2017-18 Holiday Event Planner: Family Fun & Season's Joy

Compiled By Rachel Knight

Anderson

Twilight Firelight www.wheretexasbecametexas.org Nov. 25, 4:30pm – 7pm Board a replica stagecoach in downtown Anderson and travel back to 1850. Tour the Fanthorp Inn State Historic Site, restored to its 1850s candlelit appearance; ride a replica mule-driven stagecoach; enjoy period music; dance; visit with interpreters in period clothing; and learn about the rich history and culture of the site.

Christmas on the Brazos www.wheretexasbecametexas.org Dec. 9, 10am – 9pm Kick off the holiday season at Washington on the Brazos with a day full of historical Christmas fun. Starting at 10am, the Star of the Republic Museum will host “make-and-take” period crafts, and will extend their hours to 6:30pm From 1pm – 3pm, staff dressed in period clothing will be entertaining visitors with tales from Charles Dickens (Independence Hall).

Brenham

Holiday Movies at Simon Theatre www.thebarnhillcenter.com Nov. 25, 2pm & 7pm; Dec. 1, 7pm; Dec. 2, 7pm Take a break from the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping while still enjoying the holiday spirit with Christmas movies showing at Simon Theatre. On Nov. 25, Elf will show at 2pm and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation will start at 7pm. The Polar Express will hit the screen on Dec. 1 at 7pm. It’s a Wonderful Life will show on Dec. 2 at 7pm.

Blinn College: Snowkus Pocus www.blinn.edu/boxoffice Nov. 26, 7pm Blinn College will bring an enchanted winter wonderland to center stage when they perform Snowkus Pocus. This fantastical tale is told through dazzling cirque, breath-taking ballet, and incredible acrobatics sure to melt the audience’s hearts.

Unity Theatre: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever unitybrenham.org Nov. 29 – Dec. 3 This Christmas-themed comedy is sure to add a little cheer to this holiday season. Five performances of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever will take place this season. The show starts at 7:30pm Nov. 29 through Dec. 2 and at 4pm. on Dec. 3.

Jingle Bell Market www.visitbrenhamtexas.com Dec. 1 & 2, 10am – 7pm Ant Street Inn will host a holiday crafts market in their ballroom. Here shoppers can find crafts, handmade items, and rare gifts. Downtown shops and boutiques will be open late in celebration of Brenham’s Christmas Stroll & Lighted Parade. Parking and admission are free.

Brenham Christmas Stroll & Lighted Parade www.downtownbrenham.com Dec. 1, 5pm – 9pm; Dec. 2, 8am – 9pm Enjoy live entertainment and holiday shopping as you stroll along the beautifully lighted downtown streets. A parade will take place Saturday, Dec. 2, at 6pm.

Caldwell

Red & Green Chili Championship Cook-Off www.caldwelltx.gov Dec. 9 Gather your cooking team, grab some cooking utensils, and head to Caldwell for the 5th Annual Red & Green Championship Cook-off. Categories for entries include breakfast tacos, hot chocolate, Bloody Marys, dip your chip, beans, exotic chili (venison, elk, etc.), green chili, red chili, and margaritas.

Mad Hatters Tea Room www.madhatterstearoom.com Dec. 9, 11am, 12:30pm, & 2pm Get into the holiday spirit at Mad Hatters Tea Room. Enjoy a three-course tea time with savories, scones and pastries, and your choice of hot tea. This year’s event has a new twist with a chocolate tea pairing that is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Christmas on the Square www.caldwelltx.gov Dec. 9, 3pm – 7pm This event provides Christmas fun for the entire family with elf school, pictures with Santa, Downtown shopping, a wreath contest, a gingerbread house contest, lighted window displays, and more.

Chappell Hill

2017 Christmas Home Tour www.chappellhilltx.com Dec. 9, 10am – 5pm Tour beautiful historic homes and gardens at this year’s Christmas Home Tour hosted by Chappell Hill Garden Club. Tickets are $20 pre-date or $25 at the door. For more information call (979) 337-1200.

Crockett

Piney Woods Fine Arts Association: The Nutcracker Ballet www.pwfaa.org Dec. 8, 7:30pm Experience the magic of this magnificent ballet with beautiful music from Tchaikovsky and the Russian Grand Ballet’s dancers. This holiday classic will be preformed at the Crockett Civic Center and is sure to become a Christmas favorite for all who attend.

Montgomery

Christmas in Montgomery www.experiencemontgomery.com Dec. 9, 8am – 5pm Enjoy a day full of Christmas festivities in historic Montgomery. Enjoy Breakfast with Santa, a holiday marketplace, a Christmas Parade, the 40th Annual Candlelight Home Tour, and more!

Bryan College Station

Santa’s Wonderland www.santas-wonderland.com Nov. 10 – Jan. 7 The biggest Christmas attraction in Texas brings Christmas cheer to the Brazos Valley each year. Santa’s Wonderland is composed of Santa’s Town, a nostalgic Texas Christmas Village, and a magnificent trail of lights. Stroll through more than 3 million lights, listen to live music entertainment, shop until you drop, and participate in their myriad activities for all ages.

Wine Dinner www.veritaswineandbistro.com Nov. 16, 6 p.m. Treat yourself and your loved ones to a fabulous wine dinner featuring Domaine de Cristia wine. Award-winning wine maker Jean Baptiste Adam from France will be at Veritas for this holiday themed event. Don’t miss the opportunity to get into the holiday spirit with amazing food and unbeatable wine.

Thanksgiving Day Rehearsal Dinner www.cstx.gov Nov. 17, 11:30am – 1pm Adults age 55 and up are invited to test their Thanksgiving recipes at this potluck Thanksgiving celebration located at the Southwood Community Center. Bring a side dish or dessert to share. Turkey will be provided.

Lights On! www.downtownbryan.com Nov. 17, 6pm The annual lighting of Downtown Bryan is sure to put you and your family in the holiday spirit.

Cafe Eccell www.cafeeccellbryantx.com Nov. 18, 11am – 11pm Start your holiday feasting early at Caffe Eccel with a five-course meal paired with Spanish wines and liquors. Then, avoid the stress of cooking on Thanksgiving Day and enjoy a platter of light and dark meat with all the fixings from 11am to 5pm.

Fun Run at Santa’s Wonderland www.santas-wonderland.com Nov. 18 & 19 Participants will run or stroll through three million Christmas lights and end with a one-of-a-kind finish in the heart of Santa’s Town, a Texas Christmas village that features unique shops, music, food, and Santa. The Christmas 5K Fun Run will take place on Nov. 18 and will start at 5:30pm. The Christmas Mile Fun Run will start at 6pm on Nov. 19.

Thanksgiving with Messina Hof www.messinahof.com Nov. 23, 11am – 6pm Messina Hof will provide a three-course meal this Thanksgiving with food ranging from a traditional turkey dinner to a delicious pumpkin cheesecake. Reservations are required. For more information call (979) 599-7339 or email www.event@messinahof.com.

Turkey Trot www.bcsturkeytrot.com Nov. 23, 8am Burn off some calories in anticipation of Thanksgiving dinner, and enjoy the holiday spirit in the annual Turkey Trot 5K race and 1-mile fun run. Start a new tradition and bring the whole family to the race that starts at 8am on Thanksgiving Day. The race starts and stops in the Baylor Scott & White Medical Center and Hospital parking lot off Rock Prairie and Highway 6.

Christmas in the Park www.cstx.gov Nov. 23 – Jan. 1 Guests have the opportunity to view more than one million lights decorating the beautiful 47-acre Stephen C. Beachy Central Park from 6pm to 11pm each day starting on Thanksgiving and ending on New Year’s.

Wine & Wassail www.downtownbryan.com Nov. 25, 4pm – 8pm This holiday sip and shop event takes place in Downtown Bryan. Each store will feature one wine tasting and one holiday beverage (hot chocolate, wassail, cider, or something warm). Advanced tickets for this event are available through Nov. 19 in Downtown Bryan stores for $25 and online through Nov. 24 for $30. The day of the event, tickets will be available at participating stores for $35.

Christmas Wonderland Holiday Spectacular www.mscopas.org Nov. 28 & 29, 7:30pm This delightful and enchanting Christmas show will hit the Rudder Auditorium stage to get the Brazos Valley in the holiday spirit. Glittering costumes, a dazzling cast, and the highest kicking chorus girls this side of the North Pole set the scene as Santa and his merry helpers take you on an unforgettable nostalgic journey.

George Bush Presidential Library Community Tree Lighting Ceremony www.bush41.org Nov. 30, 5:30pm – 7:30pm Modeled after the tree lighting ceremony that takes place annually on the White House grounds, the ceremony will include musical entertainment, a celebrity guest tree lighter, and a public reception.

Holiday Magic www.bryantx.gov Nov. 30, 5:30pm Sue Haswell Memorial Park will be filled with holiday magic and fun for all ages. This free event will feature Christmas lights, classic carols sung by local student choirs, hot chocolate, warm cookies, bounce houses, and a real snow hill.

Blinn College: The Happy Journey/The Long Christmas Dinner www.blinn.edu/boxoffice Nov. 30 – Dec. 3 Blinn College will perform two holiday themed one-act plays by Thornton Wilder to put the audience in the holiday spirit. Performances will take place Nov. 30 through Dec. 2 at 7:30pm and on Dec. 3 at 2pm.

Stagecenter Theatre: The Game’s Afoot or Holmes for the Holidays www.stagecenter.net Nov. 30 – Dec. 16, Thurs. – Sat., 7:30pm In this Christmas play, Sherlock Holmes has invited his fellow cast members to his Connecticut castle for a weekend of revelry. When one of the guests is stabbed to death, festivities quickly turn dangerous. Danger and hilarity abound in this murder mystery set during the Christmas holidays.

36th Annual Christmas Arts & Crafts Show www.elmoreproductions.net Dec. 2 & 3, 10am – 5pm The Christmas Arts & Crafts Show offers shoppers a truly remarkable and one-of-a-kind shopping experience held in the Brazos Center. This year’s show will feature more than 100 booths offering unique Christmas gifts including jewelry, wearable art, ceramics, homemade jellies, salsa, sweets, and more.

Holidays in the Rotunda www.bush41.org Dec. 2, 10am – 3:30pm This free event takes place in front of the museum’s magnificently decorated 19-foot Christmas tree in the rotunda of the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum. Live entertainment and Santa’s workshop will get you in the yuletide spirit. There will be cookies, hot chocolate, and punch served during the activities.

Holiday Crystal Wine Trail www.texasbluebonnetwinetrail.com Dec. 2 & 9, 11am – 6pm; Dec. 3 & 10, 12 – 5pm Jump start your holiday season by touring the Texas Bluebonnet Wine Trail during this holiday event. Participants will partake in two specially selected wine tastings paired with a terrific holiday food sample at each winery on the trail and will receive a commemorative crystal champagne flute at the sixth winery they visit.

Jingle Bell Fun Run and Bryan College Station Christmas Parade www.cstx.gov Dec. 3, 1:15pm The College Station Parks & Recreation Department will kick off the holiday season in B/CS with their 28th Annual Jingle Bell Fun Run. Register before Nov. 26 for the fun run or before Nov. 19 to receive a t-shirt. The two-mile run starts at 1:15pm and will be followed by the B/CS Christmas Parade.

Parmeson Wine Dinner www.maddenscasualgourmet.com Dec. 7 This holiday themed dinner will warm your Aggie wine-loving heart as Aggie wine maker Tom Parmeson from Sonoma, California, pairs his fabulous wines with a gourmet holiday meal at Madden’s in Downtown Bryan. Call (979) 779-2558 for reservations and times.

Downtown Bryan Lighted Parade www.downtownbryan.com Dec. 8, 6:30pm – 9pm The only lighted Christmas Parade in B/CS will hit the streets of downtown Bryan and bring holiday cheer to all who attend. Floats, vehicles, fire engines, and more will join the parade line up creating a night of fun.

Breakfast with Santa www.cstx.gov Dec. 9, 9am – 12pm Children of all ages are invited to join Santa for a free hot breakfast at the Lincoln Recreation Center. Activities will include song and dance performances from local youth groups and Christmas-themed carnival games. Ages 15 and under will receive a gift from Santa.

Magic of Christmas with CHI St. Joseph Health www.chistjoseph.org Dec. 9, 10am – 2pm Find the magic of Christmas with CHI St. Joseph Health at the Brazos County Expo Complex. This family friendly holiday event will feature continuous activities, crafts and refreshments, live performances, snow slide, appearance from Reveille, strolling magician, bounce houses, train rides, face paintings, and more.

B/CS Kids Marathon www.bcsmarathon.com Dec. 9, 12:30pm – 1:30pm B/CS Marathon weekend will kick off on Saturday with a 1.2-mile race for kids at Wolf Pen Creek. The event is open to any child under the age of 12. All participants will be greeted with a custom medal at the finish line. The race is divided into two waves. Wave one is for 3-7 year olds and starts at 12:30pm. Parents are permitted to run with their children in wave one. Wave two is for 8-12 year olds and starts at 1pm.

B/CS Marathon www.bcsmarathon.com Dec. 10, 7am The full- and half-marathon races will begin at 7am. Groups and relay team divisions will be offered. All participants will receive a participant shirt. Race finishers will receive a finisher’s jacket and custom finisher’s medal. Food and beer will be served following the race.

Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra: Holiday Pops Concert www.bvso.org Dec. 10, 5pm Outstanding BVSO Brass and Percussion musicians, organist James Faith, The Sanctuary Choir of Canticle and The Canticle Ringers of Christ United Methodist Church, and the College Station High School Varsity Women’s Choir will bring classic holiday favorites to the stage at Christ United Methodist Church.

Brazos Valley Chorale: A White Christmas www.bvchorale.org Dec. 11, 7pm The St. Joseph Catholic High School choir will join Brazos Valley Choral at this concert at Christ the Good Shepherd Chapel in Bryan. Familiar holiday songs and an invitation to join in the sing-along make this concert a family favorite event.

Holiday Open House www.cstx.gov Dec. 13, 10am – 12am Adults ages 55 and up are invited to enjoy holiday treats, browse information tables highlighting available programs, take photos with Mr. and Mrs. Claus, and more at the Holiday Open House at the Southwood Community Center.

Bryan Viking Band Winter Concert www.bryanvikingband.org Dec. 14, 7pm The Bryan High Viking Band will spread holiday cheer and showcase their talents at this year’s winter concert. The performance will take place at Margaret Rudder High School Auditorium.

Wreaths Across America www.wreathsacrossamerica.org Dec. 16, 11am Wreaths Across America will place wreaths on veteran gravestones at Aggie Field of Honor and the College Station and Bryan Cemeteries to remember and honor those who died serving their country. This event is open to the public, and donations for wreaths are welcome. Volunteer opportunities are available.

Christmas Cellar Tours www.messinahof.com Dec. 16 & 23, 6:30pm; Dec. 17, 5pm Celebrate the holiday season while sipping a glass of warm mulled wine and strolling the estate. Learn about the history of the winery, including Christmas traditions from Italy and Germany. Four different varieties of wine will be available for tasting directly from the tanks and barrels in the festive Cellar Room.

New Year’s Eve Party www.messinahof.com Dec. 31, 7pm – 1am Ring in the New Year at Messina Hof for an evening of glitter, wishes, and midnight kisses. Dinner in The Gallery will be followed by dancing, an open wine bar, dessert, a countdown to midnight, and a sparkling wine toast to the New Year at midnight in the Estate Wine Cellar.

Franklin

Mistletoe Market Nov. 18, 9am – 2pm Get a jump-start on your holiday shopping at this one-day market in the Pridgeon Center. Clothing, wreaths, baked goodies, home décor, jewelry, and more will get holiday shoppers in the spirit of the season.

Navasota

Navasota Theatre Alliance: Tuna Christmas www.navasotatheatre.org Dec. 7 – Dec. 17 This holiday themed comedy is both an homage and a satire of small town southern living during the holidays. The show starts at 7pm. Thursday through Saturday with Saturday and Sunday matinees starting at 2pm.

Round Top

Round Top Christkindl Market www.roundtop.org Dec. 1, 5pm – 10pm; Dec. 2, 9am – 5pm; Dec. 3, 11am – 4pm The first Christkindl Market is sure to get holiday shoppers in the spirit of the season. During this time The Compound’s barns and grounds will be transformed into a holiday market reminiscent of those found in Europe. Get ready to explore all kinds of unique gift ideas, seasonal foods, warm winter drinks, and festive music with free entry.

Round Top Christmas Parade www.roundtop.org Dec. 2, 6pm Celebrate the Christmas season and enjoy a festive parade around the Town Square. Get in the holiday spirit with parade floats, Christmas carolers, animals, classic cars, and vintage tractors.

19th Annual Christmas Tour of Homes and Historical Places www.roundtop.org Dec. 2, 11am Stroll through Round Top admiring homes on display, featuring beautiful Christmas decorations inside and out. Light refreshments and holiday drinks will be served at each home.

3rd Annual Santa Paws www.roundtop.org Dec. 9, 12pm – 2pm Get your pets in the holiday spirit with pet parades, prizes, holiday food, and pet adoption at Bybee Square. Bring a pet product or gift including treats, food, toys, cleaning supplies, and litter for shelter dogs and cats. The event benefits the Gardenia E. Janssen Animal Shelter.

Round Top Festival Institute: The Nutcracker Ballet www.roundtop.org & www.festivalhill.org Dec. 9, 4pm This encore performance of Tchaikovsky’s holiday classic, The Nutcracker, is always a crowd pleaser. Danced by children for children of any age, this performance is expected to sell out once again, so plan to purchase tickets early. Visit festivalhill.org or call (979) 249-3129 for ticket purchases or more information.

New Year’s Eve Community Party www.roundtoprifle.com Dec. 31, 6pm – 12amWith a toe-tapping band, community snack table, toasts to the New Year, and traditional New Years Eve midnight snack of cornbread and black-eyed peas for good luck, your whole family can enjoy ringing in the New Year at the Round Top Rifle Association. Doors open at 6pm so attendees can decorate their tables. Music starts at 8:30pm.