'Tis the Season

9 festive Texas towns to visit for a magical holiday experience

Lost Pines Christmas, Bastrop.

Photo courtesy of Visit Bastrop

Across Texas, cities and towns are gearing up for Christmastime. If you want a break from crowded big-city light displays and festivals, Texas' small towns have you covered. From inventive ice sculpture displays to local wine tastings, we’ve compiled a list of towns across the Lone Star State filled with winter events where you can experience some Christmas magic.

Winter Wonderland Island in Galveston
It may seem too chilly to head to the coast, but Galveston, with a winter full of fun activities, might just be the place to spend this holiday season. Moody Gardens offers eight holiday attractions, including the Festival of Lights and ice sculpture renderings of famous landmarks; Downtown Lasers and Lights merges over-the-top light displays with downtown’s historic backdrop; and Dickens on the Strand brings guests back to the Victorian Era. There are also events at Pleasure Pier and Schlitterbahn, and an opportunity to spend a weekend celebrating the sandhill cranes that have just flown into the area.

Magical Winter Lights in La Marque
With one of the most extravagant lantern festivals in the nation, La Marque, 40 miles southeast of Houston, is a can’t-miss Christmas destination. Now through January 5, the 20-acre space is divided into eight different light displays, such as a walk-in castle called The Kingdom, a colorful lantern version of Houston’s landmarks, and massive dinosaurs. This year’s event features Chinese acrobats and the opportunity to learn to make traditional Chinese art.

Lost Pines Christmas in Bastrop
Bastrop is home to an array of holiday events just 30 miles east of Austin. Sip mulled wine while shopping along downtown’s storefronts during Wassail Fest on November 30, hear reimagined versions of your favorite holiday classics during “A Country Christmas” at the Farm Street Opry on December 5, and watch the more than 100 floats go by during the Lighted Christmas Parade on December 14. Scream Hollow offers an alternative event: Krampus visits the haunted attraction for three December weekends in Twisted Christmas.

Salado Christmas Stroll
Horses clop along Main Street pulling carriages behind them as choirs and bands break out in song at the 59th annual event in Salado, 50 miles north of Austin. Taking place over the first two weekends of December, local shops are open for extended hours so guests can pick out unique gift items; enjoy themed snacks, fair food, and hot chocolate; and experience the merriment of the village in full swing.

Dickens on Main in Boerne
Thirty miles northwest of San Antonio is the small town of Boerne, whose celebration of Charles Dickens brings, among other things, snow to the Texas Hill Country. Over Thanksgiving weekend, celebrate the Christmas season within six distinct villages each featuring their own attractions like a petting zoo, live ice sculpture carvings, and the one-man show of A Christmas Carol, appropriately named “Bah Humbug.”

Christmas Wine Affair in the Texas Hill Country
If you want a more relaxed way to celebrate the holiday, why not see what Texas wine country has to offer? The Christmas Wine Affair, November 29 through December 15, is a great way to experience wines from the state’s growing industry, and 48 wineries in the area are participating this year. Each ticket comes with complimentary tastings at each participating winery and discounts on wine purchases, as well as a look at the Texas Hill Country during the holidays.

Christmas Capital of Texas events in Grapevine
The "Christmas Capital of Texas" does not disappoint with its many offerings. Popular events include visiting the intricate ice sculpture displays, ice slides, and ice monuments dubbed ICE! at the Gaylord Texan; spending a day in the indoor snow at the Great Wolf Lodge’s Snowland; and taking a ride on the North Pole Express at the Grapevine Vintage Railroad. The town also offers movie screenings in its historic Palace Theatre, lots of opportunities to shop for unique gift items, and numerous parades and festivals.

Texas Christkindl Market in Arlington
Arlington isn’t the smallest town around, but it lands on our list for its small-town vibes and unique German Christmas offerings. Beginning November 29 through December 22, shop unique and exclusive Christmas decorations from Käthe Wohlfahrt and designs from the renowned Rothenburg ob der Tauber Christmas Village, as well as more local offerings, and enjoy holiday music and an ice skating rink that’s open through mid-January.

Wonderland of Lights in Marshall
It’s more than just lights; downtown Marshall in East Texas becomes a holiday wonderland at this annual event from November 27 through December 29. There’s a Santa’s Village where kids can meet the man himself and make arts and crafts, an outdoor ice skating rink for guests of all ages, and horse-drawn carriage rides around town. Live Christmas music plays throughout the month of December, and the historic courthouse is covered in festive decor and lighting.

Grapevine is the "Christmas Capital of Texas."

Photo courtesy of Gaylord Texan

Grapevine is the "Christmas Capital of Texas."

holidays texas

it's park season

Texas' 2 national parks boast best scenery in the U.S., per report

Photo by Raychel Sanner on Unsplash

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Guadalupe Mountains National Park and Big Bend National Park out in far west Texas offer the best views of the American wilderness in 2026, according to a new national list.

The recognition comes in HomeToGo's "2026 National Parks Report," a new "data-driven ranking" of 51 national parks located in the contiguous U.S. Parks are evaluated across various factors including their proximity to major transport hubs, annual visitor figures adjusted for seasonal accessibility, and the median nightly cost per person for vacation accommodations in the area surrounding each park in 2026.

Guadalupe Mountains ranked as the 16th best national park to visit this year, and it has the fifth-most affordable vacation accommodations out of all the parks on the list. Nearby lodging costs about $62 per person per night, but campers can stay at one of the three developed campgrounds at the park for as little as $20 per night.

Visitors can go hiking and backpacking across 80 miles of rugged trails, but don't expect to take any vehicles far into the parkland. Guadalupe Mountains National Park is almost entirely road-free, allowing for the protection of local wildlife and the preservation of the park's beautiful scenery.

Travelers on the hunt for the perfect scenic drive can instead head over to Big Bend National Park, which ranked as the 26th best must-see national park in 2026. There are over 100 miles of paved roads around the park for exploration, as well as improved and primitive dirt roads.

Big Bend National Park is a popular choice for Texas travelers. Photo by Backroad Packers on Unsplash

The National Park Service (NPS) offers route recommendations specifically for day trippers.

"Big Bend is too big to see in a single day, but a great one-day trip to the park might include a trip down the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive and a visit to the Chisos Basin," the NPS website says. "The Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive will give you fantastic views of the Chihuahuan Desert landscape and will lead you to the banks of the Rio Grande. There are scenic overlooks and exhibits along the way, and the short walks to Sam Nail Ranch and Homer Wilson Ranch and a visit to the Castolon Historic District will give you a glimpse into Big Bend’s past."

Visitors that want to turn their day trips into overnight stays near the park can do so for about $96 per person per night, or they can camp on-site with nightly fees starting at $16. Travelers can additionally book a room at the Chisos Mountains Lodge or Big Bend Station.

A HomeToGo survey said about 40 percent of Americans are planning national park trips in 2026, with millennials and Gen Zers showing a higher interest in exploring the American wilderness.

"At HomeToGo, we believe vacation planning should be fun, but we know it’s not always a walk in the park," said spokesperson Eleanor Moody. "That’s why this year’s index ranks destinations based on affordability, crowd levels, and convenience in terms of nearby accommodation availability and ease of access, making it easier than ever for travelers to pinpoint an ideal destination based on what’s most important to them."

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