Christmas Lights & Parades Near Pipe Creek, TX
River parades, night parades, and light shows all around the Hill Country, from a light show right down the road to San Antonio's River Walk. Stay at Al's Hideaway and see them all.
Check Availability & Book Your StayChristmas in the Texas Hill Country
December in the Hill Country means lighted floats, hot cocoa, and millions of Christmas lights, and Al's Hideaway sits right in the middle of it. Boerne and Bandera are each about 15 minutes away, and San Antonio and its famous River Walk are about 45 minutes away.
We list the events our guests ask about most, with dates as the organizers have posted them. Where a 2026 date, hour, or price has not been announced yet, we say so and link to the official site. We update this page each season, and details can change, so check before you go. We are not affiliated with these events.
Mark Your Calendar
Parade dates for 2026, as posted by the organizers.
- Fri, Nov 27Ford Holiday River Parade, San Antonio River Walk, 6 PM
- Sat, Dec 5Boerne Weihnachts Parade, Main Street, 6 PM (backup date Sun, Dec 6)
- Sat, Dec 12Bandera Cowboy Christmas Jubilee & Parade, City Park, parade at 6:30 PM
- Nov – DecDrive-through and walk-through light shows, opening dates are posted on each show's website below
Christmas Parades & Holiday Events
Two river-and-Main-Street favorites, plus one cowboy parade close to home.
Ford Holiday River Parade
6 PM start · about 45 minutes away
Lighted floats glide down the San Antonio River Walk, along with the lighting ceremony. 2026 is the 45th annual parade, themed “Holiday Wishes Come True,” and the River Walk is strung with about 200,000 lights.
- Tickets are sold online only and are non-refundable; guests age 2 and up need one
- Free, first-come viewing on the east side between Pecan and Richmond Streets
- No strollers or ice chests
- ADA seating and River Walk restaurant dinner packages are available
Boerne Weihnachts Parade
6 PM · backup date Sun, Dec 6 · about 15 minutes away
Boerne's night parade rolls down Main Street from the fire station to River Road, with up to 100 floats. 2026 is the parade's 39th anniversary. It is part of Weihnachts Weekend, the first weekend of December, which also brings a Wassail Walk and Stocking Stroll.
Dickens on Main and More
Downtown Boerne
Boerne's holiday season also includes Dickens on Main over Thanksgiving weekend, Kinder Fest with a Cookie Crawl and Santa scavenger hunt, Cave Without a Name holiday concerts, and Cowboy Christmas Market Days. The city lists these on one page. Dates change each year, so check before you go.
Cowboy Christmas Shopper's Jubilee & Parade
Night parade 6:30 PM at City Park · about 15 minutes away
Bandera, the Cowboy Capital of the World, celebrates with local shopping specials, Western entertainers, a city-wide scavenger hunt on December 11 and 12, and a night parade. The city park and courthouse are also decorated from November 23 through January 1.
- Jubilee entry is listed at $10, and children 12 and under are free
Christmas Light Shows & Drive-Through Displays
From the closest show to the biggest, all a short evening drive from your cabin.
Old West Christmas Light Fest
Enchanted Springs Ranch, 242 State Hwy 46 W, Boerne · right down the road
About 2 million lights at Enchanted Springs Ranch, and it is the closest big light show to Al's Hideaway. Included with admission: nightly Santa photos, live music, s'mores, face painting, a scavenger hunt, a playground, and trick roping. Petting zoo, laser tag, mechanical bull, and food trucks cost extra.
Their site says the 2026 season is coming, but dates, hours, and prices are not posted yet. Call 830-215-0686 or check the website.
The Jones CHRISTmas Ranch
Near Boerne
A drive-through show with about 4 million lights synchronized to music you tune in on your car radio (94.5 FM). Santa photos were offered on site in 2025.
2026 dates and prices are not posted yet. For reference, in 2025 the season ran November 7 to December 31 at $40 per vehicle, with a vehicle limit of 9 feet tall and 20 feet long. Call 210-885-0006.
Crumbling Castle Lights
Just north of Boerne
Drive through more than 30 acres of Hill Country lit up like a magical forest, with holiday scenes, fairy-tale sculptures, and thousands of wrapped trees. This family-owned display lists a November 2026 season with gates opening at 6 PM. Exact dates and prices are on their website.
Lights Alive!
San Antonio · about 45 minutes away
A drive-through Christmas light show plus the Park & Play Winter Wonderland festival, with two San Antonio locations listed for 2026. In 2025 the drive-through was at 5931 Roft Rd, so confirm the location, dates, and ticket prices for this year before you go.
The Light Park
Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium, 5757 US-90 · about 45 minutes away
A drive-through and walk-through light show at the stadium on San Antonio's west side. One ticket covers the whole car, and they list the 2026 season as opening in November. Hours and prices are on their site.
Details come from each event's website. Dates, hours, and prices may change, so confirm before you go.
Tips for a Great Night Out
A little planning makes the evening easier.
Buy Tickets Early
The River Parade sells tickets online only and drive-through shows often price by the car. Book ahead for weekends.
RV & Truck Rules
Some drive-throughs limit vehicle height and length. Leave the RV at your site and drive the car or truck.
Dress Warm
Hill Country nights get chilly after dark. Bring layers for the parades and walk-through shows.
Plan the Drive Home
Country roads are dark at night. Stay with us in Pipe Creek so a short drive gets you back to your cabin.
How to Plan Your Hill Country Christmas
Three quick steps.
Pick Your Nights
Choose a parade date and one or two light shows. Boerne and Bandera are close, so it is easy to fit in more than one.
Book Your Stay With Us
Reserve a cabin, RV site, or cowboy campsite at Al's Hideaway. Book 2+ nights and use code FUN to save 10%.
See the Lights, Then Relax
Enjoy the show, then come home to a warm cabin, a campfire, and some of the darkest, starriest skies near San Antonio.
More to Do While You're Here
Fill the daytime hours too.
Bandera Cowboy Weekend
Ride a horse or feed a longhorn: horseback riding & longhorns, plus our Bandera guide.
Stay Where the Trip Really Happens
Al's Hideaway is a family-owned, pet-friendly retreat in Pipe Creek with no pet fees and no cleaning fees.
13 Handcrafted Log Cabins
Real beds, A/C, and pets always free. See the cabins.
RV Sites & Cowboy Campsites
10 full-hookup RV sites and 9 cowboy campsites. See RV & camping.
Pool, Store & 20 Acres
Cool off after your ride and stock up at MeMaw's Country Store.