Things to Do in San Antonio in Winter 2019 - December & January Activities & More

Published: July 18, 2024

Despite the warm weather, San Antonio always has lots of fun and festive activities and things to do in the winter. If you’re looking for things to do in San Antonio in Winter 2019-2020, check out our list of some of the best holiday activities and attractions.

Save on Winter Attraction Admission

Regular admission to a number of these attractions is available on the San Antonio Explorer Pass. Choose as you go from 20 top attractions and save up to 40% on combined admission vs paying at the gate. See all available San Antonio, attractions & prices. Please note, some of these special Winter events may be separately ticketed and not available on the Explorer Pass.

Holiday in the Park at Six Flags Fiesta Texas

Where: Six Flags Fiesta Texas When: November 23, 2019 - January 5, 2020 You'll get to meet Santa, go on classic thrill rides, stroll through millions of twinkling lights, and more at Holiday in the Park. Stroll through San Antonio Mingle, where you can meet seasonal characters, marvel at a giant Christmas Tree, and see the city transformed into a magical holiday landscape. You can even walk through real snow in the Winter Wonderland. What's more, snap photos at the Magic of the Season Ornament, a giant tree ornament lit up with spectacular lights and The Heart of the Holidays, a festive musical showing at the Rockville High Theater. Getting in: Six Flags Fiesta Texas tickets are an included Premium Attraction option on the San Antonio Explorer Pass.

Christmas Celebration at SeaWorld San Antonio

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Where: SeaWorld San Antonio When: Select dates: November 23, 2019 - January 5, 2020 Head to SeaWorld to see the largest Christmas light display in Texas - back and bigger than ever with over 9 million twinkling lights spread out over 250 acres. You'll have lots of chances to take photos with special selfie spots throughout the park, each with a unique holiday twist. You can also meet Rudolph and other characters from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, a great opportunity for kids. Stay for the Sesame Christmas Parade to see all your kids' favorite characters from their favorite show. Getting in: SeaWorld San Antonio tickets are an included Premium Attraction option on the San Antonio Explorer Pass, however, some holiday events are ticketed separately.

Zoo Lights at the San Antonio Zoo

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Where: San Antonio Zoo When: November 22 – December 31, 2019 - 12pm - 9pm Sunday to Friday; 10am - 9pm Saturday Head to the San Antonio Zoo for a family-friendly holiday celebration and stroll under the festive lights, sip hot cocoa, roast s'mores, and more. Kids will get to meet with Santa and tell him everything on their wish list or take a turn cutting the ice on the new rink or even riding a camel. There are tons of sights to see, games to play, and festive snacks to keep you entertained and in the holiday spirit. Getting in: San Antonio Zoo tickets are an included attraction choice on the San Antonio Explorer Pass, however, admission to Zoo Lights is a separately ticketed event.

Old West Christmas Light Fest

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Where: Don Strange Ranch When: select dates between November 28 - December 25, 2019; 6:00pm-10:00pm Experience the holidays in Old Western-style at Don Strange Ranch for Texas-sized sparkle and wonder. Come to the Christmas Light Fest for a fun drive-through lighting experience. Wander through more than two million twinkling lights, across sparkling holiday displays along a two mile path. Then, spend some time in Santa's Village, a quaint barn filled with rustic decor and holiday activities. "Experience the magic of a true Texas Christmas," and see everything that makes the holidays in San Antonio just so special. Getting In: Christmas Light Fest is separately ticketed and is not included on the Explorer Pass.

Remember to Save on Attraction Admission

So there you have it. Our list of a few things to do in San Antonio in the winter, including holiday events, other seasonal activities in December, January, and more. Remember, some of these options are available on the San Antonio Explorer Pass, where you can save up to 40% on combined admission vs paying at the gate. Please note, the winter events taking place at some of these attractions may be separately ticketed and not included with the Explorer Pass. We hope you plan to add a few of these fun options to your winter vacation itinerary.

Casey Makovich
Go City Travel Expert

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Things to Do in San Antonio in Summer

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Katie Sagal
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Alamo Plaza Attractions - Things to Do While in San Antonio

The city of San Antonio seems to revolve around the site of the Alamo, the most visited historic landmark in Texas. Located in the center of downtown San Antonio, adjacent to the San Antonio River, Alamo Plaza is a bustling area full of fun restaurants, attractions, and other things to do. Check out our list of Alamo Plaza attractions to help plan your day around exploring the Alamo Plaza, from world-class museums to action-packed rides. Save on Admission to Alamo Plaza Area Attractions Many of the Alamo Plaza attractions listed below are available on the San Antonio Explorer Pass. Choose as you go from many of the top San Antonio attractions and save up to 40% off combined admission vs. paying at the gate. Or, build your own pass and save up to 20% off. For all available passes, attractions, and prices - Learn more. Hop-On Hop-Off San Antonio Bus Tour One of the best ways to get acquainted with the area is via the CitySightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off San Antonio Bus Tour. You'll get to see all the best of San Antonio, from the Riverwalk to Southtown. Along the way you'll get informative and entertaining narration by professional guides who know all about the city's most significant landmarks, neighborhoods, and hotspots. Enjoy the freedom to hop-on and off at any of the stops to explore some of the popular attractions along the way. Getting In: Hop On Hop Off San Antonio Bus tickets are available on the San Antonio Explorer Pass. Guinness World Records Museum Explore some fascinating record-breaking history at Guinness World Records where you can see the pages of the famous books brought to life through various interactive displays and exhibits. Guinness World Records is the first museum in the world to give guests a chance at breaking official records. See if you can set any new records in the Attempt Arena or catch one of the daily live shows featuring official Guinness World Records adjudicators. Getting In: Guinness World Records Museum tickets are available on the San Antonio Explorer Pass. Ripley's Haunted Adventure If you're looking for a good scream session, see how long you last before getting scared in this spooky and interactive haunted house adventure. With its cast of live actors, high tech special effects, creepy artifacts, and props, the line between fake and reality is scarily indistinguishable. Getting In: Ripley's Haunted Adventure tickets are available on the San Antonio Explorer Pass. Ripley's Believe It or Not! San Antonio See how you stack up next to the world's tallest man, Robert Wadlow, at Ripley's Believe It or Not! San Antonio There's something for everyone at Ripley's Believe It or Not! San Antonio, the strangest place in San Antonio. Take a walk through 18 themed galleries and over 500 exhibits in the "Odditorium," an entire museum highlighting bizarre and unusual phenomenon from around the world. In addition to the bizarre and unusual things you'll see, you'll also get to learn about the fascinating life of Mr. Ripley himself; from semi-pro baseball player and cartoonist to collector and curator of his famous museums. Getting In: Ripley's San Antonio tickets are separately ticketed and not available on the San Antonio Explorer Pass. San Antonio Fire Museum Learn about the history of the Fire Service through an extensive collection of exhibits filled with artifacts, documents, and photos documenting the Fire Service dating back to the mid 1800's. Young ones will especially enjoy dressing up in authentic replicas of Firefighters' gear and then climbing onto the 1953 International fire truck built by the Simms Fire Equipment Company. Getting In: Admission to the San Antonio Fire Museum is free. Let's Recap There you have it - some of the fun Alamo Plaza attractions and things to do in the heart of San Antonio, Texas. Plan to add a few of the attractions above to your vacation itinerary to make the most of your trip. Remember, a number of the attractions listed above in addition to other popular San Antonio area attractions are available on the San Antonio Explorer Pass.
Casey Makovich

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