Feel the holiday anticipation in San Juan! Discover all the top festive events and activities with our guide. From San Juan enthusiasts to curious explorers, our guide illuminates the city's holiday hotspots.
A highlight of the season is the enchanting Lightscape at Fort Worth Botanic Garden, where breathtaking light displays transform the landscape into a winter wonderland. Another special treat is the lively Christmas Parade, showcasing festive floats and local talent along the streets. And the captivating Lightscape at San Antonio Botanical Gardens is something you definitely don't want to miss, featuring stunning artistic light installations. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around San Juan
- Lightscape at San Antonio Botanical Gardens (San Antonio)
- Lightscape at Fort Worth Botanic Garden (Fort Worth)
- Christmas Parade (Farmington)
- Galaxy Lights at Space Center Houston (Houston)
- San Juan College Luminarias (Farmington)
- Farmington Tree Lighting Ceremony (Farmington)
- Santa’s Wonderland (College Station)
- Holiday in the Gardens (Galveston)
- Prairie Lights (Grand Prairie)
- San Juan College Charity Bowl Sale (Farmington)
See these and even more events listed below!
San Juan Holiday Light Displays
Farmington Tree Lighting Ceremony
What to Expect:
Community-driven Christmas tree lighting ceremony.
Description:
The Farmington Tree Lighting Ceremony is a community event where the city comes together to kick off the Christmas season by lighting the Community Christmas Tree at the Farmington Civic Center. This annual event is hosted by Mayor Duckett and is a free celebration for all.
Where: Farmington | More Info: Farmington Tree Lighting Ceremony
San Juan College Luminarias
What to Expect:
Annual holiday light display with community involvement and stargazing.
Description:
San Juan College Luminarias features a stunning display of luminarias lighting up rooftops, sidewalks, and courtyards on campus. The event includes a driving route and walking path, with Mary's Kitchen offering hot food and snacks. The San Juan College Planetarium hosts a Luminaria Stargaze with a telescope for viewing the night sky.
Where: Farmington | More Info: San Juan College Luminarias
Lightscape at Fort Worth Botanic Garden
What to Expect:
Immersive holiday light display with 80% new installations.
Description:
Lightscape at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden features custom-designed light installations set against a serene natural backdrop, creating a captivating atmosphere with over 1 million twinkling lights and new, never-before-seen artistic displays.
Where: Fort Worth | More Info: Lightscape at Fort Worth Botanic Garden
Galaxy Lights at Space Center Houston
What to Expect:
Immersive space-themed light displays and interactive exhibits.
Description:
Galaxy Lights at Space Center Houston is a space-themed holiday light show featuring dazzling light installations, interactive exhibits, and hands-on activities that celebrate the wonders of space exploration.
Where: Houston | More Info: Galaxy Lights at Space Center Houston
Holiday in the Gardens
What to Expect:
Immersive holiday light display with festive activities.
Description:
Holiday in the Gardens at Moody Gardens features a one-mile trail with over two million lights, sound-enhanced animated displays, hot cocoa, fireside smores, and photos with Santa. Guests can also enjoy holiday films, Rudolph 4D, the Arctic Slide, and train rides.
Where: Galveston | More Info: Holiday in the Gardens
Santa’s Wonderland
What to Expect:
Largest Christmas park with REAL Texas snow and ice.
Description:
Santa's Wonderland in College Station, Texas, is the world's largest Christmas park, featuring millions of dazzling lights, REAL Texas snow and ice, and a multitude of cheerful attractions. Discover delightful shops and indulge in delicious grub. Enjoy hayrides, train rides, bull rides, and photo ops, along with specialty Texas-sized food and drinks. The event includes nightly live entertainment, horse and carriage rides through Christmas lights, ice skating, petting corral, and pony rides.
Where: College Station | More Info: Santa’s Wonderland
Prairie Lights
What to Expect:
State-of-the-art light tunnel and reimagined walk-thru forest.
Description:
Prairie Lights is a premier holiday light park in Texas, featuring 4 million lights along a 2-mile path, an ALL NEW state-of-the-art light tunnel, a REIMAGINED magical walk-thru forest, carnival rides, photos with Santa, and holiday shopping.
Where: Grand Prairie | More Info: Prairie Lights
Lone Star Lights and Carolina Creek
What to Expect:
Immersive Christmas experience with over 1 million lights and interactive activities.
Description:
Lone Star Lights at Carolina Creek offers an immersive Christmas experience with over 1 million lights, 17 acres of thematic zones, and a variety of interactive activities and live entertainment. The event includes a petting farm, snow zone, local food vendors, and unique Texas-inspired light displays. Guests can also enjoy live music, a larger-than-life nativity scene, and meet Santa in his workshop.
Where: Huntsville | More Info: Lone Star Lights and Carolina Creek
Lights on the Farm
What to Expect:
Immersive holiday experience with over 1 million lights and festive activities.
Description:
Explore over 1 million dazzling lights and unique holiday elements at the Heritage Farmstead Museum. Take a quarter-mile stroll through the beautiful grounds, meet Santa Claus, and enjoy delicious treats like s'mores, hot cocoa, and donuts while enjoying festive holiday music.
Where: Plano | More Info: Lights on the Farm
Sugar Land Holiday Lights
What to Expect:
Spectacular light display with themed areas and holiday activities.
Description:
Sugar Land Holiday Lights features over 3 million lights, 8 themed areas, and special holiday activities like Santa visits and themed nights.
Where: Sugar Land | More Info: Sugar Land Holiday Lights
Whistle Stop Christmas
What to Expect:
Spectacular light displays and festive holiday activities.
Description:
Whistle Stop Christmas in Cleburne, Texas, features millions of lights at Hulen Park and Downtown Cleburne, along with a Lighted Christmas Parade, holiday festivities, food and gift vendors, and activities like children's train rides and a Living Nativity Scene.
Where: Cleburne | More Info: Whistle Stop Christmas
San Juan Holiday Markets and Shopping
San Juan College Charity Bowl Sale
What to Expect:
Unique hand-made ceramic bowls with free soup.
Description:
The San Juan College Charity Bowl Sale features hand-made, one-of-a-kind ceramic creations and the best soup in town, with proceeds going to help fund a local charity. Ceramic bowls made by San Juan College students and staff are available for purchase, each including a free fill of soup from Mary's Kitchen. Other items like Christmas ornaments, pottery, scarves, and beadwork will also be available for purchase.
Where: Farmington | More Info: San Juan College Charity Bowl Sale
Christmas Craft Fair
What to Expect:
Unique handmade crafts and hourly prizes.
Description:
The Christmas Craft Fair at the Farmington Recreation Center offers a variety of handmade crafts, hourly prizes, and great holiday cheer. Local artisans showcase their original handcrafted goods, making it an ideal place to start your holiday shopping.
Where: Farmington | More Info: Christmas Craft Fair
Panteraz Winter Wonderland Craft Fair
What to Expect:
Local artisans selling handmade items and baked goods.
Description:
The Panteraz Winter Wonderland Craft Fair at Piedra Vista High School in Farmington, NM, features handmade items, baked goods, jewelry, and more. It is a fundraiser hosted by the Panteraz Dance Team, offering local shoppers a chance to support a great cause and find unique gifts.
Where: Farmington | More Info: Panteraz Winter Wonderland Craft Fair
Christmas in Crockett
What to Expect:
Large-scale holiday market with numerous vendors.
Description:
The 43rd Annual Christmas in Crockett Arts and Crafts Festival features over 300 vendors offering a wide variety of food and handmade crafts. This event is a great opportunity to explore East Texas and find unique holiday gifts.
Where: Crockett | More Info: Christmas in Crockett
San Juan Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Christmas Parade
What to Expect:
Traditional holiday parade with Santa Claus and twinkling lights.
Description:
The annual Christmas parade in Historic Downtown Farmington features a festive procession of lights, carolers, and holiday scenes, culminating in an appearance by Santa Claus.
Where: Farmington | More Info: Christmas Parade
Rez Ball Movie Screening
What to Expect:
Inspiring underdog story rooted in Native American culture.
Description:
Join San Juan College for a free movie screening of "Rez Ball," a heartwarming story about the Chuska Warriors, a Native American high school basketball team in New Mexico, as they band together to keep their state championship dreams alive after losing their star player.
Where: Farmington | More Info: Rez Ball Movie Screening
San Juan Other Holiday Activities
Dia de Los Muertos Block Party
What to Expect:
Traditional cultural celebration with live music and movie showing.
Description:
The Dia de Los Muertos Block Party in Historic Downtown Farmington celebrates the rich cultural heritage of the community with live music, Acequias movie showing, and traditional festivities.
Where: Farmington | More Info: Dia de Los Muertos Block Party
Chocolate Affair
What to Expect:
Annual gala with music, food, dancing, and chocolate tasting.
Description:
The Chocolate Affair is an annual event at the Farmington Elks Lodge, featuring music, delicious food, dancing, a costume contest, and a chocolate tasting. The event includes a taco bar provided by Purple Cow Kafe and a cash bar with live music by DJ JP. It supports PATH's operational expenses to provide food, clothing, and shelter to those in need.
Where: Farmington | More Info: Chocolate Affair
Lightscape at San Antonio Botanical Gardens
What to Expect:
Whimsical outdoor sculptures by artist Hunt Slonem.
Description:
Explore the vibrant colors and whimsical sculptures of the Huntopia exhibition at the San Antonio Botanical Garden, featuring large outdoor installations of bunnies, butterflies, and tropical birds amidst the garden's beautiful landscape designs.