Boerne-ites may not be able to boast the traditional “White Christmas,” but we do have a passion for the holiday season that rivals pretty much anyone else. From Dickens On Main to Oma’s Christmas Craft Fair, Boerne’s holiday traditions are absolutely one-of-a-kind.
Below, we’ve compiled a list of just a few of the festive events happening in and around Boerne in November and December 2018!
Image Courtesy of the Christmas Lights Fest Official Facebook Page
1. Wander through an Old West Christmas
Described as “part Hollywood movie set, part animal farm, and part historic recreation,” the Enchanted Springs Ranch is hands-down the most magical place to experience Hill Country Christmas lights. The “Old West” Christmas Lights Fest will glitter across over forty nostalgic “Old West” style buildings, inviting visitors to drive or stroll through the displays, hot cocoa in hand. Head to the campfire after you’ve admired the lights!
When: November 22 - December 16 (Thursday-Sunday) & December 20th - 30th (every night), 6:00 - 10:00 PM
Where: 242 State Hwy 46 W
Image Courtesy of the Dickens on Main Official Facebook Page
2. Gather with Boerne at Dickens on Main
Perhaps the most iconic Boerne holiday celebration, Dickens On Main is certainly a holiday extravaganza to remember. Starting the day after Thanksgiving, this two-day celebration brings the whole Boerne community together, featuring a Black Friday and Small Business Saturday spotlight, live music, Dickens-era costumes, theatrical performances, caroling, photos with Santa, a 60-foot snow slide, live ice sculpting shows, horse-drawn carriage rides, snow on Main Street and (if you can believe it) even more.
When: November 23-24, 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM (View full schedule here)
Where: Main Street from Blanco to River Rd
3. Listen to the Sounds of the Season
Nothing screams “festive” like Christmas music, and nothing quite says “Hill Country” like a concert inside of an underground cavern! Cave Without a Name’s holiday concert lineup includes “Sounds of the Season,” a performance featuring “Tinsel,” an Acappella quartet that includes talent from Grammy®-winners to classically trained vocalists. Described as “sleek, sophisticated, and distinctive,” this concert will be the classiest underground event you attend all year.
When: November 24, 7:00 PM
Where: Cave Without a Name, 325 Kreutzberg Rd
Image Courtesy of the Dickens on Main Facebook Page
4. Find the Perfect Gift at Oma’s Christmas Craft Fair
Why settle for a conventional gift when you can find a one-of-a-kind treasure at Oma’s Christmas Craft Fair? Every bit as cozy as it sounds, this annual holiday Boerne market will offer plenty of artisan-made Texas goods, from handcrafted wood pieces to homemade jams, ceramics, embroidery, and more at the Kendall County Fairgrounds.
When: December 1-2, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Saturday) & 4:00 PM (Sunday)
Where: Kendall County Fairgrounds, 1307 River Road
Image Courtesy of the Hometown Holiday Parade’s Official Facebook Page
5. Cheer for the Weihnacht Parade
Did you know Santa has a Texas license plate? Head to Boerne’s annual Weihnacht Parade on December 1st and see for yourself! A longstanding Boerne tradition (boasting over 30 years of festive charm), the Weihnacht Parade sends over 100 beautifully designed floats down Main Street (between Frederick Street and River Road) to welcome in the Christmas season. The parade is free, so just show up and enjoy all the sights and sounds!
When: December 1, 6:00 -10:00 PM
Where: The parade travels North to South beginning at Frederick Street and will end at River Road
6. Take a Walk in Bethlehem
Take a step back in time with St. Helena’s Episcopal Church as they recount the biblical Christmas story with an impressive live nativity called “A Walk in Bethlehem.” Far from your average collection of shepherds and magi, this event allows visitors to immerse themselves in the story, journeying through the heart of Bethlehem, walking through the bustling marketplace (complete with baker’s shop, potter, carpenter, and basket weavers), and finally arriving at the traditional nativity scene (which will include camels!).
When: December 4-5, 6:00 PM & 7:30 PM
Where: St. Helena's Episcopal Church, 410 N Main
Image Courtesy of Nicole De Khors
7. Peruse Christmas Market Days & Cowboy Christmas Market
We love Boerne Market Days every day of the year, but there’s just something special about shopping in the Main Plaza during the holiday season. Thankfully, the month of December will feature two different Market Days weekends: Christmas Market Days from December 8-9 and Cowboy Christma s Market Days from December 15-16. Both will feature handmade arts and crafts, art, woodwork, antiques, collectibles, chic clothing and accessories, vintage, jewelry and more (along with great food, local Texas musicians, and free admission!).
When: December 8-9, 15-16 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Where: Main Plaza, 100 North Main
8. Wander Through a Gingerbread Forest at The Christmas Town
What do you expect from a holiday event literally called “The Christmas Town”? If you answered, “live music, hayrides, a nativity scene, comfort food, plenty of shopping, and a literal gingerbread forest,” you’d be right. Grab a cup of hot cocoa, snap a family photo, and explore all the Christmas wonder!
When: December 7-8 & 14-15, 6:00-9:00 PM
Where: 43360 I-10 West
Image Courtesy of Boerne Performing Arts
9. Swoon for the Ten Tenors
As dapper as they are festive, the Ten Tenors are scheduled to take Christmas classics to the next level at the Champion High School Auditorium on December 15th. Described by the LA Times as a mixture of “pure electricity and undeniable drama,” the Ten Tenors will perform both festive favorites and modern holidays hits.
When: December 15, 7:30 PM
Where: Champion High School Auditorium, 201 Charger Blvd.
10. Welcome in the Winter Solstice
Brighten up the darkest day of the year with a cozy concert in an underground cavern! Famous for its incredible acoustics, the “Throne Room” at Cave Without a Name will set the stage for Winter Solstice: Celebration Circle, an eclectic mixture of traditional carols and “World-beat rhythms” accompanied by soaring vocals and performed on a mixture of ancient and modern instruments (think: didgeridoo).
When: December 22, 7:00 PM
Where: Cave Without a Name, 325 Kreutzberg Rd
Have a happy Texas Hill Country holiday season, y'all!
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