You know that business about the holidays being stressful? Not so much in Huntsville, Texas, where you’ll find a Lone Star-level of holly jolly fun. The city is known for its massive 67-foot statue of Sam Houston and that outsized attitude extends to the holidays. Lone Star Lights at Carolina Creek draws thousands with light displays, zip lines, and a Snow Zone with actual snow — in East Texas, no less. The downtown Huntsville Christmas Fair fills the streets with artisan vendors, carolers, and a holiday parade. And Mudsgiving, held over Thanksgiving weekend at General Sam's Offroad Park, is exactly what it sounds like: 700 acres of mud, beefy tires, and a turkey dinner at the end of it. 

If your holiday plans usually peak at a scented candle and a Hallmark marathon, Huntsville would like a word.

Mudsgiving

The tires are spinning, and the mud is flying—and if you’re an offroad sports fan, there’s no better place to merge your favorite pastime with Turkey Day than Huntsville’s annual Mudsgiving. Held at the beautiful 700-acre General Sam’s Offroad Park, the unique competition features offroad muddin’ over Thanksgiving weekend. Watch as high-octane vehicles with beefy wheels ascend hills, manhandle obstacles, and plow through monster mud puddles over 60 miles of offroad trails. The park also features walking paths, cabins, and RV hook-ups, making it a terrific overnight escape in the Texas piney woods. Don’t worry about missing your favorite holiday meal—the event includes Thanksgiving lunch. Find one of four hidden turkey figures throughout the park for a chance at a cash prize.

Huntsville Christmas Fair

Eclectic gifts, great food, and merriment are what you’ll find in charming downtown Huntsville at the annual Huntsville Christmas Fair on the first Saturday of December. Pick up unique Christmas gifts from dozens of outdoor artisan vendors, savor local cuisine, tap your toes to live music, and sing along with carolers. The day-long fest includes plenty of kid-friendly activities, too, like face-painting, balloon art, train rides, and a winter-themed play area. Visit charming shops and cafes in the heart of downtown, then meander among vendor tents for holiday wreaths, decorations, and special gifts for loved ones you won’t find elsewhere. Jolly ol’ Saint Nick will be on hand for pictures with kids. When the sun goes down, get ready for the Christmas tree lighting and the Lions Club Christmas Parade complete with floats, music, candy throws, and more.

Lone Star Lights at Carolina Creek

Where would Christmas be without lights? That’s not a question you have to ask in Huntsville where the much-anticipated Lone Star Lights draws thousands eager to soak up the holiday spirit. Opening Thanksgiving week every year, the beloved lights extravaganza continues each weekend until Christmas. The displays are wildly creative, from a lighted maze to a fantastical forest. There’s even an illuminated ropes course and zip line! It’s a fabulous way to immerse yourself in the holiday spirit.

And while the light displays are endlessly beautiful, it’s just part of the experience. Lone Star Lights also features live music and entertainment, a petting farm, food, a vendor marketplace, and a Snow Zone complete with actual snow for wintry fun. Tack on additions to your ticketed experience, including a dinner theatre performance of the O. Henry classic, “The Gift of the Magi.” Adventure types will love the Glacier Climbing Wall, the Artic Zipline, and the Aerial Course, with spectacular lighted views of the park from 40 feet up. Don’t miss the Arctic Swing, an adrenaline-infused chance to soar high in the air. Carolina Creek even offers accommodations trimmed in holiday decorations for a merry little overnight stay.

Conclusion

Whether you prefer a name-brand hotel, boutique B&B, rustic cabin, retreat, or glamping, Huntsville features a wide range of accommodations to suit your preference. Book your weekend away in Huntsville today and experience the holidays like never before.

About the Author: A lover of all things Lone Star, Maggie is an award-winning features writer covering the Gulf South and the author of Hungry for Louisiana, An Omnivore’s Journey.