Happy holidays, Houston. While other cities might have the advantage of snow and cozy traditional weather, here in south we make do with what we have. If you haven’t already hit the ice this season, can really do so at Moody Garden’s Ice Land – a holiday experience complete with ice sculptures, characters, decor and more, not excluding a crystal ice bar.
Opening on Saturday, November 23, Moody Gardens’s iconic ICE LAND sculpture festival is annual holiday tradition that takes place in Galveston. This year’s ICE LAND will feature ice sculpture of fauna from the North Pole to the South Pole with sculptures of polar bears, humpback whales, penguins, reindeer, and more.
Each year, Moody Gardens festival features ice sculptures and character fitting to a particular theme, such as the past Christmas Around the World, Rainforest Holiday, and Caribbean Christmas events. This year’s themed is ICE LAND Pole-to-Pole.
In addition to the sculptures, the yuletide event features a variety of other seasonal fun including a sleigh slide, train rides, ice skating rink, and entire rooms made of ice.
This includes Shivers Ice Bar. Here, visitors can order from a frosted brew or a shot of an optional spirit. Beverages are priced at $12 for 1, or $20 for 2.
Moody Gardens will also reprise its annual Festival of Lights. Here, visitors can stroll through over two million twinkling lights while enjoying sights of Galveston Bay, concession areas, s’mores by the fire, hot chocolate, and other festive bites.
Holiday at the Gardens is open from November 23 through January 1. Ice Land is open daily from 10 am to 10 pm on peak nights, from 11 am to 9 pm on value days, and even Christmas Day from noon to 10 pm. Festival of Lights is open from 4 pm to 10 pm on peak nights, and from 4 pm to 9 pm on value days.