Texas Holiday Magic Will Glisten

Festive sights and sounds will fill Moody Gardens® at the fifth annual Festival of Lights in Galveston, TX November 18 through January 6. This entertainment-filled celebration will kick off the holiday season on with Santa Claus parachuting in to switch on the lights.

Drawing more than 60,000 people each year, Moody Gardens® Festival of Lights has become a holiday favorite for families. Transforming its lush garden setting into a winter menagerie of lights, Moody Gardens® will be adorned with more than a million twinkling lights and dozens of light displays. In addition to experiencing the lights, guests can also strap on a pair of skates and slide across the ice at the Outdoor Ice Rink at Moody Gardens® or listen to holiday music performed by area bands.

Indoors, visitors can take pictures with Santa or see the giant poinsettia tree. Moody Gardens® will show a variety of holiday-themed films during the Festival of Lights. Three films will be playing at the IMAX ® 3D theater. Guests may watch the IMAX Nutcracker® 3D, Santa vs. the Snowman in IMAX® 3D and Polar Express in IMAX® 3D. Two films will be playing at the Ridefilm theatre. Guests can strap on their seatbelts and experience Santa's Late and Glacier Run.

The Garden Restaurant will feature a Holiday buffet, offered from 4pm to 9pm. Several special holiday packages are also available for groups of 30 or more that can include luxury bus transportation, event admission and the holiday buffet.

Special Festival of Lights packages are also available at the Moody Gardens Hotel during this time that include a room for two and two Festival of Lights tickets. Rates start at $139 per night plus tax, Sunday through Thursday, and $159 per night plus tax, Friday through Saturday. Family Packages are available at the hotel December 15 to 30. Rooms will begin at $169 per night plus tax and gratuity, Sunday to Thursday, and $199 per night plus tax and gratuity, Friday-Saturday. The Family Package includes a room for four and four Festival of Lights tickets, plus a holiday character breakfast for four, two holiday plush toys at check-in and a special child's turndown with Christmas stocking.

Families may purchase an additional "Kids Pack" for $10 that includes an extra plush toy, turndown with Christmas stocking and Festival of Lights ticket. While staying in the hotel, kids can participate in a variety of activities. They can decorate picture frames, make ornaments, and frost cookies at Santa's Workshop, located on the hotel's second floor. Sunny the Penguin and Rowdy the Christmas Clown also make regular visits to paint faces and create balloon animals.