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Holiday in the Gardens
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Overview
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Grab a hot deal on the Gulf Coast's coolest holiday event. Stroll along a mile-long sparkling Holiday Lights Trail (formerly Festival of Lights) set to your favorite festive music, then step inside ICE LAND, a frosty wonderland of towering, hand-carved ice sculptures.
Lace up for ice skating, dive into dazzling 3D and 4D holiday films, and settle in for the all-new A Very Electric Christmas Live Show.
Cap it off with festive dining the whole family will love — as Moody Gardens transforms into the ultimate festive Texas resort destination for the holiday season.
Festival at a glance
Dates
November 21, 2026 to January 2, 2027
Where
Moody Gardens,
1 Hope Boulevard, Galveston, TX
1 Hope Boulevard, Galveston, TX
fun for
Families, couples, groups, school and corporate parties
Ways to visit
Pick your night at Holiday in the Gardens
Grab one ticket for the whole evening, or choose the one experience your crew can't wait for.
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Holiday Pass
- ICE LAND
- Holiday Lights
- Aquarium Pyramid
- MG3D Holiday Film
- Four Arctic Slide rides
- 4D Holiday Film
- Kiddie Train ride
- Ice Skating Rink
Starting at $55*
Valid after 4 PM. Skate rentals sold separately.
Holiday Lights Trail
A mile-long walk through more than two million lights set to holiday music.
Starting at $24*
Opens at dusk, about 6 PM.
ICE LAND only
Timed entry to ICE LAND: Caribbean Christmas, kept at 9 degrees with parkas provided.
Starting at $29*
Adults (13-64) $35.
*Starting prices. Prices vary by age and date. Lowest Holiday Pass and Holiday Lights Trail prices are on Value Nights, Sunday through Thursday, Nov. 30 to Dec. 17.
Parking is free throughout the festival. Visiting Sunday through Thursday? See Value Nights for 2-for-1 theme nights.
10%OFF
Holiday in the Gardens Sale · Through October 31
Save 10% on Holiday Stays and Show Tickets
- Holiday Hotel Packages
- NYE Hotel Party Package
- New Year's Palooza Package
- A Very Electric Christmas Tickets
Your 10% savings are already built in, so the price you see at checkout is your discounted price.
Holiday Hotel Packages
Stay where the holidays come to life. Moody Gardens Hotel has been refreshed top to bottom, and our newest redesigned rooms are some of the freshest accommodations in Galveston.
Wake up just steps from ICE LAND, the mile-long Holiday Lights trail, and every attraction during Holiday in The Gardens.
Each package below starts with an overnight stay in a refreshed room — most add holiday tickets and covered parking, so the whole getaway is wrapped up in one rate.
Holiday Value Package BEST VALUE
Hotel stay for couples (2) or the family (4), plus Value Day passes to every attraction and covered parking. Family Packages include a Holiday Kids Experience.*
Lights & Ice Package Great value
Room for a couple (2) or the family (4), plus ICE LAND, Holiday Lights & ice skating with covered parking. Family Packages include a Holiday Kids Experience.*
*Holiday Kids Experience: guided tour of the Aquarium Pyramid prior to opening (only available on select dates) and a surprise gift pack per night of your stay!
Plan your visit
What to Expect at Holiday in The Gardens
ICE LAND: Caribbean Christmas
A skilled team of master ice carvers has charted your course through the ultimate Caribbean Christmas. Dive into a breathtaking undersea world built from more than 2 million pounds of ice, ride an oil rig ice slide through the Flower Garden Banks in the Gulf, where tropical fish, eagle rays, turtles, sharks, and more await. Raise a festive cocktail at Shiver's Ice Bar, then warm up with hot cocoa once you're out of the cold.
Buy TicketsLearn More ›
Included with the Holiday PassICE LAND is on the Holiday Pass. The same ticket covers the Holiday Lights Trail, the Aquarium Pyramid, films and more after 4 PM.Buy Holiday Pass ›Holiday Lights Trail
Brighten up the holidays! A mile-long trail with more than two million lights and lighted scenes takes you around the Moody Gardens property with spectacular views of Galveston Bay. Enjoy the area’s only outdoor skating rink, concession areas with hot chocolate and festive food, holiday buffets and more.
Buy TicketsLearn More ›Included with the Holiday PassThe Holiday Lights Trail is on the Holiday Pass. The same ticket covers ICE LAND, the Aquarium Pyramid, films and more after 4 PM.Buy Holiday Pass ›
A Very Electric Christmas Live Holiday Show
A Very Electric Christmas, a glow-in-the-dark live spectacle from the acclaimed Lightwire Theater. Watch the holidays light up as electroluminescent puppetry brings a wonderful winter journey to life on stage. Every show ticket includes Holiday Lights Trail admission.
Buy TicketsLearn More ›Ice Skating Rink
Glide under the lights on our outdoor rink. Evening skating is included with a Holiday Lights ticket.
Buy TicketsLearn More ›Included with the Holiday PassIce Skating Rink admission is on the Holiday Pass (skate rental is extra), along with ICE LAND, the Holiday Lights Trail and more after 4 PM.Buy Holiday Pass ›
Arctic Slide
Grab a mat and race down for a quick rush of winter fun. Four rides are included with the Holiday Pass.
Buy TicketsLearn More ›Included with the Holiday Pass4 Arctic Slide rides are on the Holiday Pass for riders 36 inches and up, along with ICE LAND, the Holiday Lights Trail and more after 4 PM.Buy Holiday Pass ›
Holiday 3D & 4D Films
Holiday favorites with immersive effects, including Scrooge 4D: A Christmas Carol and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer 4D, in the MG3D Theater and 4D Special FX Theater.
Buy TicketsLearn More ›Included with the Holiday PassOne 3D film and one 4D film are on the Holiday Pass, along with ICE LAND, the Holiday Lights Trail and more after 4 PM.Buy Holiday Pass ›
Train Rides
Little conductors roll through a stretch of Holiday Lights aboard the Kiddie Train, music and all.
Buy TicketsLearn More ›Included with the Holiday Pass1 Kiddie Train ride is on the Holiday Pass for riders 48 inches and under, along with ICE LAND, the Holiday Lights Trail and more after 4 PM.Buy Holiday Pass ›Family favoriteBreakfast with Santa
December 12, 13, 19–23
A family buffet breakfast and photo time with Santa on select December mornings in the hotel ballroom.
Holiday shoppingNutcracker Market
November 27–28
Shop local vendors for gifts, holiday decor and treats in the Moody Gardens Hotel ballroom. $5 admission, free for hotel guests.
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Holiday Dining
Enjoy festive buffets; Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Dining options and fine dining at Shearn's, all chef-crafted for the season.
Holiday dining optionsLearn More ›
Special Holiday Hotel Packages
Bundle a refreshed room with attraction passes and wake up steps from every light, slide, and show.
Explore packagesLearn More ›.avif)
Family New YearNew Year's Palooza
December 31
Family fun that's off the charts. This spectacular package includes one night of spectacular accommodations, a family friendly fun zone with air hockey, foosball, bounce houses, arcade games galore, adult lounge sanctuary and 4 One-Day Passes to the Rainforest, Aquarium Pyramids and Discovery Pyramids; MG3D and 4D Theaters; Holiday Lights, plus tickets to A Very Electric Christmas Show.
%20-%20reduced.avif)
Groups: Make it Merrier and Save 10%
Moody Gardens can accommodate groups of all sizes. Whether it's a group of 15 or more at our attractions or a large corporate holiday party in our ballroom, we'll make it memorable, all with a 10% discount.
Call:(409) 683-4558
Email:attractionsales@moodygardens.org
Build your night
Who’s coming with you?
Pick your crew and we will map a route through Holiday in the Gardens, along with the ticket that covers it.
Little onesKids 48 inches and underKids and tweensSlides, ice and filmsDate nightTwo adults, one eveningThe whole familyGrandparents includedStaying overMake it a weekend
12341234123Dinner at Shearn’s
Holiday dinners at Shearn’s Seafood & Prime Steaks, with views of Galveston Bay.
Holiday Dining ›41Pick a Value Night
Sunday through Thursday, Nov. 30 to Dec. 17, brings the lowest prices of the season.
Value Nights ›23A Very Electric Christmas
A glowing live show the whole family can sit down for together.
Holiday Show ›4123
4Ring in the new year
New Year’s Eve Palooza is a family celebration in the hotel ballroom.
New Year’s Eve ›*Adult (13-64) starting price. Prices vary by date. Lowest prices on Value Nights, Sunday through Thursday, Nov. 30 to Dec. 17.
Ring in the New Year
New Year's Eve at Moody Gardens
Toast to 2027 in style — an elegant dinner with a view of the fireworks, or a dazzling night of music and dancing.
NEW YEAR'S EVE · DECEMBER 31, 2026
New Year's Palooza
Ring in 2027 with the whole family. New Year's Palooza takes over the Frances Anne Moody Ballroom at Moody Gardens Hotel and turns the last night of the year into an indoor playground.
Kids take on bounce houses, arcade games, air hockey, and foosball in the Family Fun Zone while parents unwind in the Adult Lounge.
More details, including Hotel Packages, coming soon!
New Year's Eve Dinner
Shearn's Seafood & Prime Steaks
Romance meets culinary excellence. Indulge in an extraordinary evening with breathtaking views of Galveston Bay and the evening's fireworks.
Make reservationsNew Year's Eve Celebration
December 31 · Moody Gardens HotelMusic by Radio Live
Celebrate, sparkle and dance your way into the new year with music by Radio Live. Enjoy delicious hors d'oeuvres, two complimentary drink tickets, a cash bar and an unforgettable beach ball drop finale — perfect for the 21-plus crowd ready to celebrate in style.
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