Tenth Annual Holiday Lighting Ceremony set for Friday, November 23, in Fredericksburg
Experience the unique mix of German Christmas traditions and warm Texan hospitality this holiday season in Fredericksburg. In partnership with the City of Fredericksburg, the Fredericksburg Convention & Visitor Bureau will begin the season with the lighting of the Community Christmas Tree and German Christmas Pyramid on the evening of Friday, November 23, at Marktplatz.
The festivities will begin at 6:00 p.m. on the East side of the Vereins Kirche with entertainment throughout the evening by The TubaMeisters, The Low Brass Project band, the Fredericksburg Chorale and the Fredericksburg Akkordeon Klub. The countdown and lighting ceremony will take place at 7:00 p.m.
Following the lighting ceremony, the entertainment will continue until 8:00 p.m. with more holiday favorites as Santa makes his way to the Oktoberfest Halle at Marktplatz, where free cookies, hot chocolate and bottled water will be available.
Cookies will be provided by a number of local businesses and hot chocolate will be prepared by the Fredericksburg Volunteer Fire Department.
Children are invited to take free photos with Santa (bring your own camera or phone), and groups are encouraged to take photos at the holiday selfie station, also at the Oktoberfest Halle.
In case of inclement weather, the entertainment and countdown will be relocated under the Adelsverein Halle at Marktplatz.
Lighting ceremony attendees can also enjoy outdoor ice skating until 10:00 p.m. on Friday, November 23, at Eisbahn in the Kinderhalle Pavilion at Marktplatz (for a fee). All day skating and skate rental is $15 per person, and tickets are available at the gate.
The German holiday spirit is most apparent with Fredericksburg’s 26-foot tall wooden German Christmas Pyramid that was hand-crafted in Germany in 2009 specifically for Fredericksburg. Considered staples in German holiday decorating, Christmas pyramids are wooden carousel-like structures (normally table-top size) that have several levels depicting Christmas motifs, such as angels and manger scenes.
Fredericksburg’s Community Christmas Tree, also part of the lighting ceremony, stands 30 feet tall and dons hand-crafted ornaments donated by Hill Country artisans. The beautifully lit Christmas tree and Christmas pyramid are the centerpiece of the holiday magic in Fredericksburg and will be prominently displayed at Marktplatz through January 6, 2019.
Make plans to attend the lighting ceremony with your family, friends and neighbors. To learn more about all of the holiday events in Fredericksburg and to download a free 2018 Fredericksburg Christmas & Holiday Guide, log on to holidays.VisitFredericksburgTX.com.
