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.

Cameron Park Zoo threw a baby shower this weekend - not for a celebrity, but for Mei the orangutan. Expecting her third baby in mid-January, Mei received gifts from visitors and even had a cake featuring her own face, setting a high bar for maternity celebrations. Zoo staff say orangutan births are always a highlight, thanks to the species’ intelligence and personality. The only surprise left is the baby’s gender - and judging by the party, everyone is perfectly happy to wait.

Firefighters in East Texas are reminding holiday decorators that a Christmas tree should sparkle - not combust. A simple demo showed the difference: a well-watered tree smoulders, while a dry one goes up in seconds, thanks to needles that have quietly turned into kindling. Experts advise buying green, flexible trees, watering them daily and keeping them well clear of candles, fireplaces and faulty lights. The takeaway is festive but firm: one gallon of water is cheaper than rebuilding your living room.

Camp Mystic says it will reopen next summer with a new flood warning system, installing four river monitors at its Cypress Lake site to spot rising water before disaster strikes. The sensors, part of a wider network of 100 monitors along the Guadalupe River, use long-range LoRaWAN technology to flag dangerous conditions early. The move follows the catastrophic July floods that killed more than 100 people, including campers and staff from the site. It’s a sobering reminder that in Texas, “summer camp safety” now officially includes real-time river surveillance, not just sunscreen and supervision.

Round1 is officially opening its doors at Willowbrook Mall on December 20, complete with a ribbon-cutting at 10 a.m. and a former Sears space reborn as an entertainment hub. The Japan-born arcade chain brings more than 100 crane machines, classic arcade games, bowling, billiards and karaoke - plus pizza and wings, because high scores work better with snacks. With around 50 U.S. locations open or on the way, Round1 is still betting that malls and arcades can coexist in 2025. If nothing else, it’s proof that Sears may be gone, but the joystick lives on.

Laredo leaned fully into the holiday spirit this weekend with its annual Christmas parade, turning city streets into a midday celebration of music, smiles and seasonal cheer. Presented by the Texas Parade Association, the event drew local officials and plenty of families eager for a festive break. Mayor Victor Treviño made a particularly on-brand appearance, cruising the route in a red 1974 Corvette Stingray while handing out toys to children. Proof that in Laredo, Christmas arrives not just with carols - but with horsepower and goodie bags.

Golden Roastery has expanded its sweet ambitions, opening a second location in Houston’s Spring-Klein area on November 15. The Middle Eastern roastery serves Arab and Turkish treats, from roasted nuts and halal gummies to chocolates, coffee and Palestinian specialties. With in-store service and a sit-down dining area, it’s clearly aiming to be more than a quick sugar stop. Houston now has one more place where dessert comes with cultural flair - and strong coffee to match.

A 13-year-old in Lubbock is proving that holiday hustle doesn’t require a startup pitch deck - just hot cocoa and good intentions. William Huntsman runs a post-school stand selling cocoa, brownies and candied pecans to fund Christmas gifts and donate half his profits to Lubbock Impact, a local nonprofit. His best-selling brownies even come with a mission statement: when life’s rough, a brownie might help. In a season full of big promises, this eighth grader is quietly delivering warmth, sugar and actual impact - one cup at a time.

After 15 years and $8.7 million, Ardmore is finally cutting the ribbon on a new water treatment plant at its Industrial Airpark - proving that infrastructure really is a long game. The upgraded facility replaces an aging lagoon system that was struggling to meet environmental standards, a problem the city could only ignore for so long. Officials say the plant doubles wastewater capacity to 200,000 gallons a day, clearing the way for new businesses and jobs. As city leaders put it, serious growth starts with unglamorous basics - like clean water that actually meets the rules.

Facing a loss of about 300 students, College Station ISD is considering out-of-district transfers as a way to steady enrollment - and the funding that follows each student. The plan isn’t exactly open-door: applicants would need strong grades, near-perfect attendance, clean discipline records, and their own transportation. District leaders point to charter schools, homeschooling, and Texas’ new $1 billion voucher program as intensifying competition for students. For now, it’s just talk, but the message is clear - in today’s education market, districts can’t afford to wait politely for students to come back.

EōS Fitness has officially flexed into Cypress, opening a massive 40,000-square-foot gym that promises round-the-clock motivation - or at least access - starting at $9.99 a month. The new location packs in cardio and strength equipment, group classes, personal training, and a recovery lineup featuring cold plunges, hot tubs, infrared saunas and massage chairs. Open 24/7, it’s designed for early birds, night owls, and anyone who likes their workouts with a side of spa therapy. In short, Cypress residents now have no excuse - except, of course, willpower.

The Benjamin Knox Gallery is leaning fully into the holiday spirit with its Last Friday Before Christmas Holiday Market on December 19, offering last-minute gifts for anyone who procrastinates with artistic flair. Expect Santa photos, alpacas, live music, local vendors, and even a lovingly restored 1905 caboose - because nothing says Christmas quite like historic rail cars. The gallery will also debut new artwork, including Nutcracker-themed pieces supporting the ballet and a fresh tribute to Texas A&M’s football season. It’s free, festive, and conveniently designed to make holiday cheer - and shopping - feel far less stressful than the mall.

East Texas business owners Daniel and Cooper Nagore-Adams have donated 200 Build-A-Bears this Christmas, proving that comfort sometimes comes with stuffing and a stitched smile. Through their Beary Merry Christmas initiative, the bears will go to police, hospitals, and first responders to help children facing crises and trauma. What started seven years ago with just 10 bears has grown into the program’s biggest donation yet. A quiet reminder that in a season full of noise, a soft toy can still do some serious good.

Despite the usual panic over rising premiums, affordable health insurance is still very much alive in Texas for 2026. Millions of Texans-especially those earning under 200% of the federal poverty level-can still find $0-premium or very low-cost plans on the ACA Marketplace, complete with preventive care and basic services. While higher earners may feel the pinch if temporary subsidies expire, lower-income families remain well protected by federal tax credits and Texas’s pricing structure. In short, health insurance may not be getting cheaper, but it’s far from disappearing-contrary to the doom-filled headlines.

A family home in Wichita Falls has been transformed into a full-blown “Candy Land” light show, complete with over 500,000 lights and a homemade lift that took two years to actually work. Brandon and Tiffany Brown have spent more than a decade turning their front yard into a glowing spectacle, proving that trial and error is a perfectly valid engineering method at Christmas. What began as a personal holiday tradition has quietly become a community attraction for wide-eyed kids and nostalgic adults alike. The lights switch on every evening at 6 p.m., because apparently moderation is not part of the holiday spirit.

Bikeland has been quietly pedaling fitness and community in Shenandoah since 2004, offering high-end bikes for riders who take their two wheels seriously. Founded by lifelong cyclist Jeff Chaffin, the shop caters to everyone from road and mountain bikers to BMX fans, pairing premium brands with repairs, fittings, and unusually personal service. Chaffin logs about 5,000 miles a year himself and says cycling is as much therapy as exercise-which explains the shop’s loyal following. With weekly group rides and plans for expansion, Bikeland proves that in a world of big-box retailers, passion still beats mass production.