13 Reasons To Visit Fredericksburg TX At Christmas
Have you ever wondered why your friends, coworkers, or neighbors keep returning to Fredericksburg, TX, around Christmas?
The German Christmas Pyramid may be the number one attraction, but Fredericksburg at Christmas is more than that. There are Christmas lights, a parade, shopping, ice skating, and more.
Now, let’s take a look at what the city has for visitors during Christmas.
Note: Check the Fredericksburg CVB website for an update on events for this year.
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I make commissions from purchases made through those links at no extra cost to you. Please read my Privacy Policy for more info. Appreciate your support.
13 Reasons To Visit Fredericksburg TX At Christmas
Here are the reasons why people enjoy visiting Fredericksburg, Texas, during the Christmas holiday.
1. Christmas starts early in Fredericksburg
One time, I went to Fredericksburg the weekend before Thanksgiving.
Surprisingly, the town was already glistening with Christmas lights and decorations.
Driving or strolling down the main street gave me a feeling that Christmas was just around the corner.
Additionally, there is a Christmas Store in town that is open year-round. One of my favorite stores that I always visit while in town.
It also means you can come as early as before Thanksgiving to experience Christmas in Fredericksburg.
2. German Christmas Pyramid and Christmas Tree
The German Christmas Pyramid is the number one attraction during Christmas in Fredericksburg.
It is the tallest outdoor Christmas Pyramid in the country, standing at 26 feet.
This pyramid was entirely handcrafted in Germany and shipped to the town in 2009.
Be sure to visit both during the day and at night when it’s lit.
A few yards from the pyramid is the town’s 30-foot Community Christmas Tree. It’s enormous, and just walking around the tree makes you feel the holiday cheer.
One year, it was the background for our family Christmas card.
Address: 100 W Main St.
3. Eisbahn Outdoor Ice Skating
Skating in Eisbahn has been an annual family tradition for many people since 2008.
The rink may not be big, but it attracts many skaters from local communities and out-of-town visitors.
Tickets are valid for a day, so you can return if you leave for lunch.
You can always buy something from the nearby concession stand, which sells pizza, hot chocolate, sodas, and candies.
Find the Eisbahn in the Kinderhalle Pavilion in the Marktplatz, slightly behind the Vereinz Kirche.
4. Christmas shopping
Some described Fredericksburg as a shopping retreat. I couldn’t agree more with so many stores and boutiques lining the main street from one end to the other.
You can find everything here, from furniture to antiques, children’s toys to women’s apparel, handmade jewelry to high-end western wear and boots. You can even find something for your furry babies.
Christmas shopping in Fredericksburg is a lot of fun!
5. Christmas lighting and parade
Fredericksburg holds its annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on the Friday following Thanksgiving. It is a free event with lots of festive music and kid-friendly activities.
Santa will be there. So, don’t forget to take pictures with him (use your camera/cell phone) and enjoy the free cookies, hot chocolate, and bottled water.
The following Friday is the city’s Light The Night Christmas Parade. It runs down Main Street, and there’s a free celebration at the Marktplatz with various meals, local wines, holiday shopping, and family entertainment.
Santa and Mrs. Claus will also make an appearance. Another opportunity to make the annual family tradition: pictures with Santa!
6. Wine Crawl
Do not miss the Christmas Wine Affair, which takes place every December.
When you acquire your passport, the participating wineries will provide free on-site wine tastings and a 15% discount when you buy three or more bottles.
It’s the right time to purchase wines for Christmas dinners with family or coworkers.
7. Deck the Halls
Saturday after Thanksgiving is about learning how early Texans got ready for the holidays at the Sauer-Beckmann Farm.
You will string popcorn and decorate cookies to hang on their Christmas Tree.
Moreover, the farm staff will show you how to make wreaths from local cedar and how to dip candles.
Everything is free for you to enjoy.
Address: 501 State Park Rd 52, Stonewall, in the Lyndon B. Johnson State Park & Historic Site.
8. A Ranger Christmas
On the first Saturday in December, it’s time to meet Cowboy Santa at Ranger Camp.
You will enjoy complimentary wagon rides, cookies, hot chocolate, and more, all provided by the Texas Rangers Heritage Center at Fort Martin Scott.
Address: 1618 E. Main St.
9. Der Singende Weihnachtsbaum (Singing Christmas Tree)
How fun to watch the 30-foot-tall “singing Christmas tree” performing Christmas favorites. Free activity for the public at the Pioneer Museum grounds.
Address: 325 W. Main St.
10. Luckenbach Christmas Bazaar
At this event, you will celebrate the birthday of Hondo Crouch, the self-proclaimed Mayor of Luckenbach.
Enjoy holiday shopping, Christmas music performed in Luckenbach style, and watch the lighting of the Luckenbach Christmas tree.
Santa will be there.
It is a fun, free weekend for the whole family, taking place on the first Saturday of December.
Address: 412 Luckenbach Townloop.
11. The Christmas Journey
The Christmas Journey is a 10-minute drive-through experience that brings Christmas stories to life. It features various scenes adorned with special lighting, music, and effects. You will encounter real people and animals, along with beautifully hand-painted props.
This event is a Christmas gift from the Bethany Lutheran Church to the neighborhood.
Address: 110 W. Austin St.
12. Santa’s Fly-in
Santa also arrived by plane in Fredericksburg.
Do not forget to snap a modern photo with Santa and his aircraft at the Gillespie County Airport.
Take in some goodies and hot beverages while listening to festive music.
Address: 191 Airport Rd.
13. LBJ Christmas Tree Lighting
The President and Mrs. Johnson launched this unique tradition more than 50 years ago.
Join the Texas Hill Country community for this free event, where you may take in the carolers, a real nativity, Santa Claus, refreshments, and, of course, the tree lighting.
Do not forget to visit the Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm while you’re here.
Address: 199 State Park Road 52, Stonewall.
Now, it’s time for you to experience Christmas at Fredericksburg. You will love it!
My family and I enjoy revisiting the city at any time because there are so many things to do in Fredericksburg, Texas.
When visiting during the Christmas holiday, you can fit in a visit to the Enchanted Rock, too.
We stayed at different campgrounds and hotels. Book the campground or the hotel where we stayed with our dog during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.
I had no idea that Fredericksburg is such an exciting place. Christmas Pyramid looks great. It’s impressive that it is 26-foot-tall. I love those moving wooden figurines. I like the idea of Outdoor Ice Skating. This city is worth visiting for sure!
It’s one of the best places for weekend getaway in Texas. It’s also Texas Wine Country, the second-largest wine region in the country. 🙂
I really love Fredericksburg and the surrounding area. We just back from our Thanksgiving Break there. I hope to visit Leavenworth one day.
I never knew about this town, but it definitely looks like a must visit place during Christmas. I would like to enjoy Christmas pyramid and would love to see Mrs. Clause, as I was unaware that one existed. It seems the place has a carnival kind of vibe to it, which makes it more interesting to visit. Bookmarking it for future.
Yes, you should! You will love it here.
Wow. I never heard of this town before, but I have been wanting to visit Helen, GA for its German culture. I will have to add Fredricksburg to my bucket list.
I just love the German Christmas Pyramid! I think we might’ve had one when I was young, or maybe my grandparents did. Fredericksburg also reminds me a lot of Leavenworth, a small town in Washington State with a strong German vibe that always goes all out for Christmas every year. Was it warm this time of year, or this is in part of TX that gets chilly winters?
Actually you don’t need a winter jacket here. A hoodie is enough.
I never realised that there was a Germantown in American but it makes sense with a name like Fredericksburg. I do like that they stick with Germany tradtional and have christmas markets like in Germany, especially having the Christmas Pyramid. I also like that Santa arrives via airplane. Sounds like a great place to visit during the festive season.
There are towns all over America that still keep the traditions from where they came from. Fredericksburg is not the only Germantown in Texas. There are Boerne, a few miles from Fredericksburg, Muenster in North Texas, and several others.
The feeling is just different when you are in Fredericksburg during Christmas. Specially with the pyramid in front of the Vereinz Kirche.
Fredericksburg seems like such a pretty place to visit during Christmas. I love visiting these places that have so much character of their own. I have added this to my list and also the things to do. I would love to see that pyramid and the huge Christmas tree someday.
I really visiting Fredericksburg during Christmas holiday. It’s one of the best Christmas town in Texas. Hope you can make it here one day.
I didn’t know Fredericksburg has a German connection… It’s so nice to see that this background is honored at Christmas. The tradition of decorated Christmas trees comes from Germany so it makes sense for Fredericksburg to have such a sizeable one!
Fredericksburg is one of the few Germantown in the Texas Hill Country. The German Pyramid is the biggest outdoor one in the U.S.
I would love to see Santa arrive in an airplane. He does generally fly in! Are all the activities happening this year? We all need some holiday spirit. I have even heard people saying that they will do things early to have more time to have the Christmas spirit this year.
Some of the events are still on, but like singing Christmas Tree won’t happen this year.
Fredericksburg sounds like the perfect place to celebrate Christmas. I love that they start early. As much as premature Christmas decorating seems to bother some people, if you ask me you can’t start to soon! The Light The Night Christmas Parade sounds lovely and the Deck the Halls event at the farm sounds like a lot of fun. Seeing the singing Christmas tree would be pretty neat to.
I like looking at Christmas lights and decorations, too. After all, if they wait until after Thanksgiving, then you only have slightly more than 3 weeks before Christmas for displaying them. 😉
I have to admit that I had not heard of Fredericksburg before reading your post but seems like a nice place to visit. The perfect excuse for Christmas lovers like myself is for the Christmas market. Great Post.
I’ve never heard of Fredericksburg, but it looks like getting a taste of the European Christmas markets here in the U.S.! Love it. My favorite is spiced mulled wine, but ice skating and a parade also sound fab!
The Christmas Pyramid makes the difference for sure.
I had not heard of Fredericksburg. But I now understand why it is such a big draw for Christmas. I would love to see the biggest Christmas Pyramid in the country! Sounds like a good plan to visit for the Night Christmas Parade. And then plan to cross off a few things on your shopping list. After all of that a wine crawl would be just what I wanted. I guess it is that time of year to start thinking of Christmas. Thanks for the nudge!
Yes! This town is the right place for you as you like visiting wineries. Don’t forget to stop here when you find yourselves in Texas.
Thanks for this post, Umiko! What’s your take about safety in Fredericksburg? Is it safe? I have some friends who told me that there are violent crimes happening there? Is this true? I would rather hear it from someone who’s been there so I really appreciate if you can share your personal experience regarding safety. Thanks a lot!
I’ve never heard about it, but I always felt safe every time we went there. Stores closed at 6, and what’s left open are the restaurants. So, the Main Street is pretty empty after the stores closed. I hope this will help.
This is definitely on my to do list! but I haven’t done any research yet. Great article! Now I know what we will do if we ever make it there.
I think you don’t need more research. You’ve found everything here. 😉