It’s the most magical time of year! And since 2016, I’ve been putting together a magical list of events and activities for our Christmas Advent Calendar. Every year looks different because we have moved a lot, but I am especially excited this year because I LOVE San Antonio and all the amazing festivities! So it brings me great joy to bring you my annual 25 days of Christmas events in San Antonio, Texas!
If you’re not in San Antonio, I’ve also thrown ideas below for you to enjoy anywhere you are this Christmas! This is also helpful for those days when you just need to chill at home. We always include Christmas movie nights, cocoa bars and Christmas books in our mix! I’ve also included a few extra adult-only options at the bottom of the post.
I encourage you to keep this post handy to come back to as you plan your 25 days of Christmas events in San Antonio, especially as events are added as often as I find them!
CHRISTMAS ACTIVITIES HAPPENING ALL MONTH IN THE SAN ANTONIO AREA
Some of the below events don’t run every single day, so please check their website for the most up-to-date info.
Nov 1 – Jan 4: The Light Park in Selma
Nov 5 – Dec 24: Santa’s Wonderland at Bass Pro Shops
Nov 8 – Jan 14: Holidays on Houston Street
Nov 10 – Jan 2: Sea World Christmas Celebration
Nov 11 – Jan 1: Santa’s Ranch in New Braunfels
Nov 11 – Jan 8: Lightscape at the San Antonio Botanical Garden
Nov 18 – Jan 1: Zoo Lights
Nov 18 – Jan 1: Lights Alive
Nov 18 – Jan 2: The Jones CHRISTmas Ranch in Boerne
Nov 18 – Jan 8: Elf Acres
Nov 18 – Jan 16: Rotary Ice Rink at Travis Park
Nov 19 – Dec 23: Holiday in the Park at Fiesta Texas
Thu-Sun, Nov 24 – Dec 24: Old West Christmas Light Fest in Boerne
Select nights starting Nov 25: A Wonderland Christmas
Nov 25 – Dec 18: A Christmas Carol The Musical
Nov 25 – Jan 8: Lights Spectacular in Johnson City
Nov 25 – Jan 9: Holiday Lights on the River Walk
Nov 25 – Jan 2: Alamo Lights (all month)
Weekends, Nov 25 – Dec 18: Westover Field of Lights at Westover Sports Complex
Nov 28 – Dec 22: Holiday Lights Cruise on the River Walk
Dec 1 – Dec 23: Ford Holiday Boat Caroling on the River Walk
Weekends, Dec 2 – Dec 18: Ford Fiesta de las Luminarias on the River Walk
Dec 2-11: The Nutcracker at Tobin Center
Dec 3: Annual Windcrest Light-Up
Weekends, Dec 3 – 18: Santa’s Railroad Wonderland at the Texas Transportation Museum
Dec 3 – Dec 22: Winter Wonderland at Palo Alto College
Dec 3 – Dec 23: Christmas at the Caverns
Dec 3 – Jan 2: Holiday Bricktacular at LEGOLAND® Discovery Center
Select dates, Dec 9 – Dec 18: Photos with the Grinch at Rolling Oaks Mall
Dec 10, 11, 17 & 18: Holiday On The Ranch at Black Barn Alpacas
Below I’ll include ideas for Dec 1-25. I fill in every day with a new activity to include in our advent calendar so you can easily do the same! You can use this schedule or alter it as you go. Remember the events above are perfect to fill in those empty or available days! I’ll also mark events that have multiple dates.
25 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS EVENTS IN SAN ANTONIO
December 1
7-9pm: Holiday Tree Lighting at La Cantera Resort
7-11pm: Let is Snow Thursdays at Travis Park (Thursdays in December)
Anywhere: Unwrap and read a new Christmas book
December 2
4-9pm: Christmas Night on Ninety in Hondo
6-7:30pm: Lighting of the Lights in Helotes
6-9pm: A Night in Bethlehem: A Drive Thru Live Nativity in Hondo (also: Dec 3)
6-9pm: Opening Lighting Ceremony & Community Festival at Palo Alto College
Anywhere: Pack an Operation Christmas Box or shop for a Giving Tree recipient. Every year we pick kids the same age as our kiddos and it’s such a great opportunity to teach our boys.
December 3
8-10:30am: Breakfast with Santa at Leon Valley Community Center
8-11am: Family Outdoors: Holiday Hike & Ornaments at Phil Hardberger Park
8am-8pm: Holidazzle in Schertz
9am-3pm: Christmas Bazaar in La Vernia
9am-4pm: Homemade Christmas at The Alamo
9am-4pm: Old Fashion Christmas in Castroville (also: Dec 2)
10-10:30am: 21st Annual Pony Express Ride in Gruene
10am-2pm: How The Grinch Stole Brunch! at La Cantera Resort
10am-3pm: WinterFest at Baptist Health System
10am-7pm: San Antonio Tamales Festival (also: Dec 4)
10:30-11:30am: Holly Jolly Fest at Encino Library
12-3pm: Santa Saturday & Santa’s Grand Arrival at Village at Stone Oak
12-4pm: Pictures with Santa at Caliente Harley-Davidson
2:30-dusk: Shavano Park Winter Wonderland
3-9pm: Grinchmas Fest at Travis Park
4-6pm: Festival de Navidad in Alamo Heights
4-10pm: Noche Buena at Main Plaza
4:30-8pm: Outdoor Movie Series: Elf & Holiday Extravaganza at Mission Marquee Plaza
6-9pm: Museum Reach River of Lights
Anywhere: Candy Cane Hunt in your home or backyard (invite some friends over for more fun!)
December 4
10am-2pm: Cowboy Christmas at the Briscoe Western Art Museum
12-5pm: Witte Museum Holiday Market
12-5pm: Joy to the World: A Global Celebration at Rolling Oaks Mall
3pm: How The Grinch Stole Christmas: The Musical at The Majestic (multiple dates)
5pm: Joy to the World Musical Evenings at San Fernando Cathedral
Anywhere: Christmas movie night with themed snacks (Strawberry Santas, Egg Snowmen, Grinch Fruit Kabobs)
December 5
Event from Month Long Events above
Anywhere: Snow (or in our case Faux Snow) Day! Some of the things we loved last year: Make pretend snow, Paint by Sticker, Christmas Mad Libs, Would You Rather? Christmas Edition
December 6
5:30-7:30pm: Christmas Movie Series: National Lampoon Christmas at McCreless Library
6-7pm: Snow Day Pajama Party at Cody Library
Anywhere: Christmas Dance Party in your living room (try Amazon Music for free)
December 7
1pm: Storytime with Santa in Boerne
4-5pm: Holiday Cookie Decorating at Encino Library
7-8:30pm: Temple of Praise Christmas Caroling at La Villita
Anywhere: Go take a picture with Santa or walk the mall to see all the decorations!
Anywhere: Christmas playdough mats activity
December 8
Event from Month Long Events above
Anywhere: Make DIY Bead Elves
December 9
11am-11pm – Holiday River Walk Artisan Show (also: Dec 10 and 11)
5-9pm: San Antonio Children’s Christmas Cookie Exchange at Expressions Home Gallery
6-9pm: Merry On Main at Devine Acres Farm (also: Dec 10)
6-9pm: Christmas In Bethlehem in Cibolo (also: Dec 10 and 11)
7-9pm: The Children’s Nutcracker at Lila Cockrell Theatre (also: Dec 10)
7:30pm: Elf at Cinema on Will’s Plaza
Anywhere: Put those old cards to use and make some DIY Recycled Christmas Card Gift Bags
December 10
8-10am: 14th Annual Jingle Paws Classic 5k Run & Walk in Helotes
8:30, 9:30 & 10:30am: Pancakes with Santa at Devine Acres Farm (also: Dec 11)
9-11am: First Responder’s Breakfast with Santa in Helotes
10am-4pm: Big Day Of Play: Countdown To The Winter Solstice at The DoSeum
Movie in the Park: Shrek The Halls at the Tower of the Americas
7:30-8:30pm: Helotes Hill Country Christmas Parade
Anywhere: Joy To The World fingerpaint craft
December 11
9am-12pm: Deck the Paws Parade at the San Antonio Botanical Garden
11am-10pm: Christmas Market at La Villita
4pm: Christmas Piano Concert in Alamo Heights
6-8pm: Christmas at Coker
Anywhere: At-home Christmas photoshoot with these fun printable Christmas photo booth props!
December 12
7-9pm: Community Band Christmas Concert in Helotes
Anywhere: Have some fun with these Christmas dot marker printables
December 13
5:30-7:30pm: Christmas Movie Series: Gremlins at McCreless Library
6-7pm: Frosty’s Winter Wonderland at Las Palmas Library
Anywhere: Visit downtown or a charming suburb where the city has put up lights and decorations.
December 14
4-5pm: Kids Art: Paint Pour Holiday Ornaments at Encino Library
Anywhere: Play a Christmas scavenger hunt game
December 15
6-8pm: Cookies with Santa at Schertz Family YMCA
6-9pm: Ugly Sweater Party at Brick at Blue Star Arts Complex
Anywhere: Make these DIY Cognac Butter Cookie Decorations
December 16
8pm: The Illusionists: Magic of the Holidays at Tobin Center
10am-5pm: Boerne’s Kinder Fest (also: Dec 17 & 18)
6:30-8:30pm: Christmas Pajama Party With Mickey & Minnie Mouse at EMMAzing Play
Anywhere: Play Shut The Box holiday game
December 17
9am: Breakfast with Santa at Caliente Harley-Davidson
11am-4pm: Holiday Market Day at the Tower of the Americas
1-5pm: Last Minute Christmas Shopping Market Day at Bar-B-Q Republic
2:30-4:30pm: Movie Screening: The Nightmare Before Christmas at Potranco Library
7pm: It’s a San Antonio Christmas at Jo Long Theatre
Anywhere: Make gingerbread crafts or cookies
December 18
12-2pm: Brunch With Santa Claus at EMMAzing Play
1pm: A Christmas Carol at St. John’s Lutheran Church
3-5pm: Cookies & Milk With Santa Mickey & Minnie at EMMAzing Play
6-8pm: Las Posadas at Coker United Methodist Church
Anywhere: Have a Christmas family game night
December 19
Event from Month Long Events above
Anywhere: Unwrap and read a new Christmas book
December 20
5:30-7:30pm: Christmas Movie Series: A Christmas Story at McCreless Library
Anywhere: String and snack on popcorn!
December 21
Event from Month Long Events above
Anywhere: Pick a country and learn how they celebrate Christmas
Anywhere: Discover multicultural holidays in December with your kids
December 22
Event from Month Long Events above
Anywhere: Grab an Activity Tray and use some of the snow from your Faux Snow Day to make a winter wonderland experience with these Arctic Animals!
December 23
Event from Month Long Events above
Anywhere: Find a sparkling, festive neighborhood to take a drive through. Pack some hot cocoa and Christmas tunes!
December 24
Event from Month Long Events above
Anywhere: Pajamas & Christmas movie morning
Anywhere: Bake cookies for Santa
December 25
Anywhere: Bake a Cake for Jesus
Anywhere: Open stockings or gifts from Santa!
NON KID-FRIENDLY CHRISTMAS EVENTS IN SAN ANTONIO WORTH NOTING
Multiple dates: Christmas in Jazz, TX with Doc Watkins and his Orchestra
Weekends in December: White Christmas at Woodlawn Theatre
Dec 6: Festive Tours and Trivia Night at the San Antonio Museum of Art
Dec 9: “Dear Santa…” A Musical Journey to Christmas Past at Villa Finale: Museum & Gardens
Dec 15: Holi-Dine on the River Walk Culinary Adventure Tour
Dec 20: Roarin’ 20s Christmas Party! at The St. Anthony Hotel
WORTH THE DRIVE
Peppermint Parkway in Austin
Trail of Lights in Austin
Mozart’s Christmas Light Show in Austin
North Pole Flyer in Cedar Park
If you made it this far – you are a true Christmas champ! This season is all about making memories and having a good time, and I am glad I could help make it a little easier for you. If you loved this list of Christmas Events in San Antonio, I hope you’ll share it with your friends! Feel free to tag me in your activity posts on Instagram and Facebook using @lisaalfarocreative and on Twitter using @lisaalfaroSATX.
Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!
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