Exploring Texas with the Rural Texas Tourism Center
December 2012    Volume 15

PDF of November 2012 Newsletter

Ho-Ho-Howdy Partners!

Christmas truly is the season of lights. There's so many bright activities that you may just need your sunglasses all month. You can visit the Lights of Tejas in Giddings for a spectacle of over 1 million lights or the city of Ennis lit up beautifully for the holiday. If you want lights in motion, you can see the lighted Christmas parade in Schulenburg or seek out other parades in our December calendar. As for variety, you can go for a tropical Christmas in Rockport, Santa's German workshop in Comfort, pioneer holidays in Gonzales or favor it with a bit of Czech in West. However, if you'd just like to stay at home in Texas, visit Angleton or try Christmas on the Chisholm Trail in Belton.
So many possibilities!

--See you on the trail

Christmas on the Bay
Come to Rockport-Fulton for a relaxing holiday get-away!

 
On Saturday, December 1, Downtown Rockport and the Rockport Harbor come alive with an all-day celebration of “Tropical” Christmas. Shop and dine while you enjoy a wide variety entertainment. Catch one of the scheduled birding seminars and watch the Giant Kite Fly-over. Enjoy the “Pirate Costume Contest” for toddlers to 5th graders.  Watch kids create their own ornaments, see them dig for coins in the “ Run for Yar Treasure” hunt, and visit with Tropical Santa. Even the pets are included! Dress your pet in tropical attire to enter the Pet Pageant. New this year: Downtown Shops will be participating in the Window Decorating Contest” and there is also a “Tree Trimming Contest” at the festival grounds at Rockport Harbor! The fun doesn’t end when the sun goes down. Don’t miss the lighting of the 75 ft. Children’s Tree or the Illuminated parade starting downtown and ending at the Rockport Beach Park. The grand finale of the evening is a magnificent fireworks display over Little Bay.
 
On Saturday, December 8, bring the family for an evening of elegance and beauty on the water as boats parade the waters for the Lighted Boat Parade. Boats will gather in the first canal of Key Allegro (canal nearest entrance from the bay). The parade will run from there through Little bay and back. Shallow draft boats may make a run through the area called the “Ski Basin.”
 
Be sure to take in the sound of the season as the Corpus Christi Symphony and the Rockport High School Choir perform at the Martha Luigi Auditorium-Rockport-Fulton High School on Sunday, December 9, 2p.m. -4 p.m. for the Holiday Symphony by the Sea.  Immediately following the Holiday Symphony by the Sea, The Flavor of Success
Event will be held in the Rockport-Fulton High School Commons area. Refreshments will be provided by The Education Foundation and by local restaurant volunteers.
 
Christmas in Fulton, another fun family event takes place Wednesday and Thursday, December 12-13, on the Fulton Harbor at Paws and Taws Fulton Convention Center and the Fulton Fishing Pier. Mayor Jimmy Kendrick, will open the ceremonies. Wednesday evening there will be Christmas readings by Pastor Hughes Varner, Fulton Community Church and performances by the Paws and Taws Line Dancers. Thursday night, Fulton Alderman Les Cole, will conduct the opening ceremonies. Entertainment will be selections from the RFHS Tropical Wave Choir, an appearance by Santa and much more. Enjoy FREE hot chocolate, hot cider and chilidogs and beans!
 
While in town for the holidays, don’t forget to visit some of our wonderful attractions: Tour the Fulton Mansion, built in the1870's, the house was a wonder of its time. Experience the rich maritime heritage of Texas from Spanish exploration to the search for offshore oil and gas at the Texas Maritime Museum. Rockport Center for the Arts is free to the public. It houses magnificent art pieces, has a unique gift shop, plus hosts workshops and lessons. The Aquarium at Rockport Harbor and the Bay Education Center are two of the area’s most educational and entertaining attractions and they are FREE!  And don’t forget to visit Rockport Beach - Texas’ first Blue Wave Beach Park,
 
             For a complete calendar of Christmas by the Bay activities highlighted events, area information and special offers, visit www.rockport-fulton.org. For more information call (800) 242.0071 or email tourism@1rockport.org

Heart of Christmas Celebration

On Friday, December 7, the citizens of Angleton will come together to celebrate the Heart of Christmas in the heart of downtown!  This event is a great testament to the spirit of Christmas and the joy of sharing with others.  In keeping with that theme, EVERYTHING at the event is free. 

This year's activities will be held from 6:30 pm – 9:15 pm.  The evening festivities kick off with a lighted parade which will begin at 6:30 pm near Central Elementary.  As soon as the parade concludes, the community booths which are manned by churches, businesses and clubs, will begin giving away goodies.  Items given away last year included; hot chocolate, popcorn, wassail, candy canes, coffee, flowers, cokes, spice cake, cookies, scones, pens, yoyo's, sweet Mexican bread, and even dog treats!

Local students will be entertaining throughout the evening, pictures will be taken with Santa, face painters will be painting faces, and rides will be open for the kids.  As an added gift, there will be a tree walk where local businesses and organizations can donate a decorated tree that will be on display during the evening and then later given to a needy family.  The evening will conclude with a free concert at 8:30 by acclaimed music group Vocal Trash!  Known for their high-kick, high-octane performance, Vocal Trash will bring an electric energy to this already great event. This variety show is appropriately described as "Glee" with a kick and is great for the whole family!

The City of Angleton encourages everyone to get involved and help make this a wonderful community event. Bring your lawnchair for the concert!

Christmas on the Chisholm Trail
 

  Christmas on the Chisholm Trail in Belton is set for 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 8. The annual event typically takes place early in the holiday season and is hosted by the City of Belton. This year it will be located in historic Yettie Polk Park. This fun-filled event is great for families and features an array of vendors and entertainment, including specialty crafts, flavorful foods and live music amidst twinkling lights, holiday fare, and, of course, a visit from Santa.

The “sounds of the season” will ring out from the beautifully lit gazebo in the park where Belton school choirs, musical ensembles and other featured talent will perform. Only a snowball’s throw away but still within earshot of the music, vendors will be serving up hot food items including, turkey legs, hot dogs, hamburgers, barbecue, Frito chili pie, nachos,
funnel cake, and fresh cups of hot chocolate. Other festivities include a children’s book giveaway sponsored by Friends of Belton’s Lena Armstrong Library, displays by the Belton Fire & Police Departments, and an appearance by Badge, Belton Police Department’s mascot. Pony rides and inflatables will also be available in the park. Santa and his elves will arrive at 6:15 p.m., and children who wish may visit with Santa. Family members who want to take pictures or video of the visits with Santa are welcome to do so.

The event runs Friday and Saturday for three consecutive weekends. The fun includes a visit to the Czech Merry Market, visits with the Czech St. Nicholas, extended shopping hours, music, dancing, holiday food and more. Sherrif Parnell McNamara will be dressed as the authentic Moravian St. Nicholas. A $500 VISA gift card drawing will also be part of the fun. For more information, call (254) 495-1259.

Experience an Old Fashioned Christmas on the Frontier

Event Description Frontier Christmas at the Old Jail Museum Complex
Old Jail Museum Complex
231 S. 5th Avenue
Palo Pinto

*Frontier Fare, sweets for tasting   
*Musicians, caroling, story telling and surrey rides
*Entire complex open and decorated for Christmas including The First Christian Church
*Come in period dress if you like.    
*Shop our country store for gifts

Visit "Der Weihachtsmann" Workshop near Comfort

Friday & Saturday evenings
Dec 1, 7-8, 14-15, 21-22

The Muleshoe Farm and Ranch Trust, Last Chance Forever, and the Friends of Muleshoe Farm and Ranch Trust welcomes children young and old to come visit with "Santa Claus" or "Der Weihachtsmann", the German version in his Texas workshop from 6-8:30 pm.  The old stone farmhouse has been embellished with holiday decorations, twinkling trees, vintage trains, and old toys.  In the entryway guests find a passenger train no taller than a postage stamp traveling around the tiny village of Muleshoe.  In the parlor an illuminated village complete with Santa and his reindeer flying overhead inspire the visitor to dream of Christmas' past.  Look for the ice skaters, railroad yards, deer and villagers between the rails of sixty to eighty year old trains chugging their routes from town to town. Relive the past celebrated by old dolls, trains, toys and memorabilia of more than 90 years of holiday seasons.

Cost:  Free, but donations ae accepted to further the efforts of Last Chance Forever/Raptor Rescue and Rehabilitation and Muleshoe Farm and Ranch trust conservation projects.  Where:  "Felicia's Farm" Muleshoe Farm and Ranch Trust  302 Hwy 87, Comfort How to find us:  From IH10 at Comfort travel north toward Fredericksburg.  Go 2 miles north and turn left immediately past North Creek.  Look for the lighted entrance.  For more info:  Last Chance Forever at 210-499-4080

Also near Comfort don's miss... "Cowboy Christmas" at Enchanted Springs Ranch
 

Saturday, December 23 & Sunday, December 24

Enchanted Springs Ranch "Cowboy Christmas" from 10am to 5pm.  Cowboy Christmas is a wonderful tradition to add to your family's holiday events.  A live nativity scene, Santa and delicious goodies to taste.  242 Hwy 46 West, Boerne, TX

The Lights of Tejas
in Giddings
Over One Million Lights
November 24 - December 23

We hung over 800,000 lights for Year One. In Year Two, it was over 1 million. Year Three, 1.5 Million? With two light shows, four zip lines, climbing tower, food, inflatables, a light maze, and much more. Lights of Tejas has quickly become an annual family tradition. We hope you are able to bring your family in December for the annual Lights of Tejas. You can come out just for the evening or spend the night with a bed and breakfast stay.

Camp Tejas, 1038 PR 2191, Giddings, TX 78942, p. 979-366-2422

 

Gonzales Pioneer Village will hold 'Stars in the Village'
Dec. 1 & 2 from 6 to 9 p.m.
Dec.  9 & 10 from 6 to 9 p.m.
Free Admission and Refreshments served.

Village of pre-1900 buildings from Gonzales County
2122 N. St. Joseph,
Gonzales, TX
(830) 672-2157

 

Ice Skating in
Nocona

Location: Downtown Nocona
next to the park

Description: Open Friday, December 7th from 3pm to 11pm and Saturday December 8th from 10am to 6pm.
$5 per person - unlimited skating and the skates are even provided!

 

Downtown Pajama Party
December 6
5pm - 9pm
Downtown Smithville

Shops will be having sales so it will be a perfect time to Christmas shop. There's a drawing for a gift basket at 8:30 that night. You will not need to be present to win.

 

Christmas Under the Stars
Brownwood

December 7th and Saturday, December 8th the Christmas Under the Stars Festival will be held from 4pm-8pm in the Margaret and Stuart Coleman Depot Complex.

All activities planned will be of little or no cost so that everyone can participate.   There will be activities for the kids, photos with Santa, storytelling, mini skits, Christmas karaoke, yummy food and hot chocolate, and an Amazing Race type contest for ages 18 and up. The Santa's Sleigh 5k will also be taking place again this year as well as the photo contest. Local talent will be showcased and a movie will be shown.  The ICE SKATING RINK will be the hightlight attraction! 

This is one Christmas celebration you do not want to miss, so be there and stay off of Santa's naughty list! Please check our website www.visitbrownwood.com for more information in the coming weeks and feel free to contact the Chamber at 325-646-9535.

 

Schulenburg Lighted Christmas Parade
December, 7th 2012
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm

For young and old alike. Come watch the lighted floats and greet Santa as he arrives in his carriage pulled by beautiful Clydesdale horses. Music, free hot dogs and beverages, and capture a meeting with Santa on your camera!