Christmas Celebrations in Hallettsville, Texas

Every holiday season, the Lavaca County Courthouse can be seen from miles away, lighting up a prairie sky over the little South Texas town of Hallettsville, in their Festival of Lights celebration. Beginning the weekend after Thanksgiving, the little farming community of less than 3000, hosts its Festival of Lights celebration. The old courthouse and square are decorated with Christmas cutouts and thousands of glistening lights which illuminate the entire courthouse square. A Nativity scene always has a prominent place on the courthouse lawn.

Festival of Lights

Populated mainly by Czech and German families, the little farming community makes Christmas a grand affair. The Festival of Lights is kicked off by a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus to get the children smiling. After the Lighting Extravaganza on the Courthouse Square, the children of Hallettsville love to wave at spectators in their very own Santa's Kiddie Parade. Following another Christmas lighted parade is a Christmas Pageant. Food & Market Booths fill the downtown square with local crafts such as preserves, kolaches, sausages, rustic décor, and souvenirs. Yes, Christmas in Hallettsville is a grand event.

Things to See and Do in Hallettsville

Families from miles around are attracted to Hallettsville's simpler way of life. This charming Czech-German community offers good food, an atmosphere of history, and laid back, friendly people

Visitors to Hallettsville will appreciate the architecture of the spectacular Courthouse in the town square. Famous architect Eugene T. Heiner designed the Lavaca County Courthouse to look like the Allegheny County Courthouse in Pittsburgh. It is 170 feet tall and made of brown sandstone and grey stone. It features an elegant 7 foot Seth Thomas clock in heavy towers with pyramidal roofs. Beautiful Romanesque arches frame narrow windows that are two stories tall. Built in 1897 to 1899, the courthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. Other places to visit in Hallettsville include antique stores, the Lavaca Historical Museum and the Kocian Building.

Hallettsville is well known for its good food. Local cafes like Novosads BBQ and Sausage, Bel Air Restaurant, and Kountry Bakery dish up old time recipes in a nostalgic atmosphere by friendly country people. No one makes sausage and kolaches like the Czech and German cooks.

Hallettsville, located on Hwy 77 about 100 miles southwest of Houston, is also host to the annual Texas State Championship Fiddler's Frolic the fourth weekend in April, as well as the State Championship Domino Tournament.

This rural community knows how to provide great, simple entertainment and is dedicated to bringing the public a grand holiday spectacle and the ultimate festival of lights.

A visit to their website reveals the Christian spirit of Christmas in Hallettsville with the statement, "...Christmas is a time when our thoughts turn to the special people Christ has brought into our lives...and as we remember, our hearts are warmed with love!"