We’ve come a long way since Edward H. Johnson hand-wired 80 red, white and blue light bulbs around his Christmas tree in 1882. An associate of Thomas Edison, Johnson had a “bright idea” and wanted to make a safer alternative from those who would decorate trees with candles, which were dangerous and led to many fires.
His display at his Menlo Park laboratory in New Jersey were viewed by those traveling by train and drew large crowds, so large that Johnson felt compelled to turn his creation into a tradition – every year, he added more bulbs to the tree. He featured 120 bulbs in 1884, according to “The New York Times.” At that time, electricity was not yet widely available and light bulbs were very expensive, so families didn’t start using electric Christmas lights right away. In 1895, President Grover Cleveland placed multi-colored electric lights on the White House tree.
Until 1903, when General Electric began to offer affordable pre-assembled kits of Christmas lights, string lights were reserved for the wealthy and electrically savvy. Before 1903, the wiring of electric lights had cost about $300, which is about $2,000 in today’s dollars, and would require the service of an electrician.
On Christmas Eve in 1923, President Calvin Coolidge began the country’s celebration of Christmas by lighting the National Christmas Tree with 3,000 electric lights. Every year, people gather to see the large tree aglow and beautifully decorated with ornaments.
With the Christmas holidays in full swing, now’s the perfect time to gaze at the lights and decorations throughout the area.
If you haven’t already, make sure you visit the massive Christmas tree in downtown at the Event Centre Lake. It’s the perfect spot for selfies and holiday pictures. Take a spin through Lamar University for their Cardinal Lights and Boomtown City in Lights at the Spindletop Boomtown Museum near Lamar. Make sure you also drive by and see one of our favorite spots in Beaumont – McFaddin-Ward House (1906 Calder Ave.). Don’t forget Christmas Strolls at Shangri La Botanical Gardens in Orange. Their display ends Dec. 21.
Those with time, a must-see is Magical Winter Lights, which is considered the grandest of them all. Located at the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds in Rosenberg (southwest of Houston), Magical Winter Lights was named Champion of “The Great Christmas Light Fight” on ABC and boasts the largest holiday lighting attraction in the state. This dazzling spectacle features thousands of intricately designed lanterns in various themes, shapes, and sizes. It is a winter wonderland display that is sure to capture the essence of the festive season with more than 6 million lights. Guests can walk through illuminated tunnels, admire towering sculptures, and even take part in interactive exhibits. The show is open through Jan. 5, 2025. Tickets are available online at magicalwinterlights.com and start at $19.
A favorite of many is Zoo Lights at the Houston Zoo. Now through Jan. 5, 2025, visitors will enjoy the beautiful zoo grounds illuminated with earth-friendly LED bulbs and take photos in front of this year’s new Whimsical Wildlife tree and sip hot chocolate by one of the smores-making stations. Santa returns to his workshop to take photos until Dec. 23. Guests can stroll down pathways of colorful moving lights and through the immersive Twinkle Trail. New this year, two cookie decorating stations will keep friends and families entertained at Twiga Café and Cypress Circle Café. A new holiday tree at the end of the Reflection Pool will round out the holiday experience.
There’s also a picture-perfect winter scene at Snowy Slopes, featuring a snow machine and ski lift chairs. Life-sized animal lanterns and great oak trees wrapped in winter lights in the Holiday Grove. Vibrant lights will round out the holiday experience in the Enchanted Forest.
Prices start at $27 and are only available online at houstonzoo.org. Zoo Lights ends Jan. 5, 2025.
Now through Jan. 5, 2025, you can embark on a holiday adventure that transcends Earth’s boundaries and transports you to the edge of the universe. Galaxy Lights, presented by Reliant, at Space City Houston in Clear Lake is a space-themed holiday light show that defies gravity. Create out-of-this-world memories with a holiday experience beyond imagination. Other attractions include a light tunnel, an indoor meteor shower, and a brand-new interactive show – “Celebrate Light” – that explores the science behind light. The show takes place every hour starting at 6:30 p.m. with the last show starting at 9:30 p.m. View spacecenter.org for tickets.
Don’t forget about Moody Gardens’ Holidays in the Gardens through Jan. 1, 2025. Enjoy a festive stroll along the mile-long illuminated trail featuring 2 million lights themed to holiday music with spectacular views of Galveston Bay. Along the way, visitors can enjoy concession areas, hot chocolate, s’mores and plenty of opportunities for pictures. There’s also 3D and 4D holiday films, train rides, ice skating and an artic slide. For tickets, visit moodygardens.com.
Finally, if you have spare time, take the four-hour drive to Slovacek’s in the town of West, Texas, just north of Waco. They have a massive Christmas store filled with all sorts of holiday goodies as well as a bakery and meat market where they make their own sausage.
View slovacekwesttexas.com for hours and more.