No one does a ‘Hallmark’ Christmas like Fredericksburg with its annual Yule festivities

What a difference three decades makes. Organizers of the first Christmas parade, held here in 1994, remember there were four parade entries that year. Those floats went around Market Square twice and that was that.

Fast forward to 2025, and thousands of people — more than 15,000 by many estimates — will line Main Street and crowded Marktplatz to watch a parade that seems to have miles and miles of float entries. (Entries are capped at 160!) And those crowd numbers rival the largest and busiest events hosted here.

The Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce produces the parade with lots of assistance from — as with most great events — tons of volunteers.

Let’s not forget the city employees who put out Christmas lights by the thousands and hang Christmas wreaths down the main thoroughfare. Gillespie County add to the season with their own event on Thursday, featuring school choirs, and we encourage all to attend that as well.

For the past several years, CBS Austin has streamed the event to households in the capital, giving that market a taste of small-town Americana.

With the large crowds and festive atmosphere around the light-wrapped trees on our town’s historic square, Fredericksburg shows Central Texas its substantial Christmas cheer.

Following the parade, the AfterGlow event on Marktplatz will showcase more unique things about this special town.

And the previous week has seen more show up for the “Nights of Lights” illuminating of Marktplatz, spearheaded by the Fredericksburg Convention and Visitor Bureau.

Fredericksburg combines holiday decor, German traditions and about five weeks or more of holiday entertainment to give locals and visitors more than a few reasons to celebrate Christmas cheer in town. The 30-foot Christmas tree, a 26-foot German Christmas pyramid and Eisbahn skating rink anchor the festivities, augmented by the ever-present Main Street shopping environment and, of course, wine and beer to add to the jovial atmosphere.

Visitors to town frequently note the local events as “a Hallmark moment.” So it’s no wonder that Fredericksburg was recognized as one of the “Best Small Towns for Christmas in the South” by Southern Living magazine.

The publication highlighted the town’s “old-fashioned celebrations,” “nostalgic downtown shopping” and “no shortage of activities for the whole family to enjoy.”

Everyone involved, from those early organizers to the Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce staff and volunteers, to the city crews who string lights and assemble the attractions, deserves big kudos.

Fredericksburg has many blessings to count, and our growing Christmas attractions adds to them. It should also go without stating that the “reason for the season” can be found in the many displays, services and events being hosted by churches all over the town. We encourage you to attend and reflect.

Merry Christmas und Fröliche Weihnachten. — K.E.C.