The Woodlands Country Club , 100 Grand Fairway Drive

Start your holiday shopping at this indoor and outdoor market where a wide selection of exhibitors bring clothing, decor, solid-wood furniture, art, Christmas decor, and foods such as dips, salsas, artisan chocolates, pastries, and canned vegetables. Admission and parking are free and strollers are welcome.

bigtop.show/thewoodlandscountryclub

Sam Houston Memorial Museum and Republic of Texas Presidential Library, 1836 Sam Houston Ave.

At this holiday exhibit that celebrates Texas, visit the museum’s rotunda and see "The Lone Star in the East" Christmas Tree featuring the work of Texas theater artist and designer Barry Doss.

samhoustonmemorialmuseum.com

Historic Downtown Henderson, 100 E. Main St.

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas as the holiday season begins with Henderson's annual tree lighting and Christmas parade. Full of beautifully lit floats, classic cars, trucks, and tractors, the parade is certainly a sight to see. As darkness rolls in, watch as the Christmas tree is lit for the season.

visithendersontx.com

Various locations

Step back in time and take narrated tours of historic homes lavishly decorated for an old-fashioned Christmas, with live greenery, candlelight, and trees adorned with tinsel, ribbon, and sparkling glass balls. Docents in period costumes greet you and describe each home's origin and finery.

jeffersoncandlelight.com

Various locations

Follow the trail of lights and greenery downtown to explore the 11th annual Festival of Trees. Each tree is decorated by a local nonprofit organization. Find the locations by downloading the Visit Palestine app in Google Play or the Apple Store and choose Tours at the top right. From there, you can choose the Christmas Light Tour.

visitpalestine.com/events/2020/11th-annual-festival-of-trees

Downtown Huntsville, 1203 University Ave.

Come to downtown Huntsville for Christmas performances, a special Christmas book reading for kids, snow, food, crafts, games, Santa Claus, and other holiday festivities.

huntsvillemainstreet.com

Various locations, Nichols Sawmill Road, Commerce Street, and Unity Park Drive

On the first Saturday of December, the Greater Magnolia Parkway Chamber of Commerce hosts a parade down the local streets of Magnolia to inspire the spirit of Christmas.

greatermagnoliaparkwaycc.org/parade-of-lights-the-magic-of-christmas

Palestine Chamber of Commerce, 401 W. Main St.

This Palestine tradition, organized by the local YMCA, is a festive fun run through downtown that gets the whole family into the spirit of the season. Wear your favorite holiday costume. The 5K is a USA Track and Field-certified course that utilizes chip timing. It is also a fundraiser for Palestine YMCA youth and senior scholarships.

palestineymca.org

Historic Downtown Palestine, Main Street

Palestine's only nighttime parade is themed "The Sweetest Christmas" this year. The courthouse lighting ceremony begins as the parade leaves the courthouse square and winds its way through downtown. See the streets of historic downtown aglow with colorful lights and floats. After the parade is a Christmas movie in Rotary Park. Meet Santa there and enjoy the hot chocolate bar and refreshments.

palestinechamber.org

Palestine Chamber of Commerce, 401 W. Main St.

Get a glimpse of some of the architecture of Palestine decorated for the Christmas holidays. For one day only, the Tour of Homes features properties with varying architectural styles from years gone by. Tickets available at the Chamber of Commerce office and participating homes during tour.

visitpalestine.com/events/2020/hearth--tinsel-tour-of-homes2

Farmers Market Pavilion, 813 W. Spring St.

Get your holiday shopping done at this farmers market, where you can find unique gifts for your friends and family along with merchandise like herbs, produce, local honey, homemade soaps, handmade items, jewelry, and art.

palestinefarmersmarket.com

Montalba Baptist Church, State Highway 19 North and Farm-to-Market Road 321

Guided tours through replicated streets of Bethlehem begin with a hayride to the gates of the city. Walk through the streets, complete with live animals and townspeople dressed in costume as merchants during biblical times. At the end, you reach the stable and nativity scene with baby Jesus and Mary and Joseph.

montalbabaptist.church

Texas Theatre, 213 W. Crawford St.

Who is the man who wanted to be Santa Claus? That's what they're asking each other at the local police station when Santa Claus shows up handing out gifts. It's not so much the gifts that amaze Howard and Bertie but the fact that ol' Santa seems to know them all so well and they haven't a clue who's wearing the red and white.

thetexastheater.com

Town Green Park , 2099 Lake Robbins Drive

Start your holiday shopping at this indoor and outdoor market where a wide selection of exhibitors bring clothing, decor, solid-wood furniture, art, Christmas decor, and foods such as dips, salsas, artisan chocolates, pastries, and canned vegetables. The market is made up from half handmade items and half manufactured items, but all exhibitors are small business owners based in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Louisiana, and Arkansas. Admission and parking are free and strollers are welcome.

bigtop.show/thewoodlandstxdecember

Jefferson Visitor Center, 305 E. Austin St.

Shop for new and antique guns, knives, knife-sharpening equipment, ammunition, gun parts, archery equipment, reloading equipment and supplies, scopes, and holsters. There's a rifle giveaway, courtesy of J and N Motorsports.

tandkpromotions.com

Downtown Montgomery, Texas, 14420 Liberty St.

Montgomery County's oldest Christmas celebration—marking its 45th year—offers a full day of events in downtown Montgomery, one of Texas' oldest towns and the birthplace of the Texas flag. The event includes strolling carolers, a marketplace with homemade gifts and décor items, old-fashioned decorations in the historic buildings on the evening 45th Historic Home Tour, and the 33rd famous Cookie Walk, where tables are laden with decorative cookies and candies to purchase by the pound.

mhs-tx.org

Sam Houston Memorial Museum and Republic of Texas Presidential Library, 1836 Sam Houston Ave.

The annual holiday event on the museum grounds has historical demonstrations and holiday goodies.

samhoustonmemorialmuseum.com

Palestine High School Auditorium, State Highway 287 South and Loop 256

Enjoy classic country music and comedy at this Branson-style show featuring a holiday theme and good clean family-style entertainment.

dogwoodjamboree.com

Sip, shop, and walk your way through historic downtown while enjoying culinary delights paired with fine wines and bold whiskies from Texas vineyards and distilleries. Your ticket includes entry to the after-party held at Tahwahkaro Distilling Company, where you can get a tour of the operations, an up-close view of the kettles, live music, and a dessert bar. Check in is at the Palestine Chamber of Commerce.

visitpalestine.com

Downtown Gladewater, 200 Broadway Ave.

There's a feeling of Christmas in the air as Gladewater hails the coming of the holiday season and offers a warm winter welcome to all with a festive Christmas parade.

gladewaterchamber.org

Bowers Mansion, 301 S. Magnolia St.

Over 140 years old and harboring stories of murder, suicide, and death, the Historic Bowers Mansion in a small East Texas city is growing a reputation for one of the most haunted locations in the country, according to Haunted Rooms America.

hauntedrooms.com/texas/ghost-hunts/historic-bowers-mansion-palestine-tx

Texas Theatre, 213 W. Crawford St.

Put on your festive sweaters and head over to the Historic Texas Theatre for a classic Christmas sing-along of traditional Christmas carols. Free refreshments are served ahead of the singing.

thetexastheater.com

Various locations, 116 E. Commerce Ave.

Gladewater invites everyone to visit its historic streets during 2023. Each month, a special event takes place in different locations across Gladewater. Events include a "Night at the Museum" and lakeside festivities.

Tyler State Park, 789 Park Road 16

“Try” new skills for a new year. Visitors can sign up for guided hikes through the forest, mountain biking through pine savannah, and try out kayaking on a spring-fed lake.

tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/tyler

Sam Houston Memorial Museum and Republic of Texas Presidential Library, 1836 Sam Houston Ave.

This exhibition reveals the ongoing research by the museum of the 12 enslaved individuals listed on Sam Houston’s probate inventory in 1863, plus one who was not listed.

samhoustonmemorialmuseum.com

UY Tyler Cowan Center, 3900 University Blvd., FAC 1120

"The Doo Wop Project" starts at the beginning: tracing the evolution of doo-wop (a popular singing style in the 1950s) from the classic sound of five guys singing harmonies on a street corner to the biggest hits of today. These stars of Broadway hits "Jersey Boys," "Motown: The Musical," and "A Bronx Tale" take audiences on a journey featuring foundational tunes from the Crests, Belmonts, and Flamingos through the vocal artistry of The Temptations and The Four Seasons plus modern hits from Jason Mraz and Maroon 5.

cowancenter.org

Lake Bob Sandlin State Park, 341 State Park Road 2117

Multiple generations of families have attended this event over the years. At the 33rd annual Kids Fish Day, thousands of rainbow trout are stocked, and the park provides all the gear needed. There are casting games for beginners, fish prep and cooking demonstrations, and giveaways. Rangers are on hand to guide fishers. There are two different sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/lake-bob-sandlin

UT Tyler Cowan Center, 3900 University Blvd., FAC 1120

Doris Kearns Goodwin is a world-renowned presidential historian, public speaker, and Pulitzer Prize-winning, New York Times No. 1 best-selling author. Goodwin's career as a presidential historian and author was inspired when, as a 24-year-old graduate student at Harvard, she was selected to join the White House Fellows, one of America's most prestigious programs for leadership and public service. Goodwin worked with President Lyndon Baines Johnson in the White House and later assisted him in the writing of his memoirs.

cowancenter.org

UT Tyler R. Don Cowan Fine and Performing Arts Center, 3900 University Blvd., FAC 1120

Joel McHale is one of the most sought-after comedians and actors in the industry. Best known for his starring role in "Community" and twelve seasons hosting "The Soup," McHale can be seen on Netflix playing former "Community" co-star Chevy Chase in "A Futile and Stupid Gesture" opposite Will Forte. He also stars in his new weekly Netflix show, "The Joel McHale Show with Joel McHale." Other work includes "The Happytime Murders" opposite Melissa McCarthy and the indie "Assassination Nation" for Sam Levinson, which premiered at Sundance.

cowancenter.org

Downtown Jefferson

The Krewe of Hebe presents Jefferson's annual Mardi Gras. The festivities last an entire weekend and feature parades, live music, food, vendors, a carnival, frosty beverages, and, of course, masks and beads.

mardigrasupriver.com

Huntsville State Park, 565 Park Road 40 W.

Take an interactive tour through the life of the Civilian Conservation Corps. Read about the corps' formation, get hands-on with their tools and uniforms, visit the camp store to shop the benefits of being an enrollee, and hear from members of the corps themselves, though their newsletter, as you stand in Ravens Lodge and look out at Lake Raven that they helped create.

tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/huntsville

Old Town Theatre, 1023 12th St.

Built with one overall objective in mind—to showcase independent films and filmmakers—the four-day independent film festival is where filmmakers break out.

oldtowntheatre-huntsville.org

Henderson Civic Center, 1500 Lake Forest Parkway

"Laissez le bon temps rouler" (let the good times roll) at Henderson's Mardi Gras Celebration with live entertainment from the Swampland Revival zydeco band, an old-fashioned cake walk, Cajun food, and plenty of beads.

visithendersontx.com

Downtown Square, 12th Street and University Avenue

This all-day crawfish and music festival takes place in conjunction with the Prison City Film Festival.

huntsvilledba.com