From: Hammond, Ken [Ken.Hammond@chron.com] Sent: Thursday, September 04, 2003 2:16 PM To: guy@cybersquad.com Subject: December festivals, Texas -----Original Message----- From: unknown@libsrv01.magichron [mailto:unknown@libsrv01.magichron] Sent: Thursday, September 04, 2003 1:42 PM To: Hammond, Ken Subject: 81555 -ACCESS- 3603300 -UPD- 20030123 -UPT- 1658 -STAT- R -PAPER- Houston Chronicle -HEAD- DECEMBER FESTIVALS / Tears for heroes, then holiday cheer -DAY- SUN -DATE- 20021124 -SECTION- TEXAS MAGAZINE -PAGE- 4 -EDITION- 2 STAR -ZONE- -BYLINE- -CREDIT- Staff -WHONOTE- -ENOTE- A listing of Texas festivals appears monthly in Texas Magazine. Festival information and color photographs for January festivals must be received by Dec. 4. Information must include a phone number for the public and admission costs. Send to Festivals, Texas Magazine, P.O. Box 4260, Houston, TX 77210. Fax 713-354-3051. Or e-mail information and high-resolution photos to festivals.features@chron.com. -DATELINE- -CAPTION- -ART- Photos: 1. Re-enactors re-create the 1832 Battle of Nacogdoches during last year's Nine Flags Festival. (color); 2. Amber Springer and Jonathon Sheppard "beg" for charities at Dickens on the Strand. (color); 3. A historical Fredericksburg home is dressed to the nines for the Hill Country Lighting Trail, which will include decorations in 10 other towns, too. (color, p. 5); 4. For a Pioneer Christmas, a holiday festival in Independence, Santa's mules fill in for reindeer, and a wagon replaces his sleigh. For this and more December festivals around Texas, see Special Affections on Page 4. (color, p. 2) -PHOTOG- 1. Associated Press; 2. Chronicle file -CORRECT- -COLUMN- SPECIAL AFFECTIONS -CATEGORY- -TYPE- -KEYS- -EKEYS- -PROC- libamt -ELECTION- -RSEC- 0 -SLUG- Dec. Festivals.x1 -LENGTH- 31 -LEAD- NINE FLAGS FESTIVAL When: Through Dec. 8. Where: Nacogdoches Contact: 888-653-3788; www.nineflagsfestival.com. Admission: varies by event -TEXT- NINE FLAGS FESTIVAL When: Through Dec. 8. Where: Nacogdoches Contact: 888-653-3788; www.nineflagsfestival.com. Admission: varies by event Each year Nacogdoches honors one of the countries represented by the nine flags that flew over the state's oldest city. This year it's Mexico. Highlights will include a Wassail Fest and Tour of Homes Nov. 30 and the Texas Old Time Fiddlers Association's Boss Fiddle Contest Dec. 8. A variety of activities Dec. 7 will include a fun run, breakfast with Santa, an antique-car show, a lighted Christmas parade and fireworks. CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD When: Weekends through Dec. 22. Where: Old Town Spring. Contact: 800-653-8696 Admission: free. More than 20 countries will be represented with Christmas trees decorated by schoolchildren. Each weekend will feature entertainment and open houses hosted by shop owners WONDERLAND OF LIGHTS When: Nov. 27-Dec. 30 Where: Mashall. Contact: 800-953-7868; www.marshalltxchamber.com Admission: free. This East Texas city will be decorated with more than 10 million lights. The crown jewel of the display is the Harrison County Historical Courthouse, which also will feature an outdoor ice-skating rink. There will be nightly entertainment, candlelight home tours, carriage rides, a lighted Christmas parade and visits with Santa. HILL COUNTRY LIGHTING TRAIL When: Nov. 29-Jan. 1 Where: Blanco, Boerne, Bulverde, Fredericksburg, Goldthwaite, Johnson City, Llano, Marble Falls, New Braunfels, Round Mountain, Wimberly. Contact: 866-839-3378; www.fredericksburg-texas-events.com. Admission: free for most events. The trail consists of 11 Hill Country communities decorated in holiday lights. Each town will offer activities, among them parades, shopping, carriage rides, candlelight tours and caroling. CHRISTMAS AT THE PARK When: Dec. 1 Where: Industry Contact: 979-836-8260 Admission: free. Caroling, a visit from Santa, entertainment and the lighting of the community Christmas tree are ways Industry will celebrate the holiday season. Chili, cookies and drinks also will be available. HOLIDAY STROLL IN CENTRAL PARK When: Dec. 5-6 Where: Seguin. Contact: 830-401-2480. Admission: free. The stroll will kick off the night of Dec. 6 with a parade, followed by a holiday lighting ceremony and pictures with Santa. The next day there will be snowball throwing, caroling and other entertainment, a pet parade and holiday window displays. SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF CHRISTMAS When: Dec. 5-7. Where: San Marcos Contact: 888-200-5620; www.sights-n-sounds.org. Admission: free Shopping, food, holiday decorations, live music and entertainment will be among attractions along the banks of the San Marcos River. Also featured will be sock skating, snow, a Bethlehem exhibit that includes real camels, and the Sights and Sounds Express Train. SMALL TOWN CHRISTMAS When: Dec. 6-7. Where: Bellville Contact: 979-865-3407; www.bellville.com Admission: free. This festival will include Shakespearean players, music, a visit from Santa, a parade, a tin-can train and dance recitals. DOWNTOWN CHRISTMAS STROLL When: Dec. 6-7. Where: Brenham Conttact: 979-836-3339. Admission: free. Brenham historical Main Street will be the setting the night of Dec. 6 for a parade and the annual Community Tuba Concert. Other weekend attractions will be entertainment, food booths and shopping. WEIHNACHTEN When: Dec 6-15. Where: Fredericksburg. Contact: 888-997-3600; www.fredericksburg-texas.com. Admission: free. This 10-day Christmas market and festival kicks off the holiday season in Fredericksburg's Marktplatz with a lighted parade. There also will be a forest of decorated trees, a lighted winter wonderland, gingerbread houses, live entertainment and shopping. CHRISTMAS PARADE AND SANTAFEST When: Dec. 7. Where: Cleveland. Contact: 281-592-8786 Admission: free Many visitors to this festival come as Santa Claus to participate in SantaFest - a contest for the best-dressed Santa. The winner will be announced during the parade. There will also be arts and crafts, entertainment and food. HARBOR LIGHTS When: Dec. 7 Where: Corpus Christi Contact: 361-985-1555; www.harborlightsfestival.com. Admission: free. The highlight of this 22nd annual festival will come when night falls. An illuminated boat parade will be held at Corpus Christi Marina, followed by a fireworks display. Other attractions will include a children's parade, a children's activity area, live entertainment, an appearance by Santa Claus, a laser show, a gingerbread and holiday tree village, and the lighting of a 75-foot tree. SAM HOUSTON'S CHRISTMAS IN HUNTSVILLE When: Dec. 7 Where: Huntsville. Contact: 936-294-8019. Admission: free. Holiday activities will happen at various places in Huntsville. There will be historical demonstrations at the Sam Houston Memorial Museum. The Coloneh Story Tellers will tell Texas Christmas stories 10:30-11:30 a.m. at the Huntsville Public Library, and downtown will offer arts and crafts, vendors, food, entertainment, a petting zoo and Western wagon rides at the Cabin on the Square. Festivities will end with a Christmas parade, the lighting of the downtown square and a performance of the play Gone to Texas. A PIONEER CHRISTMAS When: Dec. 7. Where: Independence Contact: 888-273-6426 Admission: $8 adults; children ages 12 and younger free. Docents will re-enact a pioneer Christmas at Coles Settlement. Visitors can string popcorn, meet an early-Texas Santa, take a carriage ride and shop at the Pioneer Market. PEARL HARBOR CEREMONY When: Dec. 7. Where: 3527 Battleground Road, San Jacinto Battleground in La Porte. Contact: 281-479-2431 Admission: free. A ceremony conducted by the Texas Commandery of the Naval Order of the United States will take place on board the battleship Texas to honor members of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association The event will begin with an overflight of aircraft from the Confederate Air Force, and the Houston Brass Band will perform. A SIMPLE CHRISTMAS When: Dec. 7 Where: Brazos Bend State Park, Needville. Contact: 979-553-5101 Admission: adults $3, children 12 and younger free. Hayrides, historical interpretations, storytelling, a visit from Santa, a weenie roast, acorn pancakes and hot chocolate will create a holiday feeling, and a Clydesdale horse will appear. CHRISTMAS IN THE BIG THICKET FESTIVAL AND LIGHTED PARADE When: Dec. 7 Where: Silsbee. Contact: 409-385-5562 Admission: free. Along with Mr. and Mrs. Claus, there will be live entertainment, arts-and-crafts booths, children's games, an art exhibit, a Little Miss Christmas pageant, a cross-country run, a Pets on Parade contest, and horseshoe-pitching and fish-casting contests. The lighted parade will start at 6 p.m. DICKENS ON THE STRAND When: Dec. 7-8. Where: Galveston Contact: 888-425-4753; www.galveston.com. Admission: $10 in advance; $12 day of event. Free for children ages 6 and younger and for participants in full Victorian costumes. Advance tickets available at Kroger stores or by calling 409-765-7834. Galveston's Strand takes on the look of a Victorian cityscape, with costumed vendors, entertainers, bobbies, Beefeaters and the Queen. There will be parades, Victorian-inspired crafts and live entertainment. For kids there will be a petting zoo, snow on Dec. 8, pony rides and a Scrooge scavenger hunt. FESTIVAL OF TREES, HOLIDAY RECEPTION AND HOME TOUR When: Dec. 8 Where: Bay City. Contact 979-245-7502 Admission: $10 for home tour tickets. The Matagorda County Museum hosts an annual festival featuring trees decorated by local organizations. A reception with musicians also will take place, plus a museum-spon-sored Bay City home tour. CANDLELIGHT CHRISTMAS When: Dec. 14 and 21. Where: Washington-on-the-Brazos Contact: 936-878-2213 or 936-878-2214; www.birthplaceoftexas.com. Admission: $6 adults; $4 children; free for children 6 and younger. Barrington Living History Farm at Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historical Park invites guests to experience an 1850s Christmas at the home of Anson Jones, last president of the Republic of Texas. The home will be decorated with greenery and candlelight. There also will be caroling, wagon rides and storytelling. CHRISTMAS HOME TOUR AND TEDDY BEAR PARADE When: Dec. 14 Where: Chapell Hill. Contact: 979-836-6033, ext. 2, for tour; 979-277-1122 for parade. Admission: free. Visit four Chappell Hill historical homes, plus churches, a museum and the Rock Store. There will be refreshments and entertainment at Providence Baptist Church. Children will parade with teddy bears, and Santa and Rudolph will read children's stories. MANVEL'S COUNTRY CHRISTMAS When: Dec. 14 Where: Manvel. Contact: 281-630-0594. Admission: free. A live nativity scene, hayrides, free refreshments, pictures with Santa, a silent auction and snow will be among the attractions. Visitors are asked to bring canned food for the needy. MAGNIFICENT MEMORIES OPEN HOUSE When: Dec 14. Where: Beaumont Contact: 409-832-1906 Admission: free The McFaddin-Ward House will hold a holiday open house, with games, refreshments, entertainment and tours. CHRISTMAS IN HISTORIC MONTGOMERY AND HOME TOUR When: Dec. 14. Where: Montgomery Contact: 936-449-4960 Admission: $10 adults; $3 students. A 10 a.m. 25th-anniversary parade will precede a visit from Santa. The annual cookie walk will take place at Montgomery United Methodist Church at 2 p.m., and an arts-and-crafts show will be at the Montgomery Community Center. The home tour will be 4-8 p.m. COWBOY CHRISTMAS BALL When: Dec. 28. Where: Luckenbach Contact: 888-311-8990; www.luckenbachtexas.com. Admission: $10; free for children younger than 12 and adults older than 80. Families are invited to dress up in Western wear and dance to the music of Jim Earl and the Cadillacs, starting at 8 p.m. -END- ====================================================== This e-mail message is intended only for the personal use of the recipients(s) named above. If you are not an intended recipient, you may not review, copy or distribute this message. 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