Moody Gardens Prepares for Holiday in the Gardens Festival

GALVESTON, Texas (Sept. 16, 2026) - Moody Gardens will kick off the holiday season Nov. 21 with the Holiday in the Gardens Festival, featuring millions of lights, more than two million pounds of ice, live entertainment, ice skating, holiday films, dining and family activities through Jan. 2.

ICE LAND: Caribbean Christmas brings a tropical twist to the annual ice attraction. Kept at 9 degrees, the attraction features more than two million pounds of hand-carved ice depicting colorful Caribbean scenes, including an underwater world filled with tropical fish, rays, turtles and sharks. Guests can also ride the Giant Ice Slide and warm up with a festive drink at Shiver’s Ice Bar.

The festival also features:

• Holiday Lights, a mile-long trail along Offatts Bayou with more than two million lights, illuminated scenes and views of Galveston Bay. The trail also features outdoor ice skating, the Arctic Slide, holiday treats and dining.
• A Very Electric Christmas Live Holiday Show, a new production from Moody Gardens and Lightwire Theater, Dec. 19 through Jan. 2 at Moody Gardens Hotel. The glow-in-the-dark show follows Max, a young bird blown off course to the North Pole, in a story about family, friendship and hope told through music, storytelling and illuminated puppetry. Each show ticket includes Holiday Lights admission.
• Holiday 3D and 4D Films, including Scrooge 4D and Rudolph 4D, with special effects in the MG 4D theater.
• Train Rides, giving young guests a chance to ride the Kiddie Train through a section of Holiday Lights.
• Breakfast with Santa, Dec. 12, 13 and 19-23, featuring a family buffet breakfast and photo time with Santa on select mornings in the hotel ballroom.
• Holiday Dining, including Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dining options, along with fine dining at Shearn’s Prime Seafood & Steaks.

Guests can also make a weekend of it with special holiday hotel packages. The Holiday Value Package includes an overnight hotel stay, Value Day passes to the attractions and covered parking. The Lights & Ice Package includes an overnight stay, ICE LAND, Holiday Lights, ice skating and covered parking. Family packages also include a Holiday Kids Experience with a guided Aquarium tour before opening on select dates and a surprise gift pack each night of the stay.

The holiday season continues into the new year with New Year’s Palooza, Dec. 30 through Jan. 1. The family celebration includes a Family Fun Zone with bounce houses, arcade games, air hockey and foosball, along with an Adult Lounge and attraction passes. The package also includes tickets to A Very Electric Christmas.

On Dec. 31, guests can celebrate New Year’s Eve with several options. Shearn’s Prime Seafood & Steaks will offer a special dinner with views of Galveston Bay and the evening’s fireworks. The New Year’s Eve Celebration at Moody Gardens Hotel will feature live music by Radio Live, hors d’oeuvres, complimentary drink tickets, a cash bar and a beach ball drop finale for guests 21 and older.

Groups can also celebrate together, with options for everything from attraction visits to corporate holiday parties. Group rates and event information are available through Moody Gardens Group Sales.

The Holiday in the Gardens Festival runs Nov. 21 through Jan. 2. Free parking is available throughout the festival.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit moodygardens.com/holidays or call 409-744-4673. Hotel reservations are available by calling 409-741-8484. Group sales information is available by calling 409-683-4558 or emailing attractionsales@moodygardens.org.