20 Fabulous Towns to Celebrate Christmas in Texas

Texas is never short on things to do, and that is definitely true during the holiday season. 

Everything is bigger in the Lone Star State, so that has to include Christmas in Texas, right?

While some places across the country celebrate a white Christmas, the holiday season means tons of lights and some good old Southern charm to try and replace the missing snow.

Honestly, Texas has so many great Christmas towns that you are sure to grab the holiday spirit! 

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Grapevine

Christmas in Grapevine, TX, is no joke. 

Grapevine isn’t called ‘The Christmas Capital of Texas‘ for nothing. 

This small town outside of Dallas knows how to ring in Christmas Texas style.

Hosting over 40 days of Christmas events during the holiday season, there is guaranteed to be something for everyone at the Grapevine Christmas Capital of Texas!

Kids will love the holiday events that Grapevine offers every year.

These include riding the Grapevine Vintage Railroad dubbed ‘The North Pole Express’ train this time of year. 

These train rides are awesome holiday events.

Adults will love the Christmas Wine Train rides and the great wineries and shops throughout the town, especially Main Street.

There is also a great Christmas tree to take the perfect picture with!

While here, check out the amazing ice sculptures at the Gaylord Texan Christmas celebration.

Grapevine is one of the most popular Christmas towns in Texas, for sure!

Again, it is the Christmas Capital of Texas!

Cleburne

Cleburne, TX, is one of our small Christmas towns.

You will find Cleburne, located about 40 minutes southwest of Fort Worth. 

Cleburne is turned into a Christmas wonderland every Christmas when the local park is transformed with over 3 1/2 million twinkling lights.

The opening ceremony lights up the park and hosts Santa and Mrs. Clause while carolers serenade guests.

Numerous holiday events are planned throughout the holiday season, so be sure and check out the complete schedule here.

This is one of the best places to spend Christmas in Texas.

College Station

College Station is one of the Christmas towns in Texas that will surprise you!

For a true TX Christmas experience, you must go to Santa’s Wonderland to celebrate Christmas in College Station. 

Here, you can enjoy hayrides, carriage tours, festive live music, and a visit with Santa.

They even have a mechanical bull!

This is definitely one of the most fun Christmas towns in Texas!

Wimberley

Marty and I visited Wimberley’s Holiday Trail of Lights and loved it. 

This is one of the best places to spend Christmas!

There are so many things to do in Wimberley throughout the year, especially when celebrating Christmas!

During the holidays, visitors flock to Wimberley to experience the six-acre winter wonderland park known as the Holiday Trail of Lights takes place at the EmilyAnn Theatre. 

This free event includes tons of light displays, live music, a fire pit to roast marshmallows and make s’mores, carolers, and so much more.

Wimberley is a Texas town that is one of the best places to visit year-round!

Galveston

Galveston is one of the unique Christmas towns in Texas on our list.

The Texas coast town of Galveston is famous for the old-fashioned Victorian holiday festival, Dickens on the Strand, which includes costumed vendors, Victorian-style food, drinks (even hot cocoa), and crafts. 

In addition to Dickens on the Strand, Galveston hosts awesome Christmas events at Moody Gardens, including an ice skating rink, their Festival of Lights, incredible ice sculptures, and an awesome Christmas market. 

Moody Gardens boasts eight-holiday winter wonderland attractions under one venue for their holiday celebration. 

This makes Galveston one of the best places to spend Christmas in Texas!

Grand Prairie

Grand Prairie Lights is a great way to celebrate Christmas. 

Each year, Grand Prairie hosts an awesome drive-through holiday light park on the banks of Joe Pool Lake, the Grand Prairie Lights.

The 2-mile winding path takes you through numerous light displays showcasing over 4 million lights!

On the way out of the park, you will be rewarded with a drive through the second-largest lighted tunnel in Texas.

San Antonio

If you choose to spend Christmas in San Antonio, you are in for a treat!

San Antonio is a Texas town known for its festive atmosphere all year long, but I especially love it during Christmas. 

The historic streets and the famous Riverwalk shine even brighter as they come alive with holiday light displays and festive holiday music.

That is why we love grabbing hot cocoa and visiting the San Antonio Riverwalk at Christmas.

The Riverwalk comes alive with thousands of lights, a lighted boat river parade, and more than 6,000 luminaries!

And the best part, the River Walk is one of the many free things to do in San Antonio!

You can also visit Six Flags Holiday in the Park and SeaWorld to enjoy their Christmas festivities.

Honestly, a San Antonio Christmas is just so much fun!

Fredericksburg

Fredericksburg is another one of our favorite Christmas towns in Texas.

The German Christmas roots of Fredericksburg, Texas, shine brightly during their holiday festivities!

There are so many things to do in Fredericksburg that you will love this Texas Hill Country town!

Grab a hot cocoa and come and watch the Light the Night Christmas Parade and the annual Christmas tree lighting.

Afterward, go ice skating at their outdoor ice skating rink or shop on Main Street to check off your holiday shopping list!

Marble Falls

Head about 50 miles northwest of Austin into the Texas Hill Country, and you will find one of the Highland Lakes of Texas, Marble Falls Lake, and the town of Marble Falls.

This town is one of the cool Christmas towns in Texas!

Right on the banks of Marble Falls Lake, you will find the Marble Falls Walkway of Lights. 

The Walkway of Lights features over 2 million lights and is completely free to enjoy! 

The light displays range from running water toys to patriotic flags and eagles.

This is truly a Christmas light extravaganza!

Johnson City

Plan your visit to Johnson City the last weekend of November so that you can participate in the opening festivities of the famous Johnson City Christmas Lights.

The Friday after Thanksgiving, they kick off the season with the lighting of the Blanco County Courthouse, which is draped with more than 100,000 twinkling white lights!

Even the Christmas tree is draped in white lights!

The Johnson City Christmas Lights make Johnson City one of the festive Christmas towns in Texas and one of the great places to celebrate Christmas.

Marshall

Go to East Texas to experience Marshall, Texas’ Christmas light display. 

Marshall comes alive when millions of white lights illuminate their town every holiday during their annual Wonderland of Lights Festival.

Marshall has an outdoor ice skating rink, hayrides, a restored carousel, horse-drawn carriage rides, and Santa Claus’ Village, making it a great place to spend Christmas in Texas. 

While visiting this East Texas town, you can participate in the Wassail Walk or the Jingle Bell Run to work off some of those holiday sweets or shop away your calories at the Outdoor Christmas Market.

Marshall is an old-fashioned Christmas town that will have you singing carols in no time!

Jefferson

Jefferson is proud to say that it celebrates Christmas on the Bayou.

Step back in time when you participate in the Candlelight Tour of Homes the first two weekends in December. 

Several gorgeous Victorian homes open their doors for you to see them decorated in their holiday best.

They open the season with a Christmas Parade and an Enchanted Forest Tree Lighting Ceremony.

These holiday lights are amazing and will put you in the holiday spirit.

While in the area, consider booking an East Texas Wine Tour and visiting some East Texas wineries like Enoch’s Stomp and Walkers Mill.

Austin

Austin is one of the fabulous Christmas towns in Texas and the perfect place for a day trip from Dallas!

After checking into one of the best places to stay in Austin, head out to enjoy the Austin Christmas Lights at the Austin Trail of Lights.

Even better, this light display is one of the free things to do in Austin!

All of these activities make for a great weekend in Austin!

Houston

Christmas festivities in Houston seem never-ending, but that makes sense, given the city’s vast art and culture scene.

You can absolutely get your fill of holiday cheer in Houston.

This is one of those Christmas towns that has it all!

You can lace up your skates and skate around their ice rink or enjoy the magical 20-acre lantern festival at the Magical Winter Lights. 

Head to the Houston Zoo to see more than 15 miles of lights before attending the annual Nutcracker Ballet.

Marlin

Located about 20 miles southeast of Waco, Marlin once drew visitors from far and wide to experience the healing spring waters in this area.

Today, you can come during the holiday season to participate in a small-town Christmas parade before enjoying historic tours of this small community’s church, cemetery, and homes.

Dallas

Dallas is packed with things to do during the holiday season, so I will hit on some of the highlights.

Train lovers will want to head straight for NorthPark Mall to see the elaborate model train display set up annually during the holidays. 

While here, check out the mall Christmas tree also!

The Dallas Arboretum is overflowing with holiday cheer with its themed displays of the 12 Days of Christmas.

You can also visit The Dallas Heritage Village during their holiday Candlelight celebration or head to Fair Park for Christmas in the Park.

Dallas is definitely one of the fun places to spend Christmas, and all the events will have you in the Christmas spirit in no time!

Granbury

The lake community of Granbury loves to have festivals, and Christmas is no exception. 

Granbury hosts a Nights of Lights Parade to kick off the season, ushering in Mr. and Mrs. Clause.

You can also enjoy a candlelight tour of some privately-owned historic homes, all decked out with twinkling lights and holiday decor.

Watching the kids make s’mores with Santa Claus will surely get everyone in the Christmas spirit!

The shops in Granbury are also great for checking items off your holiday shopping list!

Fort Worth

Like Dallas, Fort Worth is one of the Texas Christmas towns packed with activities for the holiday season, making it one of the great places to celebrate Christmas.

The festivities kick off with the Fort Worth Parade of Lights in downtown.

After the parade, the Sundance Square Christmas to see the lighting of the city’s Christmas tree.  

Enjoy Christmas in the Stockyards when Santa arrives in his magical stagecoach, ready to take pictures with the kids and browse the Christmas Market.

Fort Worth is one of the awesome Texas towns to ring in the holiday season.

Final Thoughts on Christmas Towns in Texas

As you can see, a Texas Christmas is a serious business. 

These are just a few great Texas towns to celebrate Christmas in the Lone Star State.

Get out your calendar, and start making plans to check these places off your Texas Bucket List!  

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