Dubbed as the American version of a Sky Lantern Festival, this festival is made possible by none other than Lights Over America. The awestriking Lights Festival Houston is the perfect event to go with your special someone, with your family, or even with yourself.
Sitting on the ground, watching the lanterns you yourself have lit up while enjoying a batch of S’mores, is the comfort and beauty that The Lights Festival Houston has to offer. However, this festival is limited to Texas residents only.
Festival Dates
The Lights Festival Houston is fast approaching this Saturday, on the 30th of OCTOBER , 2021! You can start buying tickets on their website, and be sure that you do it fast before you run out!
Where It’s Located and How to Get There
You are free to join lighting and hoisting the lanterns up to decorate the night sky in Pine Valley Raceway, which is located in Lufkin, Texas. The Pine Valley Raceway is usually used for drag races, but for this special event only, Lights Over America will be using it for the Lights Festival Houston.
To get to the Pine Valley Raceway in Lufkin, Texas, go about 8 miles south on US 59 on Loop 287, turn right onto FM 2497, go 4 miles, and you will find the location on the left.
You can also take 59 N out of Houston, pass through Diboll, and turn left onto FM 2497. Around 4 miles, you will be able to find Pine Valley Raceway just in time to enjoy The Lights Festival Houston.
Festival Hours
The festival will open at exactly 5:00 p.m. and will last for six hours, closing right exactly at 10:00 p.m., as well. This event will only be held for a day, so be sure that you would observe punctuality and arrive on time so that you can treasure the experience. You are given a lantern upon entrance.
During those six hours, you can enjoy the lively, exciting atmosphere with your friends and loved ones. You can also go out and try talking to new people or most people that you are already familiar with since the event is open for Texas residents only.
During the course of six hours, once everything is decided to be set and ready, the event coordinators will then signal you to start lighting up the lanterns and let them bring magic to the night sky looking down upon you.
Cost to Visit the Fest
You will have to prepare money in order to acquire a general admission pass, and kids pass if you have children with you that are ages 4-11 and a parking pass, as well. There is also a VIP Group pass for all ages.
The tickets for kids are $15 per child, whereas the general admission pass. For people who are 12 years old and older, it costs around $75. The price was originally around $125, but it is splendid to hear that it went lower!
The kids (ages 4-11) are given admission inside the event, but not a lantern: the general admission pass grants both admission and a lantern per person.
A parking pass is required by the event, and it would cost you around $30 per vehicle. There are both standard parking and ADA parking available.
The VIP Group Pass’ (which is a limited slot only) original price used to be $1000, but it is now lowered to $500. The maximum number of people allowed for this pass is 4 people. With this, you are given admission, 4 lanterns, with the same number of S’more kits. You are also given a reserved VIP firepit seating section.
You can buy the tickets online at their sight. The Lights Over America does not give any refunds for The Lights Festival Houston event.
Weather and What to Wear
Since the Lights Festival Houston is to be held on the 11th of April, Houston is expecting a fair weather, with sunshine and patchy clouds.
Summer clothes are enough to keep you cool and fresh despite the humid atmosphere during the afternoons. An umbrella could also help protect you from the possible harsh sunlight.
However, the breeze tends to get a bit chillier during the night. And since the Lights Festival Houston goes on until 9 p.m., make sure to bring a jacket just in case you or any of your loved ones, especially the kids, get cold.
What is best is that you always wear the most comfortable clothes with you for the festival. One that you can be confident in enough to take a lot of pictures during the main event!
Hotels nearby the lanterns Houston lights
If your home is too far from the location of the event and you would want the best hotels to accommodate you after a well-spent festival, then take note of the best hotels that could be found within Houston.
The Lancaster Hotel
The Lancaster Hotel is sure to be able to cater to all of your needs during the trip, as they have a lot of property amenities to offer. These services include but are not limited to free high-speed Wi-Fi, a fitness center with a gym, and even free shuttle or taxi services.
There is also a breakfast buffet in the hotel. Or, if you prefer having your first meal of the day privately, then breakfast in the room is also accommodated by the Lancaster Hotel. They also have a bar/lounge for nightlife and an outdoor dining area.
Their rooms are air-conditioned, featuring a variety of facilities; to name a few, these would be a satellite TV, a coffee/tea maker.
Hilton Americas – Houston
Find yourself relaxing with the property facilities that the Hilton Americas – Houston has in store for you. They have Wi-Fi, a pool for you to dive in, a bar/lounge for nightlife, a fitness center with a gym, and a business center with internet access.
To make yourself laxer, the hotel also has a spa, a sauna and, a rooftop pool. Their rooms also feature air conditioning, a flatscreen TV that lets you access on-demand movies, and even room service.
The Moran Citycentre
Located in the heart of Houston’s CITYCENTRE, The Moran has so much more to offer you other than being surrounded by countless restaurants and attractions that you can check out after an excellent light festival.
The Moran Citycentre offers you free parking, free high-speed Wi-Fi, a pool, and even evening entertainment with a nightclub inside. There is also a fitness center with a gym access.
Their rooms boast a lot of features a well. These features include but are not limited to housekeeping, room service, a walk-in shower, satellite TV, closet, laptop safe, bath/shower, and a separate dining area.
What to Eat
A trip could never be complete if you have not even tried any of its local restaurants. This is why you must definitely check out these restaurants to make your stay in the city the best that it could ever be.
Kenny & Zeggi’s New York Deli
Kenny & Zeggi’s New York Deli is the perfect place for people who have an overflowing love for sandwiches and cheesecakes—so if you’re one, then you should definitely not miss out on this place.
This restaurant serves the best breakfast you could ever imagine, but they also cater to lunch, dinner, brunch, and late-night meals, as well. Delivery and takeout option are also available.
To make things better, Kenny & Zeggi’s New York Deli also offers vegetarian-friendly and gluten-free meals. The ambiance that the restaurant has is the perfect company to a perfect meal.
Roost
The Roost is able to serve you a variety of cuisines. To name all of them, this would be American, Southwestern, Seafood, and Contemporary food, all of which are served deliciously on your plate. To top it off, they also have vegetarian-friendly meals.
The menu of the restaurant changes often, but the ingredients are still fresh and are sourced locally wherever possible. With honesty, you might find the menu to be rather short at times, but you will still marvel at the variety that it holds (thanks to the frequent time it changes).
With dim lights illuminating the area and a great music playlist escaping the speakers, the ambiance is sure to be set just right for a perfect meal.
Eddie V’s Prime Seafood
If you are a fan of seafood, then Eddie V’s Prime Seafood should definitely a must-go-to place of yours. They serve local cuisine, American food, and also vegetarian-friendly options, as well.
They cater to lunch, dinner, brunch, and late-night meals. You can make a reservation beforehand. The service in the area makes the whole place greater than it already is.
More Things to Do in the Area
Aside from The Lights Festival, Houston still has a lot more attractions to offer.
Space Center Houston
The Space Center Houston Admission Ticket always has something new to offer to audiences of all ages. They hold the world’s largest moon rocks and lunar samples collections, along with displaying different space exhibits for you to gawk at. The entrance fee is $24.95.
Houston Museum of Natural Science
Houston has a lot more to offer other than astronomy, and that would be Natural Science. This museum in Houston offers dinosaur halls and famous galleries involving Ancient Egypt and the Texas Wildlife, along with a whole lot more. The admission fee costs around $13.75.
Mural Instagram Tour
Searching for other places that could further spice up your Instagram feed? The Mural Instagram Tour is the perfect place for you. It displays colorful, impressive artwork that is sure to be Insta-worthy. This place is even highly recommended by tourists. The entrance fee per adult costs $59.94.
Thanks for reading!
If you enjoy this lights festival you here are more lights festival around Houston that you should check
Zoo Lights Houston
Festival Of Lights Lake Jackson
