Looking to have yourself a merry little Lone Star Christmas this year?
“Everything is bigger in Texas” applies just the same to their Christmas celebrations
Get ready to welcome in the holiday spirit with light shows, parades, festivals, and best of all, cowboy Santa Claus.
Grapevine, Texas
Grapevine, Texas, proudly holds the “Christmas Capital of Texas” title, and it’s easy to see why. With over 1,400 festive events spanning over 40 days, this charming town transforms into a holiday wonderland filled with twinkling lights, parades, and seasonal cheer. The historic Main Street is adorned with millions of lights, where visitors can stroll along the beautifully decorated streets, enjoying charming shops and boutiques offering unique gifts, holiday decor, and local delicacies.
Grapevine is well-known for its Carol of Lights ceremony, which features live music and fireworks. Families can hop aboard the North Pole Express, a delightful train ride where Santa and his elves entertain young passengers. If you want a more sophisticated way to celebrate this year, check out The Christmas Wine Train experience. On select Thursdays, travel down the historic Grapevine Vintage Railroad, where guests can enjoy two complimentary glasses of wine paired with savory bites and desserts, making it a perfect outing for adults looking to unwind and soak in the holiday spirit.
Where to stay: Rosen House Inn
Boerne, Texas
A town with a charming blend of festive activities and small-town warmth, Boerne, Texas, is a delightful destination for Christmas celebrations. The historic Hill Country Mile is transformed into a beautiful holiday setting decorated with lights and festive garnishes. With its blend of festive charm, community spirit, and engaging activities for all ages, Boerne offers a heartwarming holiday atmosphere, capturing the essence of Christmas.
Dickens on Main, an event that kicks off the holiday season, offers live entertainment, food, and shopping along a decorated Main Street. Visitors can enjoy the beautiful, festive decorations while exploring local shops and boutiques. On special weekends, guests can experience events such as Weihnachts Weekend, featuring a lively parade and Stocking Stroll, where families can collect special gifts from participating businesses. The event provides a fun way to do holiday shopping, supports local retailers, and gives proceeds that benefit the community. If you want to enjoy a musical experience, visit the Sounds of the Season concerts at various venues in the town, where one can enjoy enchanting performances that capture the Christmas spirit.
Fredericksburg, Texas
Fredericksburg, Texas, provides a unique Christmas experience for its guests, encompassing a blend of German traditions and Texas hospitality. The centerpiece of this town’s holiday festivities is a 26-foot-tall German Christmas Pyramid, which holds moving wooden figures and a spinning windmill, representing the rich German heritage of Fredericksburg. Alongside the pyramid is a 30-foot community Christmas tree, decorated with handcrafted ornaments illuminating the town during the Christmas Night of Lights, a town tradition with nightly lighting ceremonies and holiday music.
To add to the fun, there are various events throughout the season, including the Light of Night Christmas Parade, showcasing floats made by community members. The Christmas Wine Affair is an event that allows visitors to explore the tastes of 50 different local wineries, offering season specialties like mulled wine. Additionally, the Fredericksburg Christmas Market features handcrafted goods and traditional German fare, showcasing beautiful decorations and vibrant community events that will create cherished holiday memories.
Where to Stay: Behr House Bed and Breakfast
Johnson City, Texas
Johnson City, Texas, is also known as the “twinkliest town in Texas” due to its Lights Spectacular, an annual event visible from the International Space Station, featuring over two million lights illuminating the historic downtown. The festivities kick off on the Friday after Thanksgiving with the ceremonial lighting of the Blanco County Courthouse, decorated with 100,000 white lights, followed by fireworks and live music.
Throughout the holiday season, guests can enjoy several holiday activities, such as hay and carriage rides, visits from Santa Claus, and a festive parade known as Lighted Hooves and Wheels. Not only does the city boast fun interactive experiences during the holidays, but it also showcases culinary delights. In this downtown area, guests can enjoy local food, beer, and wine options, allowing all family members to enjoy festive treats while taking in the decorations.
Nacogdoches, Texas
Nacogdoches, Texas, offers a delightful holiday experience during Christmas, making it a perfect destination for visitors searching for holiday spirit. Their annual celebration, the Nine Flags Christmas Festival, features a multi-week parade, live entertainment, food vendors, and holiday shopping opportunities. Tourists can get a sense of the town’s community engagement with the Wassail Festival, a day when local merchants compete for the best wassail recipe in the town. In addition to this, there is the Christmas Tour of Homes, showcasing beautifully decorated residences around the area.
Its charming downtown is decorated with festive lights and decorations, creating the perfect holiday ambiance to get in the spirit of Christmas. Make sure to visit Millard’s Crossing Historic Village. This historic site hosts the Old Fashioned Christmas Celebration, a winter wonderland with live music, food, visits from Santa Claus, hayrides, and movies.
Galveston, Texas
Galveston, Texas, is the place for you if you’re looking for a unique blend of festive activities this holiday season. With its stunning decorations and coastal charm, this town is an attractive holiday spot for any Christmas lover. In Moody Gardens, visitors can find the Festival of Lights, a mile-long pathway featuring over one million lights, and Iceland, a display featuring ice sculptures and ice slides, allowing interactive experiences for family and friends.
The Dickens on Strand festival takes place December 6-8th, where downtown Galveston is transformed into a Victorian-era celebration. Visitors can enjoy parades, live entertainment, and costumed characters reminiscent of Charles Dickens’ works. This unique festival offers food vendors and fun shopping opportunities. Make sure not to miss The Polar Express, an immersive experience offering hot cocoa and a visit from Santa.
Where to Stay: Galveston East End Guest House
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas, offers a vibrant and festive holiday experience with various events and attractions that capture the Christmas spirit. The San Antonio River Walk transforms into a winter wonderland with over 100,000 lights illuminating the cypress trees along the river, making the perfect atmosphere for walks and enjoying the festive ambiance. Make sure to catch the Ford Holiday River Parade, where visitors can see beautifully decorated floats and live entertainment featuring Santa and Mrs. Claus.
The SeaWorld San Antonio Christmas Celebration is the largest Christmas event in Texas, from mid-November through early January. SeaWorld hosts a celebration with millions of twinkling lights, festive shows, and holiday-themed attractions. In addition to this, there is ICE! At JW Marriott, an event featuring two million pounds of ice used to create stunning ice sculptures and activities like tubing or snowball making. It is a rare opportunity to experience winter-themed fun in Texas, so locals and visitors take the best chances they can get.
Where to Stay: Noble Inns | Oge House
College Station, Texas
With various events and attractions celebrating the holiday spirit, College Station, Texas, is the perfect place to ring in the Christmas season. The Dazzling Lights Display features Santa’s Wonderland, with millions of twinkling lights, snow, ice skating, hayrides, and various other attractions, such as Marshall Frostbite’s Snow Playground and photo opportunities with Santa.
Watch Stephen C. Beachy Central Park become a Christmas wonderland filled with elegant light displays and local performances. Take part in old-fashioned hayrides, cookie making, hot cocoa brewing, and more. There are several artisan markets to visit, including the Texas A&M Hotel Holly Jolly Holiday Market, featuring Aggie-themed merchandise crafted by local vendors, and the Christmas Artisan Market at Century Square, where handmade crafts and live music are showcased, and visitors can find perfect one-of-a-kind gifts.
Where to Stay: 7F Lodge and Events
Wimberley, Texas
Visit Wimberley, Texas, for a joy-filled season and Christmas spirit. Kickoff events will be held with the Wimberley Hometown Holidays celebrations, including a festive parade and tree-lighting ceremony in late November. The evening wraps up with a lighted Christmas parade led by Santa Claus through downtown Wimberley. Contribute to the community through a toy drive benefiting the Barnabas Connection, a local social services organization.
All December long, visit the Emily Ann Trail of Lights. The Holiday Bazaar and Pub Crawl on December 14th allows visitors to shop and socialize, along with a “Cup of Cheer” event with a pub crawl through downtown. Wimberley’s quaint downtown area features numerous shops offering handmade crafts perfect for gift giving and local delicacies.
Where to Stay: Creekhaven Inn & Spa | Inn at Sunset Mill Ranch
Marshall, Texas
Marshall, Texas, is a well-known Christmas destination in the Lonestar state, particularly known for its Wonderland of Lights Festival. This festival provides a magical atmosphere, where downtown is transformed into a winter wonderland, featuring millions of lights illuminating the Harrison County Courthouse. This festival has been a town tradition since 1987 and is celebrated as one of Texas’s top Christmas lighting events.
Experience special events like the Outdoor Christmas Market, where visitors can shop for unique gifts and local food from vendors. Make sure to catch a classic Christmas movie at Memorial City Hall for a cozy way to enjoy the holiday season with family and friends. Community spirit is high in this town for the holiday season, with a Lights of Wonderland decorating contest inviting residents and businesses to compete for the best holiday displays. With its enchanting festivals and engaging events, Marshall offers a charming holiday experience for visitors.
New Braunfels, Texas
New Braunfels, Texas, is a festive and charming destination during the Christmas season, offering a variety of holiday events and activities to celebrate the season’s spirit. Visit Santa’s Ranch, a popular drive-through display featuring over three million lights and animated Christmas scenes. Guests can enjoy homemade hot cocoa and kettle corn while enjoying the festive atmosphere from their cars. The German Christmas Market, Weihnachtsmarkt, is held at the New Braunfels Civic and Convention Center, showcasing a German-style Christmas market with authentic collectibles, unique decorations, and specialty items from over sixty vendors.
Hill Country Christmas Lights, located at Natural Bridge Caverns, features a ⅓ mile trail of lights, live music, and festive activities such as s’mores and ice skating. It runs throughout December, offering a magical experience with beautiful natural scenery. Make sure not to miss the Downtown Lighting and Santa’s arrival, marking the beginning of Christmas celebrations in Main Plaza, along with the beloved tradition of Wassail Fest, featuring tastings of various wassail recipes from local businesses.
Where to stay: Kuebler Waldrip Haus and Danville Schoolhouse Bed and Breakfast
