Day Trips & Beyond: December Events Roundup
By Gerald E. McLeod, December 3, 2021, 1:00pm,
Brighten up your holiday with Christmas lights, festivals, and parades around the state, plus more winter fun.
Trout fishing in Texas. It’s time again for a Texas winter tradition. Between Nov. 24, 2021, and March 6, 2022, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department stocks area waters with 352,563 rainbow trout. The 2021-2022 Trout Stocking Schedule lists the 200 locations and the dates when stockings occur. Austin has four locations with several other spots within an hour’s drive.
The feisty fish are relatively easy to catch and make a tasty addition to the dinner plate. Not being native to Texas waters, the cold-water-loving rainbows rarely survive our summers. Being nearly omnivorous, they strike at worms, powerbait, flies, lures, and even sweet corn from a can, making them popular with experienced anglers and fly fishermen, as well as novices.
The best time to fish for trout is either early morning or late afternoon. Gray, chilly days with a light rain can often be a good time to drown a few worms. Keep in mind that you’ll need a state fishing license unless you’re under 17 years old or fishing in a state park (some state parks have loaner equipment). Day passes to state parks can be reserved online or by calling 512/389-8900.The statewide bag limit is five trout, except on parts of the Guadalupe River.
Through March 6, 2022, Rainbow Trout Stocking, 512/389-8900, tpwd.texas.gov
Travel Notes:
Take the high road. The Texas Mountain Trail Passport is a fun project to encourage exploring Far West Texas, as if you needed more incentive than the beautiful scenery or interesting attractions. Get 20 stamps in your passport from 25 historic sites, attractions, and destinations in a six-county region between Brewster County and El Paso County to win a prize. The Texas Mountain Region covers an area about equal to Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Delaware combined, but includes Big Bend National Park, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, and multiple museums, state parks, and historic hotels. The passport is available at regional visitors’ centers and in copies of the Big Bend and Texas Mountains Travel Guide.
Snow birds are back. By now most of the magnificent whooping cranes have made their 2,400-mile migration to the Texas Gulf Coast from their Canadian breeding grounds. Last year the flock held steady at 506 individuals. The first of the birds were spotted Oct. 29 at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge and in the Port O’Connor area. North America’s tallest and rarest birds can often be spotted at Galveston Island State Park, Goose Island State Park, and from cruises out of Rockport.
Road noise. The Reason Foundation, a libertarian think tank, ranked Texas’ highway system 16th in the nation in condition and cost effectiveness in their Annual Highway Report released in November. According to the report, Texas is in the middle of the pack of states at 24th by spending $75,153 per mile on state-controlled roadways, the largest highway system in the nation. The report ranks every state highway system in 13 categories. Where the Lone Star State needs the most improvement is in the urban highway fatality rate (39th) and urban traffic congestion (40th). But the state shines at the low number of structurally deficient bridges (second-lowest of the states) and low administration costs (10th lowest of the states).
Put a twinkle in your holidays with these Christmas light displays:
Winter Lightfest
Through Dec. 31, Abilene, www.unitedwayabilene.org/winterlightfest
Comanche Trail Festival of Lights
Dec. 5-25, Big Spring, www.visitbigspring.com
Santa’s Wonderland
Through Dec. 30, College Station, www.santas-wonderland.com
Christmas in the Park
Through Jan. 1, Cuero, www.cuerochristmasinthepark.org
Holiday at the Arboretum
Through Dec. 31, Dallas, www.dallasarboretum.org
Lights and Delights
Through Jan. 4, Dripping Springs, www.dreamlanddstx.com
Winter Fest
Through Jan. 2, El Paso, www.epwinterfest.com
Christmas Nights of Lights
Through Jan. 6, Fredericksburg, www.visitfredericksburgtx.com
Christmas in the Square
Through Jan. 2, Frisco, www.visitfrisco.com
History in Lights
Dec. 1-31, Goliad, tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/goliad
Christmas Capital of Texas
Through Jan. 9, Grapevine, www.grapevinetexasusa.com
Prairie Lights
Through Dec. 31, Grand Prairie, www.prairielights.org
Festival of Lights
Dec. 1-31, Hidalgo, www.hidalgofestivaloflights.com
Lightscape
Through Jan. 2, Houston, www.hbg.org
Lights Spectacular Hill Country Style
Through Jan. 2, Johnson City, www.johnsoncitytexas.info/lights-spectacular.html
PEC Holiday Lights
Through Jan. 2, Johnson City, www.pec.coop/our-community/pec-holiday-lights
Holiday Lights Along the Llano River
Through Jan. 1, Junction, www.junctiontexas.com/holiday-lights-on-the-llano
Trail of Lights
Dec. 4, 10, 11, 17, 19-23, La Grange, www.friendsofkreischebrewery.org/trailoflights
Lakeway Trail of Lights
Dec. 4-Jan. 2, Lakeway, www.lakeway-tx.gov/721/trail-of-lights
Christmas on the Creek
Through Jan.1, Lampasas, www.visionlampasas.org/events.html
Starry Starry Night in Llano
Through Dec. 31, Llano, www.llanostarrystarrynights.com
Holiday Trail of Lights
Through Jan. 1, Louisiana: Shreveport-Bossier City, Minden, Monroe-West Monroe, Natchitoches, Alexandria/Pineville, holidaytrailoflights.com
Walkway of Lights
Through Jan. 1, Marble Falls, www.visitmarblefalls.org/event/walkway
Wonderland of Lights
Through Dec. 23, Marshall, www.marshalltexas.net/483/Wonderland-of-Lights-2021
Santa’s Ranch
Through Jan. 2, New Braunfels, www.santasranch.net
Christmas Light Display Driving Tour
Through Dec. 27, Palestine, www.visitpalestine.co
Lights on the Farm
Through Dec. 26, Plano, www.heritagefarmstead.org
Christmas on the Beach
Dec. 5-31, Rockport, www.rockport-fulton.org/ChristmasontheBeach
Light up the Lake
Dec. 2-4, Round Rock, www.roundrockrecreation.com/event/light-up-the-lake-2
Holiday Lights on the River Walk
Through Jan. 10, San Antonio, www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com/events/holiday-lights-on-the-river-walk-free
Lightscape
Through Jan. 2, San Antonio, www.sabot.org
Tour of Lights
Dec. 4-Dec. 31, San Angelo, www.conchochristmascelebration.com/tour-of-lights
Sights and Sounds of Christmas
Dec. 2-4, 9-11, San Marcos, www.sights-n-sounds.org
Christmas Spectacular
Dec. 4-Jan. 2, The Colony, www.thecolonytx.gov/834/Christmas-Spectacular
Wild Lights
Through Jan. 9, Waco, www.cameronparkzoo.com/specialevents/wild-lights
Trail of Lights
December 4-26, Wimberley, www.emilyann.org/trailoflights.html
Other December Events:
Christmas Wine Affair
Dec. 1-24, Texas Hill Country, www.texaswinetrail.com
Life-Size Nativity Scene
Dec. 1-31, Comfort, www.comfort-texas.com
Chriskindl Market
Dec. 1-Jan. 2, Arlington, www.txchristkindlmarket.com
Eisbahn Outdoor Ice Skating
Dec. 1-Jan. 2, Fredericksburg, www.heritageschool.org/eisbahn
“Honor, Courage, Commitment: Marine Corps Art, 1975-2018”
Dec. 1-Jan. 4, Fredericksburg, www.pacificwarmuseum.org
“Facing the Inferno: The Wildfire Photography of Keri Greer”
Dec. 1-Jan. 15, Temple, www.templeparks.com
Green Mountain Energy Ice at Discovery Green
Dec. 1-Jan. 30, Houston, www.discoverygreen.com/ebevents
“Texas Biennial: A New Landscape, A Possible Horizon”
Dec. 1-Jan. 31, San Antonio, www.texasbiennial.org
Christmas Under the Stars
Dec. 2-4, Brownwood, www.brownwoodchristmas.com
Holiday Boat Caroling
Dec. 2-23, San Antonio, www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com/events/ford-holiday-boat-caroling
Balcones Heights Jazz Festival Christmas Concert
Dec. 3, Balcones Heights, www.facebook.com/BalconesHeightsJazzFestival
Dickens on Main
Dec. 3-4, 8-11, 17-19, Boerne, www.adickenscelebration.com
Light Up Live Oak Park
Dec. 3-4, Ingleside, www.inglesidetxchamber.com
Dickens on the Strand
Dec. 3-5, Galveston, www.galvestonhistory.org
Christmas at Old Fort Concho
Dec. 3-5, San Angelo, www.fortconcho.com
Christmas Stroll
Dec. 3-12, Salado, www.salado.com
Bethlehem Revisited
Dec. 3-5, 10-12, Waxahachie, www.waxahachiecvb.com/events/2021/bethlehem-revisited
Nativity Display
Dec. 3-21, Granbury, www.visitgranbury.com/events/annual-events/christmas-in-granbury
Old Jail Exhibit
Dec. 4, Fredericksburg, www.pioneermuseum.net/old-jail
Ranger Christmas Wonderland
Dec. 4, Fredericksburg, www.trhc.org
Christmas Fair and Winter at the Park
Dec. 4, Huntsville, www.huntsvillemainstreet.com
Celebration of the Lively
Dec. 4, Surfside Beach, www.surfsidetx.org/page/city.calendar
Christmas Fair
Dec. 4, Taylor, www.taylortx.gov/960/Christmas-Fair
Lighted Christmas Parade
Dec. 4, Victoria, www.explorevictoriatexas.com
Courthouse Tours
Dec. 4, Wharton, cca.whartonchamber.com
Christmas on Texas Avenue Festival
Dec. 4-5, Baytown, www.acedistrictbaytown.org/events
Holidays in Gruene Christmas Market
Dec. 4-5, Gruene, www.gruenemarketdays.com
Redbud Artisan Market
Dec. 4-5, Kerrville, www.redbudartisanmarket.com
Farmers Market
Dec. 4, 11, Boerne, www.cibolo.org/locations/herff-farm
Norwegian Country Christmas Tour
Dec. 5, Clifton, www.visitclifton.org/page/country-christmas.aspx
Lighted Christmas Parade
Dec. 7, Nederland, www.nederlandtx.com
Planetarium Show
Dec. 7, 14, 21, 18, Clute, www.brazosportcenter.com
Christmas in the Park
Dec. 10-11, Clute, www.clutetexas.gov/39th-annual-christmas-in-the-park
Candlelight at the Ranch
Dec. 10-11, Lubbock, www.ranchingheritage.org
A Walk Through Bethlehem
Dec. 10-12, Montalba, www.montalbabaptist.church
Downtown Hutto Christmas Fair
Dec. 11, Hutto, www.facebook.com/downtownhutto
Christmas on the Creek
Dec. 11, Lampasas, www.lampasaschamber.org
Snow Day
Dec. 11, Llano, www.llanochamber.org
Folk Fest
Dec. 11, New Braunfels, www.texashandmadefurniture.com
Dogwood Jamboree “Time for Christmas”
Dec. 11, Palestine, www.dogwoodjamboree.com
Black History Holiday Light Cruises
Dec. 11, San Antonio, saaacam.org/events/list
Holiday Museum Market
Dec. 11, San Antonio, www.samuseum.org
North Pole Nopal Market
Dec. 11, San Antonio, www.sariverfound.org/sarf-events/tianguis-market
Holiday with the Cranes
Dec. 11-12, Galveston, www.galvestonnaturetourism.org
Holiday Twilight Tour
Dec. 15, Houston, www.mfah.org
Come and Taste It
Dec. 16, Gruene, www.grapevineingruene.com
Alfresco Weslaco
Dec. 16, Weslaco, www.facebook.com/alfrescoweslaco1
The Texas Cowboys’ Christmas Ball
Dec. 16-18, Anson, www.texasccb.com
Snow Day on the Square
Dec. 17, Wharton, cca.whartonchamber.com
Abilene Zoo Christmas Celebration
Dec. 17-23, Abilene, www.abilenezoo.org
Winter Solstice with Rudi and Rudiments
Dec. 18, Boerne, www.cavewithoutaname.com
Bird Banding
Dec. 18, Lake Jackson, www.gcbo.org
Christmas Ball with Gary P. Nunn
Dec. 18, Luckenbach, www.luckenbachtexas.com
LBJ Tree Lighting
Dec. 19, Stonewall, tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/lyndon-b-johnson
Eastside Market
Dec. 19, Waco, www.eastsidemarketwtx.com
Dickens-On-The-Brazos
Dec. 18, Washington-on-the-Brazos, www.thc.texas.gov/historic-sites/washington-brazos-state-historic-site
Luckenbach New Year’s Eve Celebration
Dec. 31, Luckenbach, www.luckenbachtexas.com
USO-Style Hangar Dance
Dec. 31, Fredericksburg, www.hangarhotel.com
In search of more virtual or IRL travel ideas? Visit our Out of Town listings.
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 and follow him on Facebook.
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