Magical winter lights
Of course, the lovely mermaid was a plus, too!įor a couple of hours every night, the “Ice Sisters” (yes, we all really know who they mean) reside in Ice, ready to greet visitors. It’s hard not to start humming “Under the Sea” to yourself as you approach the Sea display, which definitely ranked as one of my favorites of the entire experience – mainly because of the stunning walk-in area designed to make you feel that you were below the waves with the friendly sea creatures. The special Space area this year pays tribute to the 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11 with lighted tunnels populated with aliens, and a giant, walk-through maze whose center is circled by an enormous revolving space shuttle.
A stage that lights up as participants step and dance on its surface, a cowboy riding a bronco surrounded by longhorn, and a wall of sights from countries around the world fill out this area of the park. There’s no mistaking The Houston section with it’s large lettered sign. This is one of the displays that really made us stop and think about all of the talented people behind Magical Lights. After you find your birth animal on a wall of the Chinese Zodiac, turn to your right for a real “wow” factor: a wall of immense blooms in brilliant colors magically open and close almost seeming to breathe. A grove of cherry blossoms invites visitors to leave heart shaped notes among its branches, and a fascinating water garden seems to ripple thanks to clever lighting patterns. Travel to The East, and enter visions of the homeland of the talented artists who created these lantern lights. On brisk nights like last night, it sure makes a yummy difference. Before you leave the area, look for a big lighted barrel and get a warm (or cold) drink to enjoy on your walk. The Village is fairly centrally located, with a variety of traditional displays like nutcrackers, reindeer and presents surrounding a towering Christmas tree. Sitting inside a large lighted ornament with room enough for your entire family to pose together, the couple encourages friends of all ages to stop by with their wish lists and cameras.
Santa! We wanted to get in a quick visit with Mr. THE VILLAGE My friend and I headed to The Village first, because. To truly appreciate the work and artistry that goes into a piece, take a look at it both from afar and up close! There are nine themed areas in the exhibit, not counting the carnival: the Kingdom the Village the East Houston Space Ice the Dinosaur the Square and the Sea. Designs are sent to lantern technicians and artisans in Zigong, China, and the completed components are assembled on-site. The festival, the largest of its kind in the United States, runs for two months and requires ten months to plan the next one. It’s the largest festival of its kind in the United States. If you’re only able to see one Christmas light show in the Houston area during the holiday season, push this one to the top of your list.įilling 20 acres of space just outside Gulf Greyhound Park in LaMarque, where its been brightening holiday seasons since 2016, the remarkable spectacle is made up of intricate display pieces created using Chinese lantern-making techniques incorporating over six million lights.