# Ford Holiday River Parade & River Walk Holiday Lights > Event for families in the San Antonio–New Braunfels area (TX). Times are Central Time. - When: Nov 27 – Jan 10 · 6:00 PM – 11:00 PM - Where: San Antonio River Walk & Arneson River Theatre, 849 E Commerce St, San Antonio, TX 78205 - Ages: All ages (paved river pathways, ramp and elevator access at Rivercenter and street bridges; baby carriers recommended on crowded parade night) - Price: Free to view lights along public river walkways; optional reserved grandstand parade seating $15–$40 per ticket - Organizer: San Antonio River Walk Association & Visit San Antonio - Official page: https://www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com/events/ford-holiday-river-parade/ - Last checked: Thu, Nov 5 Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Nov 11, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-11-10), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/san-antonio/activities/ford-holiday-river-parade-and-river-walk-holiday-lights--listing-de7a95e1eba887a5a8690082 ## About The world-famous San Antonio River Walk transforms into a mesmerizing holiday paradise with more than 100,000 brilliant, twinkling lights draped over the towering bald cypress trees along the winding riverbanks. The season officially launches the day after Thanksgiving with the historic Ford Holiday River Parade, featuring over 25 lavishly illuminated floats carrying costumed performers, local celebrities, choir groups, and Santa Claus himself gliding along the downtown waterways. Following parade night, the dazzling canopy of multicolored lights turns on automatically every evening at dusk through early January. Families can stroll along the pedestrian river level, dine at outdoor riverbank cafes, or take a festive guided boat tour with Go Rio Cruises. Pathways feature accessible ramps at bridge crossings and street-level access points near Arneson River Theatre and the Shops at Rivercenter. ## Similar picks in San Antonio - [Holiday Lights on the San Antonio River Walk](https://grassyknees.com/san-antonio/activities/holiday-lights-on-the-san-antonio-river-walk--listing-746f5b9f9b9f1e87345e057d) — Fri, Nov 27 · San Antonio River Walk (downtown portion) · All ages · Free · checked Oct 16. Each year the downtown River Walk switches on its holiday lights the day after Thanksgiving, during the Ford Holiday River Parade lighting ceremony at Arneson River Theatre… - [Light the Way Holiday Festival at University of the Incarnate Word](https://grassyknees.com/san-antonio/activities/light-the-way-holiday-festival-at-university-of-the-incarnate-word--listing-c824447c7c7784d775c94ed1) — Nov 21 – Jan 6 · 3:00 PM – 9:30 PM · University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) · All ages · Free · checked Nov 5. An extraordinary San Antonio family holiday tradition for four decades, the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) illuminates its historic Broadway campus with nearly a million… - [Zoo Lights at San Antonio Zoo](https://grassyknees.com/san-antonio/activities/zoo-lights-at-san-antonio-zoo--listing-74ad7f7fab515180569b54b6) — Nov 21 – Jan 3 · 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM · San Antonio Zoo · All ages · From $27.99 · checked Nov 7. San Antonio Zoo transforms into a shimmering winter wonderland with millions of eco-friendly twinkling lights, larger-than-life glowing animal lanterns, and festive interactive… - [45th Annual Ford Holiday River Parade and Lighting Ceremony](https://grassyknees.com/san-antonio/activities/45th-annual-ford-holiday-river-parade-and-lighting-ceremony--listing-1c93a363e09e50246595db67) — Fri, Nov 27 · 6:00 PM · San Antonio River Walk (parade start at Tobin Center for the Performing Arts) · With admission · checked Oct 14. San Antonio's day-after-Thanksgiving river parade and official lighting of the River Walk holiday lights. Theme: 'Holiday Wishes Come True', with the Witte Museum as Grand… - [Holiday Market and Lights Alive Drive-Thru Light Show at Traders Village](https://grassyknees.com/san-antonio/activities/holiday-market-and-lights-alive-drive-thru-light-show-at-traders-villa--listing-538738c97b2fba53548810a8) — Nov 20 – Dec 31 · Traders Village San Antonio · All ages · checked Oct 14. A holiday marketplace with winter-inspired food, seasonal treats, holiday crafts, festive activities, themed photo opportunities and gift vendors, followed after dark by a… - [Crumbling Castle Lights Drive-Through Forest of Lights — Comfort](https://grassyknees.com/san-antonio/activities/crumbling-castle-lights-drive-through-forest-of-lights-comfort--listing-81e4d665ae41923c260255c9) — Nov 20 – Dec 31 · 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM · Crumbling Castle Lights, Comfort · From $40 · checked Oct 27. A holiday drive-through forest on more than 30 acres of Hill Country land north of Boerne near Comfort. Families follow over a mile of wooded trail through five light tunnels and… ## More for families - [Things to do with kids in Bexar County, TX](https://grassyknees.com/san-antonio/counties/bexar-county-tx) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/san-antonio/counties/bexar-county-tx.md) - [Christmas lights and holiday events for kids in San Antonio](https://grassyknees.com/san-antonio/christmas) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/san-antonio/christmas.md) - [Thanksgiving break with kids in San Antonio](https://grassyknees.com/san-antonio/thanksgiving) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/san-antonio/thanksgiving.md) - [Things to do with kids in San Antonio — November 2026](https://grassyknees.com/san-antonio/events/2026-11) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/san-antonio/events/2026-11.md) - [This weekend in San Antonio](https://grassyknees.com/san-antonio/this-weekend) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/san-antonio/this-weekend.md) - [Things to do with kids in San Antonio](https://grassyknees.com/san-antonio) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/san-antonio.md)