The East Texas Weekend Preview — If you’re looking for fun things to do in East Texas this weekend, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s our rundown of some fun things happening around the area!

If you know of another event, or see an inaccuracy below, please let us know here.

THURSDAY, 12/18

Christmas in the Park

When: 6pm-9pm
Where: Daingerfield State Park

Join us for our 12th annual Christmas in the Park event! Drive through the park to enjoy an evening full of lights and Christmas spirit Wednesday through Saturday! On Friday and Saturday, Santa will make his grand entrance in the park at 6 pm and will be at the day-use area beside the fireplace at the Historic Pavilion to visit with all the little ones. Enjoy a cup of hot chocolate and some cookies while you wait in line to talk to the big guy.

“The Best Christmas Pageant Ever”

When: 7:30pm
Where: Lamp-Lite Theatre, Nacogdoches

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. The Herdman kids (played by Maddox Gaona, Lydia Smith, Robert McDermand, Grayson Fos, McKenna Fos and Cadence Glazener) are absolutely the worst. They lie, they steal, they bully…and they’ve hijacked the town Christmas pageant. The story follows six siblings who sneak into church searching for snacks and walk away with the lead roles in the town pageant. Grace Bradley (played by Jessie Licht) is directing the performance for the very first time; she and her daughter, Beth (Holly Odom), and husband, Bob (Cristóban Morones), are less than amused. But the play’s mischievous stars might unwittingly teach a community the true meaning of Christmas.

FRIDAY, 12/19

Fireside Feast

When: 10am-3pm
Where: Starr Family Home State Historic Site, Marshall

Warm up with the smells and stories of a 19th-century holiday kitchen at Fireside Feast! Throughout the day, site staff will demonstrate the preparation of a traditional Victorian-era dish on the kitchen’s 1889 Grand Quaker woodburning stove. Guests are invited to drop in anytime to observe different stages of historic cooking in action, from fire tending and ingredient prep to simmering and serving. It’s a special chance to experience the rhythms of holiday foodways just as the Starr family might have had over a century ago.

Night-Time Candy Pour

When: 5pm-7pm
Where: Lindale Candy Company

Magic happens here all day long!!! Candy is being made by hand, the smell of peppermint is in the air, and memories are in the making. But when the sun goes down... the Christmas lights come on, the trees sparkle, and it becomes a whole different kind of Christmas magic

Christmas in the Park

When: 6pm-10pm
Where: Daingerfield State Park

A Charlie Brown Christmas

When: 7pm
Where: Stage Notes Academy of Performing Arts, Athens

Kick off your holiday season with a festive evening at the theatre! Visit with Santa for pictures and enjoy a special storytime with Mrs. Claus before joining Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang in their timeless journey to uncover the true spirit of Christmas. It’s a joyful celebration for audiences of all ages!

“The Best Christmas Pageant Ever”

When: 7:30pm
Where: Lamp-Lite Theatre, Nacogdoches

SATURDAY, 12/20

Family Fishing Day

When: 8am-4pm
Where: Elder Lake at Synergy Park, Kilgore

KEDC is excited to offer the public a special park access opportunity. We will once again partner with Texas Parks & Wildlife for the annual Rainbow Trout stocking at Elder Lake.

Tiny Thinkers - Let’s Talk About Trains

When: 9am-10am
Where: Gregg County Historical Museum, Longview

All aboard for a fun morning of learning and play! Join us at the Greene County History Museum for this week’s Tiny Thinkers session — all about TRAINS! We’ll explore how trains work, enjoy hands-on activities, and spark little imaginations with stories and fun! Perfect for curious kiddos and their grown-ups.

Breakfast with Santa 2

When: 9am-11am
Where: Bear Creek Smokehouse, Marshall

Santa told us a little secret.. he LOVES visiting Bear Creek General Store, especially during the holidays! We have our last Breakfast with Santa of this year happening Saturday, 12/20. Get your tickets now! Enjoy breakfast, storytime with Santa, and pictures

Dutch Oven 101

When: 9am-12pm
Where: Lake Tawakoni State Park, Wills Point

Join the Lake Tawakoni State Park Dutch Oven Group at the first parking lot on the left once a month to learn the basics or brush up on your skills! Using a Dutch oven, you can sauté, simmer, braise, sear, fry, and bake – if you can imagine it, you can make it! Without a doubt, a Dutch oven is the most versatile piece of camp cookware you can own. These cooking demos are sure to provide you with all the skills you need and give you a chance to sample some of the many things you can create in a Dutch oven!

Holiday & Christmas Market

When: 9am-12pm
Where: Nacogdoches Farmers Market

Celebrate the holidays and Christmas with all your favorite vendors at the Nacogdoches Farmers Market. The perfect place to last minute shop local for unique gifts for everyone on your list! Jewelry, soap, jams & jellies, baked goods of all sorts, skincare products, wine, meats and more!

Christmas Obstacle Horse Ride

When: 9am-2pm
Where: Foster Road Ranch, Mabank

Join us for our holiday decorated obstacle course! Plenty of photo ops and riding fun plus a covered and uncovered arena to work in! Don’t have a place to ride? Need a change of scenery? Want to come practice obstacles? Join us!!

Mistletoe & Margs Market

When: 10am
Where: The Platform Longview

Celebrate the season with shopping, sipping, and a whole lot of holiday cheer at Mistletoe & Margs — our small business holiday market at The Platform!

Holiday Crafts

When: 10am-11am
Where: Tyler State Park

Let’s get into the holiday spirit by learning how our animals make it through winter and making our own craft to take home!

Country Christmas Market

When: 10am-4pm
Where: Winnsboro Farmers’ Market

Y’all… this isn’t just a market, it’s a Christmas celebration at the AWARD-WINNING Winnsboro Farmers Market

Brick Builders

When: 11am
Where: Kurth Memorial Library, Lufkin

Unleash your creativity and watch your wildest ideas spring to life!

Christmas Extravaganza

When: 11am-4pm
Where: Rose City Birth Center, Tyler

Join us for a family-focused ALL DAY Christmas Extravaganza! ALL activities are FREE unless otherwise noted!! FREE photos with a North Pole Elf! FREE Christmas snacks!

Train Rider Fun

When: 11am-11pm
Where: Bralys Ace Hardware, Palestine

Riding the train this year? Well come to Bralys and make a keepsake wooden ornament for your tree to keep the memory forever! We also have a scavenger hunt through our historical school building available! Complete the Christmas Experience by browsing through our live tree lot and many gifts throughout the store!

ETXFS Presents ‘New Hollywood’

When: 11:45am
Where: The Historic Select Theater & Lake Country Playhouse, Mineola

Join us for our New Hollywood film series, running from August through December!

Special Needs Christmas Carnival

When: 2pm
Where: First Christian Church Kilgore

Step into the sparkle of the season with us! Our Special Needs Christmas Carnival is back — and it’s bringing all the joy, all the cheer, and all the Christmas magic. We’ll have crafts you can make, songs you can sing, activities to explore, and cookies to munch while you sip something warm. And yes… Santa himself is stopping by for FREE professional photos (he insisted!).

A Dickens Take: Narrated by the Spirit of Christmas

When: 3pm-5pm
Where: The Grand Empress Tea Room, Kilgore

Can you see the ghost of Scrooge in our window? Get your tickets early for our Dickens’ Tale: Narrated by the Spirit of Christmas. It’s sure to be a delightful event with a bit of audience participation, a light evening meal, Holiday flavored teas, and delicious desserts so much so that no one will be saying “ba humbug”, in downtown Kilgore, Texas

Santa Mini Train

When: 4pm-7pm
Where: Iron Horse Square, Mineola

All aboard the Santa Train at Iron Horse Square! Bring the kids and family to enjoy a magical ride where Santa Claus himself will be spreading holiday cheer. Take a festive train ride filled with twinkling lights, holiday spirit, and a special chance to meet Santa for photos and holiday wishes.

Brick Street Bar Crawl

When: 5pm-11pm
Where: Downtown Nacogdoches

Get ready to jingle and mingle through historic downtown Nacogdoches this holiday season! Join us for the merriest pub crawl of the year as we deck the halls (and the bars) with festive cheer. Don your ugliest Christmas sweater, wrap yourself in tinsel, or come dressed as your favorite holiday character as we hop from one local watering hole to the next. Experience the warmth and charm of Nacogdoches’ oldest town while sampling seasonal cocktails, craft brews, and holiday spirits at some of downtown’s best establishments. The Brick Street Bar Crawl promises an unforgettable night of laughter, libations, and local hospitality. You might even experience some spirited caroling! Grab your crew and meet us at any or all of the locations listed at the times below! This event is FREE and drinks are on your own! Please drink responsibly and coordinate a designated driver or ride home.

The Haywood Annual Christmas Show

When: 5:30pm
Where: The Haywood House Restaurant & Cocktail Bar, Jefferson

The Haywood House transforms into a warm and enchanting Christmas experience filled with music, laughter, and unforgettable holiday flavors.

White Elephant Christmas Party

When: 6pm-9pm
Where: Nacogdoches Cigar Co.

The party we wait for ALL YEAR is here! Join us for our Annual White Elephant Christmas Party at the lounge! Whether you’re a White Elephant veteran or a first-timer, this is THE party you don’t want to miss! Come celebrate the season with your cigar family!This is a FREE event (just bring your wrapped cigar for the exchange)!

Christmas in the Park

When: 6pm-10pm
Where: Daingerfield State Park

A Charlie Brown Christmas

When: 7pm
Where: Stage Notes Academy of Performing Arts, Athens

The Texas Tenors

When: 7:30pm
Where: Memorial City Hall Performance Center, Marshall

Billboard #1 recording artists, three-time Emmy Award winners, and 2022 Texas Country Music Hall of Fame inductees—The Texas Tenors are the most successful music group and the third highest-selling act in America’s Got Talent history. Beloved for their soaring vocals and holiday classics, they’ve also become fan favorites during the Christmas season.

Winter Warfare 12 - Pro Wrestling

When: 7:30pm
Where: League of Lions Wrestling, Marshall

Award winning professional wrestling, League of Lions proudly presents Winter Warfare. Come out and enjoy one of the best pro wrestling shows in Texas. Complete with a fully stocked concession stand and pick up some merchandise from your favorite wrestler. BYOB. Coolers welcome, NO GLASS BOTTLES.

“The Best Christmas Pageant Ever”

When: 7:30pm
Where: Lamp-Lite Theatre, Nacogdoches

SUNDAY, 12/21

Father Christmas at the Vineyard

When: 12pm-3pm
Where: Los Pinos Ranch Vineyards - Pittsburg, TX

Join us Sunday, December 21st from 12–3 PM for an afternoon filled with magic, photos, and plenty of holiday cheer. ✨We’ll be serving Christmas Pancakes and Hot Chocolate (the real cozy kind 😉) available for purchase. And parents—don’t worry—you’re absolutely welcome to wine with Father Christmas while the kiddos visit. 🍷🎅

“The Best Christmas Pageant Ever”

When: 2pm
Where: Lamp-Lite Theatre, Nacogdoches

Painting with Pints

When: 5pm-8pm
Where: Athens Brewing Co.

Join us for our Painting with Pints session! Our very own Parker Fincher will lead the painting session, and it will be Christmas Themed. This event will be on Sunday December 21 with an arrival time of 5:00 to get drinks and snacks before the painting begins. We are shooting for it to last about two hours from first brushstroke to the last, but are allowing extra time just in case. Two Drinks of your choice (Brew or Select Wine) and hors d’oeuvres are included with your ticket. The 10″ x 16″ Handcrafted, Real Walnut Canvas will be unique to each participate and a treasure to keep or gift around the Holidays! Limited tickets are available, so snag them or gift them while you can! Ticket sales through Thursday December 18!

The Haywood Annual Christmas Show

When: 5:30pm
Where: The Haywood House Restaurant & Cocktail Bar, Jefferson

The Haywood House transforms into a warm and enchanting Christmas experience filled with music, laughter, and unforgettable holiday flavors.

Power Wheel Parade 2025

When: 6pm-8pm
Where: Downtown Marshall, Texas

Get ready to light up the streets and spread some festive cheer! The 2nd Annual Power Wheel Parade invites children and families to decorate their Power Wheels and showcase their Christmas spirit in a fun and creative way. With trophies for Best Decorated, Most Original, and People’s Choice, this event brings holiday magic, friendly competition, and community togetherness to Marshall.

*All dates and information are subject to change. Contact us if there are changes to the schedule or if we left anything out

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Events Around East Texas This Weekend

THURSDAY, 12/18

FRIDAY, 12/19

SATURDAY, 12/20

SUNDAY, 12/21

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