Family Friendly Attractions & Events

Nestled amidst breathtaking natural surroundings, Moody Gardens offers a perfect blend of relaxation and excitement for guests of all ages for work or play. From tropical rainforests to the oceans of the world, a wide range of attractions, educational activities, kid's events, dining options, and exciting entertainment await. This island resort uniquely accommodates large conferences, weddings and social events as well as being the romantic escape and family destination where special memories are created.

Holiday in the Gardens Christmas lights up the shores near the Colonel Paddlewheel boat. Each Pyramid is illuminated by a trail of lights than run along the edge of each Pyramid edge.
Local Conditions:

88.2 °F

Today's Attractions Hours:

Open Daily: November 22 – January 13

Free Parking!

Things To Do

As the largest holiday destination in the Southwest, Moody Gardens offers more holiday attractions, activities, festive fun, dining and hotel packages than you can imagine.

Year-Round Attractions
An ice sculputure with the words 'Moody Gardens ICE LAND Pole-to-Pole' carved in ice on an ice blue wall. Two ice carved polar bears are looking at the words. There is a clock that indicates the temperature hanging above the words carved on the wall.

ICE LAND: Christmas Around the World

It's holiday fun for all ages as a skilled team of master ice carvers has taken 2 million pounds of ice to create a festive journey. You can also soar down the giant Ice Slide, and enjoy your favorite holiday spirits at Shivers Ice Bar.

Festival of Lights

This year, the holiday season will shine brighter than ever with an event that has become a tradition for families and groups alike. Enjoy a festive stroll along this mile-long trail featuring more than two million lights and lighted scenes themed to holiday music that take you around the Moody Gardens property with spectacular views of Galveston Bay. Stops along the way bring you to see Star the Dancing Tree of Light, concession areas, hot chocolate, fireside S'mores and other festive foods, and mistletoe, along with plenty of photo and selfie opportunities!

Holiday in the Gardens Trail of lights showing a procession of attendees walking past characters from the Nutcracker made up of Christmas lights.
A small train winds its way along a sidewalk as it makes its way through the Festival of Lights. The tree trunks and branches are adorned with Christmas lights and the lawn is decorated with lights shaped in the design of animals.

Kiddie Train Rides

Enjoy the holiday lights and music as the train takes you along a section of the Festival of Lights trail. Must be under 48" tall to ride.

Cost: 1x $8 | 3x $15


Individual attraction tickets are available on-site - times subject to change. Please call 409-683-4200​ for daily times and questions.

Ice Skating Rink: Nightly or Rent the Rink

Open Nightly:  Starting at 6pm when the Festival of Lights trail opens. You must enter through the Festival of Lights trail to access the Ice Skating Rink (Ice Skating is included with your Festival of Lights ticket in the evenings!)

Afternoon Skate (12 - 4pm): Please refer to the weekly holiday attraction schedule for afternoon skating! Tickets are available on-site.

Rent the Rink: Rent out the Ice Skating Rink for your own private function with two (2) hour minimums. Call 409-683-4558 or email AttractionSales@moodygardens.org

Individual attraction tickets are available on-site - times subject to change. Before 6pm $12 Admission & $8 skate rental. After 6pm admission is free with $8 skate rental.

Two young boys on ice skates go past a stack of giant, decorative Christmas holiday ornaments typically found hanging from Christmas trees.
Two young boys tobbogan down the Arctic Slid while smiling with delight.

Arctic Slide

Enjoy the fun with a festive glide down the Arctic Slide.

4 slides down The Arctic Slide are included in the Holiday Pass!

Must be over 36" to ride.

Cost: 4x $8 | 10x $15


Individual attraction tickets are available on-site - times subject to change. Please call 409-683-4200 for daily times and questions.

Fall & Winter 2024 Pyramid Kids Camps

Now Available!

Great for all kids entering grades K-8! Camp programs include different attraction experiences, activities, games, crafts and experiments making every camp day unique! Daily camps are a great option for the kids during school break or a fun day for all the kids visiting during the holidays! Register for one day or multiple days.

Several young children from Pyramid Kids camp look at an aquarium display inside the Aquarium Pyramid.
Characters from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer including Rudolph in the center with a yeti to his left and Santa's elf to his right.

Holiday 3D & 4D Films

Enjoy holiday films all season long in the MG 3D Theater and 4D Special FX Theater! Films include Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer 4D and Scrooge: A Christmas Carol 4D.

Holiday Parties and Group Discounts

Whether it's a corporate party, social group or your family, Moody Gardens has discounts available for groups of 20 or more. You can have a fun evening of holiday attractions and even the nightly buffet. We also have the facilities to plan large and small holiday events.

Contact our Group Sales Team at 409-683-4558 or email AttractionSales@moodygardens.org to plan your holiday party today.

Two girls, possibly sisters, hold hands and walk through a Festival of Lights tunnel while smiling and taking in the sights around them.

Year-Round Attractions

A father balances his son on his shoulders while holding his hands. They are both inside the Aquarium Pyramid tunnel watching in wonderment at an assortment of rays, sharps, and other Caribbean sea life swim above them.

Aquarium Pyramid

Visit tuxedo-clad penguins to seals, stingrays, sharks, tropical fish and more! From the Gulf of Mexico to the South Atlantic, the South Pacific, the North Pacific, and the Caribbean. Each ocean exhibit highlights different marine sanctuaries and different aspects of our relationship to the seas. Open during the daytime with individual tickets or the Value Pass.

Two Hyacinth Macaws rub beaks with each other, their blue features stand out against an out of focus background of forest greenery.

Rainforest Pyramid

Enjoy a rare, up-close and interactive experience with endangered plants such as the Corpse Flower and animals ranging from Giant Amazon River Otters to Saki Monkeys and an array of birds! See it all in one of the truest replicas of a real rainforest. Open during the daytime with individual tickets or the Value Pass.

The Discovery Pyramid sits off in the background while in the foreground, lush palms and bushes spring up to partially obscure it. Red flowers poke up from the bottom of the image creating a sense of a tropical paradise.

Discovery Pyramid

Visit the Discovery Pyramid museum to see the newest educational exhibit and experience 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: An Interactive Adventure at the Audience Recognition Theater.

The Colonel Paddlewheel Boat makes its way across Offatts Bayou as sun gentle casts a warm glow across its bow.

3D, 4D, and Audience Recognition Theaters

Watch thrilling films in our 3D and 4D theaters, and become part of the story in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: An Interactive Adventure inside the Audience Recognition Theater.

Visiting with a Group? Or Book Your Holiday Party!

Group Pricing for groups 20 or more

Contact Group Sales at 409-683-4558 or email AttractionSales@moodygardens.org​ for more information.