Wichita Falls kicked off December with a glow-up of its own, showcasing more than 100 Nativity scenes from around the world - because why settle for one when you can have a global tour of mangers? Hosted by the local Latter-day Saints congregation, the event mixed international traditions, community musicians, and enough goodwill to make even the Grinch reconsider his life choices. Visitors said the display was a welcome reminder of the season’s meaning, while organizers emphasized unity, peace, and the fact that people aren’t actually as different as they think. Music filled the room, courtesy of local performers who seemed genuinely delighted to share their talents. And since the debut was such a hit, organizers are already dreaming of a bigger, even more community-packed version next year.

San Antonio’s beloved La Gran Tamalada is leveling up this year by inviting high school culinary students to join the tamal-making spotlight - because why should adults have all the masa-related glory? The long-running festival, which celebrates Mexican-American holiday traditions, is adding a student competition featuring everything from classic pork tamales to whatever creative masterpieces teens dream up (yes, even the jalapeño-cream cheese experiments). Organizers say the goal is to keep traditions alive and get young tamaleros off the eating sidelines and into the kitchen. With thousands expected at Market Square, attendees can sample student-made tamales, shop local vendors, and take part in hands-on workshops - all while kids craft corn-husk dolls and Play-Doh tamales. In the end, it’s less about who wins bragging rights and more about the community stories shared over steaming pots of masa.

Lights on the Lake returned to El Paso with enough twinkling bulbs to make the North Pole jealous, drawing crowds who apparently don’t mind freezing for holiday cheer. Opening night kicked off with a “Canine Paw-rade,” where dogs in costumes strutted around like they fully understood they were the stars of the show. Families gushed about bringing their pets, Christmas spirit, and general enthusiasm for anything that lights up. The big moment came when the crowd counted down to the grand switch-flip, illuminating the park in thousands of sparkling lights, because nothing says “holiday season” like collective awe at electricity. And yes, Santa himself pushed the button-because of course he did.

Sherman’s Snowflake Festival swept into town with enough holiday cheer to make even the Grinch consider shopping local. The square filled early with food vendors, craft booths, and a long line of kids waiting to tell Santa everything their parents definitely can’t afford. Local businesses praised the annual event for reminding residents that Christmas is the perfect time to spend money-preferably at their shops. One vendor said the festival’s charm comes from supporting hardworking neighbors, which, admittedly, pairs nicely with festive lights and baked goods. The night wrapped up with a parade featuring about 90 groups, proving Sherman knows how to turn “small-town holiday spirit” into a full production.

The Concord Rosenwald School in Rusk County just celebrated 100 years, marking a century since it opened in 1925 as the only modern school available to Black students in the area during segregation. Former students like Emmitt Leadon, one of just seven graduates in 1969, returned to honor a place he calls “home” - and to remind younger generations that history wasn’t always as comfortable as Wi-Fi and school-choice forms. Alumni say preserving the building matters deeply, especially for families whose roots in the community stretch back to ancestors who arrived there as slaves and later helped build its churches, schools, and infrastructure. Thanks to a $75,000 preservation grant, repairs are underway, but the vision is much bigger: a full museum dedicated to Black education and the community’s legacy. Now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the school is awaiting its historic marker - a long overdue nod to a story worth telling.

Bryan residents kicked off the holidays with a self-guided stroll through the East Side Historic District, where fourteen century-old homes put on their festive best for visitors. The walking tour mixed nostalgia with snacks, music, and the obligatory Santa sightings-because no holiday event is complete without a man in a red suit. Each house offered its own take on seasonal cheer, turning the neighborhood into a kind of open-air time capsule. Simple, cozy, and very on-brand for small-town holiday charm.

Symphony North of Houston is ringing in its 50th anniversary, proving that half a century of classical music can still shake up northwest Harris County. The volunteer orchestra-65 musicians who moonlight as teachers, engineers, lawyers, and bankers-keeps performances accessible by letting audiences pay what they want. Its signature Young Artist Concerto Competition continues to launch local prodigies, handing out scholarships and the coveted chance to perform with the orchestra. And for anyone who thinks classical music can’t throw a party, the group is hosting a gala right in the middle of its March 22, 2026 concert-because why wait until after intermission to celebrate 50 years?

A no-kill shelter in Dickinson is on a mission to give every dog and cat the ultimate holiday gift: a real home instead of a kennel. With adoption fees slashed to just $20 for the entire month of December, the shelter is practically begging people to take home a fully vetted, fixed, and even heartworm-treated furry roommate. Shelter director Nina Baker puts it simply: the only thing “wrong” with these animals is that no one has claimed them yet. And if clearing the shelter means pets and staff get to enjoy the holidays at home, that’s a win-win wrapped in tinsel.

The Fannin County Museum of History is showing off a charming cast-iron toy exhibit - a reminder of the era when toys doubled as hand weights. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, wooden playthings gave way to sturdier cast-iron versions, crafted by pouring molten metal into sand molds. By the 1940s, lighter materials arrived, and these miniature steel sculptures quietly retired. The exhibit runs through January, offering kids and adults a chance to admire toys from a time when “child-safe” wasn’t exactly part of the design brief.

Santa is gearing up for a very official-looking landing at the College Station airport - because why use a sleigh when you can file a flight plan? Brazos Valley Flight Services will clear the runway so families can snap photos with the big guy while sipping cocoa and loading up on cookies. They’re also collecting toys for the Toys for Tots drive, and every donation earns you a shot at winning a Discovery Flight - presumably not piloted by Santa. Catch Mr. Claus at Easterwood Airport on December 12 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., before he heads back to “prepare” for Christmas Eve.

ERCOT has signed off on a $9 billion plan to keep Texas powered - a modest sum, assuming you consider “small nation” a reasonable budget category. The Strategic Transmission Expansion Plan calls for building massive 765-kilovolt lines, essentially an electrical superhighway meant to push power more reliably across the state. The project will take five to six years, which in infrastructure time is practically overnight. The Public Utility Commission is already stressing transparency, promising to keep Texans informed about any “cost overruns” or “schedule slips” - two phrases that have never once appeared in a major project’s obituary notice.

The Farm Progress Show has been named TSNN’s 2025 B2B Show of the Year, highlighting its growing influence as a major hub for agricultural innovation. This year’s event drew 161,000 attendees and more than 500 exhibitors, featuring everything from precision ag technology to mental health resources and Women in the Field programs. Organizers say the award reflects their push to blend innovation, education, and community support in one massive outdoor showcase. The recognition was presented at IAEE’s Expo! Expo! in Houston, celebrating shows that set industry standards and deliver real impact. Farm Progress is already gearing up for its 2026 return in Boone, Iowa - with ambitions as big as the machinery on display.

Dallas City Hall’s annual Christmas Sweater Day returned with far less enthusiasm this year - a dip many blame on low morale, building-demolition debates, and a chaotic homelessness committee meeting that left council members in no festive mood. Still, the tradition marched on, complete with snarky fashion assessments: missed sweater deadlines, political statements, questionable sweatshirts, and a few bold attempts involving ornaments or sports mascots. Despite the underwhelming turnout, there were standouts, and after much dramatic deliberation, District 7’s Adam Bazaldua claimed the coveted (and entirely invented) Wick Allison Memorial Most Christmasy Christmas Sweater Award. His sweater was ugly, festive, hyper-local - and crucially, an actual sweater, unlike several competitors. Whether or not it lifts City Hall’s spirits, the contest at least delivered one thing: proof that holiday chaos remains alive and well in Dallas politics.

La Michoacana Meat Market is set to open a new Spring-Klein location on FM 1960, with a grand opening planned for December 14. The celebration will feature raffles, gift baskets, free food, and $25 gift cards for the first 100 customers - incentive enough to arrive early and hungry. Founded in 1986 by a Mexican immigrant family, La Michoacana has become a staple for fresh produce, marinated meats, and homestyle meals across Texas. The chain now operates 140 stores in major cities and smaller communities alike, and this new spot is its latest expansion.

Goldie, a dog rescued from an abusive Killeen home earlier this year, is finally healthy - and just in time to hope for a Christmas adoption. When she arrived at Killeen Animal Services, she was severely malnourished, losing fur, and suffering from painful Mange wounds. Thanks to lifesaving care from Jack Jacks Pack Street Dog Rescue in Austin, Goldie has made a remarkable recovery. After months of healing, she’s ready for a forever family who can give her the love she was once denied.

The Heard Natural Science Museum in McKinney is rolling out a holiday experience where twinkling lights, quiet nature trails, and, yes, dinosaurs all mingle like it’s the most normal thing in the world. Visitors can wander glowing paths, stumble upon life-sized dinos, and pretend this is exactly how winter has always looked in Texas. Live music fills the amphitheater-classic rock one night, festive tunes the next-while Santa drops by nightly to remind everyone who still runs December. Families can snap their perfect holiday photos, all while supporting conservation efforts that are decidedly less ancient than the dinosaurs on display. Tickets and details are online, with discounts for members who enjoy saving money almost as much as they enjoy prehistoric holiday cheer.

Santa and the Grinch apparently decided reindeer were overrated this year, swooping into Anthony High School by helicopter like a very cheerful rescue mission. Students watched the unlikely duo land on campus and immediately get to work spreading holiday cheer instead of their usual rivalry. About 200 kids received presents, proving that even the Grinch will play nice when there’s a crowd. And Santa? He didn’t seem to miss the sleigh one bit.

After 15 years of dazzling Southwest Austin, the Maywald Christmas Light Display is switching off for the final time. What began with a few strings of lights grew into a three-acre spectacle with 350,000 lights - and quietly raised over $380,000 for Make-A-Wish, granting more than 50 wishes along the way. The family says the decision comes down to time, tired grass, and finally wanting to enjoy Christmas like everyone else. The lights stay on until December 27, so this is your last chance to see a holiday tradition that proved bigger really can be better - and kinder too.

Laredo’s Health Department is reminding residents that boosting your mood doesn’t require a retreat or a guru - just a few small daily habits. At a free wellness event, mental health advocate Violet Detre promoted sunlight, movement, gratitude journals, and even a “happy alarm” to trigger feel-good thoughts before burnout sets in. The science lesson followed, with dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphins all getting their moment in the spotlight. The takeaway was refreshingly simple: mental health support can start with ten minutes, a playlist, and the decision to show up for yourself.

Austin’s annual Shop with a Cop event once again turned patrol cars into shopping carts, helping more than 100 children stock up on holiday gifts. Paired with police officers and handed about $150 each at Target, the kids shopped for themselves and their families - no sirens required. What began in 2006 as a small goodwill effort has grown into a citywide tradition that mixes generosity with community trust. It’s policing at its most festive, proving that sometimes the best way to build bonds is in the toy aisle.

Grand Central Station in Sherman once again played Santa’s helper, handing out donated toys to hundreds of local families at its annual holiday giveaway. Now a decade-old tradition, the event covered everyone from toddlers to teenagers - proving Christmas generosity doesn’t stop at age ten. Kids met Santa, families grabbed cookies, and the holiday spirit did the heavy lifting. The group isn’t done yet either, with a Christmas Eve meal planned next for those who need it most.