Feeling festive? Here's winter and holiday events throughout December in Wichita Falls
Feeling festive? Here's winter and holiday events throughout December in Wichita Falls
MSU-Burns Fantasy of Lights
Nightly through Dec. 26 from dusk until 10 p.m., 3410 Taft Boulevard. The Fantasy of Lights has been a Wichita Falls’ tradition for decades. It first began at the Burns’ family home in the 1920s and lighted displays moved to the MSU Texas campus in 1974. There are 50 animated, lighted displays with a total of 20,000 lights. More than 200,000 visit the event each year.
ElectriCritters: A Lighted Christmas Display!
Open Fridays and Saturdays 6:30-8:30 p.m. through Dec. 23. Entry is free for everyone. Be amazed at the more than 200 lighted displays featuring over 60,000 lights. Visit the nature gift shop for holiday shopping and other goodies. Located at River Bend Nature Center, 2200 3rd St. near the entrance of Lucy Park.
Dec. 8 Life Church drive-thru Nativity
Free drive-through nativity at Life Church, 4350 Seymour Hwy. Live characters and animals depicted with a scriptural guide telling this story. Dec. 8, 6-8 p.m.
Dec. 8, 7 p.m. Iowa Park Lighted Christmas Parade
Iowa Park Volunteer Fire Department Lighted Christmas Parade. Parade, line up will begin at 6:40 p.m. and start time is 7 p.m. This year’s theme is “Christmas through the years.” The parade will escort Santa Claus through downtown Iowa Park to the library for pictures and snacks.
Dec. 8-9 and Dec. 15-16 A Christmas Carol: The Musical
Dec. 8-9 and Dec. 15-16 at The Wichita Theatre, 919 Indiana Ave. Join us for the classic tale of A Christmas Carol, told in musical form. Follow along as Ebenezer Scrooge goes through his past, present and future to learn the true meaning of Christmas. Get tickets at the Wichita Theatre website.
Dec. 9, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Craftsman Market at the Wichita falls Farmers Market, 807 Austin
Show your support for all our local craftspeople! Live music from 10 a.m. to noon by Bryson Lawrence. Toys for Tots donation drop-off. Shop dozens of vendors selling locally produced food, jewelry, dog apparel, wine, ceramics, candles, salsa and more.
Dec. 9 Texoma Cowboy Church: Christmas in the Arena
Dec. 9 6-8:30 p.m. 919 US -281 Our annual event celebrating the season. Its free to all. There will be horseback riding, a petting zoo, live nativity scene, games, giveaways, fellowship, and more!
Dec. 9 Ugly Sweater cupcake decorating studio, Sweet 102
Sweet 102, 1914 10th, 4 p.m. The Ugly Sweater Cupcake Decorating Studio has returned! Each station will be supplied with mini cupcakes, assorted colored buttercream, sprinkles, piping bags, piping tips, take home box. Tickets: https://www.sweet-1020.com/
Dec. 9-10 The Big Christmas Expo
Dec. 9-10 at the Wichita Falls Multi-Purpose Events Center. Tickets are $10 each. This family-friendly event features free photos with Santa, a story time with Mrs. Claus and local and nationwide businesses offering their latest in fashion, crafts, goodies and beauty items. Be sure to visit the Christmas Village with various prized and other surprises.
Dec. 10 Handel’s “Messiah”
With the MSU Choir and FUMC Choir. 3 p.m. Sunday at the First United Methodist Church, 1001 Travis.
Dec. 12, 14 Christmas Lights Trolley Tours
Dec. 12 at 6 p.m. and Dec. 14 at p.m. The tours will begin with hot chocolate and cookies with Santa at the Recreation center, 600 11th St., second floor. Then the city trolley will take the group through the Fantasy of Lights display and tour through the Country Club area lights. The entire event will be approximately one hour. Tickets are $7 per person.
Dec. 16 Miracle on Austin Street Christmas Market , 807 Austin
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4-8 p.m. Sat. Dec. 16. Lots of free activities and treats for children and families. Free photos with Santa, candy canes and hot chocolate. Make a pine ornament and participate in the Elf on a Shelf scavenger hunt. Music by Daniel Boyd, free silent auction for a Christmas Basket. In the afternoon market, bring letters for Santa and place in the mailbox, wear your best ugly Christmas sweater, get reindeer food for Santa’s reindeer, and visit Santa’s Café for a snack.
Dec. 14 River Bend Nature Center: Thursday Nature Program: Jingle all the way
4-6 p.m. Children can make nature ornaments and instruments to celebrate the season. All ages welcome and the program is free. https://app.joinit.com/o/river-bend-nature-center
Dec. 15, 3 p.m. Two Turtle Doves Date Night
Horseshoe Bend Cellars Vineyard, 3399 Peterson Rd. S, Iowa Park
Two dinner packages to choose from including wine selections, a rose and box of chocolates, bottle of wine and charcuterie board. Get tickets at the Horseshoe Bend website.
Dec. 16 City Lights Parade and Festival, Downtown Wichita Falls Development, Inc.
This 31st annual City Lights Parade will come to town this year with a Dr. Seuss theme. Parade begins at 7 p.m. at Travis and 8th. It will travel down 8th, turn at Ohio and then go up 9th to the First Baptist Church. Parade entries limited to 100, 30 spots for decorated vehicles. Prizes for best floats. Santa Land will be at the "Whoville" park at Park Central, 8th and Scott 4-6:30 p.m. Games in the park 4-7 p.m. "Mt. Crumpit Market" will be at the Wichita Falls Farmers Market 4-9 p.m for holiday shopping, cocoa, s'mores and food trucks. Limited vendor spots available at three locations.
Dec. 16 River Bend Nature Center: Science Saturday: Animal Adaptations
Learn how our furry friends adapt to the cold each winter. Explore frosty habitats, go on a scavenger hunt and create a winter den. General admission is $6 and children age 1 or under get in for free. Program is free with general admission.
Dec. 16 Nature Tots: Star Dust
Winter Wonders: 10:30-11:30 a.m., River Bend,. 2200 3rd St.,
Read chilly stories, explore signs of winter, see what happens to plants in the frost, make a snowman.
For ages 2-6. Program free with general admission. General admission is $6 per person, children 1 year or younger get in for free.
Dec. 18 6-8 p.m., Wine and Paint Night: Christmas Highland Cow
Join Tiffany with the Everyday Monet to learn how to paint this festive creation. Tickets include one glass of wine by Horseshoe Bend Cellars Vineyard & Cellars (soft drinks can be substituted). All supplies included. No outside adult beverages allowed. No refunds within 48 hours before event. Tickets $31.95 per person.
If you know of other seasonal events this month that are not listed let us know my emailing information to ckowalick@gannett.com.
Dec. 22 7 p.m. The Grand Ol' Christmas Show, The Wichita Theatre
This one-of-a-kind musical variety show brings all-time Christmas classics and original sketches with comedy antics to the Texas stage. Originally produced by The Grand Ol' Production Company by Will Hearn. Get tickets at The Wichita Theatre website.
If you know of other December seasonal events not listed, email information to Claire Kowalick at ckowalick@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Feeling festive? Here's winter and holiday events in Wichita Falls
