The Texas Hill Country communities with the most holiday spirit are 10 cities, each of which wraps its downtown area and major landmarks in holiday lights and decorations during the holiday season. Drive from town to town and you’ll see that low-lying areas and neighborhoods offer dazzling displays of lights.
Many of these cities also have unique festivities, such as carriage rides, Christmas carols, and nativity scenes. Holiday-themed events generally occur on weekends during December. You can visit the Hill Country towns traveling north from the city of San Antonio, which has its own unique lighting displays.
Although these cities are very close together geographically, the events are not something you can enjoy in one night. Rather, visitors should expect to spend multiple nights in the Hill Country if they want to see a good selection of what cities have to offer during the season.
Hill Country Towns with Holiday Celebrations
While a formal regional holiday trail is no longer posted, you can drive from town to town on vacation discovering each unique celebration. It’s a great way to see the cities of the Texas Hill Country and experience the lights and joy of the Christmas season.
- Boerne: The Weihnachts Parade is a long-standing Boerne Christmas tradition with nearly 100 illuminated entrances traveling down Main Street. The parade is always the first Saturday in December (with Sunday as the backup date if the weather is bad). The parade starts at 6 pm Boerne is also a fantastic place to shop with quaint shops and boutiques lining its main street.
- Burnet: Burnet becomes Bethlehem for the Christmas season. You can walk through the gates and enjoy the townspeople in costume caring for their animals, making bread, and participating in a live nativity scene. The 2018 dates are December 7, 8, 9 and 14, 15 and 16. The Nativity Village is open from 6:00 to 9:00 pm every night. Admission is free.
- Dripping Springs – Shopping, live entertainment, and Santa are the main attractions at this extended-hours in-store “Christmas at Mercer” celebration. The sights and sounds of the Dripping Springs Mercer Street event will come to life on Saturday, December 1, 2018, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., train rides and more. Santa Claus will arrive at 10 a.m. Annual tree lighting will take place in the Triangle (also known as Veterans Memorial Park at E. Mercer Street, Ranch Road 12, and Hwy 290) at 6:15 p.m.
- Fredericksburg: Mix an Old World German Christmas with warm Texas hospitality, and what you get is Fredericksburg Christmas, a month-long celebration of the Christmas season. Stroll its beautiful light-filled Marktplatz with its 26-foot-tall, hand-carved wooden Christmas pyramid, or schedule your visit for events like the annual Tannenbaum Ball. It’s a great place to shop with gaily decorated shops and galleries filled with unique treasures. There is even an ice skating rink.
- Goldwaite: The Parade of Lights will take place on Saturday, December 1, 2018 in downtown Goldthwaite and will begin as soon as it is dark enough outside (usually a little after 6pm). This year’s theme will be “A Cammo Christmas.” You can take a photo with Santa before the parade at the Welcome Center and stop after the parade for a cup of hot cocoa.
- Johnson City – Over 100,00 lights are covered at the Johnson City Blanco County Courthouse from late November through December. On opening night (Friday after Thanksgiving), the courthouse glows and the surrounding trees are lit with red lights, producing a magnificent spectacle. There are live nativity scenes, craft stalls and food vendors, and special events during the light season. Horse-drawn carriages, with their own festive lighting, provide a romantic way to see all the sights up close. There is also a lamplight tour of LBJ Boyhood Home and other historical events that are perfect for history buffs.
- Llano: The Illuminated Christmas Park will be open every night from 6 to 9 pm You can walk along the route, having a hot chocolate, along the Llano river, enjoying all the exhibits that illuminate the Badu Park. Santa Claus will be in the park every Friday and Saturday night from 6 to 8 pm from November 23 to December 22, 2018. On New Year’s Eve, the park and lights will be available until 9 p.m
- Marble Falls: Marble Falls Walkway of Lights is one of the biggest holiday events in the Highland Lakes area each year. Two million lights in more than 130 sculptures illuminate Lakeside Park each year from mid-November through New Year’s Day. The Catwalk of Lights in Marble Falls runs from 6 to 10 p.m. Every day until January 1, 2018. The city also hosts an annual Parade of Lights that begins at 6 p.m. M. Friday, November 16, 2018, ends with the opening of the Pasarela de las Luces. After seeing the lights of Marble Falls, you can find more Christmas light displays in the Highland Lakes.
- New Braunfels – At Santa’s Ranch you can drive through over a mile of flashing lights and animated screens. Stay warm with homemade cocoa and freshly brewed kettle corn. The Magical Exhibits are open nightly at 6pm from November 2 to December 30, 2018. You can purchase a season pass for $ 56 plus tax or have a one-night show for $ 28 plus tax per vehicle.
- Wimberley: From November 24 to December 28, 2018, the grounds of the EmilyAnn Theater are beautifully lit. You can visit it from 6:00 to 9:00 pm (Sunday to Thursday); 6: 00-10: 00 pm (Friday and Saturday). Admission is free but donations are important as it is a fundraiser. There is a shop at the entrance where you can buy toys and lighting fixtures at reasonable prices. The Rotary Club also has a children’s book store with free books. The concession stand offers hot dogs, fried cakes, nachos, and drinks including hot chocolate. It gets very crowded so the recommended parking is at the high school.
More to do in the Texas Hill Country
Fredericksburg earned a spot on Country Living’s compilation of “America’s 23 Best Small Towns for Christmas.” Fredericksburg, settled by German immigrants, continues an annual German-themed holiday. The magazine chose the authenticity of Fredericksburg with its Christkindlesmarkt which takes place in November, kicking off a festive season of tree lights, parades, choir events, as well as festive performances of the Nutcracker ballet.
In Round Rock, each year there is a model train exhibit at ArtSpace on Main Street. This year, the event will take place from Friday, November 23, 2018 to Saturday, December 29, 2018. The exhibition is open from 12 am to 5 pm
Hill Country holiday events include concerts, special dinners, and photos with Santa. The Hill Country, with its rolling hills dotted with ranches, is a special place to vacation.
