Final Up to date On – thirtieth November, 2025
The Windcrest Christmas Lights is one among San Antonio’s most beloved vacation traditions and for good purpose. For many years, this close-knit group has turned its streets into one large neighborhood showcase, as residents go all out adorning their properties with lights, inflatables, and selfmade shows.
Uncover what’s new this 2025 and find out how to take advantage of the Windcrest Mild Up 2025 together with your family members.
Looking forward to the weekend? Don’t miss our full information to Issues to do in San Antonio this weekend, together with free festivals, reside music, and hidden gems.
Editor’s Observe: We do our greatest to maintain listings updated, however particulars could change. All the time confirm with occasion organizers or taking part areas earlier than heading out.
This text could include affiliate hyperlinks. Purchases made via them could earn us a small fee at no further value to you.
Additionally, try our publish on Monte Vista San Antonio Christmas Lights, New Braunfels Christmas Lights, Alamo Heights Christmas Lights, and Boerne Christmas Lights!
Windcrest Christmas Lights 2025: Dates, Time, and Theme
Picture credit score: Dan Reese, Mayor, Metropolis of Windcrest Fb
Windcrest kicks off its 2025 Mild-Up celebrations on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, with the annual Dedication Tree Lighting Ceremony. This 12 months’s dedication tree honors Windcrest Households, setting a heartfelt tone for the season.
As soon as the celebrations start, guests can drive via the neighborhood and revel in its vivid, imaginative shows. This 2025, the theme for the Windcrest Christmas Lights is “A Storybook Christmas!” So, count on designs impressed by basic tales, beloved characters, and tales that maintain particular that means.
You possibly can view these fantastic shows till December 31, 2025.
Windcrest Mild Up Contest
The perfect adorned properties will win the highest spots within the Windcrest Mild-Up Contest, which highlights essentially the most spectacular properties throughout a number of judging classes. These classes embrace:
Finest Avenue and/or Cul-de-sac
Craft / Finest Use of Home made Decor
Finest Multimedia
Finest Use of Inflatables
Non secular
Finest Use of Lights
Most Welcoming
Finest Enterprise
Finest Use of Theme
The theme encourages sturdy creativeness, private type, and loads of nostalgic allure. Shade decisions additionally keep versatile, giving residents room to show their properties into glowing scenes pulled straight from the pages of a e-book.
With that, you’re positive to be in for a beautiful night time leaping right into a storybook wonderland as you’ve by no means seen earlier than.
Are Windcrest Christmas Lights Free?
Sure, the Windcrest Christmas Lights expertise is totally free. The Metropolis of Windcrest retains this long-standing custom open to everybody, inviting guests to cruise via the neighborhood and benefit from the glowing shows with none admission value.
Windcrest Mild-Up Occasions for 2025
Picture Credit score: Metropolis of Windcrest
Right here’s a rundown of the official Mild-Up occasions in 2025:
Dedication Tree Lighting Ceremony – November 12, 2025, at 6:00 PM
Windcrest opens the Mild-Up season with the Dedication Tree Lighting Ceremony at Jim Seal and Crestway, with a concentrate on Windcrest households, giving the occasion a heat, community-centered tone.
Right here, you’ll be able to get pleasure from cookies and cocoa whereas taking photographs with Santa earlier than watching the tree come to life. The Magik Theatre can even carry out a particular storybook studying to tie into this 12 months’s “A Storybook Christmas” theme.
Sweet Cane Lane – November 19, 2025, at 6:00 PM
Sweet Cane Lane brings a burst of vacation allure to Windway and Patriot Island, turning the road right into a glowing path lined with festive lights, cheerful décor, and loads of neighborhood vitality.
You and your loved ones can stroll or drive via the world to soak within the sweetness of the shows, which set the tone for the remainder of Windcrest’s vacation season.
Mild-Up Celebration Kickoff – December 6, 2025, at 4:30 PM
The largest gathering of the Windcrest Christmas Lights occasion takes place at Metropolis Corridor on Midcrown Drive. Because the solar units, collect for the lighting of the official Mild-Up Tree, which marks the official begin to Windcrest’s vacation lights celebration.
Music will fill the plaza whereas native distributors serve meals and treats. Santa can even be becoming a member of the enjoyable for photographs, giving children an opportunity to share their want lists.
HO-HO-HO Market – December 13, 2025, from 2:00 PM to six:00 PM
The HO-HO-HO Market at 8101 Midcrown Dr. will flip your Saturday afternoon right into a cheerful vacation buying soiree.
Native artisans and small companies can be organising cubicles crammed with handmade items, seasonal crafts, décor, and scrumptious treats, supplying you with the possibility to select up distinctive Christmas finds whereas having fun with the Mild-Up ambiance.
Mild-Up Bake-Off – December 14, 2025, from 4:00 PM to six:00 PM
Windcrest’s Bake-Off on the Takas Park Civic Middle invitations residents and native companies to point out off their finest vacation creations.
Contestants can enter classes like candy breads, savory breads, desserts, cookies, pies, and even tamales. Every entry requires a minimum of 36 servings, so there’s loads for judges to pattern as they consider creativity, taste, and presentation.
Judging begins at 4:30 PM, and winners, together with the coveted Grand Champion, are introduced on the shut of the occasion. Solely Windcrest residents or companies with a Windcrest deal with could take part.
Mild-Up Bike Evening – December 16, 2025, at 6:00 PM
Mild-Up Bike Evening invitations cyclists of all ages to collect at 8101 Midcrown Dr. for a festive night journey. Riders typically beautify their bikes with strands of lights, glowing equipment, and vacation touches, turning the group right into a transferring parade of coloration.
The route winds via Windcrest’s most adorned streets, giving contributors an up-close take a look at the shows in a extra interactive method than a standard drive-through. It’s lively, cheerful, and filled with group spirit, good for anybody who enjoys somewhat motion with their vacation sightseeing.
Windcrest Christmas Lights Map & Driving Route
Picture Credit score: Metropolis of Windcrest FB Web page
Discovering essentially the most fantastic shows within the Windcrest Christmas Lights is straightforward with the official Mild-Up Map, which highlights each contest winners and taking part properties. Residents can register their addresses to be included on the map, making it easy for guests to identify essentially the most dazzling shows.
The Metropolis of Windcrest affords printed maps throughout the Mild-Up season for a donation that advantages the Windcrest Volunteer Fireplace Affiliation and different native nonprofits.
You possibly can avail of those maps at a number of areas throughout town, together with the Fireplace Administration Workplace at 8601 Midcrown Dr., which is open Monday via Friday from 8:00 AM to three:00 PM.
Parking
For parking, the occasion gives a number of handy choices.
The within lanes of Eaglecrest Boulevard, the within lane of Bayou Bend, and the alley portion of Candleglo provide easy accessibility to the shows whereas maintaining automobiles safely off the primary streets.
If you happen to plan to go to actions at Metropolis Corridor or decide up maps and supplies, the Metropolis Corridor car parking zone at 9290 Paseo de Conde is right.
Tricks to Keep away from Site visitors
o keep away from visitors throughout the Mild-Up season, preserve the following pointers in thoughts:
Arrive early or later within the night: Round 6 PM is right for lighter visitors.
Use really useful entry factors, akin to Midcrown/Walzem, the place you too can decide up a map from the Fireplace Division.
Take into account biking for a extra relaxed expertise and to get pleasure from designated bike-only areas, which scale back automobile visitors in sure sections.
Observe barricades and visitors circulation preparations arrange by town to maintain neighborhood streets protected and easy for all guests.
With somewhat planning, you’ll be able to get pleasure from Windcrest’s glowing shows with out the stress of heavy visitors.
Close by Vacation Points of interest
If you happen to’re making a visit out to Windcrest for the Mild‑Up, you’re truly in a terrific spot to hit another standout vacation sights close by. Listed here are a number of that carry very completely different sorts of Christmas magic from underground caverns to huge theme parks.
Christmas on the Caverns – Pure Bridge Caverns
Only a brief drive from San Antonio, Pure Bridge Caverns turns into an entire new world throughout its Christmas on the Caverns occasion. You possibly can stroll the Path of Lights below towering reside oaks draped in vacation colours, roast s’mores round a campfire, and skate on an artificial rink.
Deep contained in the caverns, the “Caroling within the Cavern” tour fills the caves with wealthy vocal harmonies (The pure acoustics make it particularly magical). Additionally, epect appearances by Santa and Mrs. Claus, a reindeer maze, yard video games, and even storytime with Mrs. Claus herself.
Santa’s Ranch – New Braunfels
About 40 minutes north of Windcrest, Santa’s Ranch is a basic drive-through gentle park with greater than three million lights illuminating a mile of winding Hill Nation roads. The show options animated Christmas scenes, towering lit bushes, and enjoyable tunnels.
In your journey, you’ll be able to get pleasure from scorching chocolate, kettle corn, and seasonal snacks from the concession stand.
The Mild Park (Retama Park)
If you happen to’re searching for a drive-through expertise a bit nearer, The Mild Park at Retama Park in Selma delivers massive time. The occasion encompasses a one-mile route crammed with synchronized lights that dance to vacation music, all considered from the consolation of your automobile.
SeaWorld San Antonio Christmas Celebration
Over at SeaWorld San Antonio, the park transforms into an enormous winter wonderland with tens of millions of lights unfold throughout 250 acres. You possibly can stroll via a “Tunnel of Lights,” catch reside exhibits like “O Wondrous Evening”, and watch performances that mix puppetry, music, and Christmas storytelling.
There’s additionally hearth pits for s’mores, seasonal foods and drinks stations, and nightly fireworks on choose dates.
Six Flags Fiesta Texas – Vacation within the Park
If you would like thrills + lights, head to Six Flags Fiesta Texas for Vacation within the Park (working Nov. 22–Dec 23, 2025). The park is lit up with 2.5 million lights and over 75,000 decorations, together with a 70-foot Christmas tree that’s exhausting to overlook.
You’ll additionally discover 14 reside exhibits, meet-and-greets with Santa and Looney Tunes characters, and seasonal meals and drinks. Experience lovers may also hop on choose coasters below vacation lights, making this a enjoyable mixture of adrenaline and Christmas spirit.
Ideas for Visiting Windcrest Christmas Lights
Picture credit score: Metropolis of Windcrest
Listed here are some sensible, actionable ideas that can assist you take advantage of your Windcrest Mild-Up expertise:
Decide up a Map EarlyThe map highlights contest winners and different standout properties, serving to you intend a route that maximizes your viewing.
Time Your Go to WiselyArriving round 6:00 PM tends to strike the most effective stability: the lights are absolutely seen, and visitors is lighter than later within the night. Some locals even recommend ready till 6:30–7:00 PM, when it’s really darkish, and the shows pop extra.
Use the Really useful Entry PointsEntering via Midcrown/Walzem provides you a smoother begin, particularly since volunteers from the Fireplace Division typically hand out maps there.
Drive Slowly & Be AlertThe pace restrict in Windcrest is 20 mph, and lots of guests cease their automobiles to take photographs. Look ahead to individuals exiting their automobiles, and if you should pause, flip in your hazard lights so others know.
Take into account Strolling or Biking for a Extra Relaxed ViewThere’s a bike-only part for a quieter, extra intimate expertise, and riders typically gentle up their bikes to affix within the enjoyable. If you happen to choose foot visitors, parking close to the hearth station and strolling the route helps you to skip a few of the worst of the visitors.
Be Affected person — and Convey Sizzling ChocolateWith so many individuals coming to see the lights, visitors can again up. Decelerate, benefit from the journey, and convey one thing heat to sip whilst you cruise. It helps make the wait really feel a part of the vacation magic.
Don’t Block the FlowIf you cease to take footage, attempt to use designated pull-off areas or facet streets. Blocking major routes creates gridlock, and locals emphasize being courteous to maintain the expertise easy for everybody
Nominate Your FavoritesUse the map to search out properties you’re keen on, then head to the Mild-Up web site to appoint them for the Folks’s Alternative Award. It’s a enjoyable solution to get entangled and help group shows.
And if you’d like much more methods to discover what’s taking place in San Antonio, try the newest Issues To Do This Weekend in San Antonio earlier than planning your subsequent outing.
Maya is a lifelong Texan native to the San Antonio space. Between her English research at UTSA, two younger youngsters, and small herd of canine, she’s all the time searching for methods to get out and get entangled. When she’s inside she’s studying, writing, or taking part in video video games, however she’s all the time prepared for a facet quest to native museums, exhibitions, and occasions.
