The Christmas and holiday events at the Texas Family Resorts are sure to create lasting memories for your family. One of my very favorite things as a parent is watching my kids experience the “magic” of the holidays throughout the year. However, much I love the idea of creating the magic at the holidays, I don’t really love the planning or execution of it.
So I let the resorts do it for me! Added bonus: the holidays are magical for me again too!
Here’s our guide to Christmas and holiday events at our favorite Texas Family Resorts. Looking to outsource Thanksgiving? Check out our list of the best places to Celebrate Thanksgiving in Texas!
Top 10 Best Christmas Holiday Events at
Texas Family Resorts
1. The Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center – Grapevine, Texas
Holiday Events
Nothing really compares to the Gaylord Texan Resort when it comes to super fun winter activities.
They have an experience called ICE! Gaylord Texan. The theme for 2023 is How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Reserve your tickets and entry time slot ahead of time and plan to spend about 30-60 minutes walking through the ice sculptures carved from over 2 Million pounds of ice. It’s 9 degrees in the exhibit and blue parkas are provided that keep you nice and toasty but I also brought hats and mittens for our crew and we were very comfortable. FYI – kids under 3 are free with adult admission but no strollers are allowed!
While ICE! Gaylord Texan has always been one of our favorite traditions, there’s SO MANY other fun Winter and Christmas-themed activities to do at the resort along with ICE! We’ve tried to do it as a day trip before but always enjoy it more when we stay overnight at the resort, then we have a character breakfast in the morning. The Grinch will be feasting with guests for the 2023 holidays… roast beast, anyone? Some activities we’ve enjoyed have been the gingerbread house decorating, ice skating, and the Christmas carousel. However, the unlimited snow tubing is always my kids’ favorite, and my husband and I enjoy the holiday-themed Escape room and the cute holiday pop-up bars! There are also visits with Santa and holiday storytimes, carols, and cookies with Mrs. Claus. Tickets are sold individually for each event, which can add up so you want to plan your day ahead of time and don’t miss the freebies like the nightly light show in the Atrium and the augmented reality scavenger hunt!
We also recently had an opportunity to visit The Gaylord Rockies Resort in Denver, Colorado and it was so much fun! If you’re ever in the mile high city, be sure to check it out – it’s close to the airport with great mountain views.
What we love most about it: ICE! exhibit with snow tubing
2. JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa – San Antonio, Texas
Holiday Events
The JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort is all decked out for Christmas and has a list of holiday happenings for guests to enjoy. Guests can visit with Santa, have storytime with Mrs. Claus, decorate gingerbread houses, go snow tubing, and enjoy festive s’mores along with other regularly scheduled things to do at the resort. The JW Marriott San Antonio also has thoughtful holiday accommodations for families traveling during Christmas. The Winter Wonderland Suite has Christmas decorations and freshly baked cookies by the fireplace. Looking for a way to get into the ho, ho, ho-liday spirit (see what I did there)? The holiday kick-off event this year is on November 11, 2023!
What we love most about it: Santa arriving by sleigh at the holiday kick-off event!
3. Hyatt Hill Country San Antonio Resort and Spa – San Antonio, Texas
Holiday Events
The Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa in San Antonio is getting in the holiday spirit by hosting S’mores with Santa from 6:30 – 8:30 pm on Friday and Saturday nights in December, starting on December 8, 2023. Enjoy tasty s’mores, hot cocoa, and photo opportunities with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Free for hotel guests without a reservation and open to the public for $12.50, make a reservation with ResortPass.
In my opinion, the best gift you can give to yourself is the gift of not having to cook…. or clean dishes on a holiday. There are two options for Christmas dinner at the resort this year. There will be a Christmas buffet dinner at Firewheel Cafe and a 3-course festive menu at Antlers Lodge. New Year’s Eve options will similarly include a Firewheel Cafe Buffet dinner with the option for bottomless champagne or a 3-course meal at Antlers Lodge that will include a glass of champagne. Or keep it more casual and join other hotel guests with a champagne toast when the clock strikes midnight at Charlie’s Long Bar… choose your own adventure!
What we love most about it: Christmas buffet dinner at Firewheel Cafe for a little bit of everything (🎶 all of the time…)
4. San Luis Resort & Spa – Galveston Island, Texas
Holiday Events
The San Luis Resort and Spa is kicking off the holiday season by hosting a Thanksgiving Brunch. All of the feast, none of the dishes! The Christmas season is pretty magical on Galveston Island and the San Luis Resort is a great place to experience some of that magic. The Resort is celebrating Christmas all month long with Breakfast with Santa, Christmas Tea, and festive steel drum music. You can also enjoy Christmas Brunch in the Grand Foyer.
What we love most about it: Holiday music played by steel drums. I’m shipping Christmas and the beach this year!
5. Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa – Bastrop, Texas
Holiday Events
The Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa in Bastrop, Texas will be kicking off the holiday season with the Annual Christmas Tree Lighting on the Friday after Thanksgiving, November 24 at 6 pm. Christmas activities at the resort include making crafts at Santa’s Workshop, horse-drawn wagon rides, cookies and cocktails, and the sounds of carolers on the property on Fridays and Saturdays in December. Looking to log some time with the man in red? Visits with Santa will be on Fridays and Saturdays from 6-8 pm and Breakfast with Santa will be on Sundays between Thanksgiving and Christmas. New Year’s celebration will include a New Year’s Eve buffet and a fireworks display, as well as a New Year’s Day Brunch – we see you, 2024 and we like it!
What we love most about it: Cookies and Cocktails… duh.
6. La Cantera Resort and Spa – San Antonio, Texas
Holiday Events
Kick off the Christmas season at La Cantera Resort and Spa with an event to remember! The resort will be hosting their Annual Tree Lighting on November 30 with special guests The Grinch and the Grinchettes. Enjoy singing, dancing, Grinch-themed crafts, and festive cocktails to help ring in the Christmas season. If you’re more of a morning person, don’t fret – there is a How the Grinch Stole Brunch on December 2. Watch your roast beast, there will be seasonal entertainment and photo ops with the Grinch himself. There will also be a holiday market with festive drink pairings onsite the first three Saturdays in December. The resort is also hosting Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day feasts at Sweet Fire Kitchen.
What we love most about it: the Grinchette dancers and how the Grinch stole Brunch – an event you’re sure to remember!
7. Horseshoe Bay Resort – Lake LBJ, Texas
Horseshoe Bay Resort kicks off the holiday season with a Turkey Trot (10k, 5k, 1k options) and a Thanksgiving spread that can be enjoyed at the Resort or taken to-go. The annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony complete with Santa photos, horse-drawn carriage rides, fake snow, and a laser light show will be on November 24, 2023. Other festive activities at Horseshoe Bay Resort this year will include an Elf on the Shelf Selfie Scavenger Hunt, Holiday Movie Nights, and Storytime with Mrs. Claus. Looking for something you and your kids will enjoy for New Year’s Eve? Adults are welcome to attend a complimentary DJ Party or upgrade to a ticketed live band New Year’s Eve party, while the Jungle Kid’s Club will host a pajama party to ring in the new year!
What we love most about it: Storytime with Mrs. Claus … “Twas the Night Before Christmas…”
8. Hilton Anatole – Dallas, Texas
Holiday Events
The Hilton Anatole in Dallas, Texas is spreading Christmas cheer from December 8-30 this year. Expect to be transported to the North Pole with an immersive experience complete with a visit to Santa’s workshop, festive crafts, Elf Academy, a Christmas tree forest, and Candy Cane Lane. Or opt for a little more time with the man in red at Breakfast with Santa at SER Steakhouse for an experience you’ll never forget. Ho ho ho!
What we love most about it: Elf Academy activities and crafts
9. The Woodlands Resort – The Woodlands, Texas
Holiday Events
The Woodlands Resort is kicking off the holiday season with fun Christmas events like Breakfast with Santa on weekends in December and a Christmas Day Brunch at Harrison’s (5 and under eat free!) to help boost the holiday spirit. Ring in the new year with either a Havana Nights-themed party with a complimentary champagne toast or opt for a more intimate 4-course prix fixe New Year’s Eve dinner to make it a night you’ll never forget.
What we love most about it: Christmas Day Brunch at Harrison’s
10. Lakeway Resort and Spa – Lake Travis, Texas Holiday Events
Lakeway Resort and Spa is kicking off the holiday season with a festive buffet dinner overlooking the Lake Travis Holiday Boat Parade on December 2. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Brunch and Dinner buffets will be offered at the resort as well.
What we love most about it: The holiday boat parade – a festive way to kick off the holiday by the lake!
There are so many great options for where to spend the holidays this Winter season. From Thanksgiving dinners, visits with Santa, Christmas tree lightings, to massive themed Ice displays (looking at you, Gaylord Texan….) there is so much fun to be had at the family resorts in Texas this holiday season! The only problem is picking which one to do first!
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