If forest fa-la-la-ing and Christmas carols around the campfire sound a lot better than fighting crowds in a mall or facing “sold out” symbols online, you may need to treat yourself to an outdoor getaway.
Texas state parks have filled the holiday season with special events – specifically 80 events in 47 parks and eight historic sites – from Thanksgiving trot rides to Christmas light boat tours to New Year’s Eve walks in the dark. Most of the events are family-friendly, but some sound great for solo adventurers who might want to pack a tent and escape into the woods for a night or two (tip to you, retail rep).
Reservations fill up quickly, so be sure to check out an individual park’s website before you set off. Visit the Holidays in the Parks page for many more fun options, pricing information, and more.
Parks in the Dallas-Fort Worth Area
Tyler State Park
Begin with the 14th annual “Walk Off the Bird” Bird Walk, a 3.4 mile hike along the lakefront, at 9 a.m. Fall color photo hike on the lakefront at 9 a.m. Nov. 27. Head back to A Pineywoods Christmas December 10-11, when you can stroll or drive through the Lakeview and Big Pine campsites to explore the ornate campsites and take a Nature Wonderland hike.
Lake Tawakoni State Park
Drive through or stay there and decorate your campsite with your favorite Christmas decorations to get your second night of camping for free during your stay. There will be a decoration competition with awards and a reading of The Night before Christmas – all part of the Twinkle Tour 2021, 5 pm-8pm on December 4th.
Daingerfield State Park
The annual Christmas in the Park drive-thru lights tour runs December 15-18 (times vary). Take a drive through the park, lit up like Santa Land, and marvel at the decorated campsites and lights. Santa Claus himself will be there, but there won’t be a photo shoot with him this year.
Eisenhower State Park
The second annual Light Up the Park drive-thru light event runs December 10-11 and features candy canes and DIY goodies for the kids and a specific visitor from the North Pole.
Cleburne State Park
Enjoy a pancake breakfast with Santa, hosted by Cleburne Veterans of Foreign Wars, 9-11am on December 11th.
Cedar Hill State Park
Discover Christmas at Penn Farm on December 11th: Learn about the history and pioneers of the Penn Family and the farm they built 150 years ago. The event ends with an evening of Christmas carols around the campfire with sweet treats and hot chocolate.
Lake Mineral Wells State Park
Get a cowboy-style Christmas experience at Cross Timbers Cowboy Christmas, December 11th. Park ranger and cowboy poet David Owens gather guests around the campfire for an evening full of cowboy culture with songs, stories and poems. It takes place in the Lone Star Amphitheater.
Dinosaur Valley State Park
As a break from the New Year’s hikes many parks host, Dinosaur Valley does a midnight countdown hike for the first day on New Year’s Eve. The group will hike (in the dark) to the lookout point in the park and ring in the New Year outdoors. It takes place from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Parks in the Austin / San Antonio area
Bastrop State Park
#OptOutside on Black Friday with a 3-4 mile guided hike called Gobble Till You Wobble, 11 a.m. Falling Leaves, then do a simple leaf tracing craft or color and write a letter to Santa Claus. Every day in December, follow the ornaments with clues through the park at Fa La La Through the Forest Scavenger Hunt.
Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site
Visit Deck the Halls, 10 am-3pm, November 27th to learn how the Texans at Sauer-Beckmann Farm prepared early for the holidays by stringing popcorn and decorating cookies to put on their Christmas tree to hang; Learn how to make wreaths from native cedar and dip candles as the farm workers prepare for Christmas. Then return on December 19 at 5:30 p.m. for the 52nd Annual LBJ Tree Lighting, a Christmas tradition started 52 years ago by President and Ms. Johnson.
Garner State Park
Friends of Garner is holding their annual Christmas Open House with biscuits, old-fashioned wassails and pictures with Santa in the visitor center, 10 am-2pm on November 27th.
Buescher State Park
At Fa La La in the Forest Scavenger Hunt, you can follow the ornaments with clues through the park to secure a prize at the end of December 1st to January 1st.
Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
Christmas in the Park, 10 am-1pm December 5th, features a Christmas scavenger hunt, as well as the ability to create a Christmas greeting card to send to family, friends, or those in need. Return to Campfire Carols, 6-7pm, December 11th, with hot cocoa, stories and music with park rangers.
Hill Country State Natural Area
Play games, do some festive arts and crafts, hear a Christmas story, and learn more about the Hill Country at Holiday in the Hill Country, 1-4pm on December 11th.
South Llano River State Park
For Christmas at the ranch on December 4, 2 p.m. – 5 p.m., guests can warm up with hot chocolate and cider, listen to live entertainment, enjoy handicrafts and biscuit decorating, and await Santa Claus’ visit as they watch the twinkling lights and the Christmas decorations in the historic ranch house that now serves as the park headquarters.
Parks in the Houston area
Brazos Bend State Park
Holiday in the Park is an all-day affair on December 11th. Events include a self-guided “Elf Hike”, Christmas crafts, “Pup Parade”, S’mores and much more.
Goliad State Park & Historic Site
Every evening in December, visit the History in Lights exhibit and see how lights and shadows tell the story of the historic site by walking the same path that Native Americans and Spanish Franciscan priests took so long ago.
Sea Rim State Park
Santa and Mrs. Claus will ride on an airboat and then invite visitors to enjoy hot cocoa, Christmas crafts, and photo opportunities as part of A Very Marshy Christmas, 3pm – 5pm, December 18th.
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