Socially distanced Christmas celebrations.
Some safer ways to celebrate the holidays during the pandemic
NOTE: San Antonio and Bexar County emergency ordinances intended to slow the spread of COVID-19 may impact some of the in-person events listed here. Call before you go.
There’s no place like home for the holidays. This pandemic year, that’s likely to mean staying home rather than traveling home from however far you’ve roamed.
While safety concerns will curtail many holiday traditions, there will be new ways to enjoy the season, too, either virtually or from the comfort of your car.
Here’s a look at holiday happenings in and around San Antonio.
Light displays
H-E-B Virtual Tree Lighting: Pre-recorded celebration of the annual lighting of the Christmas tree at Travis Park will include a holiday message from Mayor Ron Nirenberg, a surprise visitor from the North Pole and a performance by Mariachi Las Alteñas after the switch is flipped. 7 p.m. today, H-E-B’S Youtube channel. Free.
Holiday Lights on the River Walk: More than 100,000 lights will be strung through the trees on the River Walk. Also, luminarias will line the river for three weekends in December. Lights from dusk to dawn through Jan. 4; luminarias Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays Dec. 4 through 20, River Walk, downtown. Free.
Illumi-night: The AT&T Center parking lot is becoming a winter wonderland, a milelong drive-thru bedazzled with 4 million lights. Experience includes 3-D displays, holiday music, trivia games through an interactive Illumini-night app and photo ops with Santa. Opens nightly at 6 p.m. through Jan. 3. Enter course through Gate G at AT&T Center Parkway. $35 per car, $65 Santa Express pass includes general admission, photo with Santa and skip-theline pass, illumi-night.com.
Whataburger Zoo Lights: When the sun goes down, a starry safari illuminates the zoo
with dazzling light displays, including life-size reindeer and other animals, and a lakeside light show set to Christmas and Latin music. Kids also can visit Santa, decorate cookies and roast marshmallows for s’mores. Through Jan. 3, San Antonio Zoo, Brackenridge Park. Zoo hours noon-9 p.m. daily. Included with zoo admission, $21.99 adults, $18.99 children; additional fees for some activities, sazoo.org.
Lights Alive!: Mile-long Christmas wonderland features dancing lights, Christmas scenes and an immersive 400foot holiday lights tunnel. Guest also can create holiday crafts, shop, eat and take pictures with Santa. 6-10 p.m. Sundays-thursdays, 6-11 p.m. Fridays-saturdays through Jan. 3, National Shooting Complex grounds, 5931 Roft Road. $30 per car in advance, $35 at the gate, seelightsalive .com.
Lights of Esperanza: Drivein event features the movie “Elf,” fireworks and access to food trucks and coffee trailers.
6 p.m. Tuesday, at Texas A&M University-san Antonio, One University Way, Lot 3. Free, tamusa.edu.
Windcrest Light Up: The residents of this Northeast Side enclave traditionally go all out for Christmas. This year’s Light Up” theme is “Let Freedom Ring,” a tribute to the military.
After dusk starting Dec. 5. Maps of the route available at Windcrest City Hall, 8601 Midcrown Drive. Free, windcrest-tx.gov.
Walmart Holiday Drone Light Show: Almost 1,000 drones will buzz around the night sky, creating three-dimensional images of the season, such as snowmen and presents, to a soundtrack of holiday songs. Free tickets for the Dec. 9 live event at Six Flags Fiesta Texas are no longer available, but the Dec. 5 event at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas will be streamed at 6:40 p.m. on Facebook: @Walmart. Walmartdroneshow.com.
Menorah lighting: A Chanukah menorah will be lighted and displayed at Pearl beginning Dec. 10. There will be no public ceremony this year.
Pearl, 303 Pearl Parkway near Southerleigh Fine Food and Brewery, atpearl.com.
Attractions
Seaworld Christmas Celebration: The 250-acre theme park is blanketed with millions of twinkling lights and holiday light displays. Visitors can take in a holiday show, have dinner with Santa or take a Christmas tour with an elf as their guide. Through Jan. 3, Seaworld San Antonio, 10500 Sea World Dr. Tickets start at $39.99, sea world.com.
Six Flags Holiday in the Park: Theme park has been transformed into a winter wonderland with sparkling lights, yuletide scenes including a re-enactment of the Nativity with vocal performances by Mary and Joseph. Holiday entertainment includes “Jingle Jams,” “Mariachi Christmas” and “Have Yourself a Loony Tunes Christmas.” Guests can ride the Holiday Express train and meet Santa. Through Jan. 3, Six Flags Fiesta Texas, 17000 W. I-10. Daily tickets $29.99-$39.99 depending on the day, sixflags.com.
Christmas at the Caverns: Explore a 1⁄3- mile path lined with holiday lights and an outdoor holiday maze. Included are photo ops with “Spelunker” Claus and a Christmas campfire. Upgrades in tickets include caroling in the caverns and a zipline ride. 4:30-9:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays Dec. 5-20 and Dec. 21-23, Natural Bridge Caverns, 26495 Natural Bridge Caverns Road. Tickets start at $19.99 for adults, $14.99 for children, naturalbridge caverns.com.
Santa Claus
Photos with Santa: Santa has set up shop in the former Justice store location. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Mondays-saturdays, noon-6 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 23 and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 4, The Shops at La Cantera, 15900 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 6698. Photo packages $19.99-$49.99, reservations required; virtual sessions also available, theshops atlacantera.com
Socially distant Santa: Photo experience with Santa. Noon-8 p.m. Mondays-saturdays, noon-6 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 24, Ingram Park Mall, 6301 N.W. Loop 410. Photo packages $19.99-$49.99, reservations required, simon.com.
Virtual sessions with Santa: Sam’s Club members can book a personal live session with Santa, including a photo and access to holiday activities. Through Dec. 20. Free. Register at samsclub.com/santasession; one session per member, but multiple children can take part.
Virtual visit with Santa: Schedule a streaming Santa Claus visit, seemingly from the North Pole. Parents provide information about their child to create a personalized experience. Language and ethnicity options available. The includes entertainment and keepsake photos and video. Through Jan. 7. Tickets start at $24.95, northstarmall.com.
Holiday shopping
North Star Mall Christmas Market: Vendors from around the country will offer unique gifts such as German heirloom nutcrackers, Holy Land religious relics, collapsible wooden baskets, custom jewelry and artisan purses and scarves. Mall hours vary, today through Dec. 31, lower level of North Star Mall, 7400 San Pedro Ave., northstarmall.com.
Holiday Stroll at the Pearl: Businesses have decked out store windows for the holidays. Shoppers can take their time enjoying them during the Holiday Stroll, with extended hours, live music and specials. 5-10 p.m. Dec. 10, Pearl, 312 Pearl Parkway; check out atpearl.com for more holiday events.
Peace Market: The Esperanza Peace & Justice Center’s annual Mercado de Paz has gone virtual, but it still will provide holiday shoppers with access to vendors selling handmade items with themes of peace, social justice and ecological and cultural diversity. Through Dec. 23, esperanza center.org.
Performing arts
“Bah Humbug!: A One-man ‘Christmas Carol’ ”: J. Damian Gillen plays all the roles in this interpretation of Dickens’ holiday classic. 6 p.m. today, The Lion and Rose Restaurant, 17627 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 103; 210-646-4284 for tickets.
“The Nutcracker v. 2020”: Ballet San Antonio presents a different “Nutcracker” for a different time, with no children in the cast and projections used to reduce the number of people onstage. Clara is grown up, married, and is celebrating the holidays when a magical new adventure ensues. 7 p.m. Fridays, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 13, Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Circle. $40-$500, balletsanantonio.org.
Nutcracker Under the Stars: San Antonio Youth Ballet presents a drive-in version of the classic Christmas tale. Live performance will be projected onto a movie screen. Gates open 5:30 p.m., performance starts at starts at 6:30 p.m. today and Saturday, Dec. 4-5, 11-13 and 18-20, Mission Outdoor Theater, 3100 Roosevelt. $50-$100, san antonioyouthballet.org.
“We Need a Little Christmas”: Holiday revue will feature more than 30 Christmas classics, including “Sleigh Ride,” “Santa Baby,” and “I’ll be Home for Christmas.” Opens today; 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 19. Doors open 7 p.m. for cocktails. American Sign Language performance 8 p.m. Dec. 4, Harlequin Theatre, 2652 Harney Path, Fort Sam Houston. $10-$22, call 210222-9694 noon-3 p.m. TuesdaySaturday for reservations.
The Music of “A Charlie Brown Christmas”: Doc Watkins and his trio perform “A Charlie Brown Christmas” along with other holiday favorites. 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays-thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays, 4 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays Dec. 8-20, Carlos Alvarez Studio Theatre, Tobin Center for the Performing Arts. $55 ($260 for tables for four), tobi.tobincenter.org.
Drive ’N Drag Saves Christmas: Bianca Del Rio is intent on destroying Christmas but the queens of “Ru’paul’s Drag Race” will teach this scrooge a lesson. Watch the action from your car. Features light show, music and food truck access. 7 and 9:30 p.m. Dec. 15-16, Ingram Park Mall, 6301 N.W. Loop 410. $75$150 per car for two (additional passengers $25 each), vossevents.com.
“A Very Electric Christmas”:
Lightwire Theatre uses puppetry, theater, dance and technology to tell the story of a young bird, Max, and his family, who get blown off course while migrating south for the winter and end up at the North Pole. Narration in English and Spanish. 3 and 6 p.m. Dec. 20, Freeman Coliseum, 3201 E Houston St. $28; tickets sold in pods of four and six, freeman coliseum.com.
Etc., etc. Bavarian Christmas Brunch:
The New Braunfels Village Brass Band will perform while diners enjoy a German farmer’s breakfast. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday, Krause’s Cafe, 148 S. Castell Ave., New Braunfels. $10.
Deck the Paws: Canine parade featuring pooches in holiday costume. 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 5. San Antonio Botanical Garden, 555 Funston Place. $15 adults, $13 ages 3-13, plus $5 per leashed dog, sabot.org.
“Deck the Walls”: Virtual wreath making workshop hosted by the San Antonio Moms. 3 p.m. Dec. 6. $45, includes event links (live and recorded) and supplies. $10 instruction only, alamocitymoms.com.