It is my favorite time of year! I love the fall and lead up to Christmas. It all starts with BabyCoolJ’s birthday in September, our anniversary and pumpkin patches in October, my birthday and fall festivals in November….then DECEMBER! From Christmas events to gift exchanges, Santa sightings and holiday movies, our Christmas activity advent calendar and ultimately celebrating the birth of Jesus. I absolutely love Christmas!

It is our first Christmas in New Braunfels and I’ve curated an inclusive list of places you can catch Santa – and maybe Mrs. Clause or an elf!

All times/dates are subject to change from the time of publication.
Check your specific location before you head out!

Downtown Lighting & Santa’s Arrival

The annual Downtown Holiday Lighting is a must in New Braunfels! The free event rings in the holiday season on Friday, November 16th from 6-9pm with the arrival of Santa Claus beneath a hundred thousand twinkling lights in historic downtown New Braunfels.

Hang out with Santa & Mrs. Claus at Downtown Social

November 17: 1-5pm

Krause Clause at Krause’s Biergarten & Cafe

Santa will be making his debut early this year at Krause’s!

Catch him at one of the following dates through November 25:
November 16: 6-8pm
November 17, 18, 25: 11am-2pm
November 23: 11am-3pm and 6-9pm

Photos with Cowboy Kringle in Historic Gruene

Gruene’s exclusive Cowboy Kringle is back and he is snapping photos with everyone from the whole family – pets, too!

November 17, 23, 24: 10am-5pm
November 18, 25: 12-5pm
December 1, 8, 15, 21, 22: 10am-4pm
December 2, 9, 16: 12-5pm
  On December 1 & 2, enjoy the Christmas Market Days. On Saturday, experience the Annual Town Lighting as Cowboy Kringle rides into town at 6pm.

Santa Clause is coming to D&D

Visit with Mr. & Mrs. Claus at D&D Outfitters on November 23 & 24 from 2-4pm.

Photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus

Stop by for sleigh photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus at Red Stag on November 24 from 11:30am-2:30pm.

Similar: 20 things to do with your preschooler in New Braunfels

Festival of Trees

This family-friendly event features up to 7 1/2 ft fully decorated Christmas trees up for silent auction! It is free to attend and purchased trees will benefit Comal County Senior Citizen’s Foundation and Central Texas Advocates For Seniors Organization. In addition to live music, Santa will be available for selfies daily from 4-7pm. Event runs November 27-30.

Christkindlmarkt

Visitors will enjoy a German inspired open air Christmas market complete with food, drinks, craft beer, Gluehwein, German music, singing and dancing at this vendor and artisan fair. The history of Christmas markets go back to the Late Middle Ages in the German speaking part of Europe where markets called Nikolausdult were held. Santa & Mrs. Claus will be photo-ready (but bring your own camera) on November 30 from 5-9pm.

Swim with Santa at Das Rec

Yup, you read that right. Santa brings it Texas style! Dive into the holiday season with Santa at the Das Rec Pool on December 1. Grab your suits and your camera and bring the entire family for a chance to swim with the big man himself! After a jolly good swim, decorate a mini stocking to hang up at home. Hot chocolate and candy canes will be provided.

Photos with Santa at New Braunfels Candle Company

Snap a photo with Santa on December 1 from 10am-3pm.

Story Time at The Pomegranate

Story time just got a whole lot more exciting with this special sighting! Join Santa and The Purple Chair on December 5 at 10:30am.

Wassailfest

Wassailfest celebration will be held on December 6 from 6-9pm, and features food, shopping, wassail sampling and entertainment. Stroll through the streets of Downtown New Braunfels sipping warm wassail and see what local merchants have to offer! Rumor has it that Santa & Mrs. Claus will be hanging out at Downtown Social, so don’t forget to stop by!

McKenna’s Merry Celebration

On December 8, McKenna Children’s Museum will stay open after hours for a very special visitor! This museum-wide event will include: an exclusive meet & greet, interaction and photo-op with Santa and Mrs. Claus! Plus holiday themed crafts, Christmas games and holiday treats.

Dinner with Santa at Chick-fil-A!

Even Santa loves making a CFA pit stop while he’s out visiting with the kiddos! Grab dinner with Santa at Chick-fil-A at WestPointe Village on December 7th and 19th from 6:30-8pm

A Very Family Christmas

Time with Santa & Mrs. Claus

Santa & his Mrs. will be back at Downtown Social on December 15 from 4-7pm.

Similar: Planning your New Braunfels date night

Craft ‘n Flick with Saint Nick

Bring your camera and snap a photo with Saint Nick himself! Enjoy snacks, crafts and cookie decorating, plus a merry train ride through Landa Park with a special stop for the movie Polar Express. Event will be held on December 22 at 5pm.

Santa & Mrs. Claus Photo Op

Head on over to Uwe’s Bakery for some last minute Santa photos on December 22 from 10am-12pm.

Here are a few extra Santa Sightings near New Braunfels:

Bulverde Christmas Lighting: November 23, 5:30-9:30pm

Santa’s Arrival, San Marcos: November 28, 4:30-6pm

Seguin Sip n’ Stroll: November 30, 5:30-8:30pm

Paint with Santa, Seguin: December 8, 1-3pm

Windcrest Santa Open House: December 14, 6:30-9pm

And a few bonus festivities!  Not quite a Santa sighting, but worth the visit…

Breakfast with the Grinch
On December 15, The Green One himself will be posing for pictures!  Get your camera (and belly) ready for a delicious brunch, photo ops and Grinch-themed crafts.

Santa’s Ranch
Pack up your vehicle with family & friends to enjoy this amazing holiday light exhibit. Drive through over a mile of winding country roads while taking in the beautiful lights and animated Christmas displays.

Winter Wonderland at the Circuit
The 2nd annual Winter Wonderland will transport guests of all ages to a world of wonder, offering a completely new, immersive and captivating experience that includes Tunnel of Lights, Santa’s Workshop, COTA Express Train Rides, Santa Portraits, Camel Rides and much more.

Dickens on Main
A weekend long celebration of activities for kiddos, live performances, horse-drawn carriages, food merchants and more. Dickens on Main transforms Boerne’s historic Hill Country Mile into a vintage winter wonderland, complete with snow on Main Street, ice sculpture shows, photos with Santa, a 60-foot snowslide and holiday shopping.

Zoo Lights
San Antonio Zoo is transformed to be Merry & Bright and Wild at Night! Open daily November 17 – December 31, Zoo Lights is a holiday tradition for the whole family. Stroll under an array of twinkling lights while you sip hot cocoa, roast s’mores, ride camels and enjoy the Lakeside Lightshow.

Sights & Sounds
Every year this family-friendly Christmas festival brings the holiday spirit to San Marcos! Festivities include a carnival, live performances, town of Bethlehem, pony rides and visits from Santa. All events take place amidst a sea of beautiful Christmas lights spread throughout the park.

Hometown Holiday Christmas Parade
For the third year, this new New Braunfels tradition is sure to brighten any local’s holiday. Join the NB Christmas Committee on December 1 for an event that helps support local businesses, creates exciting memories, brings families together and embraces the holiday spirit.

Anyone else super excited to hit up some Christmas events already? Share your favs below – and feel free to share Santa family photos over on my Facebook page. I’d love to see ’em!