Christmas light displays are abundant around Texas from neighborhoods that create their own magical wonderland to huge commercial displays with millions of lights set to music. Small town Texas comes alive during Christmas.

I've researched the web trying to find all the best displays around Texas. I've provided links so that you can learn more about each one.  If you know of any I should add, just drop me an email and I'll be more than happy to add them.

Load up the kids and head to one near you. Many of them open in November and run through New Year's eve.

For more than 20 years, Austin's 37th Street has been transformed into one of the most spectacular displays of Christmas lights in the state. Neighbors string strand after strand from trees to rooftops covering everything in sight. They’ve even been known to decorate their pets and themselves in twinkling lights.

The creativity of this neighborhood has been featured on “Good Morning America”, in magazines, and newspapers.

Due to the popularity of this event, it is advised that you park your vehicle blocks away and walk. Traffic is often blocked off and directed by Austin police due to the number of pedestrians and motorists trying to view the displays.

Location: From I-35, exit at 38^th Street and go west. Once you reach Speedway Street, you may want to start looking for a parking space. Cedar Street is the first left after Speedway and you may be able to find parking near there.

Grand Prairie, Texas

This holiday event runs from Thanksgiving Night to New Year’s Eve. There are over 4 Million lights along 2 miles of roadway. There are over 600 displays that line and arch over the walkway path creating Texas' largest light tunnel. There is a Holiday Magic Light Show Theater which is a 10 minute light show that is choreographed to music.

The price runs about $20/car of up to 8 people (more for limos and buses). Carousel and carnival rides are included with the admission price.

There is a gift shop and concessions are available, as well as pictures with Santa.

On weekends with high traffic, this can take a couple of hours to get through. It’s recommended that you allow about 2-3 hours to properly see this event.

Grapevine, Texas

This holiday event provides lots of entertainment for the whole family. Some of the events included are:

Christmas on Main Street:

• Runs from November 27-28-29, December 4-5-6-11-12-13-18-19 & 20, 2009
  Fridays - 3 p.m. - 6 p.m.
  Saturdays - 12 p.m. - 6 p.m.
  Sundays - 2 p.m. - 5 p.m.
• Events include: visiting with Santa, free horse-drawn trolley rides, kids activities, freeKettle Corn, costumed characters.

Carol of Lights:

• November 30, 2009, 7:00 PM
• This free event include sing-a-longs with local choirs, and the lighting of the Christmas tree

North Pole Express

• November 27-28-29, December 4-5-6-11-12-13-18-19-20, 2009
• Dress in your PJs and climb aboard the steam train that includes carols, stories and Santa

Parade of Lights

• December 3, 2009 at 7:00 PM

This free event includes more than 100 lighted floats and marching bands playing holiday music.

• December 5, 2009 Starting at Dusk
  
  The lighted boat parade, called Twinkle Light Parade on Lake Grapevine, is visible from the Lake Grapevine shoreline.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas in Ice:

Held at the majestic Gaylord Texan from November 27-January 3^rd from 10 am-9 pm on Sunday through Thursday and 10 a.m.-10 pm on Friday and Saturdays

Tickets range from $10 t0 $23 depending on age and day. Parking is included in the price. Lodging at the Gaylord runs from $199/night to $399/night plus tax.

A life-sized Whoville will be created by 40 master artisans from China out of two million pounds of ice. Carving the replica town will take a month. It will include the Grinch’s frozen mountaintop home and 20 ft high slides. Whoville will include Who’s feasting, Max, the dog, and more.

In addition to Whoville, the Gaylord will have 1.5 million holiday lights, 30 seven-foot tall ornaments strung from the top of its glass roof; a 50-foot tall rotating Christmas tree; multiple miniature train sets; 14-foot tall decorated cowboys boots; a life-size gingerbread house; Santa’s workshop including a cookie conveyor belt and control station; and dozens of displays including 2,300 feet of garland, 5,600 wreaths, and 10,000 ornaments. (80% of the lights at the Gaylord are LED)

Entertainment includes Santa & Mrs. Claus, toy soldiers on stilts, singing cowboys, balloon artists, and more.

Providence Village, Texas

Providence Christmas was the former Vaderville Christmas put on by the Darren and Angela Vader family in Providence, Texas. It was inspired by Carson Williams' 2005 display in Ohio that was synchronized to Transiberian Orchestra’s “Wizards of Winter” that was featured in a Miller Lite commercial and spawned thousands of replicas across the United States.

They have over 70,000 lights. 60 strobe lights, several virtual snow machines, a virtual Santa, red and green flood backdrops, a 22 foot animated tree of lights, a couple of rotating LED color changing effects encompassing their house and three neighboring houses. They have 138 channels of animation and is broadcast on 107.3 FM.

The 2009 show will debut at 6pm on Friday, November 27^th.

Santa's Wonderland in College Station, Texas, located 6 miles south of College Station, Texas, opened in 1998, and now boasts over two and a half million lights. It opens the weekend before Thanksgiving (Nov 20) and runs through New Year’s eve. Santa’s Wonderland is a drive through park but does contain a Texas Christmas Village area where you can walk around and visit their unique retail shops, live musical entertainment, a petting zoo, pony rides, classic Christmas movies on a giant outdoor movie screen and sit near two cozy fireplaces. They do provide a hayride tour if you’d rather not drive your own vehicle through it. They hayride tour includes Christmas music. They do have concessions and restrooms. Please visit their site for prices and more information.

Wonderland Christmas is located in Corinth, Texas. Wonderland Christmas runs from November 27, 2009 until December 30, 2009. They advise that you check their twitter feed before coming to the park since weather conditions will always be a factor. Follow them at @wonderlandxmas.

Wonderland of Lights is located in Marshall, Texas. This event is centered around their historic courthouse and takes place from Thanksgiving through Christmas. This display contains approximately 10 million lights. Activities include outdoor skating (not an common thing in Texas) , surrey rides, candlelight tours of historic homes, and a lighted Christmas parade. Tour buses run hourly to take guests to see the twinkling lights that adorn the trees, local businesses and residences.