Bright Nights,  City Lights Exploring the holiday spirit and lights of Texas is time well spent,. At every turn you'll be rewarded with special celebrations and scenes of holiday bliss without having to shovel the snow!
Discover Four Great Holiday Cities to visit Under the Stars of Texas

Sure, there are plenty of great places to look at holiday lights - but in Texas, there are some that just can't be missed. Take a look at our favorite four cities for the holidays and get ready to get into the spirit! The Alamo City It's pure bliss to see the magical twinkling lights of downtown San Antonio and it's famous Riverwalk during the holidays. Must-see number one for the holidays - the Alamo City! From the community Tree at  Alamo Plaza to the millions of twinkles that line the popular Riverwalk, San Antonio is a special city during the holidays. Watch for colorful luminarias, over 2,500 of them, that are lighted each weekend and line the Riverwalk at night. The simple but charming lights are made of paper bags filled with sand with a real candle placed inside, a tradition that carries over from the days of Spanish influence in the State. Luminarias are featured every weekend in December.

Galveston Are you missing the snow for Christmas? Take heart, snow machines fill the streets of Galveston each year during the annual Dickens on the Strand Celebration offering a wonderful and dramatic theatrical touch to the holidays. Costumed jesters, musicians, magicians and acrobats mingle with visitors and perform on the festival's six stages. The celebration happens this year Dec 4-5 featuring colorfully clad characters who parade through the historic district in gay attire and spirit. You can also opt to participate in special guided tours of Galveston's most historic homes and structures by candlelight. The Strand is one of the finest concentrations of 19th-Century iron-front commercial buildings in the U.S. The 36-block area has art galleries, specialty shops, an excellent selection of restaurants, pubs, gaslights, and even a candy factory. Corpus Christi Our number three choice for best holiday city in the Lone Star State is the Sparkling City by the Sea. The Harbor Lights Celebration and the Lighting of Shoreline Drive takes place Saturday, Dec. 4 begininng just after dark when all the lights in the harbor and along the picturesque boulevard are turned off in anticipation of themagical moment when speeches are made, carols are sun, and the lights come on in musical sequence.  Downtown clubs and restaurants along the scenic drive usually offer special holiday menus including, of course, fresh seafood from the warm Gulf of Mexico. While visiting Corpus Christi during the holidays, a short drive up the coast to Rockport provides the opportunity to see a great boat parade and a unique tree placed each year on the beach. Austin - The Capital City Austin has a reputation for doing things in a big way, and proof is in the holiday pudding. The 155-foot Zilker Tree lights up beginning Dec 5th and offers a remarkable illusionary effect on all who gaze upon its beauty. The Zilker Tree has been an Austin tradition since 1967. Each year employees from Austin Energy, as a gift to the Austin community, transform the historic Moonlight Tower in Zilker Park into the Zilker Tree. The lighting of the tree, scheduled for 6 p.m on Dec. 6, also signals the beginning of the Trail of Lights Festival. The Trail of Lights Festival (just off Barton Springs Road) includes activities sponsored by the City of Austin to celebrate the holiday season. Buses run to and from Zilker Park all December to minimize traffic congestion in the area.

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