Texas’ Magical Winter Lights Is The Largest Holiday Lantern Festival In America
Santa’s reindeer aren’t the only ones who get to see the world this holiday season! Join Rudolph and friends on a trip ’round the globe without ever leaving Texas at Magical Winter Lights. This massive, 20-acre lantern festival features displays from a variety of countries, in addition to carnival rides, acrobatic performances, and tons more festivities.
Spanning 20 acres, Magical Winter Lights is a 52-day lantern festival with themed displays, nightly acrobatic performances, carnival rides + games, and so much more holiday fun for the whole family. This is the largest event of its kind in the country!
Your journey begins at the Kingdom, a majestic castle serving as the gateway into all the action. It's a whimsical kaleidoscope of colors unlike anything even the most vivid imaginations could fathom.
Not a single moment of the experience is anything less than ethereal. Grand archways extend overhead like rainbows, their glimmering rays beckoning you closer with each successive step.
From the iconic onion turrets of the Kremlin to the Egyptian pyramids, you'll embark on a whirlwind journey around the globe. Eight unique sections feature more than 100 individual displays from all corners of earth.
Paying homage to the origin of lantern festivals as a whole are Chinese dragons and several other interactive displays. Traverse a lighted walkway lined by wishing trees, enter an ancient village, and realize the sacred roots of this special event.
It all comes full circle when you return home to the Houston skyline. Look closely and you'll notice the intricate designs hidden in each letter, detailing the things that make our city one-of-a-kind. There's also a tribute to NASA complete with UFOs and more intergalactic scenes!
You'll leave the festival with a deep understanding that underneath it all, everyone is an earthling. Visitors can hop on a stationary bike and pedal to illuminate our amazing little blue planet.
After traveling around the world, make your way into the carnival. Kids of all ages can enjoy rides, games, and classic concession snacks like funnel cakes and popcorn. Enjoy an aerial view of the entire festival from atop the 87-foot-tall Ferris wheel!
Little ones can also have a blast within the displays themselves. Slides and other playground equipment illuminated in an effervescent glow encourage endless laughter and unforgettable memories.
Katie Lawrence is a Southeast Texas native who graduated 18th in her high school class with a GPA of 4.25. She attended college in the Houston area and changed her major twice (psychology, computer science, and finally criminal justice) before taking a leap of faith and dropping out to pursue a career in freelance writing.
Today, Katie writes for the Texas and Arizona pages of OnlyInYourState.com and has never been more passionate about a job before. Outside of work, you can likely find her curled up on the sofa with a hot cup of coffee, watching a crime TV show or scary movie.
