Holiday in The Gardens

The North Pole meets the Caribbean as Moody Gardens brings back ICE LAND: Caribbean Christmas with an underwater theme and exciting guest experiences. Guests will embark on a breathtaking underwater journey of ice sculptures from the shores of Galveston Island through the Gulf of Mexico.

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
• Mistletoe
• Plenty of photo and selfie opportunities!

Enjoy the beloved animated television classic as the magic of 4D engages all of your senses. Classic songs and dialogue are brought to life by loveable, iconic characters:

• The Abominable Snow Monster
• Hermey the Elf
• Santa Claus
• Rudolph “the most famous reindeer of all.”

As you enjoy the Festival of Lights trail, it will be hard to hard for you to miss Star: The Dancing Tree of Light. Measuring in at 4 stories tall, this magnificent digital dancing tree of light shines brighter than any Christmas tree in Texas! Stop by and take a photo or selfie with this beauty and enjoy the music accompanied by each of its displays.

On our Regular Peak Nights, you can enjoy an evening cruise aboard the Colonel Paddlewheel Boat. See the holiday lights sparkling off Galveston Bay for a whole new perspective of the Festival of Lights.

Be sure to check out Moody Gardens’ Cirque Joyeux Holiday Show as a team of acrobats, aerialists, cats and more perform for an enchanting evening of circus, music and comedy with a matinee, evening and dinner shows.

Ring in the New Year at the Moody Gardens Hotel, Spa and Convention Center. The evening will begin with light bites followed by dinner with a spectacular Holiday Show, a walk through the Festival of Lights trail and plenty of games and activities. Stay up with us to countdown to the new year and watch our very own take on the New Year’s Eve Ball Drop.