Once again, the state of Texas has lots of activities to choose from. There’s always time to put the kids in the car and take a look at the lights or go to a Christmas tree farm and pick the best one. That’s just fun. It’s a time for sharing memories with your friends and loved ones. What about New Year’s Eve? Are you sitting in front of the tube and watching the ball drop at Times Square or are you going to a party and playing Farkle? Grab a cup of hot chocolate, relax in front of the fireplace and let Neotrib put some things together for you.

AUSTIN
Dec. 1-27 Get in the Christmas spirit at the Rockin’ Christmas Party. Lots of holiday music here. This is located at the Zachary Scott Theatre. Go to their website.

NEW BRAUNFELS
Dec. 1-31 Art for the Holidays Show. This includes paintings, sculpture, pottery, photographs and jewelry. Hours are 10 am-5 pm daily and noon-5 pm on Sunday Located at 239 W. San Antonio. For more details go to their website or call 830-629-8022.

WIMBERLY
Dec 1-31 Emily Ann Trail of Lights. This features 120-plus lighted displays, Santa and entertainment nightly. Enjoy caroling and family activities each night. Located at The Emily Ann Theatre. For more information, please check their website or call 512-847-6969.

COLLEGE STATION
Santa’s Wonderland open nightly through Dec 31, including all holidays from 6 pm-11 pm Sunday-Thursday and 6 pm -12 am Friday-Saturday. Come and experience the wonder of Christmas! A Texas Christmas experience. Santa’s Town, A Texas Christmas Village where you can board a hayride or horse and carriage and tour the sights and sounds of Santa’s Wonderland, featuring millions of dazzling lights seen on a winding path stretching over a mile long. There is a petting zoo and mechanical bull. Then just relax and enjoy the holiday food, unique shops and live music around a cozy campfire. Directions from Dallas is take I-45 South to Buffalo, turn right on Hwy 79 South to Hearne, then South on Hwy 6 to College Station. Exit Texas World Speedway, stay on feeder and look to the right. For more details, see their website.

FREDERICKSBURG
Dec 1-Jan 1 The Hill Country Regional Christmas Lighting Trail. Come home for the holidays to Boerne, Burnet, Dripping Springs, Fredericksburg, Goldthwaite, Johnson City, Llano, Marble Falls, New Braunfels, Round Mountain and Wimberley. This fun activity includes lighting displays, pageants and festivities of all kinds. Please look at their website or call 830-997-8515 or 866-839-3378.

YORKTOWN
Dec 22 Yorktown Country Opry. Enjoy a Texas country music and Christmas celebration. This includes live entertainers and music. Located at Aunt Di’s Country Restaurant. For more information, see their website or call 361-564-2897.

ATHENS
Nov 10-Jan 2 The Christmas Park-Land of Lights is open from 6:00 pm till 10:30 pm every year. It is located at 1500 NW Loop 7 in the East Texas city of Athens. This park is more than 1 mile long and has over 3 million lights, including more than 50 different musical scenes and 50 motion controlled lighted scenes in addition to 7 tunnels and 10 arches, each a different color. If you want more information, please go to their website or call 903-675-7469.

MIDLOTHIAN
The UPS Stores in Midlothian and Waxahachie are accepting toys for the Marine Corp Toys for Tots Drive. The can accept new toys, books and money donations are accepted until Dec 21st. All the toys stay in Ellis County! Drop off locations are 661 E. Main St, Ste 200 in Midlothian and 791 Hwy 77 N, Ste 501-C in Waxahachie.

Dec 6-31 The Festival of Trees located at the Midlothian Conference Center. Stop by and view the beautiful Christmas trees that have been decorated by local businesses and organizations.

Dec 23 The Giving Tree is open from 1 pm-6 pm and Dec 24 from 3 pm until everything is gone. This is located at 931 N. 9th St. All items free. Clothing, shoes, bed linens, toys and books. All items are free and donations are welcome. For more information, contact Sharon at 214-315-9247.

Dec 23 Christmas Eve-Eve service on Wednesday night at 7 pm. They will have a candlelight service with the children singing Christmas carols. A hot chocolate fellowship will immediately follow the service. Located at Harvest Hill Church, 1250 Walter Stephenson Rd.

GARRETT
The Galaxy Drive-in Theatre is open every night throughout the holidays, including Christmas Eve, Christmas night, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Night. The box office opens at 6:00 pm. Movies start at 7:00 pm Sunday through Thursday and 8:00 pm on Friday and Saturday. You see two movies for one low price ($6.00) at one screen. Kids age 5 to 11 are only $2.00 and kids under 5 are always free. Come early, get a great parking spot then take the kids to our Park-n-putt miniature golf course. Two 18-holes $3.00 per game or $4.00 for two games. The opens at 6:30 pm, open all night. For movie selections, times and directions, please go to their website or call 972-875-5505.

DALLAS
Dec 1-20 The Best Christmas Pageant Ever The Herdmans are the worst kids in the history of the world and they are determined to be in the annual Christmas pageant. Presented by Dallas Children’s Theater at the Baker Theater. Check out their website or call 214-740-0051.

Dec 24 Tuba Christmas Concert. Celebrate with the Trinity Trojan Band’s concert at noon, located at Thanksgiving Square. For more information, please see their website or call 214-969-1977.

Dec 29-Jan 2 A Night at the Rock Opera. Nineteen incredible musicians and singers, with the Ultrasonic Rick Orchestra, present an evening of songs from the most decadent and glitter-crazed era of rock ’n roll. Located at the Dee & Charles Wyly Theatre. Call 214-880-0202 for more details.

Dec 31 Nell’s Charity Ball. This features Jack Melick’s Big Band. Hours are 11:30 am to 3 pm. Reservation deadline is Dec 22. Located at the Sterling Hotel, 1055 Regal Row. You can email [email protected].

FORT WORTH
Dec 31 Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra presents Red Carpet New Year’s Eve, A Night at the Oscars. This begins at 8 pm at the Bass Performance Hall. For more information, see their website or call 817-665-6000.

WACO
Dec 31 Barkin’ Ball 2009 includes a buffet dinner. Studio 54, a dance band from Dallas performs. Hours are 8 pm-1 am. Advance ticket purchase required. The dance and dinner are located at the Heart O’ Texas Fair Complex. For more details, see their website or call 254-714-2150.

Dec 31 New Year’s Eve 2010 Celebration. Located at the Phoenix Ballroom at 401 S. 3rd St. 8 pm – 1 am. You will listen to the wonderful sounds of jazz saxophonist, Joseph Vincelli. The doors open at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $35, VIP $50.00 and tables are $500.00. For more information, call 254-772-2071 or 254-749-8758 or email [email protected]. All seats reserve/attire is semi-formal.

WAXAHACHIE
Dec 31 New Years Eve Dance. This dance will be held at the Waxahachie Senior Center and will be smoke free, alcohol free. This is an evening of dancing with music provided by The Cannons. The Cannons provide a melting pot of music played from the 50’s to today. The doors open at 7:30 pm and tickets are $10.00 per person if purchased in advance, $12.50 at the door. The dance is open to anyone 50 years and older. Tickets can be purchased at the Senior Center located at 122 Park Hills Dr (So. Hwy 77). Call 972-937-8271 for additional information.

After Hours Improv Theater located at 100 N. College always has comedy for you. Every Saturday night at 8 pm. As always the comedy is clean and the show is guaranteed to send you home happy. Call for tickets at 972-937-9839. They are only $10.00.

ROCKDALE
Dec 31 New Year’s Eve Dance. This features an ’80’s band called Roman Holiday. This event will be located at the KC Hall. For more information, see their website or call 512-446-2030.

GALVESTON
Moody Gardens has an outdoor ice skating rink. This brand new rink features the beautiful scenery of the Offatts Bayou. The Festival of Lights is a mile-long trail of more than one million lights and 100 sound-enhanced animated light displays. A wide variety of hoiday films are also featured at the IMAX 3D, Ridefilm and 4D Special FX Theaters. You can enjoy nightly live entertainment or a train ride along the light trail. Check out their website for more information.

There are so many drive through parks with lots of Christmas lights, it was too many to mention here. Google “Christmas lights in Texas” and you can see all of them. Have fun deciding. Neotrib wishes everyone a Merry Christmas and a safe Happy New Year. By the way, if you want to have a great party, play Farkle. Go to this website for the rules.