Texas Hill Country Holiday Events

The cities of the Central Texas region called the Texas Hill Country are especially beautiful and welcoming during the holidays, when they host numerous holiday events. The problem for some Hill Country holiday revelers is that there are so many activities going on at the same time, they often miss one event because they were at another. Following is a weekend-by-weekend guide to help you plan your tour of the towns on the Texas Hill Country Regional Christmas Lighting Trail.

Nov. 17-19, 2006

New Braunfels
Start your Texas Hill Country holiday tour in New Braunfels the weekend before Thanksgiving. This German town, located on Interstate 35 between San Antonio and Austin, kicks off its holiday celebrations with "Festtage," which includes a parade and the lighting of the city's Christmas tree in downtown New Braunfels on Nov. 17.

The tree lighting signals the opening of "Weihnachtsmarkt." If you need to ask directions to this event, don't worry about pronouncing it. Just ask to be pointed in the direction of the best holiday shopping in town. You'll be directed to the New Braunfels Civic Center, where Weihnachtsmarkt will be held Nov. 17-19.

Visit www.nbcham.org for more information on holiday events in New Braunfels.

Nov. 24-26, 2006

Llano
Start off Thanksgiving weekend in Llano. The evening of Nov. 24 is called "Santa's Big Night" in this Hill Country town located northwest of Austin. Head to the Llano Courthouse Square to see Santa ride in on a fire truck (there's no snow for his sleigh in Llano) and have your photo taken with him. Then take in the lights on the historic courthouse and on a "pathway of arches" at Llano River Park. (Don't worry if eating too much turkey keeps you at home on Thanksgiving weekend; these lights will be lit through New Year's Eve.) For more information on Llano holiday events, visit www.tex-fest.com/regional/llano.html.

Fredericksburg
From Llano, take Highway 16 south 40 miles to Fredericksburg, where you'll find a Peddler Show at the Gillespie County Fairgrounds Nov. 24-26. And don't forget your ice skates; from Nov. 24-Jan. 7, Fredericksburg's Eisbahn (outdoor skating rink) is open at the Marktplatz.

Boerne
From Fredericksburg, take Highway 87 South and I-10 for 38 miles to Boerne. On Nov. 24-25, Boerne will hold its "Dickens on Main" event downtown from 6 to 10 p.m. Visit www.ahillcountrychristmas.com/dickens.aspx for details, and read my article, "A Hill Country Christmas in Boerne, Texas."

Dec. 1-3, 2006

Fredericksburg
It's back to Fredericksburg Dec. 1 for the town's lighted Christmas Parade down Main Street. Plus, on Dec. 1-3 you can shop till you drop at Weihnachten, a Christmas market and festival.

Boerne
If you didn't get a chance to visit Boerne for the "Dickens on Main" event, you'll have another chance to celebrate the holidays German-style in Boerne on Dec. 2. The city holds its annual Weihnachts Fest Parade that evening in Boerne's historic downtown district.

Also in Boerne on Dec. 2-3 is Oma's Christmas Fair from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Kendall County Fairgrounds on Highway 46 East. This event is a great place to sample authentic German food and pick up some handmade gift items.

For details on these Boerne events, visit www.ahillcountrychristmas.com/german.aspx.

Llano
If the turkey did indeed keep you at home on Thanksgiving weekend, Dec. 2 is another good date to visit the town. During the day, you can take a tour of a few of the beautiful homes in Llano. Then that evening, you can watch all the lighted floats make their way through the Llano streets during the nighttime Christmas parade. And, of course, the lights decorating the courthouse and the "pathway of arches" will still be lit.

Burnet
Another option for the weekend of Dec. 1-3 is "Main Street Bethlehem," located on Washington Street just one block south of Highway 29 at Vanderveer Street in Burnet. From 6 to 9 p.m., you can take a stroll in Burnet and imagine yourself in the village of Bethlehem during the time of Christ's birth. (Main Street Bethlehem will be open Dec. 8-10 as well.)

Dec. 7, 2006

New Braunfels
If you can swing a Thursday outing, it's back to New Braunfels on Dec. 7 for Wassailfest. During this festival, local merchants open their stores and offer their own versions of wassail, a hot, spiced punch, to visitors. Downtown New Braunfels, decorated with thousands of lights, is the perfect backdrop for the wassail tasting as well as live holiday entertainment.

Dec. 8-10, 2006

Johnson City
Johnson City is home to several amazing holiday lights displays that you can see any time between Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve. However, the weekend of Dec. 8-10 may be the best time to go there because of additional holiday activities being held only that weekend at Lyndon Baines Johnson's boyhood home. See Johnson City, Texas' Free Holiday Events for details.

Boerne
If it's shopping you want or need to do that weekend, Boerne Market Days will be held Dec. 9-10 at Boerne's Main Plaza. You can shop for arts, crafts, antiques, collectibles and unique gift items, and enjoy the holiday music and food.

Dec. 15-17, 2006

Marble Falls
Marble Falls, which is about 20 miles north of Johnson City on Highway 281, offers holiday visitors the intricately illuminated Walkway of Lights in the city's Lakeside Park. While you can visit this holiday light display from 6 to 10 p.m. any day between Nov. 17 and Jan. 1, the weekend of Dec. 15-17 might be a good weekend to see it simply because the other holiday weekends are filled with so many other activities.

Round Mountain
South of Marble Falls on Highway 281 by about 10 miles is another stop on the Hill Country Regional Christmas Lighting Trail: Round Mountain, Texas. If you blink while driving through Round Mountain, you'll probably miss it. So keep a watchful eye out for the lights of the Southwest Center and Cattleman's National Bank. If you take a short detour onto Ranch Road 962 East, you'll see a Methodist Church built in 1876 that is decorated for the holidays.

Johnson City
If you visit Marble Falls and Round Mountain on the weekend of Dec. 15-17, 2006, and you haven't yet been to Johnson City, head south another 10 miles on Highway 281 to see some spectacular light displays. See Johnson City, Texas' Free Holiday Events for details.

Dec. 22-24, 2006

Wimberley
Wimberley kicks off the holidays on Thanksgiving weekend and keeps the lights lit all holiday season. So if you haven't visited this town, located about 15 miles west of San Marcos, by Dec. 22-24, give it a try. You can stroll through Wimberley's Walk-Thru Trail of Lights between 5:30 and 10 p.m.

For more information on the Hill Country Regional Christmas Lighting Trail and the participating towns mentioned in this article, visit www.tex-fest.com/regional/default.htm. Have a happy Hill Country holiday!

See also 3 Uniquely Austin Ways to Enjoy the Holidays