A TEXAS CHRISTMAS
Celebrating the holidays
in the Hill Country

By MELANIE YOUNG

If the hustle of shopping for holiday gifts, competing with crowds, looking for a parking space and searching all over town for that toy every child wants makes you feel more Scrooge than Santa, put that behind you and head for the hills. The Hill Country, that is.

As you stroll down the main streets of its picturesque little towns, browsing in antiques shops, boutiques, one-of-akind gift emporia and galleries, you’ll think you’ve escaped to an earlier time, when daily life moved at a gentler pace.

In a way, you have. During the holidays the past comes vibrantly to life in these storybook towns founded by Germans and other pioneers in the 19th century. In many Hill Country burgs, local heritage puts its unique stamp on Christmas and holiday events ranging from German wassail contests to cowboy caroling fests. In fact, there’s no better way to get your shopping done while enjoying old-fashioned holiday fun. Here’s a look at highlights of the Yuletide season in the nearby Hill Country.

For sheer visual magic, the Hill Country Regional Christmas Lighting Trail turns 11 towns into wonderlands of twinkling lights. Most flip the switch right after Thanksgiving and keep the lights on through New Year’s Day. Texas’ 19th-century county courthouses and the squares around them look spectacular in such twinkling holiday finery.

After enjoying this glittering extravaganza in Johnson City, where President Lyndon Baines Johnson grew up, you can take a lamplight tour of his boyhood home and see what a frontier Christmas was like in 1860 at the pioneer cabin where his grandparents lived. Or get a glimpse of Christmas at the simple house where LBJ grew up.

Boerne pulls out all the stops, turning its downtown into London of the late 1800s with A Hill Country Christmas, Dickens on Main. Take a ride in a horsedrawn carriage and shop till 10 p.m. as costumed shopkeepers wait on you. Boerne’s night-time Weihnachts Fest Parade will have oompah bands playing up its German roots, along with choirs and strumming dulcimers.

Boerne’s biggest holiday shopping bonanzas are Boerne Market Days in Main Plaza featuring arts, crafts, antiques and collectibles; and Oma’s Christmas Fair at the Kendall County Fairgrounds nearby, where, in addition to gifts, you can purchase zehr gut German food. Santa shows up at the fair, too. Another family-centered event near Boerne is Cowboy Christmas at Enchanted Springs Ranch, a western town and movie set that puts on shows, hayrides and caroling programs while delighting children with its petting zoo and Cowboy Santa.

Like Boerne, Fredericksburg and New Braunfels are also famous for highlighting their colorful German heritage at holiday events. After all, the tradition of the Christmas tree — O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum! — came from Germany.

Fredericksburg transforms its Marktplatz into an Eisbahn — an outdoor ice-skating rink — in the heart of downtown, where Main Street sparkles with thousands of white lights adorning 150 shops. Visitors come to this winter wonderland for the Christmas Parade down Main as well as the Weihnachten — the Christmas Market and Festival — and the Kinderfest featuring children’s activities at the Pioneer Museum Complex.

A must for dedicated oenophiles is the Holiday Wine Trail, which includes wineries around Fredericksburg and the Hill Country.

New Braunfels’ holiday festivities get off to a jolly start in mid-November with Santa’s arrival and the lighting of the downtown Christmas tree and courthouse square, along with plenty of food, entertainment and a parade. Its German-style Weihnachtmarkt is the first opportunity here to stock up on distinctive gifts, including wares by local and regional artisans. Old Gruene Market Days in Gruene Historic District features more than 100 vendors, followed by the Christmas Showcase of Arts and Crafts later in November at New Braunfels’ Civic Center and the Old Gruene Christmas Market Days Festival in early December.

One of the most anticipated evening celebrations is Wassailfest in downtown New Braunfels, where merchants compete in making the best wassail (a holiday punch). People stroll from shop to shop purchasing gifts, sampling the wassail and voting for their favorite. On Sunday morning hearty food and rousing music take center stage at the Christmas Gospel Brunch at Gruene Hall, Texas’ oldest dance hall.

And if your family has never seen a live performance of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, you’re in for a treat at the historic Brauntex Performing Arts Theatre. The New Braunfels Theatre Company brings this Christmas classic to life while adding carols and dances of Dickens’ day to the production.

There are special activities for children as well. Near New Braunfels at North Pole Village, kids experience a magical world where they can write a letter to Santa at the Post Office, play with animals in the Barn, adopt a free toy in Toyland, make an ornament in the School House, decorate cookies at the Bakery, go fishing at Frosty’s Ice House, take a hayride, shop at the Country Store, visit Santa Claus and more.

During the first three weekends of December kids can create and wrap their own Christmas presents at the Cowboy Kringle Kid’s Workshop in Gruene. This innovative event lets parents leave their children at the workshop while they shop, eat and enjoy the sights of the Gruene Historic District.

Something children may never forget is the thrill of choosing a freshly grown Christmas tree at Pipe Creek Christmas Tree Farm near Bandera. Famous for its guest ranches and Old West traditions, Bandera is the place to join in cowboystyle holiday merriment with caroling on horseback and hayrides at Singing in the Saddle in Bandera City Park.

Bandera also abounds in chances to round up unique gifts, starting with the annual Shoppers’ Jubilee, when school groups sing carols in front of the courthouse, and shopkeepers on Main Street, lit by luminarias, hold open house into the evening. Homemade goodies and handmade wares star at the Craft and Bake Sale, while you’ll find a little of everything at the Flea Market and Bandera Market Day. Great country and western music and good food get folks in a holiday mood at the Silver Dollar Saloon’s annual Gifts of Love Christmas Party, presented by singer-songwriter Dusty Britches and the Rhythm Ranch Hands. Admission is a new toy or four canned goods or nonperishable food items per person.

Kerrville rings in the season with one of the most entertainment-filled holidays ever. A courthouse lighting ceremony and lighted parade through downtown launch the festivities on Nov. 17, followed by cultural events over the next six weeks.

Concerts likewise capture the Yuletide spirit in Kerrville: Christmas at Union Church presents Hill Country choral Christmas music in a restored historic church; the Hill Country Youth Orchestra performs a concert of classical and holiday music; the choir at First Presbyterian Church sings traditional Christmas music, and the First United Methodist Church holds a community sing-along of Handel's Messiah. Young children especially enjoy Bethlehem in the Hills, a live nativity scene hosted by the First Baptist Church of Ingram.

Kerrville offers plenty of holiday shopping events as well, including Kerr County Market Days (everything from crafts to home-grown produce and plants), the Texas Furniture Makers Show (handcrafted furniture by Texas artists) and the Second Saturday Art Trail through more than a dozen galleries.

With so many spectacular events to choose from, you’d better start planning your holiday fun in the Hill Country right now!

2007 HOLIDAY EVENTS
IN THE HILL COUNTRY
Nov. 16, New Braunfels: Festtage, including Christmas tree and courthouse square lighting, parade, arrival of Santa, food, and entertainment. Downtown Plaza.

Nov. 16-18, New Braunfels: Weihnachtmarkt, a German Christmas market. Civic Center.

Nov. 17, Kerrville: Holiday Lighted Parade on Water Street through downtown, followed by courthouse lighting ceremony, Christmas program, caroling and the arrival of Santa Claus. Parade at 6 p.m.

Nov. 17-18, New Braunfels: Old Gruene Market Days. More than 100 vendors in Gruene Historic District.

Nov. 23-Jan. 1, Hill Country: The Hill Country Regional Christmas Lighting Trail turns 11 towns into wonderlands of twinkling lights — Boerne, Burnet, Dripping Springs, Fredericksburg, Goldthwaite, Johnson City, Llano, Marble Falls, New Braunfels, Round Mountain, Wimberley. Tex-fest.com.

Nov. 23-24, Boerne: A Hill Country Christmas, Dickens on Main. 6-10 p.m.

Nov. 23-25, Fredericksburg: Peddler Show, Gillespie County Fairgrounds.

Nov. 23-Jan. 6, Fredericksburg: Eisbahn (outdoor ice skating rink). Marktplatz downtown.

Nov. 24, Kerrville: Kerr County Market Days. Courthouse Square, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.

Nov. 24, Kerrville: Nutcracker in the Hills by Ballet Austin. Cailloux Theater, 2 p.m., 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 24-25, New Braunfels: Christmas Showcase of Arts and Crafts. Civic Center.

Nov. 24, Johnson City: Christmas at the LBJ Boyhood Home. LBJ National Historic Park, 6-9 p.m.

Nov. 24, Johnson City: Clickety Cloggers performance, Chuckwagon Food Court, Lighted Hooves and Wheels parade, Santa visits. Begins 5:30 p.m.

Nov. 29-Dec.15: Kerrville/Ingram: A Christmas Story, a play set in the 1940s. Hill Country Arts Foundation, 2 p.m., 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 30, Fredericksburg: Christmas parade on Main Street.

Nov. 30-Dec. 2, Fredericksburg: Weihnachten, a Christmas market and festival. Marktplatz downtown.

Nov.-Dec. weekends, Fredericksburg: Holiday shows from the golden era of rock ‘n’ roll. Rockbox Theater, downtown.

Dec. 1, Fredericksburg: Kinderfest, featuring children’s holiday activities. Pioneer Museum Complex, downtown.

Dec. 1, Boerne: Weihnachts Fest Parade at night through the historic downtown district. Many shops open late. Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Main Plaza Gazebo.

Dec. 1-2, New Braunfels: Old Gruene Christmas Market Days Festival. Gruene Historic District.

Dec. 1-2, Boerne: Oma’s Christmas Fair at the Kendall County Fairgrounds.

Dec. 1, Johnson City: Christmas at the LBJ Boyhood Home. LBJ National Historic Park, 6-9 p.m. Repeated

Dec. 15. Dec. 1-2, Kerrville: Texas Furniture Makers Show. Kerr Arts and Cultural Center.

Dec. 5, New Braunfels: Visit with St. Nicholas at the Sophienburg Museum.

Dec. 6, New Braunfels: Wassailfest, an evening of downtown festivities. Courthouse Square.

Dec. 7, Bandera: Annual Shoppers Jubilee. Courthouse Square and Main Street starting at 4:45 p.m.

Dec. 7, Bandera: Craft and Bake Sale. United Methodist Church.

Dec. 7-8, Johnson City: Living Story of Christmas performances every half hour, 6:30-8:30 p.m. United Methodist Church. Repeated Dec. 14.

Dec. 7-9, Fredericksburg and Hill Country region: Holiday Wine Trail of Hill Country wineries. Repeated Dec. 14-16.

Dec. 8, Fredericksburg: Christmas Home Tour.

Dec. 8, Johnson City: A Timeless Christmas in Johnson City features a lamplight tour of LBJ’s boyhood home and the 1860 Christmas at the Johnson Settlement pioneer cabin of LBJ’s grandparents. LBJ National Historic Park, 6-9 p.m.

Dec. 8, Bandera: Holiday Parade, 11 a.m. Flea Market, Bandera American Legion. Bandera Market Day, County Courthouse.

Dec. 8, Kerrville: Second Saturday Art Trail with 13 galleries. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Dec. 8, Kerrville: Christmas at Union Church with choral Christmas music. 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Dec. 8-9, Bandera: Christmas in the Hill Country, an open house at Country Accents Antiques on Hwy 16. 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Dec. 8-9, Boerne: Boerne Market Days.

Dec. 8-16, New Braunfels: Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Brauntex Performing Arts Theatre,7:30 p.m.

Dec. 9, Kerrville: Hill Country Youth Orchestra, concert of classical and holiday music. Cailloux Theater, 3 p.m.

Dec. 9, Kerrville: Christmas Music Concert, First Presbyterian Church, 7 p.m.

Dec. 9, New Braunfels: Christmas Gospel Brunch with a Texas Twist. Gruene Hall, Gruene Historic District.

Dec. 13, New Braunfels: Caroling on the Plaza, a community sing-along. Downtown Plaza.

Dec. 14-15, Kerrville/Ingram: Bethlehem in the Hills, a live nativity scene. First Baptist Church of Ingram, 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 14-16: Fredericksburg Trade Days.

Dec. 15, Kerrville: Kerr County Market Days. Arts and crafts, produce and plants. Courthouse Square, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.

Dec. 15, Kerrville: White Christmas in the Hills, program featuring dancers from the Kerrville School of Dance and the San Antonio Performing Arts Classical Ballet. Cailloux Theater, www.caillouxtheater.com. 7 p.m.

Dec. 16, Kerrville: Community Messiah Sing, a sing-along of Handel’s Messiah with soloist and orchestra. First United Methodist Church, www.kfumc.org, 3 p.m.

Dec. 22-23, Boerne: Cowboy Christmas at Enchanted Springs Ranch, with shows, hayrides, a petting zoo and a Cowboy Santa. 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

For more information: Bandera 800-364-3833 or banderacowboycapital.com.

Boerne 888-842-8080 or visitboerne.org.

Fredericksburg 888-997-3600 or fredericksburg-texas.com.

Johnson City 830-868-7684 or lbjcountry.com or johnsoncity-texas.com.

Kerrville 800-221-7958 or kerrvilletexascvb.com.

New Braunfels 800-572-2626 or nbcham.org.