Booking choice: The night tour with boat cruise, from $139 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
Every year the River Walk switches on its holiday lights at the Ford Holiday River Parade, the evening after Thanksgiving, and keeps them shining each night into early January. The GO RIO narrated cruise runs as usual underneath, and over the holidays GO RIO adds a separate evening tour to River North and the Pearl.
Here are the 2026 dates, how the parade works, how long the boat lines get and how to beat them, and which tour gives you the lights without the queue planning.
The quick answer
In 2026 the lights switch on at the Ford Holiday River Parade on Friday 27 November at 6 pm and shine nightly into early January. Any regular GO RIO cruise after dark passes under them, at the normal $16.78 adult price with tax. From 19 December to 4 January, 6 to 9 pm, GO RIO also runs a River North tour to the Pearl. Lines are longest from 6 to 9 pm on weekends; ride on a weeknight or late. The night tour ($139) adds the Tower and the cathedral light show.
When are the River Walk Christmas lights on in 2026?
From the parade on Friday 27 November 2026 every night into early January. They come on at dusk.
The River Walk’s own site says the lights switch on the day after Thanksgiving at the parade and shine nightly through early January (official River Walk page). Walking under them costs nothing; the boat is the paid way to see them from the water.
The busiest stretch is from mid-December to New Year, when schools are out. The first week of December is a calmer time to go.
Want the lights on the water as part of a guided evening, with pickup at 7 pm? The night tour ends with the GO RIO cruise, from $139.
Check dates for the night tour with boat cruiseWhat is the Ford Holiday River Parade?
A parade of lit floats on the river that switches on the holiday lights. In 2026 it is on Friday 27 November at 6 pm, starting from the Tobin Center.
The 2026 parade is the 45th, with the theme "Holiday Wishes Come True" and the Witte Museum, celebrating its centenary, as grand marshal (Texas Public Radio). Reserved seats along the banks are sold on the River Walk’s website. Parade tickets are nonrefundable and cannot be exchanged, and children from age 2 need their own ticket for reserved seating.
On parade night the river belongs to the floats. Strollers, ice chests and carriers are not allowed on the River Walk during the parade. Plan your cruise for another evening.
How long is the line for the boats during the Christmas lights?
Often much longer than the usual 15 to 20 minutes, especially from 6 to 9 pm on weekends and in the week before Christmas.
- Buy ahead online so you only queue to board. GO RIO tickets are not tied to a time, so you can buy days before.
- Try the Aztec dock at 731 River Walk, often the shortest line.
- Go on a weeknight in early December, or after 9 pm. The last boats leave around 10 pm.
- Dress for the cold. December evenings can be chilly, and the barges are open to the sky.
Prefer a guide to handle the evening, from the Tower to the cathedral light show to the boat? The night tour takes seven guests at most.
Explore the night tour with boat cruiseWhat is the GO RIO River North tour?
A holiday-only evening cruise north of downtown through River North to the Pearl. It runs from 19 December to 4 January, 6 to 9 pm.
GO RIO lists it as a separate tour from the classic downtown loop. The route heads up the Museum Reach, the stretch of river opened in 2009 that includes a lock, towards the Pearl, the old brewery turned food hall and market district. Check the GO RIO site for its price and boarding point before you go.
Is the Christmas lights cruise worth it?
Yes, it is the prettiest the River Walk gets. Go in with patience for the line, or ride late on a weeknight.
The narration is the same as on any other day. The difference is the canopy of lights overhead and the reflections in the water, and they look best from the boat at river level. Walking the banks shows you the same lights, but not the view down the middle of the river.
If the line is very long, walk the loop first and come back after 9 pm. Many people leave after dinner.
Want the lights and the history without planning the evening yourself? The night tour adds the Tower and the Pearl to the cruise, from $139.
Check dates for the night tour with boat cruiseWhat else is on in San Antonio over Christmas?
The cathedral light show on Main Plaza, Market Square and the Pearl. The Alamo closes on Christmas Day.
The Saga plays on San Fernando Cathedral most evenings at 9 and 9:30 pm, though cathedral services cancel some nights in the season (schedule). The Alamo is open daily from 9 am to 5:30 pm except on Christmas Day (the Alamo). For an Alamo morning before a lights cruise, see the Alamo and River Walk day.
Can you cancel a holiday booking if it rains?
GO RIO booth tickets are not refunded, but they are not tied to a date, so you ride another night. Viator tours here have Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Rain or unsafe weather can stop the boats. On a tour, if the operator cancels for weather, you are offered a new date or a refund. Parade seats are nonrefundable. For ticket details, read the GO RIO ticket guide.
Frequently asked questions
When do the River Walk Christmas lights start in 2026?
At the Ford Holiday River Parade on Friday 27 November 2026, 6 pm. They shine every night into early January.
Does the regular River Walk cruise go under the Christmas lights?
Yes. Any GO RIO narrated cruise after dark in the season passes under the lights, at the normal ticket price.
When is the GO RIO River North holiday tour?
From 19 December to 4 January, 6 to 9 pm, heading north through River North to the Pearl.
How do I avoid the lines for the Christmas lights cruise?
Buy online ahead, try the Aztec dock, and go on a weeknight in early December or after 9 pm.
Ready to book
Choose your River Walk tour
Every option here can be cancelled for a full refund; the deadline is on each listing. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Night Driving Tour with River Walk Boat Cruise
- About four hours from 7 pm, pickup and drop-off downtown
- Narrated GO RIO river cruise and the Tower of the Americas deck
- The Alamo from outside, the Pearl and the cathedral light show
Premium City Tour with the Alamo and River Walk Cruise
- About four hours with pickup and drop-off in downtown San Antonio
- Narrated GO RIO river cruise and the Tower of the Americas deck, both included
- Stops at Mission San José and the Alamo with a local guide
San Antonio CityPASS with the GO RIO Cruise
Families doing the zoo and museums too
