Holidays in the Hill Country
The Twelve Days of Christmas is great, but the Hill Country is doing the holiday up in a Texas-sized fashion with a whole month of activities. One of the largest Christmas events in the area is the Texas Hill Country Regional Christmas Lighting Trail, stretching north from San Antonio to encompass many of the communities of this region. Shops, historic sites, courthouses, and churches welcome travelers with a show of spectacular lights and Christmas cheer.
The Christmas Lighting Tour runs from late November through New Year’s Day, spreading the holiday spirit with free activities that recall Christmases gone by in historic hill country towns. Some activities take place on weekends only; others, especially lighting displays, occur nightly. Grab a coat, the camera, and the kids and let’s jump aboard the sleigh–or at least the station wagon–and have a look at the dazzling show that awaits just beyond San Antonio’s city limits.
Blanco: One of the largest light displays is found at the Blanco County Courthouse, an historic building aglow with over 100,000 tiny white lights. Blanco hosts a month of activities to celebrate the season including the LBJ Heartland Council Holiday Market and the Merry Merchants Market, both with plenty of opportunities for some holiday shopping. Later in the month, visitors can take a tour of homes and enjoy a holiday meal then witness the reenactment of Las Posadas at St. Ferdinand’s Catholic Church. For more, call (830) 833-5101.
Bulverde: Start your Hill Country lighting tour in Bulverde, located nine miles north of Loop 1604 and a mile west of US 281. This small town has a big Christmas spirit and shows it starting with the Bulverde Senior Holiday Craft Show in early December. The following weekend, the town enjoys a living Christmas at St. Paul Lutheran Church and later enjoys an open house at the Krause House Theater. For more, call 830-438-4285 or see www.bulverdechamber.com.
Burnet: You’ll find a full month of activities in Burnet, including the arrival of Santa in early December. Christmas on the Square is scheduled for the first weekend of December on the historic square, illuminated with millions of tiny lights. Mark your calendar for the first two weekends so you won’t miss “Main Street Bethlehem,” complete with costumed townspeople, camels, donkeys, and the historic feel of the time period. Burnet’s Fort Croghan also steps back into history to catch the spirit of 1849 when this site was a frontier outpost. You can take a candlelight tour of six historic cabins, each decorated with simple ornaments and populated with families in period costume. For more, call (512) 756-4297 or see www.burnetchamber.org.
Canyon Lake: It may be a great summertime getaway, but Canyon Lake offers plenty of reasons for a holiday visit as well. Early in the month, stop by for the Old Fashioned Christmas Lighting then the next week see the lighting of the community Christmas tree, complete with carolers and the arrival of Santa. The annual Canyon Lake Christmas Parade takes place in Sattler, followed by the Parade of Lights on Canyon Lake, with boats sailing at sunset. In mid-December, save room for turkey and all the trimmings at the annual Christmas banquet. For more, call (800) 528-2104 or see www.canyonlakechamber.com.
Dripping Springs: Tucked between Johnson City and Austin, this community nicknamed the Gateway to the Hill Country celebrates with Christmas lights and a contagious holiday spirit. In early December, you’ll find two good shopping opportunities at the Christmas Fair at the Senior Citizens Activity Center and the Ladies Guild Christmas Bazaar at St. Martin De Porres Catholic Church. And when you’re done with your shopping, enjoy the Christmas in the Hills Tour of Homes. For more information, call (877) 294-1133.
Fredericksburg: The holiday fun starts at the beginning of the month with a lighted Christmas parade on historic Main Street and continues right through the month in this charming community. The parade marks the opening of Weihnachten in Fredericksburg, a Christmas market and festival. Activity centers around a Christmas Tree Forest. Designed in the style of an open-air German Christmas market, Weihnachten offers everything from crafts to Christmas beers. There’s plenty of holiday fun for the children, too, thanks to the Kinderfest . A real highlight of the season is the Christmas Candlelight Tour with self-guided tours of 15 historic homes and buildings. The fun continues after Christmas as well. On December 26th, the Pioneer Museum Complex hosts Zweite Weihnachten or second Christmas, a German tradition recalling that the day after the holiday was meant to be shared with friends. For more, call (888) 997-3600 or see www.fredericksburg-texas.com.
Goldthwaite: In the northern reaches of the Hill Country, Goldthwaite celebrates with a full day of holiday fun: the arrival of Santa, a band concert on the Square, a pancake supper, Christmas Parade of Lights, Cowboy Christmas Ball, and more. It’s all followed by the Goldthwaite Garden Club Tour of Homes. For more, call (915) 648-3619.
Johnson City: They named it right: Lights Spectacular is downright spectacular thanks to over 750,000 lights. At the center of the festivities stands the Blanco County Courthouse with over 100,000 lights, open weekends so visitors can view the Christmas tree and antique toy display. The community also has “light art displays,” illuminated panels with up to 1200 lights that portray the 12 days of Christmas. And don’t miss the Pedernales Electric Co-Op with over 275,000 shining lights. The free lighting displays take place nightly through New Year’s Day but the month is also filled with special events including Christmas in the County Carriage Rides, lamplight tours of the LBJ Boyhood home and the Johnson settlement, and the living story of Christmas at the United Methodist Church. And for the shoppers in your family, the Blanco County Artists International Art Show will be held on the courthouse square. For more, call (830) 868-7684 or see www.johnsoncity-texas.com.
Llano: Through New Year’s Day, Llano’s leaving the lights on–Christmas lights, that is. The “Lights Aglow” display at the Llano County Courthouse will bring visitors to the historic downtown every night. In early December, kids can meet Santa at noon at the courthouse square then the whole family can enjoy the afternoon checking out the sidewalk vendors and having some homemade cookies and hot chocolate to get in the spirit of the season. That evening, a lighted Christmas parade fills the streets,. For more, call (915) 247-5354 or see www.llanochamber.org.
Marble Falls: Grab your sunglasses for this display: you’re about to see a million tiny lights! The Christmas Walkway of Lights is a virtual tunnel of lights that reflect off the waters of Lake Marble Falls, one of the most spectacular lighting experiences in the region. Over 125 illuminated sculptures and a tree of over 17,000 lights have attracted visitors from around the world to this celebration. For more, call (800) 759-8178 or see www.marblefalls.org.
Mason: West of Llano on TX 29, Mason shines with thousands of lights and plenty of Christmas cheer. Early in the month, the Advent Music Festival rings in the sound of the season; later the Chamber of Commerce Homes Tour gives a peek into homes filled with the holiday spirit. For more, call (915)347-5758 or see www.masontx.coc.com.
Round Mountain: Located north of Johnson City on US 281, this small community is big on friendly holiday spirit. Silhouette lights outline the area’s many historic buildings such as the Round Mountain Stagecoach Inn and Stable, built in 1874, and the recently restored Methodist Church, dating back to 1876. For more, call (830) 825-3233.
For more information on this Hill Country Christmas Lighting Tour, contact any area chamber of commerce or call the regional office, (830) 997-8515 for a brochure listing all the special holiday activities.