Southern Byways

Holiday lights and festivals aren’t just limited to towns and cities. Many of the top amusement and theme parks around the region know how to celebrate the season as well.You all ready know about Schlitterbahn’s Hill Country Christmas in New Braunfels,Texas, so let’s take a look at other events at parks around the south. 

• Enjoy Holiday in the Park at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington and Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio. The event at both parks run through January 4. In San Antonio, you can enjoy activities such as snow sledding and numerous shows. In Arlington, there’s the holiday light show and Frosty’s Snow Hill where you can go sledding.
• It’s a great way to conclude a year-long 20th birthday celebration with a holiday celebration. Open on weekends through December 31, SeaWorld San Antonio events include Deck the Hall with Clyde and Seamore, Santa visits and Shamu Claus.
• Over 4 million lights decorate Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., during Smoky Mountain Christmas. Through January 3, you can enjoy such favorite shows as Christmas in the Smokies and Dollywood’s Babes in Toyland. Don’t forget about the Carol of Trees and the Christmas Pyramid. New this year is the Polar Express 4-D Experience, guaranteed to be a hit for all ages.
• Festival of Lights is happening through December 31 at Wild Adventures Park in Valdosta, Ga. The event features over a million lights along with a giant Christmas tree, an opportunity to meet Rudolph and friends and much more.
• Catch Silver Springs’ (Ocala, Fla.) Festival of Lights on December 5-6, 12 - 24 and 26-27. Happening from dusk until 8:30 p.m., you can enjoy over a million twinkle lights and lighted displays, as well as a lighted boat parade and other surprises.
• The holiday events at SeaWorld Orlando, happening through January 4, 2009, includes The Polar Express, Shamu Christmas Miracles and Chistmastide, a holiday fountain show.
• Did you know that the Grinch is at Universal Orlando? Oh yes, you can meet him at Islands of Adventure during Grinchmas. Don’t miss out on having breakfast with him on December 6-7, 11-30 and January 1, 2009. Other holiday events at Universal Orlando include Macy’s Holiday Parade, Barney’s Christmas Show and KidZone Holiday Show.
• Walt Disney World’s Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas is taking place through December 19 at the Magic Kingdom. EPCOT is celebrating Holidays around the World through December 30. The incredible Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Hollywood Studios can be seen through January 4, 2009.

photo credits: (top left) The Grinchmas Tree, flickr, creative commons by Stuart and Rachel Johnson; (top right) Carol of Trees at Dollywood, courtesy of Dollywood; (bottom left) Osborne Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Disney World, flickr, creative commons by Donna62; (bottom right) Festival of Lights,flickr, creative commons by greenkayak.