Savor the Season at Moody Gardens

GALVESTON, Texas — This holiday season, Moody Gardens is serving up a full lineup of festive dining experiences, from Thanksgiving feasts and holiday character breakfasts to Christmas Day brunches, chef-crafted dinners and a New Year’s Eve dinner overlooking Galveston.

Whether gathering with family for a holiday buffet, enjoying a special meal before or after A Very Electric Christmas or celebrating the arrival of 2027 at Shearn’s, Moody Gardens offers a variety of ways to make the season memorable.

Thanksgiving Dining

Thanksgiving Day: Nov. 26, 2026

• Thanksgiving Brunch
Location: Moody Gardens Convention Center – Expo A
Time: 10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Leave the cooking to Moody Gardens with a grand Thanksgiving brunch featuring a chilled Gulf seafood bar, holiday carving station, chef-crafted entrées and a dessert display filled with seasonal pies. Complimentary mimosas, Bloody Marys and valet parking are included.

• Shearn’s Thanksgiving Dining
Location: Shearn’s Seafood & Prime Steaks
Time: 2 – 9 p.m.
Enjoy a four-course Thanksgiving meal featuring a choice of butter-basted turkey breast or herb-crusted bison prime rib, finished with spiced pumpkin cheesecake. The regular Shearn’s menu will also be available.

• Plated Thanksgiving Lunch
Location: Café in the Park, Moody Gardens Hotel
Time: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Celebrate Thanksgiving with a plated lunch featuring a choice of prime rib, roasted turkey breast or salmon, followed by a dessert duo of chocolate cake and New York-style cheesecake.

• Thanksgiving Dinner Buffet
Location: Café in the Park, Moody Gardens Hotel
Time: 4 – 9 p.m.
The Thanksgiving buffet features chef-selected entrées including crab-stuffed Gulf redfish and maple-sage roasted turkey, along with a carving station and seasonal pies and holiday desserts.

• Thanksgiving Day Buffet
Location: The Garden Restaurant
Time: 10:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Enjoy a Thanksgiving feast featuring chef-carved ribeye, herb-roasted turkey with cornbread stuffing, seasonal salads and sides, followed by a holiday dessert table of pies, cookies and cakes.

• Thanksgiving Ready-to-Heat Meal
Location: Pelican Grille, Moody Gardens Golf Course
Pickup: Nov. 25, 12 – 4 p.m.
Order at least 72 hours in advance. Take home a prepared Thanksgiving meal serving four with sliced roasted turkey, cornbread stuffing, brown sugar glazed ham, garlic mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, cranberry relish and pumpkin pie. Additional pecan, pumpkin and apple pies are available.

Christmas Dining

Dec. 12–28, 2026

Character Breakfasts

• Breakfast with Santa
Dates: Dec. 12, 13, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23
Location: Frances Anne Moody Ballroom, Moody Gardens Hotel
Seatings: 8:30 and 10 a.m.
Santa joins guests for a festive breakfast featuring an omelet station, pancake and waffle station, hot chocolate and holiday treats. Every reservation includes a souvenir photo with Santa.

• Merry Little Mischief Morning Feast
Dates: Dec. 26–27
Location: Frances Anne Moody Ballroom, Moody Gardens Hotel
Seatings: 8:30 and 10 a.m.
This holiday character breakfast features green velvet waffles, decorate-your-own pancakes, a loaded cocoa bar and costumed characters at the table.

Holiday Show Dining

• A Very Electric Christmas Upgraded Concessions & Dining Add-Ons
Dates: Dec. 19, 2026–Jan. 2, 2027
Guests attending A Very Electric Christmas can enjoy an expanded selection of upgraded concessions during the show. Dinner is not included with the show ticket, but guests can also add prepaid dining before or after their performance at Shearn’s Seafood & Prime Steaks or Café in the Park.

• Shearn’s Plated Holiday Special
Location: Shearn’s Seafood & Prime Steaks
Time: Opens at 4 p.m.
Guests attending A Very Electric Christmas can add a prepaid dining experience before or after their selected performance.

• Café in the Park Pre- & Post-Show Buffet
Location: Café in the Park, Moody Gardens Hotel
Reservations: 4 and 4:30 p.m.
Guests attending A Very Electric Christmas can add a prepaid buffet before or after their selected performance.

• Holiday in the Gardens Buffet
Location: The Garden Restaurant
Time: Begins at 3 p.m.
Select dates; excludes Thanksgiving and Christmas Day
Enjoy a festive buffet featuring herbed turkey, roast of ribeye, lemon-pepper salmon and favorites for younger guests. The buffet is available before or after a visit to the Holiday Lights Trail.

Christmas Eve – Dec. 24

• Christmas Eve Buffet
Location: Café in the Park, Moody Gardens Hotel
Time: 4 – 8 p.m.
Gather for a Christmas Eve buffet featuring holiday favorites, chef-inspired selections and seasonal desserts.

• Plated Christmas Eve Dinner
Location: Shearn’s Seafood & Prime Steaks
Time: 4 – 9 p.m.
Enjoy a four-course holiday feast featuring a choice of crown rack of lamb or pan-seared duck breast, finished with white chocolate cranberry bread pudding. The regular Shearn’s menu will also be available.

• Christmas Eve Buffet
Location: The Garden Restaurant
Time: 10:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.
The Christmas Eve buffet features herbed turkey, roast of ribeye, holiday ham and fried shrimp, along with seasonal salads, sides, cookies and cakes.

• Christmas Ready-to-Heat Meal
Location: Pelican Grille, Moody Gardens Golf Course
Pickup: Dec. 24, 12 – 4 p.m.
Order at least 72 hours in advance. Take home a prepared Christmas meal serving four with sliced roasted turkey, cornbread stuffing, brown sugar glazed ham, garlic mashed potatoes, broccoli hollandaise, cranberry relish and pecan pie. Additional holiday pies are available.

Christmas Day – Dec. 25

• Christmas Day Brunch
Location: Moody Gardens Convention Center – Expo A
Time: 10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Celebrate Christmas with a grand holiday brunch featuring a chilled Gulf seafood bar with oysters and snow crab, made-to-order omelets, chef-selected entrées, carving stations and a Christmas dessert display.

• Christmas Day Plated Lunch
Location: Café in the Park, Moody Gardens Hotel
Time: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
The Christmas Day plated lunch features Caesar salad, a choice of beef tenderloin, herb and citrus roasted turkey breast or pan-seared Gulf snapper, plus whipped potatoes, Christmas stuffing, roasted asparagus and a dessert trio.

• Christmas Day Evening Buffet
Location: Café in the Park, Moody Gardens Hotel
Time: 4 – 8 p.m.
Enjoy a Christmas Day buffet featuring pan-seared Gulf snapper, beef tenderloin, a seasonal carving station and an assortment of holiday cookies, petit fours and other sweets.

• Plated Christmas Day Dinner
Location: Shearn’s Seafood & Prime Steaks
Time: 4 – 9 p.m.
Enjoy the same four-course holiday feast offered on Christmas Eve, featuring crown rack of lamb or pan-seared duck breast and white chocolate cranberry bread pudding. The regular Shearn’s menu will also be available.

• Christmas Day Buffet
Location: The Garden Restaurant
Time: 10:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.
The Christmas Day buffet features chef-carved roast of striploin, herbed turkey, blackened redfish, seasonal salads and sides, followed by a selection of holiday desserts.

New Year’s Eve Dining

Dec. 31, 2026

• New Year’s Eve Dinner at Shearn’s
Location: Shearn’s Seafood & Prime Steaks
Celebrate the arrival of 2027 with an evening of fine dining and panoramic views of Galveston Bay and the evening’s fireworks show.

For dining details, menus, reservations and additional information, visit www.moodygardens.org/dining/holiday-dining