Galveston, Texas…The fifth annual Festival of Lights is well under way at Moody Gardens®.  The event kicked off on November 18th when Santa Claus parachuted in to switch on the lights. The event runs every night through January 6, including Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Need a reason to come see it for yourself?

Here are ten:

  1. The Polar Express in IMAX® 3D. Moody Gardens® is proud to present this
heartwarming holiday tale about a boy and his journey of self-discovery using larger-than-life 3D technology. The Polar Express 3D shows at 11:00 am, 5:00 pm and 8:00 pm.

  2. The Polar Express in 4D, though shorter than the 3D version, is
jam-packed with special effects: snow in the theater, rumbling seats and the aroma of hot chocolate. The Polar Express 4D shows every 25 minutes beginning at 4:00 pm.

  3. More than a million lights adorn Moody Gardens®’ 242-acre complex. If
strung together from end to end, they would stretch more than 16 miles.
Festival of Lights is from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm every evening through January 6. Admission is $5.95 per person.

  4. Ice-skating in Galveston? It’s true – the area’s largest outdoor ice
skating rink is at Moody Gardens®. Its Zamboni machine travels nearly 100 miles during the seven-week Festival of Lights. The rink is open daily from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm and evenings from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Day time admission is $5.95 and skate rentals are available for $4.00. Evening admission is included with a $5.95 Festival of Lights ticket and skate rentals are available for $4.00.

  5. Festival of Lights is open nightly through January 6. Pack up the family
and take a break from the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping. There’s no better way to reconnect with loved ones than strolling along the ¾ mile trail lined with dozens of lighted displays.

  6. Holiday Ridefilms are sure to thrill. In Glacier Run, riders will explore
treacherous mountain terrain, deep ice ravines and Inuit villages. In Santa’
s Late, riders will find out whether Santa will complete his big job on time. Ridefilms play continuously beginning at 12:00 pm every day.

  7. Galveston Island Musicals presents Rocking Around the Christmas Tree. The
three Christmas Carols star in this family-friendly, energetic show featuring holiday classics. Come sing along at at 4:00 pm (through January 1), plus 6:30 pm and 8:15 pm in the Discovery Museum . The show is dark on December 25 and 26.

  8. Santa will be in the Visitors’ Center lobby sitting for pictures and
taking gift requests every evening.

  9. Cruise Offats Bayou on the Colonel Paddlewheeler. This replica of an
1800s paddlewheel boat makes Festival of Lights cruises at 7:00 pm most evenings, weather permitting. Call 800/582-4673 for specifics

 10. You deserve a break. Spend a night or two at the Moody Gardens® Hotel
and Spa. The hotel has special family packages available, plus kids activities from cookie baking to picture-frame decorating. The Spa at Moody Gardens and the Secret Garden Teen spa offer special holiday treatments guaranteed to relax you from head to toe.

For more information about Festival of Lights, please call Moody Gardens® at 800-582-4673 or visit www.moodygardens.org.

Moody Gardens® is a public, non-profit, educational destination utilizing nature in the advancement of rehabilitation, conservation, recreation, and research.


Mary Beth Bassett
Public Relations Coordinator
409/683-4209
mbassett@moodygardens.com