Salado, Texas - Lighted Christmas Parade and Christmas Stroll
December 4 - 14, 2025
Salado's Main Street
The Christmas Parade runs the night of December 4th starting on Royal Street and Main Street and ends at Salado Civiv Center (671 North Main St). Bring chairs or blankets to sit and watch the lights pass by. Check the website for a map of the route and where to park (for free). Then stay for the Christmas Stroll on the weekends December 5-7 and 12-14 consisting of entertainment, visits with Santa, and holiday shopping.
Address: (throughout town)
Hours: Parade: 12/4/25 at 6:00pm CST - 8:00pm CST; Christmas Stroll: Friday and Saturday 10:00am CST - 8:00pm CST; Sunday 12:00pm CST - 6:00pm CST
Fees: (varies by activity)
For more information - https://business.salado.com/calendar/Details/2025-salado-lighted-christmas-parade-1479226
and https://business.salado.com/calendar/Details/65th-annual-salado-christmas-stroll-1457103
Showing posts with label December. Show all posts
Showing posts with label December. Show all posts
Event - #Travel #Texas - #Marble Falls - Christmas in Marble Falls (44 Nights of Events) - November 21, 2025 - January 03, 2026
Marble Falls, Texas - Christmas in Marble Falls (44 Nights of Events)
November 21, 2025 - January 03, 2026
Marble Falls
Marble Falls really gets into the Holiday Spirit with tons and tons of activities over 44 days. The season starts with a Light Up Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting on Main Street. Families will love free pictures with Santa every Friday, Saturday and Sunday during Walkway Santa Land at Lakeside Park in conjunction with Walkway of Lights ($2 per person). Everyone will enjoy the Winter Ice Rink ($12 advanced tickets or $15 at door). All those who love the color PINK (like my daughter) must head to the Merry and Pink Christmas Markets in downtown on November 21st. Not only will shops decorate within the pink theme but there will be raffles with prizes and some snacks. The next day, November 22nd, from 10am CST to 2pm CST there will be a Merry Makers event at the town's Visitor Center. The following Friday and Saturday will be the Jingle Jubilee at Johnson Park. The Public Library is hosting Santa Story Time on December 1st and 4th at 10:30am CST. On December 5th, your family can eat with Santa if you register in advanced. This is only a small helping of the activities and events available. Check the calendar and website for more details such as days, times and costs.
Click Here for Printable Calendar
Address: (throughout town)
Hours: (varies by activity)
Fees: (varies by activity)
For more information - https://visitmarblefalls.org/christmas-season/
November 21, 2025 - January 03, 2026
Marble Falls
Marble Falls really gets into the Holiday Spirit with tons and tons of activities over 44 days. The season starts with a Light Up Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting on Main Street. Families will love free pictures with Santa every Friday, Saturday and Sunday during Walkway Santa Land at Lakeside Park in conjunction with Walkway of Lights ($2 per person). Everyone will enjoy the Winter Ice Rink ($12 advanced tickets or $15 at door). All those who love the color PINK (like my daughter) must head to the Merry and Pink Christmas Markets in downtown on November 21st. Not only will shops decorate within the pink theme but there will be raffles with prizes and some snacks. The next day, November 22nd, from 10am CST to 2pm CST there will be a Merry Makers event at the town's Visitor Center. The following Friday and Saturday will be the Jingle Jubilee at Johnson Park. The Public Library is hosting Santa Story Time on December 1st and 4th at 10:30am CST. On December 5th, your family can eat with Santa if you register in advanced. This is only a small helping of the activities and events available. Check the calendar and website for more details such as days, times and costs.
Click Here for Printable Calendar
Address: (throughout town)
Hours: (varies by activity)
Fees: (varies by activity)
For more information - https://visitmarblefalls.org/christmas-season/
Event - #Travel #Texas - #West - Lights of West - through December 30, 2024
West, Texas - Lights of West
November 27, 2024 - December 30, 2024
Holiday drive-through light show with music, concessions, petting zoo and unusual animals (like camels), pony rides, photo ops, light maze, firepits (with smore kits to purchase), and more.
Note that Santa visits end December 24th
Address: 2818 Wiggins Road, West, TX 76691
Hours: 6pm-10pm
Fees: $35/vehicle
For more info: https://www.lightsofwest.com
November 27, 2024 - December 30, 2024
Holiday drive-through light show with music, concessions, petting zoo and unusual animals (like camels), pony rides, photo ops, light maze, firepits (with smore kits to purchase), and more.
Note that Santa visits end December 24th
Address: 2818 Wiggins Road, West, TX 76691
Hours: 6pm-10pm
Fees: $35/vehicle
For more info: https://www.lightsofwest.com
Event - #Travel #Texas - #Boerne - Winter Solstice Concert in the Cave - December 21, 2024
Boerne, Texas - Winter Solstice Concert in the Cave
December 21, 2024
Cave Without a Name
Come celebrate the Winster Solstice at a national natural landmark while enjoying Holiday mustic performed on both ancient and modern type of instruments. From the website: The concert features the words and music of singer/performance artist Rudi Harst (vocals, acoustic guitar, Native American flute, dulcimer, harmonica, Tibetan bowls) accompanied by The Rudiments: Ray Palmer (keyboards, guitar), Pat Carey (bass), Michael Madison (djembe), Oliver Steck (accordion, coronet, vocals), Medusa (didgeridoo), and award-winning guest vocalist, Michelle Garibay-Carey.
Address: 325 Kreutzberg Rd, Boerne, TX 78006
Hours: 7pm
Fees: Tickets $35 in advance or $40 at door
For more information, https://cavewithoutaname.com/content/winter-solstice-rudi-rudiments-2024
December 21, 2024
Cave Without a Name
Come celebrate the Winster Solstice at a national natural landmark while enjoying Holiday mustic performed on both ancient and modern type of instruments. From the website: The concert features the words and music of singer/performance artist Rudi Harst (vocals, acoustic guitar, Native American flute, dulcimer, harmonica, Tibetan bowls) accompanied by The Rudiments: Ray Palmer (keyboards, guitar), Pat Carey (bass), Michael Madison (djembe), Oliver Steck (accordion, coronet, vocals), Medusa (didgeridoo), and award-winning guest vocalist, Michelle Garibay-Carey.
Address: 325 Kreutzberg Rd, Boerne, TX 78006
Hours: 7pm
Fees: Tickets $35 in advance or $40 at door
For more information, https://cavewithoutaname.com/content/winter-solstice-rudi-rudiments-2024
Review - Dallas - Dallas Zoo Lights
Dallas Zoo Lights is a family-friendly event on select nights at the Dallas Zoo featuring millions of holiday lights strung throughout the zoo grounds, cute holiday-themed photo-ops with and without lights, a meet-and-greet with Santa, and treats on sale for purchase.
The Dallas Zoo closes at 4pm and the Dallas Zoo Lights starts at 5:30pm on select nights. I highly recommend arriving early to get into the main parking lot (versus going down and around the zoo to the back overflow parking lot). As an added bonus, the main parking areas also contain lanterns (the lit up animals as shown).
Although there are no animals present during Dallas Zoo Lights, the carousel and the mini-train are still running. Tickets are available for purchase at each ride's booth. Bring your patience to the train as the conductor was also running the ticket booth so the line got backed up.
You'll also find some special "characters" wandering throughout the zoo in costumes for photo-ops.
A big draw for this event is the Santa Claus meet-and-greet. I highly suggest your family head to Santa's workshop first because the line kept growing and growing throughout the night. The elf helpers will take your family picture on your own device. Please note you must climb stairs up and down the platform.
Some of the animal lanterns.
Some of the holiday light decorations.
One special treat - the Dinosaur exhibit is open during the Lights event and the dinos are decorated with holiday lights and accessories. (Sorry, my photos turned out horribly for those dark area dinos)
Address: 650 South R.L. Thornton Freeway (I-35E), Dallas, TX 75203
Hours: 5:30pm-9:00pm
Tickets: Prices vary by dates but general starts at $16; certain Dallas Zoo membership gives discounts
For more info: www.dallaszoo.org
The Dallas Zoo closes at 4pm and the Dallas Zoo Lights starts at 5:30pm on select nights. I highly recommend arriving early to get into the main parking lot (versus going down and around the zoo to the back overflow parking lot). As an added bonus, the main parking areas also contain lanterns (the lit up animals as shown).
Although there are no animals present during Dallas Zoo Lights, the carousel and the mini-train are still running. Tickets are available for purchase at each ride's booth. Bring your patience to the train as the conductor was also running the ticket booth so the line got backed up.
You'll also find some special "characters" wandering throughout the zoo in costumes for photo-ops.
A big draw for this event is the Santa Claus meet-and-greet. I highly suggest your family head to Santa's workshop first because the line kept growing and growing throughout the night. The elf helpers will take your family picture on your own device. Please note you must climb stairs up and down the platform.
Some of the animal lanterns.
Some of the holiday light decorations.
One special treat - the Dinosaur exhibit is open during the Lights event and the dinos are decorated with holiday lights and accessories. (Sorry, my photos turned out horribly for those dark area dinos)
Address: 650 South R.L. Thornton Freeway (I-35E), Dallas, TX 75203
Hours: 5:30pm-9:00pm
Tickets: Prices vary by dates but general starts at $16; certain Dallas Zoo membership gives discounts
For more info: www.dallaszoo.org
Review - Florida - Orlando - Walt Disney World - Epcot - Cookie Stroll
There's something magical and wonderful about the holiday season around Walt Disney World. You will find decorations (holiday trees, lights, ornaments, snowmen, etc). Epcot features its annual Festival of the Holidays with special foods and merchandise. It's not as big as the Food and Wine Festival, but it's still lots of fun. It also features the delicious Cookie Stroll where you "stroll" to different food booths and purchase cookies to eventually earn a free cookie.
What is the Cookie Stroll?
When you arrive at the festival, stop by one of the food booths and grab a passport booklet. It's free.
When you flip to the back of the passport booklet, you will find the Cookie Stroll info. With each cookie purchased (at $2.50 each), you will get a stamp. After you purchase 5 cookies (total price $12.50), you will be able to get a free completer cookie.
The 5 cookies don't have to be unique (meaning you can purchase several of the same cookies and still earn a stamp for each one). For example, you can buy 5 gingerbread men and get 5 stamps.
What Cookies are there?
Holiday Hearth Desserts (near Port of Entry) - Gingerbread Cookie
Yukon Holiday Kitchen (in Canada close to the Gardens) - SNICKERS Doodle Cookie (*contains chocolate and nuts)
L'Chaim! Holiday Kitchen (between France and Morocco) - Black and White Cookie (tastes like lemony cake cookie; *contains chocolate frosting)
America Holiday Table (in America near Santa and the Tree) - Chocolate Crinkle Cookie (*contains chocolate)
Bavaria Holiday Kitchen (in Germany) - Linzer Cookie (2 cookies)(was a bit messy with the powdered sugar)
Holiday Sweets and Treats (near Port of Entry, across from Holiday Hearth Desserts booth) - Completer Cookie
We lucked out and got not only the 50th anniversary completer cookie but also an ornament and a shake.
Overall Family Review:
What is the Cookie Stroll?
When you arrive at the festival, stop by one of the food booths and grab a passport booklet. It's free.
When you flip to the back of the passport booklet, you will find the Cookie Stroll info. With each cookie purchased (at $2.50 each), you will get a stamp. After you purchase 5 cookies (total price $12.50), you will be able to get a free completer cookie.
The 5 cookies don't have to be unique (meaning you can purchase several of the same cookies and still earn a stamp for each one). For example, you can buy 5 gingerbread men and get 5 stamps.
What Cookies are there?
Holiday Hearth Desserts (near Port of Entry) - Gingerbread Cookie
Yukon Holiday Kitchen (in Canada close to the Gardens) - SNICKERS Doodle Cookie (*contains chocolate and nuts)
L'Chaim! Holiday Kitchen (between France and Morocco) - Black and White Cookie (tastes like lemony cake cookie; *contains chocolate frosting)
America Holiday Table (in America near Santa and the Tree) - Chocolate Crinkle Cookie (*contains chocolate)
Bavaria Holiday Kitchen (in Germany) - Linzer Cookie (2 cookies)(was a bit messy with the powdered sugar)
Holiday Sweets and Treats (near Port of Entry, across from Holiday Hearth Desserts booth) - Completer Cookie
We lucked out and got not only the 50th anniversary completer cookie but also an ornament and a shake.
Overall Family Review:
- 16 year old - Favorite = Linzer Cookie
- 12 year old - Favorite = Linzer Cookie
- 7 year old - Favorite = Black and White Cookie
- 1 yeaar old - Favorite = Snickers Doodle Cookie
Review - Texas - Grapevine - Legoland Discovery Center
March 2021 is the ten year anniversary of this hidden gem. Legoland Discovery Center is tucked in the back of the Grapevine Mills Mall and within the last few years they added a splash zone outside (open during summer hours).
It is highly recommended to pre-purchase your tickets as they may sell out as they limit the number they sell each day. You can purchase tickets online through their website. Annual passholders can make their reservations online as well.
When you arrive at the center, you will be directed into a queue. (Just a note, guests were not practicing social distancing in this line if that makes you uncomfortable.)
When you redeem your tickets/passes, you will be given one bag of bricks for each guest. These bricks have been sanitized (and you can smell it).
You then proceed to the left into the center. The green-background photo setup was not in order on the day we visited which is fine since that is an upcharge.
Miniland room contains miniature models of important places around the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex including downtown, the DFW airport, Grapevine, and more. For the holidays, there were several santas hidden throughout the scenes.
There are rides for ages 4 and up including Kingdom Quest (shoot-em ride), Merlin's Apprentice Ride (pedaling ride), Forest Ranger Pursuit (car driving).
There is also a giant playground with Ninjago theming.
Even the restrooms are lego-themed and were very clean.
During the summer, the pirate splash zone is (usually) open.
The fun part of Legoland are all the artwork/lego creations (thanks to the resident Master Builder)
So with your individual bag of bricks, find a bowl and seat and begin building. There are racetracks if you choose to build cars/racers.
This location does have a Starbucks cafe. They also have party rooms which are currently not in operation due to Covid. At the end of your journey, there's a nice Lego shop which does contain exclusive items you can't buy anywhere else. It did get a bit busy by lunchtime and there's a limited number of building areas.
It is highly recommended to pre-purchase your tickets as they may sell out as they limit the number they sell each day. You can purchase tickets online through their website. Annual passholders can make their reservations online as well.
When you arrive at the center, you will be directed into a queue. (Just a note, guests were not practicing social distancing in this line if that makes you uncomfortable.)
When you redeem your tickets/passes, you will be given one bag of bricks for each guest. These bricks have been sanitized (and you can smell it).
You then proceed to the left into the center. The green-background photo setup was not in order on the day we visited which is fine since that is an upcharge.
Miniland room contains miniature models of important places around the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex including downtown, the DFW airport, Grapevine, and more. For the holidays, there were several santas hidden throughout the scenes.
There are rides for ages 4 and up including Kingdom Quest (shoot-em ride), Merlin's Apprentice Ride (pedaling ride), Forest Ranger Pursuit (car driving).
There is also a giant playground with Ninjago theming.
Even the restrooms are lego-themed and were very clean.
During the summer, the pirate splash zone is (usually) open.
The fun part of Legoland are all the artwork/lego creations (thanks to the resident Master Builder)
So with your individual bag of bricks, find a bowl and seat and begin building. There are racetracks if you choose to build cars/racers.
This location does have a Starbucks cafe. They also have party rooms which are currently not in operation due to Covid. At the end of your journey, there's a nice Lego shop which does contain exclusive items you can't buy anywhere else. It did get a bit busy by lunchtime and there's a limited number of building areas.
Review - Texas - San Antonio - Holiday in the Park Six Flags Fiesta Texas
The annual Holiday in the Park has started again at Six Flags Fiesta Texas and will continue through January 3rd.
You do need to make a start-time specific reservation on their website before arriving. Be sure to add parking to your purchase!
Six Flags is also offering a drive-through holiday lights experience. The cost is $14.99 per person if you purchase your tickets online or $20.00 per person at the gate, yet they still require a reservation to enter. Members get discounted tickets.
When you arrive, you will head toward the temperature-taking tent at the end of the parking lot and zig-zag through a long queue to get your temperature checked via a camera setup and then heading to the security station to have your tickets scanned and bags checked.
Holiday in the Park is basically Six Flags decorated with holiday themed props and lights as well as a few Christmasy shows. You can also find holiday-themed treats to purchase as well.
The crowds didn't show up until the sky started getting darker and the holiday lights were glowing, about 4pm (CST), just two hours before the holiday tree-lighting at 6pm (CST). There were decals placed on the ground around the tree for social distancing.
Six Flags has implemented many safety measures throughout the park in response to Covid. The restrooms, for example, all have "entry" and "exit" signs to create one-way flow in and out of the bathroom. Most people, however, don't really pay attention or follow it. One note if you have young children or babies is not every restroom has a changing table.
All the eating locations are set up with outdoor or open-door seating that is spaced out or with tables marked out. One note is we didn't see anyone cleaning the tables so be prepared to use napkins or wipes.
There were sanitizer stations throughout the park, however, the liquid smells TERRIBLE. Best to bring your own!
A few costumed characters from Looney Tunes do meet but in a socially distanced way. As you can see in this picture, Pepe Le Peu meets behind a bench area where you can sit for pictures.
Most of the rides were operating. The longest line seemed to be Wonder Woman. The employees were pretty diligent about spraying down the ride vehicles after every session (which adversely made lines feel longer).
Plenty of spaced out benches throughout the park to sit. Near the front is a mask-free zone where you can relax in cushioned chairs without your mask on. That was a nice area to rest for a bit with the younglings.
Overall, Six Flags Fiesta Texas is doing a good job with Covid safety measures and trying to offer a balance of fun and safety.
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