For the second year in a row, Brazos Valley Tree Farm transforms into a festive holiday attraction at night with spectacular light displays that illuminate the sky with all things merry and bright. The main draw is the farm’s trail of lights that’s tripled in size this year, with tunnels, Christmas-themed inflatables, and hand-built decorations such as a retro post office, gingerbread house, and a nativity scene along its 1 ½-mile route. “[Our owner] really loves Christmas,” says event coordinator April Theiss. “[He] wanted something to offer to the community for people to be able to enjoy during the holiday season, especially last year with COVID going on.”
Guests can view the lights from their vehicles, on foot, or take a hayride that will take them
into Christmas Town for more family fun. The rumblings of a tractor echo as it pulls up, loaded with hay bales. Families climb aboard, ready to tour the holiday light displays with plenty of opportunities for photo-ops along the way.
The tractor drops off guests at Christmas Town to be immersed in the sounds of holiday music and the spirit of the season. Those looking for Santa Claus can easily find him Thursdays through Sundays, sitting on a one-of-a-kind wooden throne along with his jolly elves, ready to receive children who are eager to tell him their holiday wish list. Kids who want to send a letter to the North Pole can decorate a personalized postcard to the big man himself.
There’s lots of activities for children to do at Christmas Town. Kids can drive around Playland in pint-sized motorized cars and complete arts and crafts such as personalizing a special mug,
plate, or bowl and decorating pillowcases to take home as keepsakes. For a tasty treat, visitors can make s’mores with graham crackers, milk chocolate, and marshmallows roasted over a flaming fire, or head over to the Model-T Popper, a red-and-gold popcorn truck that offers concessions, including old-fashioned candy, homemade popcorn, and steaming hot chocolate that are available for purchase.
Families and friends can enjoy some friendly competition playing yard games such as cornhole, giant Jenga, and ladder ball, a lawn game that involves throwing bolas, two balls connected with rope, on ladder-like rungs.
“[Christmas Town] is something that you can't experience anywhere else,” Theiss says. Not only is it affordable, she says, but it “builds that family type of atmosphere that people really look forward to.” IN
Christmas at the Tree Farm will open on Nov. 11 and runs daily through the end of December. The hayride, with admission to the main park, is $20 for adults, $10 for children
under 12, and free for children under 3. S’mores and concessions are not included in the entrance fee. The drive-through will be open seven days a week from 6 to 11 p.m. The last vehicle will be allowed in at 10:50 p.m. Tickets are $30 per vehicle. For more information, visit bvtreefarm.com/christmas.
