I love the fall and all the excitement that leads us up to Christmas. In fact, every December since Jericho was one-year-old we have made a 25 day advent activity calendar full of amazing holiday cheer! From Santa sightings, holiday movies, serving, Christmas festivals and ultimately celebrating the birth of Jesus, it is our family’s favorite time of year!
Last year I shared a list of Santa sightings in New Braunfels and it was a hit! So I’m sharing it once again – a long list of places you can catch Santa – and maybe Mrs. Clause or an elf – this 2019 Christmas season!
All times/dates are subject to change from the time of publication.
Check your specific location before you head out!
Photos with Cowboy Kringle
Historic Gruene
Gruene’s exclusive Cowboy Kringle is back and he is snapping photos with everyone in the family, including pets! Packages begin at $19.
Weekends beginning November 16 – December 22.
Saturdays, 10am-5pm
Sundays, 12-5pm
Friday November 29, 10am-5pm
Photos with Krause Klaus
Krause’s Biergarten & Cafe
Santa will be making his debut early this year at Krause’s! First photo is $10, reprints $5.
Catch him at one of the following dates through December 22:
November 16, 17, 23, 24, 29, 30: 11am-2pm
November 22: 4-9pm
December 1: 11am-2pm
December 5, 14, 15, 21, 22: 4-9pm
Festival of Trees
Milltown Historic District
This family-friendly free event features 30 fully decorated Christmas trees & wreaths! Money raised from tree silent auction will benefit seniors through Meals on Wheels. Enjoy live entertainment and free pictures with Santa!
November 19-21: 11am-8pm
Painting with Santa!
Clay Casa
Paint with Santa and make your own reindeer plate or mug, plus an ornament for your Christmas tree. $35 per child. Refreshments and holiday cheer provided. Call or register online to reserve your spot, and don’t forget your camera!
November 20: 5-7pm
Also available on November 21 & December 5 at the San Antonio location
Downtown Lighting & Santa’s Arrival
Historic Downtown New Braunfels
Celebrate the spirit of the holiday season beneath one hundred thousand twinkling lights, live music and a sighting with Santa himself! This is a free, community event.
November 22: 6-9pm
Tree Lighting Party
Downtown Social
Free photos with Santa & Mrs. Claus after the downtown tree lighting ceremony! Event will be kid-friendly.
November 22: 5-9pm
Related: 20 things to do with your children in New Braunfels
Pictures with Santa & Mrs. Claus
New Braunfels Candle Company
Make your very own favorite candle while visiting with Santa and Mrs. Claus!
November 30: 10am-1pm
Cookies with Santa
Pokey O’s Cookies & Ice Cream
Kick off your Christmas season with a fun Cookies with Santa experience. Children will have time to visit with jolly man himself to present their Christmas wishes and take pictures. Tickets are $15 and include your visit with Santa, a box of cookies, along with a cookie decorating and crafting station.
November 30: 3-5pm
Storytime with Santa
The Book Haus
Storytime and photos with Santa! This is a free event.
December 1: 3-4pm
December 8: 4-5pm
December 15: 1-2pm
December 22: 12-1pm
Shop with Santa & Mrs. Claus
River Rose
Take the family for pictures with Santa & Mrs. Claus! Snacks, drinks and a discount with purchase will be offered to shoppers.
December 3: 5-7pm
Wassailfest
Downtown New Braunfels
Wassailfest celebration 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!
December 5: 6-9pm
McKenna’s Merry Christmas
McKenna Children’s Museum
Check out this museum-wide event that will include an exclusive meet & greet, and photo-op with Santa and Mrs. Claus! Plus holiday themed crafts including a customized ornament and other timeless keepsakes, Christmas versions of some of your favorite games and activities, holiday treats & museum playtime! $15/child for members, $20/child for non-members.
December 6: 6-8pm
Flapjack Breakfast with Santa
Applebee’s
Join Big Brothers Big Sisters of Comal & Guadalupe Counties for the Applebee’s Breakfast with Santa Flapjack Fundraiser! Tickets are $7/person and include 3 pancakes, 2 sausage links, and choice of coffee, tea, juice or soda.
December 7: 8-10am
Photos with Santa & Mrs. Claus at Christkindlmarkt
212 West Austin Street
Visitors will enjoy a German inspired open air Christmas market complete with food, drinks and live music at this vendor and artisan fair. Come see Santa in New Braunfels!
December 7: 11am-2pm
Related: The Best Christmas Children’s Book
Visit with Santa & Mrs. Claus
Go Green Botanicals
Come see Santa & Mrs. Claus. Free photobooth, cookies, goodies and a free gift from Santa.
December 7: 3-5pm
Christmas at the Caverns
Natural Bridge Caverns
Celebrate Christmas unlike anywhere else! Hear your favorite carols echo through Texas’ largest underground cavern system . Get pictures with Santa “Spelunker” Claus, then round up his reindeer in the outdoor maze. As the sun sets behind the 30-foot tall Christmas tree, a hayride rolls through the hills, families roast s’mores, enjoy games, and music! Tickets are $27.99, children are $23.99 and includes the Cowboy Christmas Hayride, Ice Skating, the AMazeN’ Reindeer Round-Up, Underground Nativity and 12’ Snow globe. Bring a non-perishable food item to receive $2 off an adult or $1 off a child Cavern tour ticket.
December 7, 8, 14, 15: 4-9:30pm
December 21, 22, 23: 5-10:30pm
Christmas Spectacular Kick-off Party
Gruene Grove
Fun for the whole family with live music, cozy drinks & eats, campfires, photo-booth, s’more, and face painting. PLUS, photos with Santa! This fun-filled night is the start of the Gruene Grove’s month-long Christmas celebration.
December 7: 4-10pm
Gruene Town Lighting
Gruene Historic District
Watch as Cowboy Kringle rides into town on horseback and lights Gruene for the holidays. The celebration will include live music, festival food and beer/wine. Event is free and family friendly!
December 7: 5-6:30pm
Santa is coming!
Freiheit Country Store
Bring your cameras! Santa is coming to take pictures on the iconic Freiheit stage. Cookies and bouncy house for the kiddos, and Cold beer and cocktails for Mom and Dad. Old fashioned Freiheit burgers for the whole family!
December 8: 1-4pm
Photos with Santa & Mrs. Claus
Uwe’s Bakery & Deli
Join the staff at Uwe’s as they welcome Santa in New Braunfels!
December 8: 2-4pm
Jingle Jam
River City Church
The whole family is invited to attend this fun, hilarious and sweet Christmas program! Enjoy an evening jam packed with dancing, music, the Christmas story and more! Plus, a visit from Santa!
December 13: 6:30-8pm
Swim with Santa
Das Rec
Yup, you read that right. Santa brings it, Texas style! Dive into the holiday season with Santa at the Das Rec Pool. Grab your suits and your camera and bring the entire family for a chance to swim with the big man himself!
December 14: 10-11:30am
Pictures with Santa
Gruene Harley-Davidson
Jolly St. Nick will be making his way over to Gruene Harley-Davidson for pictures as he prepares for his busiest month! Bring the kiddos out and enjoy some cookies and hot cocoa!
December 14: 11am-3pm
Related: Mommy & Me Activities in New Braunfels
Here are a few extra Santa sightings worth the drive near New Braunfels:
Breakfast with Santa
JW Marriot San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa
November 29, 30: 8-11am
December 7, 14, 21: 8-11am
Dickens on Main
Hill Country Mile, Boerne
November 29-30: 2-10pm
Bulverde Christmas Lighting
The Old Village in Downtown Bulverde
November 29: 5:30-9pm
Santa & Kid Markets
Cross Plants and Produce, Kyle
November 30 & December 7: 2pm to 4pm
Dinner with Santa & Mrs. Claus
Don Strange Ranch, Boerne
December 1, 5, 8, 12, 15, 19, 22: 4-7pm
Third Annual Breakfast w/Santa
Chick’s Prime Meat Market, Spring Branch
December 7: 9am-12pm
Santa’s Railroad Wonderland
Texas Transportation Museum, San Antonio
December 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22: 6-9pm
I encourage you to check back frequently as I will be updating when more events pop up! Plus stay tuned for even more Christmas fun with my 25-day activity advent calendar coming soon.
So is 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!
