Gear up for an amazing holiday season in Nacogdoches with our ultimate festive guide! Whether you’ve lived in Nacogdoches for years or just for the season, this guide maximizes your festive experience.
Popular events this holiday season include the 98th Annual Natchitoches Christmas Festival, where dazzling lights and live entertainment welcome visitors from all around. Another highlight is the Christmas Tour of Homes, showcasing beautifully decorated local residences that capture the spirit of the season. And the Wassail Fest is something you definitely don’t want to miss, offering a delightful sampling of local wassail recipes. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Nacogdoches
- 98th Annual Natchitoches Christmas Festival (Natchitoches)
- Christmas Tour of Homes
- Christmas in the Park (Natchitoches)
- Wassail Fest
- Northwestern State University Christmas Gala (Natchitoches)
- SFA Planetarium Shows
- Lightscape at Fort Worth Botanic Garden (Fort Worth)
- Lightscape at San Antonio Botanical Gardens (San Antonio)
- Lone Star Lights and Carolina Creek (Huntsville)
- Holiday Exhibit: A Very Victorian Christmas
See these and even more events listed below!
Nacogdoches Holiday Light Displays
98th Annual Natchitoches Christmas Festival
What to Expect:
Historic settlement's oldest community-based holiday lights display.
Description:
The 98th Annual Natchitoches Christmas Festival is a six-week long celebration featuring over 300,000 lights, live music, kids' activities, and fireworks. It begins the Saturday before Thanksgiving and concludes on January 6th, Epiphany.
Where: Natchitoches | More Info: 98th Annual Natchitoches Christmas Festival
Christmas in the Park
What to Expect:
Twinkling lights and festive activities in a picturesque park setting.
Description:
Celebrate the holiday season with Christmas in the Park, featuring twinkling lights, festive activities, and a visit with Santa Claus.
Where: Natchitoches | More Info: Christmas in the Park
Lightscape at Fort Worth Botanic Garden
What to Expect:
Immersive holiday light display with over 80% new installations.
Description:
Lightscape at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden features custom-designed light installations set against the serene backdrop of nature, creating a captivating atmosphere with breathtaking, never-before-seen artistic displays from around the globe.
Where: Fort Worth | More Info: Lightscape at Fort Worth Botanic Garden
Lone Star Lights and Carolina Creek
What to Expect:
Immersive light displays and interactive activities.
Description:
Lone Star Lights at Carolina Creek offers a 17-acre park with over 1 million lights, immersive thematic zones, and a variety of activities including zip lines, petting farms, and live entertainment. The event features local food and retail vendors, a snow zone, and opportunities to meet Santa and Rolly the talking reindeer.
Where: Huntsville | More Info: Lone Star Lights and Carolina Creek
Lights on the Farm
What to Expect:
Immersive holiday experience with stunning light displays and festive activities.
Description:
Explore over 1 million dazzling lights and unique holiday elements at the Heritage Farmstead Museum. Take a quarter-mile stroll through the beautiful grounds, meet Santa Claus, and indulge in delicious treats like s'mores, hot cocoa, and donuts while enjoying festive holiday music.
Where: Plano | More Info: Lights on the Farm
Sugar Land Holiday Lights
What to Expect:
Spectacular light display with themed areas and carnival attractions.
Description:
Sugar Land Holiday Lights features over 3 million lights in 8 themed areas, a carnival, holiday vendors, and special events like movie nights and Santa visits.
Where: Sugar Land | More Info: Sugar Land Holiday Lights
Galaxy Lights at Space Center Houston
What to Expect:
Interactive space-themed light displays and festive treats.
Description:
Galaxy Lights at Space Center Houston is a space-themed holiday light show featuring interactive exhibits, high-tech light displays, and festive treats. Visitors can explore space-inspired light installations, walk through a 200-foot LED light tunnel, and enjoy holiday snacks like s’mores and hot cocoa.
Where: Houston | More Info: Galaxy Lights at Space Center Houston
Santa’s Ranch
What to Expect:
Spectacular drive-thru light display with themed animated scenes.
Description:
Santa's Ranch is a premier holiday light exhibition in Texas, featuring over 2.5 million twinkling lights, animated Christmas displays, and homemade hot chocolate and kettle corn.
Where: New Braunfels | More Info: Santa’s Ranch
Elf Acres
What to Expect:
Synchronized light and music show with Santa's Village activities.
Description:
Elf Acres offers a 1-mile drive-thru trail of Christmas lights and animated displays, accompanied by a synchronized music light show. Visitors can also explore Santa’s Village, where they can see a synchronized light show on three mega trees, take a photo with Santa, enjoy delectable treats, and shop for cool light-up toys and gifts.
Where: San Antonio | More Info: Elf Acres
Nacogdoches Holiday Markets and Shopping
Market on Main
What to Expect:
Monthly gathering of local vendors selling handmade crafts and fresh produce.
Description:
Market on Main is a monthly event held on the first Saturday of every month at 305 East Main Street in Downtown Nacogdoches. It features local vendors selling a variety of goods, including handmade crafts, fresh produce, and unique gifts.
Where: Nacogdoches | More Info: Market on Main
Nacogdoches Holiday Shows and Entertainment
SFA Planetarium Shows
What to Expect:
Immersive full-dome shows with stunning visual effects and powerful surround sound.
Description:
The SFA Planetarium offers immersive full-dome shows that explore the wonders of space, featuring stunning visual effects and powerful surround sound. These educational programs are designed for students of all ages, introducing them to the stars and celestial bodies in an engaging and interactive way.
Where: Nacogdoches | More Info: SFA Planetarium Shows
Holiday Exhibit: A Very Victorian Christmas
What to Expect:
Victorian-era decorations and traditions.
Description:
Explore a meticulously curated exhibit showcasing Victorian-era traditions and decorations, highlighting the elegance and charm of a bygone era.
Where: Nacogdoches | More Info: Holiday Exhibit: A Very Victorian Christmas
Northwestern State University Christmas Gala
What to Expect:
Santa's special appearance amidst festive decor and music.
Description:
Join Northwestern State University for a special Christmas celebration featuring festive decor, twinkling lights, and enchanting music. Witness a special appearance by Santa Claus and dress your holiday best to celebrate the spirit of giving.
Where: Natchitoches | More Info: Northwestern State University Christmas Gala
Nacogdoches Other Holiday Activities
Wassail Fest
What to Expect:
Savoring wassail at multiple downtown spots.
Description:
Wassail Fest in downtown Nacogdoches, Texas, features wassail served at various locations, celebrating Small Business Saturday with a festive atmosphere.
Where: Nacogdoches | More Info: Wassail Fest
Christmas Tour of Homes
What to Expect:
Unique blend of historic homes and festive holiday decorations.
Description:
The Christmas Tour of Homes is a one-day event where visitors can tour local homes showcasing architectural distinction and beautiful Christmas decorations.
Where: Nacogdoches | More Info: Christmas Tour of Homes
The Loblolly Model Train Display
What to Expect:
Detailed model train display with East Texas scenery.
Description:
The Loblolly Model Train Display features intricately designed model trains and scenery, showcasing a miniature world of East Texas landscapes.
Where: Nacogdoches | More Info: The Loblolly Model Train Display
El Camino Real Day Jamboree
What to Expect:
Interactive food preservation demonstrations and a canning contest.
Description:
Join us at the Stone Fort Museum for the El Camino Real Day Jamboree, featuring an ongoing canning demonstration, music, a canning contest, and displays about how travelers preserved food along El Camino Real.
Where: Nacogdoches | More Info: El Camino Real Day Jamboree
SFA Homecoming
What to Expect:
Weeklong celebration with diverse activities promoting school spirit and community service.
Description:
SFA Homecoming is a weeklong celebration featuring a concert, bonfire, fireworks, downtown parade, 5K race, Homecoming Court elections, football game, tailgating, and more. Students also participate in Spirit Service Week, collecting donations for the Lumberjack Pantry and hosting a blood drive.
Where: Nacogdoches | More Info: SFA Homecoming
Woodworkers Club of East Texas
What to Expect:
Monthly gathering for woodworkers to share skills and knowledge.
Description:
The Woodworkers Club of East Texas meets monthly on the first Saturday from 9-11 AM at 2212 Raguet Street in Nacogdoches, excluding January and July. Members gather to share knowledge and skills in woodworking.
Where: Nacogdoches | More Info: Woodworkers Club of East Texas
Lightscape at San Antonio Botanical Gardens
What to Expect:
Whimsical outdoor sculptures in a botanical garden setting.
Description:
Explore the vibrant colors and whimsical sculptures of Huntopia, an outdoor art exhibition featuring large sculptures of bunnies, butterflies, and tropical birds, set amidst the beautiful landscape designs of the San Antonio Botanical Garden.
Where: San Antonio | More Info: Lightscape at San Antonio Botanical Gardens
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- Lufkin (19 miles)