Day Trips & Beyond: December Events Roundup

There’s plenty of holiday cheer to go around as we make plans for New Year’s Eve.

Norman Rockwell is coming to Houston. The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, presents Norman Rockwell: American Freedom. For five decades the artist famously depicted American optimism on magazine covers, illustrations, and paintings. The Houston exhibit examines Rockwell’s Four Freedom paintings – Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Worship, Freedom from Fear, and Freedom from Want. In addition to the touring Rockwell exhibition, MFAH presents a selection of photographs from the Four Freedoms Photography Project by Hank Willis Thomas and Emily Shur, as well as photographs, illustrations, and art from the FDR-era. Established in 1900, MFAH is among the 10 largest art museum in the U.S. with a collection of nearly 70,000 works.
Dec. 15-March 22, "Norman Rockwell: American Freedom," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, 713/639-7300, www.mfah.org

The largest concentration of lesser sandhill cranes in North America call the Texas Panhandle its winter home. The magnificent birds with long spindly legs and a six- to eight-foot wingspan migrate from as far north as the Artic to spend October to March at the Muleshoe and Gulla wildlife refuges between the towns of Muleshoe and Morton, northwest of Lubbock. During the peak months of December to February up to 250,000 of the gray birds with red heads may make their home on the flat plains. The best time to see them is at sunrise and sunset while they are roosting at the refuges’ playa lakes. Established in 1935 for migratory birds, Muleshoe NWR is the oldest federal wildlife refuge in Texas. It has 25 miles of hiking trail and primitive camping, but no potable water. Grulla NWR is about 35 miles west across the New Mexico border. There is no admission fee to the refuges. The closest hotels are 22 miles away in Muleshoe or 31 miles to Littlefield.
December-February, Sandhill Crane Roost, Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge, Muleshoe, 806/946-3341, www.fws.gov/refuge/muleshoe

Travel Notes:

Get ready to catch your dinner as the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department stocks delicious rainbow trout in 185 ponds, lakes, and rivers around the state. TPWD will release 343,650 of the cold-hardy fish through March. Keep in mind that anglers 17 years and older must have a fishing license unless they’re in a state park. There are several locations near Austin including East Metropolitan County Park, McKinney Falls State Park, Blanco State Park, and Blue Hole Park in Georgetown.

A citizen science project is underway along the Texas Gulf Coast and you can be a part of it by joining the Nurdle Patrol. Nurdles are small plastic pellets used in the manufacturing of plastic products. The pellets escape from factories along the coast by the millions and wash up on Texas beaches. Animals often mistake the plastic for food. It’s easy to be a member of the Nurdle Patrol and only takes a few minutes of treasuring hunting on the beach. The Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve hopes that consistent and numerous sightings will lead to stricter regulations by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

Judges and barbecue fans have spoken. The winners of the HOU vs ATX BBQ Throwdown on Nov. 17 in Houston are Eaker Barbecue of Houston with the People’s Choice Award, and Tejas Chocolate + Barbecue from Tomball with the judges’ top prize, according to Chris Reid of HOUBBQ.com. Rounding out the People’s Choice Award winners were Brett’s Backyard Bar-b-cue of Rockdale with second and Daddy Duncan’s BBQ of Katy with third place. The judges followed with Eaker BBQ at second place and giving Interstellar BBQ of Austin third place. H-Town is preparing for the next big Houston Barbecue Festival on April 5, 2020, when the best pitmasters from the area come together at the Humble Civic Center.

Seminole Canyon State Park and Historic Site is closed for a utility project at least through June 2020. The park on Highway 90 east of the Pecos River High Bridge and west of Comstock is home to the ancient rock art at the Fate Bell Shelter, Presa Canyon, and other sites.

Congratulations to Texas finalists in the Good Food Awards. Vista Brewing of Driftwood was recognized for their Stonewall Belgian Lambic-Style Ale with Texas Peaches, and Treaty Oak Distilling of Dripping Springs for their Ghost Hill Bourbon and Waterloo No. 9 Gin. Take a drive and sample their wares. Finalists were chosen after a blind tasting and then rated on their social and environmental excellence. The winners will be announced Jan. 17, 2020.

Learn how to set up a hoophouse greenhouse by helping raise a plastic and hoop structure for the New Farm Institute at Green Gate Farms of Bastrop. Skills learned at the free workshop on Dec. 8 and 15 will translate to backyard farms of any size.

Other December Events:

International Peace Market/Mercado de Paz
Dec. 1, San Antonio, www.esperanzacenter.org

Christmas Wine Affair
Dec. 1-15, Fredericksburg, www.texaswinetrail.com

Nativity Figures Display
Dec. 1-31, Comfort, www.comfort-texas.com

Eisbahn Outdoor Ice Skating
Dec. 1-Jan. 5, Fredericksburg, www.skateinfred.com

The Ice (Texas’ largest outdoor ice skating rink)
Dec. 1-Feb. 2, Houston, www.discoverygreen.com

Walk Through Bethlehem
Dec. 3-4, Boerne, www.sthelenas.net/bethlehem

Sights and Sounds of Christmas
Dec. 4-7, 11-14, San Marcos, www.sights-n-sounds.org

Schmeckenfest
Dec. 5, La Grange, www.visitlagrangetx.com

Wassailfest
Dec. 5, New Braunfels, www.nbtexas.org/1845/wassailfest

Holiday Artisans Market
Dec. 5, Victoria, www.museumofthecoastalbend.org

Christmas in the Park
Dec. 5-7, Clute, www.brazosport.org/event/christmas-in-the-park/all

Santa Claus Museum
Columbus, Dec. 5-22, www.santamuseum.org

Light the Night Christmas Parade and Afterglow
Dec. 6, Fredericksburg, www.lightthenightchristmasparade.com

Festival of Texas Fiddling
Dec. 6-7, Blanco, www.twinsistersdancehall.com

Journey Through Bethlehem
Dec. 6-7, Huntsville, www.journeythroughbethlehem.com

Christkindlmarkt
Dec. 6-7, New Braunfels, www.christkindlmarktnbtx.org

Open Weekend at Davis Mountains Preserve
Dec. 6-8, Fort Davis, www.nature.org

Dickens on the Strand
Dec. 6-8, Galveston, www.galvestonhistory.org

Waco Wonderland
Dec. 6-8, Waco, www.wacowonderland.com

Main Street Bethlehem
Dec. 6-8, 13-15, Burnet, www.fbcburnet.org

Bethlehem Revisited
Dec. 6-8, 13-15, Waxahachie, www.waxahachiecvb.com/events/2019/bethlehem-revisited

Dickens in Downtown
Dec. 6-16, Plano, www.visitplano.com

Weihnachts Parade
Dec. 7, Boerne, www.ci.boerne.tx.us

Gumbo Cook-off
Dec. 7, Castell, www.castellgeneralstore.com

Museum of Illusions Grand Opening
Dec. 7, Dallas, www.dallas.museumofillusions.us

Lighted Christmas Parade
Dec. 7, Elgin, www.elgintx.com

Pearl Harbor Day Observance
Dec. 7, Fredericksburg, www.pacificwarmuseum.org

Christmas at the Courthouse
Dec. 7, Giddings, www.giddingstx.com

Gruene Town Lighting
Dec. 7, Gruene, www.holidaysingruene.com

Huntsville for the Holidays
Dec. 7, Huntsville, www.huntsvillemainstreet.com

A Frontier Christmas
Dec. 7, Johnson City, www.nps.gov/lyjo

Eliza Gilkyson in Concert
Dec. 7, La Grange, www.thebugleboy.org

Old Town Christmas
Dec. 7, Leander, www.visitleandertx.com

Lighted Christmas Parade
Dec. 7, Llano, www.llanochamber.org

Luckenbach Christmas Bazaar and Hondo’s Birthday Party
Dec. 7, Luckenbach, www.luckenbachtexas.com

Parade of Lights
Dec. 7, Odessa, www.downtownodessatx.com

Pfestival of Lights and Christmas Parade
Dec. 7, Pflugerville, www.pflugervilletx.gov

Lighted Christmas Parade and Street Dance
Dec. 7, Round Top, www.exploreroundtop.com/christmasparade

Holly-Days at the Gardens with Santa
Dec. 7-8, Corpus Christi, www.stxbot.org

Redbud Artisan Market
Dec. 7-8, Dripping Springs, www.fb.com/pages/category/Art/Redbud-Artisan-Market-376852969327182

Christmas at the Caverns
Dec. 7-8, 14-15, 21-23, Garden Ridge, www.naturalbridgecaverns.com

Lighted Christmas Parade
Dec. 9, Monahans, www.monahans.org

Corsicana Ghost Walk
Dec. 13, Corsicana, www.corsicanaghostwalk.com

Marcia Ball with Shelly King and Carolyn Wonderland in Concert
Dec. 13, La Grange, www.thebugleboy.org

Brisco Ranch Barbecue Cookoff
Dec. 13-14, Uvalde, www.uvaldebbq.com

Festival of Bonfires
Dec. 13-15, Lutcher, La., www.festivalofthebonfires.org

German Christmas Market
Dec. 13-15, Tomball, www.tomballgermanfest.org

Farmer’s Market
Dec. 14, Lake Jackson, www.lakejacksonfarmersmarket.com

Christmas on the Creek
Dec. 14, Lampasas, www.lampasaschamber.org

Snow Day
Dec. 14, Llano, www.llanochamber.org

Christmas at Winedale
Dec. 14, Round Top, chamber.brenhamtexas.com

Heritage Hike
Dec. 14, Sugar Land, www.slheritage.org

Nighttime Kites
Dec. 14, Surfside Beach, www.fb.com/events/visit-surfside-beach-tx/island-of-lights-nighttime-kites/1220762271460702

Pilgrimage to Bethlehem
Dec. 14-15, Taylor, www.ilctaylor.org

Christmas Market Days
Dec. 14, 15, 21-22, Boerne, www.boernemarketdays.com/boerne.html

Campfire Christmas
Dec. 14, 21, Richmond, www.georgeranch.org

Deutsche Weihnachtsfeier
Dec. 15, San Antonio, www.sachamber.org

LBJ Tree Lighting
Dec. 15, Stonewall, www.tpwd.texas.gov

Come and Taste It
Dec. 19, Gruene, www.grapevineingruene.com

Winter Solstice Celebration Circle with Rudi and the Rudiments
Dec. 21, Boerne, www.cavewithoutaname.com

Bird Banding
Dec. 21, Lake Jackson, www.gcbo.org

Luckenbach Christmas Ball
Dec. 21, Luckenbach, www.luckenbachtexas.com

Boxing Day Celebration
Dec. 26, Stonewall, www.beckervineyards.com

Gli Unici – Three Tenors, Goodbye 2019 and Hello 2020
Dec. 28, Boerne, www.cavewithoutaname.com

Holiday Lights:

Winter Lightfest
Dec. 1-29, Abilene, www.abilenevisitors.com/winter-lightfest

History in Lights
Goliad State Park, Dec. 1-31, www.tpwd.texas.gov/calendar/goliad/history-in-lights

Christmas Lane
Abilene, Dec. 6-23, www.abilenevisitors.com/Christmas-Lane-2019

Christmas in the Gardens
Dec. 5-8, 12-15, 19-22, Amarillo, www.amarillobotanicalgardens.org

Texas Christkindl Market
Arlington, Through Dec. 22, www.txchristkindlmarket.com

Christmas Park
Athens, Through Jan. 3, www.christmasparkathens.net

Holiday Light Stroll
Bastrop, Through Dec. 31, lostpines.regency.hyatt.com

Bastrop River of Lights
Bastrop, Through Jan. 3, www.visitbastrop.com

Comanche Trail Festival of Lights
Big Spring, Dec. 8-25, www.visitbigspring.com

Old West Christmas Light Fest
Boerne, Through Dec. 25, www.christmaslightfest.com

Christmas on the Ranch
Boerne, Through Dec. 23, www.christmas.donstrangeranch.com

Holiday Village
Brownsville, Through Jan. 1, www.holidayvillagebrownsville.com

Whistle Stop Christmas
Cleburne, Through Dec. 31, www.whistlestopchristmas.com

Santa’s Wonderland
College Station, Through Dec. 30, www.santas-wonderland.com

Christmas in the Park
Cuero, Through Jan. 1, www.cuerochristmasinthepark.org

Holiday at the Dallas Arboretum
Dallas, Through Dec. 29, www.dallasarboretum.org/events-activities/holiday-at-the-arboretum

Christmas on the Square
Frisco, Through Dec. 31, www.visitfrisco.com

Iceland/Festival of Lights
Galveston, Through Jan. 12, www.moodygardens.com/holiday_season

Lasers & Lights
Galveston, Through Jan. 1, www.galveston.com/holidaymagic

Gaylord Texan’s Lone Star Christmas
Grapevine, Through Jan. 15, www.christmasatgaylordtexan.com

History in Lights
Goliad State Park, Dec. 1-31, www.tpwd.texas.gov/calendar/goliad/history-in-lights

Christmas Village at Bayou Bend
Houston, Dec. 12-30, www.mfah.org/a/christmas-village-at-bayou-bend

Lights Spectacular
Johnson City, Through Jan. 5, www.johnsoncitytexas.info/lights-spectacular.html

Christmas on the Creek
Lampasas, Through Jan. 1, www.visionlampasas.org/events.html

Starry Starry Nights Lighted Christmas Park
Llano, Through Dec. 31, www.llanostarrystarrynights.com

Santa Land
Lubbock, Dec. 10-23, www.ci.lubbock.tx.us/departments/parks-recreation/events/santa-land

Lighted Yule Trail
Luling, Through Jan. 1, www.lulingmainstreet.com

Walkway of Lights
Marble Falls, Through Jan. 1, www.marblefalls.org/walkway

Wonderland of Lights
Marshall, Through Dec. 29, www.marshalltexas.net/public/warrants/wonderland-of-lights

Santa’s Ranch
New Braunfels, Through Jan. 4, santasranch.net

Holiday Model Train Show
Round Rock, Through 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, Through Dec. 21, www.sambasstheatre.org

Best Christmas Pageant Ever
Round Rock, Through Dec. 22, www.sambasstheatre.org

Alamo Lights
San Antonio, Dec. 6-29, www.thealamo.org

Fiesta de las Luminarias
San Antonio, Dec. 6-8, 13-15, 20-22, www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com

Holiday Lights on the River Walk
San Antonio, Through Jan. 13, www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com

Sights & Sounds of Christmas
San Marcos, Dec. 4-7, 11-14, www.sights-n-sounds.org

Dancing Lights of Mill Pond Park
San Saba, Through Jan. 5, www.sansabatexas.com

Holiday Sandcastle Village
South Padre Island, Through Jan. 13, www.sopadre.com

Nature in Lights
Temple, Through Jan. 6, hood.armymwr.com/calendar/event/nature-lights/2719466/33097

Trail of Lights
Wimberley, Through Dec. 28, www.emilyann.org/trailoflights.html

New Year’s Eve Parties:

Roaring '20s New Year’s Eve Party
Dec. 31, Alpine, www.thehollandhoteltexas.com

New Year’s Eve Dance with Bret Graham and Band
Dec. 31, Blanco, www.twinsistersdancehall.com

New Year’s Eve Party
Dec. 31, Bryan, www.messinahof.com/events

Roaring '20s New Year’s Eve Bash
Dec. 31, Fredericksburg, www.messinahof.com/events

USO-Style New Year’s Eve Hangar Dance
Dec. 31, Fredericksburg, www.hangarhotel.com

Luckenbach New Year’s Eve Celebration
Dec. 31, Luckenbach, www.luckenbachtexas.com

New Year’s Eve at Gruene Hall
Dec. 31, Gruene, www.gruenehall.com

New Year’s Eve Historical Bash
Dec. 31, Richmond, www.georgeranch.org

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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.