival of Lights and Light Up Lake Jackson. The fun begins with The Yuletide Carnival, with a free circus scheduled twice every night. Lake Jackson hosts the Mayor’s Tree Lighting on Friday, followed by a variety of events on Saturday in the Civic Center Plaza, including a parade at 7 p.m. and a holiday movie at 8 p.m. (Brazoria County)
Nov. 18 – Jan. 1, Holiday at Ford Park in Beaumont. Ford Park is hosting its first-ever drive-thru holiday experience, offering various holiday displays, including 12 Days of Christmas, Big Foot Monster Trucks, Prehistoric Christmas, Winter Wonderland, and the Enchanting Tunnel of Lights. (Jefferson County)
Nov. 19 – Nov. 20, Angleton Market Days at Brazoria County Fairgrounds. More than 200 vendors sell wares over two days in November. Vendors come from across the state to participate in this popular market. (Brazoria County)
Nov. 19 – Jan. 7, Holiday in the Gardens at Moody Gardens in Galveston. There are nine-holiday attractions in this complex. And, back this year, is ICE LAND. Enjoy the Festival of Lights mile-long trail, ice skating, holiday films, an arctic slide, train rides, a Cirque Joyeux Holiday Show, and much more. If you only have time for one thing – make it ICE LAND. An ice carving team from China transforms more than 900 tons of ice into this underwater journey. It’s incredible. (Galveston County)
Nov. 25 thru Dec. 11 (Fridays-Sundays), Elizabethan Madrigal Feast at the Brazosport Center for the Arts & Sciences. Every other year on even-numbered years, Queen Elizabeth and her royal court make an appearance in Clute, Texas, for an evening of Yuletide of Renaissance England. Picture an elegant three-course dinner with an easy-to-follow Shakespeare comedy with costumed actors. (Brazoria County)
Nov. 26, Nutcracker in the Park in League City. Participate in Shop Small Saturday by shopping with vendors and taking a ballet lesson with Nutcracker ballerinas at this popular event in League City’s Historic Downtown from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Make sure to plan to stay for the Holiday Tree Lighting from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. (Galveston County)
Nov. 26, Market Days in Downtown Bay City. The Artisan & Crafter Markets coordinate this event from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., offering vendors, music, food, and more. (Matagorda County)
Dec. 1, Holiday Express in Port Arthur at the Port Arthur Seafarer’s Center. Port Arthur invites families to tour the KSC Holiday Express Christmas Train during its stop in town. Board the train and visit with Santa and his elves during this free, family-friendly event. (Jefferson County)
Dec. 2 – 4, Holiday in the Park in League City. League City Proud invites families to enjoy a weekend of holiday fun, including shopping with more than 90 retail vendors, a holiday movie night, a children’s parade, a Magic on Main Street Parade, and more. (Galveston County)
Dec. 2 – 4, Dickens on The Strand in Galveston. For nearly fifty years, the Galveston Historical Foundation (GHF) has transformed Galveston’s historic Strand District into 19th-century Victorian London, featuring parades, entertainment on four stages, holiday shopping galore, and food and drink. In addition to the festival, GHF hosts special events across the island. (Galveston County)
Dec. 2 – 3, Hometown Christmas Celebration in Bay City. The Celebration begins with a Lighted Parade on Friday, followed by an indoor skating rink, gingerbread man slide, shopping, and pictures with Santa and Grinch on Saturday. The weekend culminates with a Christmas Light Hayride. (Matagorda County)
Dec. 3, Port Neches Christmas Parade. Port Neches Chamber of Commerce is hosting its annual Christmas Parade at 2 p.m. in Downtown Port Neches. Enjoy this free, family event. (Jefferson County)
This list of must-do events is just a sampling of things to do in the Upper Texas Coast. For more ideas, click Things to Do and search by category.
Lone Star Coastal Alliance is committed to promoting nature and heritage tourism and outdoor recreation opportunities in Jefferson, Galveston, Brazoria, and Matagorda Counties.
