This holiday season, there’s no shortage of activities to enjoy in Galveston
ICE LAND: POLE TO POLE AT MOODY GARDENS
This event is brought to visitors by a skilled team of master ice carvers who have taken 2 million pounds of ice to create a festive and imaginative journey from the North to South Pole. Creations include polar bears, penguins, humpback whales, snowy owls, walruses and reindeer. Guests can down a glacier slide and enjoy a festive drink inside an igloo at the Shivers Ice Bar. Saturday, Nov. 17, through Sunday, Jan 6. www.moodygardens.com/ holiday_season/iceland_pole_to_pole/. DOWNTOWN LANTERNS AND LIGHTS
Downtown Lanterns and Lights features a festive display of lights and other holidaythemed attractions in Saengerfest Park and downtown Galveston’s 36-block district, including an interactive photo frame and giant snow globe for visitors to enjoy on desig- nated weekends. Lights will stretch throughout downtown from 20th to 25th streets on The Strand, as well as along 23rd and Postoffice streets. Visitors also can find unique holiday gifts at the district’s many boutiques, art galleries and antique shops set among beautiful Victorian architecture. Saturday, Nov. 24, through Tuesday, Jan. 1. www.downtowngalveston.org. MOODY GARDENS FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS
Most people associate Galveston as a summer getaway, but every year, Moody Gardens is transformed into a winter wonderland that makes it a must-see tradition. Its Festival of Lights features a mile-long trail with more than one million lights and lighted scenes. The property also features an outdoor skating rink, concession areas with refreshments, hot chocolate and festive food, as well as holiday buffets, live entertainment and more. Saturday, Nov. 17, through Sunday, Jan. 6, 6 p.m. Tickets are now on sale. visit www.moodygardens.com/holiday_season/. THE GRAND 1894 OPERA HOUSE HOLIDAY SEASON
This year’s holiday entertainment lineup at the Grand, Galveston’s historic theater, features Asleep at the Wheel’s “Merry Texas Christmas Y’all,” concert series, performances by The Priests, Jerry Jeff Walker and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914, A Charlie Brown Christmas Live on Stage The Other Mozart. and Saturday, Nov. 24, through
Saturday, Jan. 12. www.thegrand.com. HOLIDAY SPLASH AT SCHLITTERBAHN GALVESTON WATERPARK
Houston’s only indoor waterpark is bringing the holiday cheer this holiday season, allowing visitors to see Surfing Santa appearances (through Dec. 23), Bahn Borealis light show, Snow Globe Float, holiday friends, ornament factory, holiday meal packages and more. Sunday, Nov. 25, through Monday, Dec. 31. www.schlitterbahn.com/galveston/ planning/events/holiday-splash.
DICKENS ON THE STRAND
A 45-year tradition, Galveston Historical Foundation’s Dickens on The Strand festival highlights downtown Galveston’s Victorian-era architecture in a unique holiday celebration spotlighting Charles Dickens’ work. This year’s event will feature parades, entertainment on six stages, strolling carolers, musicians, bagpipers, jugglers and various other entertainers. Vendors in costume will be selling food, drinks, Victorian-inspired crafts, clothing, jewelry, holiday decorations and gift items from street stalls and rolling carts. Friday, Nov. 30, through Sunday, Dec. 2. www.galvestonhistory.org.
HOLIDAY WITH THE CRANES Presented by the Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council, this event allows visitors to celebrate the four-foot-tall Sandhill cranes that arrive to the island around the holiday