Christmas in Fredericksburg Flavored by Gemütlichkeit

      Flavored by gemütlichkeit, which is the German term for cozy, comfortable, warm, inviting and hospitable, the Christmas holidays are a favorite time to visit the charming town of Fredericksburg, located in the heart of the Texas Hill Country.

       The holiday season officially kicks off on the Friday evening after Thanksgiving when thousands of white lights outlining the historic buildings along Main Street are illuminated for the first time, creating a storybook setting for the restaurants, art galleries, wine tasting rooms, museums and boutiques that line the street.  Main Street is the perfect place for shopping and dreaming of gifts that St. Nicholas will bring.

      In addition, the Marktplatz, or the town square, is transformed into a holiday wonderland with lighted figurines which are a hit with kids and adults alike.  The lights are on every evening through New Year’s Eve.  

      On Friday, December 2, the Community Lighted Christmas Parade will draw a large crowd to Main Street at 6:30 p.m. to see vehicles of every description decked out for the holidays --- not to mention an occasional longhorn or llama sporting twinkling lights as well.    

                 Weihnachten in Fredericksburg (A Christmas Market and Festival) runs from Friday, December 2 through Sunday, December 4, at the Marktplatz.  A Christmas Tree Forest, tons of activities for kids, live entertainment, shopping and authentic German foods create a festive holiday mood right in the heart of town.

     Kinderfest, a party held at the Pioneer Museum Complex on Saturday afternoon, December 3, strives to keep alive the German Christmas customs for the children of the community as well as visiting kids.

     A newer addition to the holiday scene is the Holiday Wine Trail, scheduled for December 2-4 and 9 -11.  Wineries throughout the Hill Country Region are open for tasting and special holiday entertainment.  Within 20 minutes drive time of Fredericksburg, eight modern wineries are now in production.  Of course, the early German settlers carried on their wine-making tradition by harvesting wild mustang grapes they arrived in Fredericksburg in 1846.

      On the evenings of December 9 and 10, Bethany Lutheran Church, located downtown across from Marktplatz, presents The Christmas Journey, a drive-through presentation of live dioramas depicting the Christmas story.

      A unique opportunity to visit with the family of the late President Lyndon Baines Johnson is the Christmas Tree Lighting and Evening Tours at the LBJ Ranch Historical Park.  On Sunday, December 18, members of the Johnson family will gather, as they do every year, to meet and visit with neighbors and friends and officially light the

ranch Christmas Tree.  The Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm is decorated for an early 1900’s German Hill Country Christmas celebration and is open that evening for tours.

      Another highlight event every year for many Fredericksburg fans is the Christmas Home Tour, sponsored by the Gillespie County Historical Society.  Around a dozen homes and public buildings around the community are decorated for the holidays and open on the afternoon and early evening of Saturday, December 10 for a fee.

     Choral concerts, art and craft shows and dances round out the holiday calendar in Fredericksburg.

      For a free packet of visitor information to plan your holiday trip to Fredericksburg, call the Fredericksburg Convention & Visitor Bureau toll-free in the U. S. at or .  Visit the Chamber of Commerce web site at www.fredericksburg-texas.com.