All around the state, courthouse squares and drive-through parks are aglow in colorful lights. The holiday season kicks off in earnest on the weekend after Thanksgiving.
Holiday Lights & Happenings:
Texas Christkindl Market
Arlington, Nov. 29-Dec. 22, www.txchristkindlmarket.com
Christmas Park
Athens, Nov. 10-Jan. 3, www.christmasparkathens.net
Holiday Light Stroll
Bastrop, Nov. 30-Dec. 31, lostpines.regency.hyatt.com
Bastrop River of Lights
Bastrop, Nov. 30-Jan. 3, www.visitbastrop.com/event/bastrop-river-of-lights/4/
Old West Christmas Light Fest
Boerne, Nov. 28-Dec. 25, www.christmaslightfest.com
Christmas on the Ranch
Boerne, Nov. 29-Dec. 23, www.christmas.donstrangeranch.com
Holiday Village
Brownsville, Nov. 25-Jan. 1, www.holidayvillagebrownsville.com
Whistle Stop Christmas
Cleburne, Nov. 25-Dec. 31, www.whistlestopchristmas.com
Santa’s Wonderland
College Station, Nov. 8-Dec. 30, www.santas-wonderland.com
Christmas Tree Lighting
Corsicana, Nov. 22, www.visitcorsicana.com
Christmas in the Park
Cuero, Nov. 25-Jan. 1, www.cuerochristmasinthepark.org
Holiday at the Dallas Arboretum
Dallas, Nov. 13-Dec. 29, www.dallasarboretum.org/events-activities/holiday-at-the-arboretum
Parade of Lights
Fort Worth, Nov. 24, www.fortworthparadeoflights.org
Christmas on the Square
Frisco, Nov. 29-Dec. 31, www.visitfrisco.com
Iceland/Festival of Lights
Galveston, Nov. 16-Jan. 12, www.moodygardens.com/holiday_season
Lasers & Lights
Galveston, Nov. 30-Jan. 1, www.galveston.com/holidaymagic
Gaylord Texan’s Lone Star Christmas
Grapevine, Nov. 15-Jan. 15, www.christmasatgaylordtexan.com
Christmas Village at Bayou Bend
Houston, Dec. 12-30, www.mfah.org/a/christmas-village-at-bayou-bend
Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting
Jefferson, Nov. 30, www.visitjeffersontexas.com
Lights Spectacular
Johnson City, Nov. 29-Jan. 5, www.johnsoncitytexas.info/lights-spectacular.html
Holiday Lighted Parade and Courthouse Lighting Ceremony
Kerrville, Nov. 23, www.kerrvilletexascvb.com/events/2019/annual-holiday-lighted-parade
Festival of Lights
Lake Jackson, Nov. 23, www.lakejackson-tx.gov/222/Festival-of-Lights
Christmas on the Creek
Lampasas, Nov. 28-Jan. 1, www.visionlampasas.org/events.html
Starry Starry Nights Lighted Christmas Park
Llano, Nov. 29-Dec. 31, www.llanostarrystarrynights.com
Lighted Yule Trail
Luling, Nov. 27-Jan. 1, www.lulingmainstreet.com
Walkway of Lights
Marble Falls, Nov. 22-Jan. 1, www.marblefalls.org/walkway
Wonderland of Lights
Marshall, Nov. 27-Dec. 29, www.marshalltexas.net/public/warrants/wonderland-of-lights
Merry Wells Christmas Festival and Lighted Parade
Mineral Wells, Nov. 30, www.merrywells.org
Santa’s Ranch
New Braunfels, Nov. 8-Jan. 4, www.santasranch.net
Holiday Model Train Show
Round Rock, Nov. 27-Dec. 26, www.roundtherocktx.com/model-trains-at-artspace.html
Hometown Holiday Lights
Round Rock, Dec. 1-31, www.downtownroundrocktexas.com
Miracle on 34th Street Radio Play
Round Rock, Nov. 29-Dec. 21, www.sambasstheatre.org
Best Christmas Pageant Ever
Round Rock, Nov. 30-Dec. 22, www.sambasstheatre.org
Holiday Lights on the River Walk
San Antonio, Nov. 29-Jan. 13, www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com/events/holiday-lights-on-the-river-walk1
Sights & Sounds of Christmas
San Marcos, Dec. 4-7, 11-14, www.sights-n-sounds.org
Dancing Lights of Mill Pond Park
San Saba, Nov. 28-Jan. 5, www.sansabatexas.com
Holiday Sandcastle Village
South Padre Island, Nov. 25-Jan. 13, www.sopadre.com/events/?event=33538505
Nature in Lights
Temple, Nov. 16-Jan. 6, hood.armymwr.com/calendar/event/nature-lights/2719466/33097
Trail of Lights
Wimberley, Nov. 30-Dec. 28, www.emilyann.org/trailoflights.html
Gerald McLeod has been traveling around Texas and beyond for his “Day Trips” column for more than 25 years. Keep up to date with his journeys on his archive page.
This article appears in November 22 • 2019.
