Category: Events (Page 5 of 8)

Why Special Events are Easy to Plan with Moody Gardens

December 31, 2012 / Moody Gardens / 0 Comments

Screen Shot 2012-12-21 at 11.51.41 AM Moody Gardens is the perfect place for your upcoming special event because we make the planning convenient and easy! We are here every step of the way to make sure your plans run smoothly and your guests have a memorable experience for all the right reasons. Planning an event with Moody Gardens is easy because of our professional staff, hospitality, and available and versatile space.

Professional Staff: Our staff knows the ins and outs of Moody Gardens and has all the answers to your questions about planning an event with us. You will encounter nothing but complete professionalism when working with everyone from the catering department to the Convention Center Director. Our hospitality and client services have earned us a reputation as the premiere meeting, event, and recreational destination. Our staff will attend to your every need, all under one roof.

Services: For weddings, our professional staff can handle details such as floral design, entertainment options, and food and beverages! For large events we have state-of-the-art lighting and sound equipment, seating for over 5,000, and a large, covered parking garage.

Available and Versatile Space: We have over 100,000 square feet of available space for your special event. Not only is there tons of space, the space is so versatile you won’t have any problem finding the exact area to fit your needs. You can have a ballroom style expo center, or a more intimate setting for smaller get-togethers. For business events, we offer a fully equipped business center available 24 hours a day. Our staff will handle all the details of creating the perfect space for your special event, whether it’s an intimate dinner, social gathering, or a convention for a few thousand people.

Start planning your event online! Get started here.

While you’re here for your special event, stay at the Moody Gardens Hotel and check out our popular attractions, such as the Aquarium Pyramid and Rainforest Pyramid.

Moody Gardens Offers Fun For the Whole Family

December 20, 2012 / Moody Gardens / 0 Comments

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Moody Gardens is the perfect place for an entire family vacation, or even just a daylong adventure. Here at Moody Gardens, every member of your family will find something fun and interesting to entertain them.

The Moody Gardens Attractions, from the Aquarium Pyramid to the Colonel Paddlewheel Boat, provide enough fun for everyone in the family. Kids will love getting up close with the penguins in the Penguin Encounter! For the adventurous family members, don’t miss out on catching a movie and a ride at the Ridefilm Theater. The technology of the Ridefilm Theater literally makes you feel like you are a part of the action!

Parents who are looking for a romantic evening on the water should book reservations for the dinner cruise on Colonel Paddlewheel Boat on the second Saturday of each month! Enjoy a delicious dinner and live entertainment while getting some time alone together. Please make your reservation by the Wednesday before the scheduled dinner cruise at 1-800-582-4673, ex. 4419.

The whole family will enjoy one of the most authentic rainforest recreations at the Rainforest Pyramid. The walk-in butterfly exhibit is one of Moody Gardens most beloved features, and enjoyable for family members from one to one hundred. Not only are the Aquarium and Rainforest Pyramids entertaining, they also provide educational opportunities by teaching visitors about the nature that lives within the habitats.

When the gang gets hungry, there are plenty of dining options here at Moody Gardens. Choose from The Gardens Restaurant, or in the Moody Gardens Hotel there is The Terrace Restaurant, Shearn’s Restaurant, Lobby Bar, Pool Bar, and Blossom. Don’t forget that your kids can eat free at The Terrace Restaurant when you’re staying at the Moody Gardens Hotel!

When Mom and Dad are ready to unwind, don’t miss out on our special deals for the Moody Gardens Golf Course and the Spa at Moody Gardens! We look forward to seeing you and the whole family soon!

Midnight in the Gardens

November 23, 2012 / Moody Gardens / 0 Comments

If you’re looking for holiday events in Texas, visit Galveston! Moody Gardens offers some of the finest holiday events around. One of our most extravagant events is our New Year’s Eve Gala, which has become known as one of the best places to be during New Year’s Eve in the Houston and Galveston area. This New Year’s Eve, the Moody Gardens Convention Center will be transformed into a modern winter wonderland fit for only the most lavish affair.

This year’s Gala will once again feature Commercial Art, one of Houston’s most popular party bands. Commercial Art is sought after by all of Houston because of their eclectic mix of music. They offer everything from vintage rock and 40’s swing to classic soul and modern hits. With the great entertainment on hand, this New Year’s Eve Gala will be quite the party.

However, if you’re also looking for a romantic night for two, the Gala’s sophisticated setting is the perfect place. Moody Gardens will be offering an elaborate array of food, and of course an open bar. For added extravagance, don’t forget to take part in our champagne toast. Finally, ring in 2013 with our midnight balloon drop.

Tickets are on sale for $425 per couple or $225 per single. Don’t forget to make your reservations at the Moody Gardens Hotel; accommodations begin at $109 plus tax per night, with the purchase of a Gala ticket. For reservations, call 888-388-8484. Call now so you don’t miss out on the party of the year!

If you can’t make it for our New Year’s celebration, be sure to check out our other Galveston and Houston holiday events. We offer a Festival of Lights that offers more than 1 million lights in 100 animated light displays. While there, be sure to stop by our Festival of Lights Buffet. For more family fun, visit our Magical Christmas Dinner and Show starring Master Illusionist Curt Miller and Friends. Get your tickets here. Finally don’t forget to take advantage of our outdoor ice skating rink and visits with Santa! At Moody Gardens, there’s holiday fun awaiting the whole family!

Why You Should Have Your Kid’s Birthday Party at Moody Gardens

November 20, 2012 / Moody Gardens / 2 Comments

Want to throw your kid an awesome birthday party? Do you not have enough time to plan and organize the party? Then Moody Gardens is perfect for you! We do the planning, setup, and cleanup! All you have to worry about is your kid having a fantastic time!

Each birthday party package includes a birthday cake, punch, paper goods, a party favor for each guest, twenty-four invitations, and a visit to one attraction. On top of all this great birthday fun, you choose from four exciting themes.

Wild Things: Aquarium. This package includes entry for your guests into the Aquarium Pyramid. Party guests get to dive into an ocean adventure and have a fun-filled animal encounter on your child’s special day.

Wild Things: Rainforest. Take the birthday party to the rainforest! Party guests get to meet the animals of the rainforest in a special animal presentation. The package includes entry into the Rainforest Pyramid for all your guests.

Beach Bash (seasonal). For summer parties, soak up the sun as your guests spend the day floating along the lazy river at Palm Beach. Entry into Palm Beach for your guests is included in the package.

Festival of Lights (seasonal). Celebrate your child’s birthday among the millions of lights at the Moody Gardens Festival of Lights. This package includes entry to the Festival of Lights and is only available at 6:00 p.m. because the sparkling lights can’t be appreciated in the daylight!

Reservations are required at least two weeks in advance, and packages are available for children turning a maximum of twelve years old. Parties are limited to two hours; however, visits to the designated attraction may extend beyond party time. Parties are available daily at 10:00 a.m. or 2:00 p.m. for a maximum of thirty-two guests.

Party Package Prices are for up to twenty-four guests, including adults. However, you may have additional guests for $8.00 a person.

Saturday and Sunday

Non-members: $300.00

Members: $255.00

Monday through Friday

Non-members: $275.00

Members: $233.75

To start planning your party, call 1-800-582-4673, ext 4325 or e-mail education@moodygardens.com.

Moody Gardens Giving Back: Festival of Lights Food Drive

November 19, 2012 / Moody Gardens / 1 Comment

Do you love charity and the Moody Gardens Festival of Lights? You’re in luck! Every Friday night, if you bring a non-perishable food item, you can get 2 for the price of 1 admission! Moody Gardens is teaming up with the Galveston County Food Bank to provide for those who have fallen on hard times this holiday season.

The Galveston County Food Bank is an interfaith community-based organization established to receive surplus food from generous institutions willing to provide for those less fortunate than themselves. Their program is called Gleanings From the Harvest, which is a food procurement and distribution network. It provides food to those who most need it; this includes the destitute and the families in Galveston County who are considered the “working poor”.

Moody Gardens loves charity and would like your help in feeding those in need around the Galveston area. Please consider stopping by our Festival of Lights Friday Food Drive to be a part of this great charity. We promise you won’t be disappointed! Not only will you feel like you’ve contributed to something great, but you’ll also be able to enjoy our famous Festival of Lights at a discounted rate!

Our Festival of Lights is a great Houston holiday event for those looking for a family weekend getaway in Texas. We offer more than 1 million lights within 100 sound-enhanced animated light displays. But that’s not all! We also offer live entertainment every night, a delicious Festival of Lights Buffet that you just can’t miss, and the area’s only outdoor ice skating rink. While you’re visiting, take a picture with Santa or watch a holiday film in one of our theaters. If you’ve visited Moody Gardens before, we’ve added something new this year! Enjoy snow tubing down the Arctic Slide. All of these attractions are open every night the Festival of Lights is open. Don’t forget, you can make a weekend of it! We offer one of the best family friendly hotels in Texas.

So put Moody Gardens Festival of Lights Friday Food Drive on your calendar. We promise you won’t be disappointed! For more information on our Holiday Events, visit us here.

Cool Fun at Moody Gardens: Penguin Encounter

November 15, 2012 / Moody Gardens / 3 Comments

Get to know the penguin residents at Moody Gardens. With the Penguin Encounter program, you will get the opportunity to get up close with the penguins and see what goes on behind the scenes! Here are valuable facts about the Penguin Encounter:

The program lasts for 45 minutes
Guests start at the front of the exhibit and move on to see the back of the exhibit and the penguin food preparation kitchen
A Moody Gardens biologist will teach you about penguin biology, training, enrichment, and care
Guests get to watch a penguin create art as part of an enrichment activity
Tickets are $50 a person
Children 3 and under are free
Tickets are sold on a first come, first serve basis
Guests must also purchase admission to the *Aquarium Pyramid
Children 12 and under must be with an adult
The program is at 1 pm on Saturdays and Sundays
Depending on the mood of the penguin, you may be able to touch them!
It’s about 45 degrees in the Penguin Encounter area, so dress accordingly
The penguins love to pose for your pictures

Private Penguin Encounters are also available for up to four people. Private encounters can be scheduled based upon guest’s convenience and availability. Admission is $350 per group and includes admission to the Aquarium Pyramid, and a unique piece of penguin art.

The Seal and Penguin Experience shows guests what it’s like to be a South Atlantic and North Pacific exhibit keeper for a day. The experience is six hours long and allows various activities such as feeding penguins, and helping out the biologists. The $175 (per person) package includes admission to the Aquarium Pyramid, lunch, a photograph, and a unique piece of penguin art. Participants must be 16 years or older and a maximum of three participants. Be sure to wear closed toe shoes, comfortable clothes, and reserve your package two weeks in advance.

Moody Gardens is the number one place this season for holiday events in Galveston. Join us for more kids activities and family fun. Be sure to keep up with our Moody Gardens blog to learn more about Houston holiday events, the Moody Gardens Hotel, and the Moody Gardens Golf Course!

Arctic Fun at Moody Gardens: Ice Skating

November 14, 2012 / Moody Gardens / 7 Comments

Always dreamed of tying up your skates and gliding around with the stars above you and the winter chill in the air? Then you realize you’re in Texas, and you can’t ice skate outside! There’s rarely snow or ice, especially along the Gulf Coast. Moody Gardens has solved your problem. We have the ONLY outdoor ice skating rink in the region!

Pull on your warm sweaters, slip on your mittens, and head out to the rink. This popular winter activity is fun for the entire family. Don’t worry if you don’t have a pair of skates. We have plenty of sizes available to rent.

Ice skating outside with the Festival of Lights surrounding you is the perfect way to get into the holiday spirit. Whether you’re a veteran ice skater or it’s your first time, everyone is welcome on the Moody Gardens Ice Rink. It’s okay if you slip and fall a few times, no one at Moody Gardens will be laughing at you. We can’t say the same for your friends and family though!

Ice skating is a great way to get all those relatives in town for the holidays out of your house, and making memories together. The outdoor ice rink could be a new family tradition that everyone looks forward to each year. You can also take pictures with Santa while you’re here.

If you’re going to come check out the outdoor ice skating rink, then don’t miss out on our special holiday offer! For a limited time, you can get the Festival of Lights Arctic Package for only $17. The package includes admission to the Festival of Lights, the Aquarium Pyramid, and the To The Arctic 3D documentary. It’s the perfect way to get the whole Moody Gardens holiday experience.

Moody Gardens features the best Houston holiday events and events in Galveston. The family entertainment is non-stop this season.

Why You Should Throw Your Holiday Party at Moody Gardens Golf Course

November 13, 2012 / Moody Gardens / 0 Comments

Planning to throw a fantastic holiday party this season? Want it to be one that people can’t forget? Would you prefer someone else to do the decorating, cooking, and cleaning? Then you should throw your holiday party at Moody Gardens! The Moody Gardens Golf Course banquet room is perfect for creating the ultimate holiday party. We can bring the holiday spirit to all of your guests! Read on to find out why you should throw your party with us:

Choose from two different holiday party packages at Moody Gardens Golf Course:

Texas Two-Step Celebration: This party package includes a BBQ buffet featuring sliced brisket and sausage, baked beans, potato salad, and Texas toast. Price is $35 per guest.

Yuletide Fiesta: Upgrade to a beef and chicken fajita buffet featuring southwest pinto beans, Spanish rice, peppers and onions, flour tortillas, pico de gallo, sour cream, and guacamole. The Yuletide Fiesta package is $40 a person.

Each buffet includes cookies for dessert; iced tea, water, and 2 drink tickets for beer, wine, and soft drinks.

We cater and provide a full bar service for your parties. Our experienced and professional event staff will take care of all your needs from set-up to clean up. Our banquet room can seat up to 80 people and there is on site free parking. Talk about stress-free party planning!

All prices are inclusive, and there is a 20-person minimum. For more information contact Anja Borski at 409.683.1200 or aborski@moodygardensgolf.com.

Moody Gardens Hotel and Attraction is the perfect holiday destination for events in Galveston with our holiday lights festival. Start planning your holiday party with us today, and hurry, because rooms will get booked quickly.

Don’t miss out on our special holiday offer. Receive a Festival of Lights Arctic Package for only $17. We also have special holiday deals going on at the Moody Gardens Golf Course and the Spa at Moody Gardens!

Arctic Fun at Moody Gardens: To The Arctic 3D

November 12, 2012 / Moody Gardens / 0 Comments

Feel like you are a part of the movies in the Moody Gardens 3D Theater. Once you put on your 3D glasses you will experience the realistic three-dimensional images projected onto a gigantic six-story screen.

This season experience the documentary, To The Arctic 3D. This heartfelt film takes you through the journey of a mother polar bear and her two seven-month old cubs across their icy home. It’s a story of love, survival, and adventure on the majestic Arctic. The beautiful scenery and captivating images are presented in breathtaking IMAX® 3D, giving viewers an up-close view of the immense glaciers, massive snow-bound peaks, and spectacular waterfalls.

While the imagery of To The Artic 3D is incredible, so is the story that accompanies it. Meryl Streep brings beautiful narration to this tale of a land far away with exotic animals you wouldn’t normally be able to observe in their natural habitat.

To The Arctic 3D is the perfect film for you and your family to enjoy this season. With the 3D imagery, you will feel as if you are exploring the Arctic yourself, but without the below-freezing temperatures! The family friendly story is pleasing to parents and kids alike. The documentary is also an educational experience, and an opportunity to learn more about Earth’s vast variety of environments.

To learn more about To The Arctic 3D check out the official trailer here.

Want to see this awesome documentary and go to the Festival of Lights? Then check out our Limited Time Festival of Lights Arctic Package for only $17! The package includes admission to the famous Festival of Lights, the Aquarium Pyramid, and the To The Arctic 3D documentary.

Moody Gardens presents the biggest holiday lights festival in the region, with family entertainment and great holiday discounts. Be sure to check us out for your Galveston and Houston holiday events this year, and don’t miss out on our latest holiday deals for your Christmas events in Texas!

Arctic Fun at Moody Gardens: Snow Tubing

November 9, 2012 / Moody Gardens / 3 Comments

During this year’s Festival of Lights, Moody Gardens is bringing in a new holiday experience: snow tubing! Texas doesn’t have a lot of snow or sledding opportunities, especially down by the Gulf coast. However, with this addition to the arctic fun at Moody Gardens, even Texan kids can experience this fun winter past time.

Glide along the ice and into the holiday season. Snow tubing features a 100-foot ice slide set up in the Moody Gardens grounds. Guests will glide down the giant ice slide on a tube, experiencing an icy thrill unlike any in the region.

Snow tubing is fun for almost all ages! The gravity propels the tubes down the slide at exhilarating, yet safe, speeds. Since there aren’t many snow-covered hills in Texas, it is hard to experience this kind of holiday fun without traveling up north. Now you can have snowy hills and Gulf coast beaches, all in the same vacation.

From over a million lights to giant ice slides, you can’t find a holiday experience quite like the Festival of Lights. The snow tubing will start on Saturdays during the Festival of Lights (November 10-December 5), and then open daily from December 22-January 5. The hours are noon to 10pm, and admission is only $12.00. You and your family will have plenty of time to get down to Moody Gardens to experience this new seasonal attraction.

Snow tubing is just one of the many fun holiday events in Texas going on at Moody Gardens this season. The holiday lights, Christmas events in Texas, and other attractions are constantly entertaining all our visitors. Plan your next family holiday at Moody Gardens, and plan to stay at the Moody Gardens Hotel. Enjoy our special holiday deal, a Festival of Lights Arctic Package for only $17! Also, don’t miss out on the ice skating in the area’s only outdoor skating rink, here at the Moody Gardens!