Best Christmas Lights in Texas for 2012

In Texas we seem to do everything in a big way. Christmas decorating is no exception.

In 2009, I assembled a list of the best light displays I could find around Texas. I provided links to each one so that viewers could learn more. Thousands of people viewed this information and added these designations to their "Must Do" list for holiday sightseeing around Texas.

It's time to get in on the Christmas 2012 action. You have to begin really early to compete with the best. It's time to stock up on lights and equipment. It's time to organize your event and submit your dates to print and online publications.

If you are planning an awesome Christmas light display in 2012, then please drop me a line and I'd love to add you to my list.

So, pack the kids up and head on out to visit some the great light displays I've assembled below. Before you go, be sure to print out a few of my Christmas Scavenger Hunt lists to entertain the whole carload. Click here to get the list.

Prestonwood Forest is located near Houston and is one of the longest running community Chrismtas light displays in Texas. This community of about 750 participants has been decorating for Christmas in a big way for over 35 years. It is called the Nite of Lites.

Phone: Daytime 281-897-8597

Address: Prestonwood Forest Drive & Highway 249

Houston, TX 77070

With over five and a half miles of drive-thru entertainment, this is a must see. For the Nov 18, 2011-Jan 8, 2012 Holiday season it is only $5/car load (includes Cars, mini-vans and PU Trucks. Larger vehicles are more. For directions and more information, click here.

Camp Tejas is hosting it's 2nd annual Lights of Tejas to be held select evenings Nov 26 through December 23, 2011. They have over 1,000,000 lights on trees and buildings around the camp and will be presenting a 30-minute orchestrated light show of over 150,000 lights to music and narration at one of the lakes on the property. They also have multiply light shows, hayrides, zip lines, climbing wall, food, light maze, and inflatables.

Time: 5pm-10pm Days: Thursday- Sunday

Phone: 979-366-2422

Location: Camp Tejas 1038 Private Road 2191 Giddings TX 78942

Ticket Price: $8 per person, 2 years and under free, Family price $25

Group rates are available.

For a great computer-controlled Christmas display that is synced to music that you can tune into in your car, visit Round Rock, TX. One house alone has over 14,000 lights!

This particular house has been dazzling folks in Round Rock for years, but this past year was their first year to switch to LED lights and synchronized them to music. Their music is themed around the Christmas movie classic, "Christmas Vacation". They have also included a few other Christmas favorites. This is a must-see for your family this year! The light show with music runs from 6-9 pm and the lights stay on until 10 pm. No lights when it rains.

Be sure to check out the lights at 1805 Rusty Nail Loop in Round Rock Tx 78681. They will have 32 channels run by Light O Rama, with 22,000 lights that dance to music that you can tune in on your car radio to 88.5 FM.

Check out the lights at 204 Nandina Court in Cibolo, Texas 78108 which is Northeast of San Antonio. You can find more about them at www.facebook.com/webelieveinchristmas or www.webelieveinchristmas.com.

Over 20,000 Christmas lights set to a Christmas remix that can be found on St. Nix 106.1 FM. Lights are on from 5:30 pm to 11:00 pm every night from November 24th.

For more than 20 years, Austin's 37th Street has been transformed into one of the most spectacular displays of Christmas lights in the state. Neighbors string strand after strand from trees to rooftops covering everything in sight. They’ve even been known to decorate their pets and themselves in twinkling lights.

The creativity of this neighborhood has been featured on “Good Morning America”, in magazines, and newspapers.

Due to the popularity of this event, it is advised that you park your vehicle blocks away and walk. Traffic is often blocked off and directed by Austin police due to the number of pedestrians and motorists trying to view the displays.

Location: From I-35, exit at 38^th Street and go west. Once you reach Speedway Street, you may want to start looking for a parking space. Cedar Street is the first left after Speedway and you may be able to find parking near there.

Grand Prairie, Texas

This holiday event runs from Thanksgiving Night to New Year’s Eve. There are over 4 Million lights along 2 miles of roadway. There are over 600 displays that line and arch over the walkway path creating Texas' largest light tunnel. There is a Holiday Magic Light Show Theater which is a 10 minute light show that is choreographed to music.

The price runs about $20/car of up to 8 people (more for limos and buses). Carousel and carnival rides are included with the admission price.

There is a gift shop and concessions are available, as well as pictures with Santa.

On weekends with high traffic, this can take a couple of hours to get through. It’s recommended that you allow about 2-3 hours to properly see this event.

Hidalgo's 21st annual Festival of Lights theme is "A Tropical Christmas" and runs from December 1 through the 31st. They kick off with a parade on December 1st. Be sure to check them out.

Grapevine, Texas

This holiday event provides lots of entertainment for the whole family. Some of the events included are:

Christmas on Main Street:

• Runs from November 25-26-27, December 2-3-4, 9-10-11, 16-17-18 , 2011
  Fridays - 2 p.m. - 6 p.m.
  Saturdays - 12 p.m. - 7 p.m.
  Sundays - 2 p.m. - 5 p.m.
• Events include: visiting with Santa, horse-drawn trolley rides, kids activities, free Kettle Corn, costumed characters.

Carol of Lights:

• November 21, 2011, 7:00 PM
• This free event include sing-a-longs with local choirs, and the lighting of the Christmas tree

North Pole Express

• November 25- 26-27, December 2-3-4, 9-10-11, 16-17-18-19-20-21, 2011
• 25 minute holiday stage show, a live Christmas tree maze, caroling on the train, and Santa reading "The Night Before Christmas"
• Dress in your PJs and climb aboard the steam train that includes carols, stories and Santa

Parade of Lights

• December 1, 2011 at 7:00 PM

This free event includes more than 100 lighted floats and marching bands playing holiday music.

Twinkle Light Boat Parade

• TBD Starting at Dusk

The lighted boat parade, called Twinkle Light Parade on Lake Grapevine, is visible from the Lake Grapevine shoreline, but starts at Twin Coves Marina.

Gaylord Texan ICE!

In 2009, the Gaylord Texan hosted “How The Grinch Stole Christmas!” in ICE. For 2010, the theme was Charlie Brown & the Peanuts Gang! For 2011, the theme is "Shrek the Halls". Visit here to get more details. It begins November 11, 2011 and runs through January 1, 2012.

Providence Village, Texas

Providence Christmas was the former Vaderville Christmas put on by the Darren and Angela Vader family in Providence, Texas. It was inspired by Carson Williams' 2005 display in Ohio that was synchronized to Transiberian Orchestra’s “Wizards of Winter” that was featured in a Miller Lite commercial and spawned thousands of replicas across the United States.

They have over 70,000 lights. 60 strobe lights, several virtual snow machines, a virtual Santa, red and green flood backdrops, a 22 foot animated tree of lights, a couple of rotating LED color changing effects encompassing their house and three neighboring houses. They have 138 channels of animation and is broadcast on 107.3 FM.

The 2009 show will debut at 6pm on Friday, November 27^th.

Santa's Wonderland in College Station, Texas, located 6 miles south of College Station, Texas, opened in 1998, and now boasts over two and a half million lights. It opens the weekend before Thanksgiving (Nov 20) and runs through New Year’s eve. Santa’s Wonderland is a drive through park but does contain a Texas Christmas Village area where you can walk around and visit their unique retail shops, live musical entertainment, a petting zoo, pony rides, classic Christmas movies on a giant outdoor movie screen and sit near two cozy fireplaces. They do provide a hayride tour if you’d rather not drive your own vehicle through it. They hayride tour includes Christmas music. They do have concessions and restrooms. Please visit their site for prices and more information.

Wonderland Christmas is located in Corinth, Texas. Wonderland Christmas runs from November 25, 2011 until December 30, 2011. They advise that you check their twitter feed before coming to the park since weather conditions will always be a factor. Follow them at @wonderlandxmas.

Wonderland of Lights is located in Marshall, Texas. This event is centered around their historic courthouse and takes place from Thanksgiving through Christmas. This display contains approximately 10 million lights. Activities include outdoor skating (not an common thing in Texas) , surrey rides, candlelight tours of historic homes, and a lighted Christmas parade. Tour buses run hourly to take guests to see the twinkling lights that adorn the trees, local businesses and residences.

Interlochen Lights Display is the name of an Arlington neighborhood that begins at Randol Mill at Westwood, west of Cooper Street. The area homeowners transform their neighborhood into a spectacular display that is known throughout the DFW Metroplex. Due to its popularity, you’re advised to allow several hours to take the tour. You are also advised to have the car gassed up and have plenty of snacks and drinks along to entertain small kids. It will be in operation from December 12-31st this year.

Another hub about Arlington Lights can be found here.

Concho Christmas Celebration has one of the largest Christmas light displays with over 3 million lights strewn along a 2.5 miles drive along the Concho River in San Angelo, Texas. You can find them on Facebook and by clicking on the link above.