Holidays in the Hill Country

This holiday season, celebrate in the charming, picturesque towns of Central Texas and the Texas Hill Country with these rural and small town holiday events. Be sure to factor in time for a memorable day trip into the Hill Country during your visit to Austin, and experience these spectacular seasonal festivals and markets.

Marktplatz at Christmas in Fredericksburg near austin texas
Fredericksburg Marktplatz. Credit T. Rawls and Fredericksburg Convention & Visitors Bureau.

11/21/23-1/7/24
Fredericksburg’s Christmas Nights of Lights
Fredericksburg, TX
Fredericksburg showcases the best of German Christmas traditions with warm Texas hospitality during the holiday season. Each evening around 6 p.m., start with an audio program that includes traditional holiday music as well as the history of the iconic 26-foot German Christmas Pyramid and Community Christmas Tree. The audio program will conclude with a countdown to the lighting of all the holiday lights.
visitfredericksburgtx.com

11/24/23-1/7/24
Lights Spectacular
Johnson City, TX
Enjoy a twinkle town full of lights and fun, Hill Country style! Here you can stroll downtown Johnson City fully lit with spectacular Christmas lights. The season-long celebration is family & pet-friendly with no admission.
lightsspectacular.com

11/27/23-12/22/23
Christmas Wine Affair
25 Hill Country Wineries
Here's a holiday tradition worth toasting with a trip to wine country. Texas Hill Country wineries will be decked out with lights and holiday cheer, so pick up your Tasting Passport to start your wine tasting adventure at the Christmas Wine Affair. Each passport entitles the holder to a complimentary tasting at 25 participating wineries (up to four per day), as well as special discounts on bottle purchases.
texashillcountrywineries.org

11/30/23, 12/1/23-12/2/23 & 12/7/23-12/9/23
Sights & Sounds of Christmas
San Marcos, TX
Sights & Sounds in San Marcos is the Winter Wonderland we all dream of. There’s something for everyone at this festive celebration from bumper cars to ice skating, a huge food court and gift shop.
sights-n-sounds.org

Throughout December
Holidays in Gruene
New Braunfels, TX
Stroll through Gruene Historic District this holiday season. Reserve your spot for photos with Cowboy Kringle, Gruene's own brand of Santa, join the Jingle Bell Run on December 9 and live music every day at Texas' Oldest Dance Hall, Gruene Hall.
gruenetexas.com/holidays

Throughout December
Cowboy Capital Christmas
Bandera, TX
Come on down to the Cowboy Capital of the World to celebrate the holiday season. Celebrate the season with a full schedule of events like an evening shopper stroll and the annual Cowboy Christmas Parade. Don't miss the last event of the season, Singing in the Saddle on December 17.
bandercowboycapital.com

12/1/23-12/31/23
Holiday in the Hills Snowdown
Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa
Experience a magical production of lights and a flurry of snowflakes on Lady Bird Lawn at West Austin's Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa to celebrate the wonderment of the season. Plus, don't miss even more festive activities at the resort, from holiday crafting and Elf on the Shelf scavenger hunts to golfing for good and more.
omnihotels.com

12/1/23-12/3/23 & 12/8/23-12/10/23
Salado Christmas Stroll
Salado, TX
T
he picturesque Village of Salado's 62nd annual Christmas Stroll draws Texas travelers from near and far. For two weekends, visitors can enjoy late night shopping, live music and a live nativity, Christmas photo ops and more.
salado.com

12/2/23
Christmas Bazaar
Luckenbach, TX
Folks! Luckenbach is holding its 6th annual "Bazaar Christmas" December 2, 2023. Enjoy family photos with Santa, Christmas tree lighting, shopping, arts & crafts, and all-day Christmas music.
luckenbachtexas.com

12/2/23
Christmas on Mercer Street
Dripping Springs, TX
The sights and sounds of the Hill Country come alive in Dripping Springs at the Annual Christmas on Mercer Street. This year, enjoy holiday shopping, live music, children's activities and the tree lighting at dusk.
cityofdrippingsprings.com

12/2/23
Christmas Parade
Round Top, TX
The historical town of Round Top is having a lighted Christmas Parade through downtown. This celebration is a whole day packed with fun holiday festivities including live music, vintage cars and lighted floats, holiday shopping, food and drinks, and the occasional farm animal.
exploreroundtop.com

Christmas Tree at Desert Door Distillery near Austin Texas
Courtesy of Desert Door Distillery.

12/2/23-12/26/23 (select dates)
Wimberley Trail of Lights
Wimberley, TX
This walking trail winds through eight acres of lighted displays and is open most evenings in December. Stop in on one of the nights that the Christmas Melodrama is showing (reservations required) and grab a complimentary mug of cocoa to enjoy while listening to live music performances.
emilyann.org/trailoflights

12/7/23
Annual Holiday Market
Desert Door Distillery
Driftwood's Desert Door sotol distillery hosts an annual Holiday Market, featuring exclusive Texas makers, seasonal cocktails, savory bites from Eden West and live music. While browsing the market, guests can enjoy the fire on the patio or cozy up in the desert-inspired tasting room, with a live music performance and, of course, Desert Door’s special holiday cocktails.
eventbrite.com