Annual Lighting of the Doves Festival in The Woodlands

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- The Lighting of the Doves Festival took place Nov. 23 in Town Green Park. The annual festival was fun for all ages, but especially for the kids.

There was face painting, balloon art, bounce houses, and various arts and crafts stations where children could make ornaments, sand art, slime, and paper crowns. The main attraction was the snow play area. Kids of all ages participated in snowball fights and even sledded down an icy hill.

There were vendors from local restaurants, food trucks, and beverage stations for the adults. There were also two ice-sculptors who created a nutcracker statue on stage.

Later on in the night Santa arrived by boat to cheers from the crowd. He read The Night Before Christmas aloud with Mrs. Clause by his side and even the Grinch made an appearance.

Woodlands natives, Jennifer and Robert, attended the festival with their two children. “My daughter can’t figure out why there are three Santa Clauses around this area,” Robert joked.

Jennifer noted that their favorite part of the night, besides the funnel cake, was the firework show, which accompanied the ceremonious lighting of the doves.

“We’ve been here without kids and now with kids,” Robert said, noting that there’s a definite increase in holiday cheer with them by their side.

“Getting to watch their eyes light up when the fireworks go off is a little different than watching them as an adult,” Jennifer added.

The lit doves signify the start of the holiday season for our community, and stand as a symbol of peace.