Christmas is just a week away (I know, I can’t believe it either), so that means it’s time to pick up the pace and do all your favorite holiday activities before it’s too late. What better way to accomplish that than by killing not just two, but all the birds with one stone? The Hill Country Regional Christmas Lighting Trail is comprised of 10 cities in Central Texas that go all-out for the season. All of the towns are located in close proximity to one another, so the idea is to make a trip out of it and visit them in one fell swoop. And although it’s late in the season and many of the major holiday attractions have already passed in the towns, there’s still plenty to see and do in these last few days before Christmas.
So, who’s up for a last minute Christmas vacation?
- Boerne
Facebook/boernetx The official events like the annual Weihnacht Parade and Dickens on Main are over for this year, but doesn’t mean the lights themselves are. Main Street is still a sight to see all season long! Businesses are ablaze with dazzling displays and the entire street is filled with decorations that evoke more Christmas cheer than you thought possible.
- Burnet
YouTube/Hector Martinez Every year since 1992, Burnet has hosted Main Street Bethlehem, a live nativity seen put on by First Baptist Church. The actors are so skilled that you’ll be instantly transported to Nazareth and feel as if you were present for the birth of Christ. This year, it took place the first two weekends of December, but there’s still much holiday fun to be had in Burnet! You can check out the festivities here, but also know that the entire town will be ablaze with dazzling lights through the end of the month.Here’s a look at the annual living nativity scene in Burnet.
- Dripping Springs
Facebook/christmasonmercerstreet The lights and town Christmas tree went up on December 2 and will be through the first of the year, so be sure to get a good look while you can. For such a small town, Dripping Springs does the holidays in a big way.
- Fredericksburg
fredericksburgchristmasparade.com Fredericksburg is every Christmas lover’s dream. Each year, there are dozens of holiday events including an ice skating rink through January 5, a singing Christmas tree on the 22nd and 23rd, and the annual Candlelight Tour of Homes on the 26th. A list of all the events can be found here. Although most of them have taken place already, you can get an idea of what you want to do next year. The whole town looks like a dream during the holidays regardless of whether there’s an event going on or not.
- Goldthwaite
Facebook/MillsCountyChamber There’s just something about a small-town Christmas that makes everything seem right in the world. Goldthwaite’s annual holiday parade took place on December 2nd, complete with lighted floats, photos with Santa, and hot chocolate. Although the parade itself might be over, the lights certainly aren’t! Stroll down main street and take in all the sights of the season one last time before it draws to a close.
- Johnson City
Flickr/jmtimages If you’ve never been to Johnson City at Christmastime, you’ve been missing out on one of the most unforgettable scenes in Texas. The courthouse is completely covered in dazzling white lights, and the surrounding trees are wrapped from trunk to leaves in mesmerizing blues. The images will be forever burned into your mind in the best way possible.
- Llano
Facebook/llanotexaschamber Llano’s Pathway of Arches is an incredible light display that runs through December 31. Stroll along the river with a steaming mug of cocoa while you take in all the beautiful sights. It’ll make this Christmas one to remember, that’s for sure.
- Marble Falls
Facebook/WalkwayoflightsTX This little Hill Country town doesn’t play around when it comes to Christmas. The Walkway of Lights, a display set up alongside Lake Marble Falls, consists of over one million lights, 130 lighted sculptures, and a tunnel made up of more than 12,000 clear lights - all on a self-guided walk. Maybe you can even go for a slice of pie at Blue Bonnet Cafe afterwards.
- New Braunfels
Facebook/PlayInNewBraunfels There’s plenty of holiday fun to be had in New Braunfels. Santa’s Ranch is a light display with over one million lights, the Natural Bridge Caverns come alive with thousands of lights, you can snowboard at Texas Ski Ranch and peruse the shops at Gruene Christmas Market Days, and more. These lights alone should be enough of a selling point - just look at that captivating glow.
- Wimberley
YouTube/scotnet55 The Trail of Lights at EmilyAnn Theatre & Gardens runs through December 28th. It features dozens of lighted exhibits with thousands of lights overall. This is the 20th anniversary of the event, and it seems to get better and better every year! You still have a little over a week to make the trip, so if you live nearby I would definitely encourage it. More information here.Here’s what you can expect on a visit to Wimberly this holiday season.
Have you ever done the Hill Country Regional Christmas Lighting Trail? Which city is your favorite? Let us know!
Facebook/boernetx
The official events like the annual Weihnacht Parade and Dickens on Main are over for this year, but doesn’t mean the lights themselves are. Main Street is still a sight to see all season long! Businesses are ablaze with dazzling displays and the entire street is filled with decorations that evoke more Christmas cheer than you thought possible.
YouTube/Hector Martinez
Every year since 1992, Burnet has hosted Main Street Bethlehem, a live nativity seen put on by First Baptist Church. The actors are so skilled that you’ll be instantly transported to Nazareth and feel as if you were present for the birth of Christ. This year, it took place the first two weekends of December, but there’s still much holiday fun to be had in Burnet! You can check out the festivities here, but also know that the entire town will be ablaze with dazzling lights through the end of the month.Here’s a look at the annual living nativity scene in Burnet.
Facebook/christmasonmercerstreet
The lights and town Christmas tree went up on December 2 and will be through the first of the year, so be sure to get a good look while you can. For such a small town, Dripping Springs does the holidays in a big way.
fredericksburgchristmasparade.com
Fredericksburg is every Christmas lover’s dream. Each year, there are dozens of holiday events including an ice skating rink through January 5, a singing Christmas tree on the 22nd and 23rd, and the annual Candlelight Tour of Homes on the 26th. A list of all the events can be found here. Although most of them have taken place already, you can get an idea of what you want to do next year. The whole town looks like a dream during the holidays regardless of whether there’s an event going on or not.
Facebook/MillsCountyChamber
There’s just something about a small-town Christmas that makes everything seem right in the world. Goldthwaite’s annual holiday parade took place on December 2nd, complete with lighted floats, photos with Santa, and hot chocolate. Although the parade itself might be over, the lights certainly aren’t! Stroll down main street and take in all the sights of the season one last time before it draws to a close.
Flickr/jmtimages
If you’ve never been to Johnson City at Christmastime, you’ve been missing out on one of the most unforgettable scenes in Texas. The courthouse is completely covered in dazzling white lights, and the surrounding trees are wrapped from trunk to leaves in mesmerizing blues. The images will be forever burned into your mind in the best way possible.
Facebook/llanotexaschamber
Llano’s Pathway of Arches is an incredible light display that runs through December 31. Stroll along the river with a steaming mug of cocoa while you take in all the beautiful sights. It’ll make this Christmas one to remember, that’s for sure.
Facebook/WalkwayoflightsTX
This little Hill Country town doesn’t play around when it comes to Christmas. The Walkway of Lights, a display set up alongside Lake Marble Falls, consists of over one million lights, 130 lighted sculptures, and a tunnel made up of more than 12,000 clear lights - all on a self-guided walk. Maybe you can even go for a slice of pie at Blue Bonnet Cafe afterwards.
Facebook/PlayInNewBraunfels
There’s plenty of holiday fun to be had in New Braunfels. Santa’s Ranch is a light display with over one million lights, the Natural Bridge Caverns come alive with thousands of lights, you can snowboard at Texas Ski Ranch and peruse the shops at Gruene Christmas Market Days, and more. These lights alone should be enough of a selling point - just look at that captivating glow.
YouTube/scotnet55
The Trail of Lights at EmilyAnn Theatre & Gardens runs through December 28th. It features dozens of lighted exhibits with thousands of lights overall. This is the 20th anniversary of the event, and it seems to get better and better every year! You still have a little over a week to make the trip, so if you live nearby I would definitely encourage it. More information here.Here’s what you can expect on a visit to Wimberly this holiday season.
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