Lone Star Travelers Blog

The largest lighted Christmas parade in North Texas steps out into the historic district of Grapevine Texas on Thursday December 4th, 2008 at 7PM.  The parade of lights showcases over 100 dazzling floats accompanied by holiday music as the many marching bands pass by.  The parade of lights begins at Main and Vine Streets before it heads north on Main Street to Wall Street.  There is plenty of free parking available in the downtown vicinity.  On Saturday December 6th, 2008 as the sun sinks over Grapevine Lake the lighted boat parade begins it’s merry jaunt across the water from Scott’s Landing to Little Pete’s.  The floating flotilla may be viewed from any of the lake’s parks.  Grapevine Texas is located in Tarrant County and is a suburb of both Fort Worth and Dallas Texas.  The city of Grapevine Texas lies adjacent to Grapevine Lake, a large reservoir impounded by the Corps of Engineers in 1952.  www.grapevinetexasusa.com

The City of Irving kicks off the holiday season with a Christmas Parade on Saturday December 6th, 2008 at 4PM.  The parade winds through the Irving Heritage District and on down to Irving City Hall at 825 W. Irving Blvd for the 6PM tree lighting ceremony.  The Irving Symphonic Band will entertain as well as local dance groups.  There will be a petting zoo for the kids, outdoor games and food and fun for all.  The evening wraps up with a fireworks show indicating the Christmas season is in full swing.  www.cityofirving.org

On Saturday November 29th, 2008 from 330PM-730PM the Fanthorp Inn Historic Site invites you to their holiday event Twilight Firelight.  Come out and visit the 1850’s stagecoach inn as it comes to life with music, poetry and living history.  Ride the stagecoach and wagon from the historic Grimes County Courthouse to the welcoming lanterns of the inn decked out in festive holiday garb.  The Fanthorp Inn State Historic Site is in Grimes County 30 miles southeast of Bryan College Station in the small town of Anderson Texas.  It is located in the Prairies and Lakes Region.

On Saturday November 29th, 2008 Garner State Park hosts their Holiday Open House.  From 10AM-5PM your hosts will be the Friends of Garner as they open the Visitor Center and encourage your Christmas purchases all the while serving refreshments of the season.  Garner State Park is located in Uvalde County, 76 miles west of San Antonio Texas in Texas Hill Country.  Garner State Park is the most popular park in Texas for overnight camping.  It draws crowds in the summer and on spring break for the nightly jukebox dances held at the pavilion.  

On Saturday December 6th, 2008 The Beeville Community Chorus will present their Christmas Concert in the chapel of the Spanish Colonial Mission at Goliad State Park, Espiritu Santo de Zuniga.  The Beeville Community Chorus performs both nationally and abroad.  The December concert at the historic mission has been performed to standing room only crowds for more than 12 years.   Goliad State Park is located just south of Goliad Texas on US 83 and 77A in the South Texas Plains Region.