Downtown Nacogdoches has five holiday events on the books between early November and the week before Christmas, and the Main Street program has now put dates and times to all of them.
Merry Christmas Market, Nov. 6-7
The shopping season opens with the Merry Christmas Market, 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6 and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7. Spend $25 or more at a participating downtown business and you can enter to win a gift basket stocked by downtown merchants. Food trucks will be downtown Saturday. The basket winner is drawn on Facebook Live on Friday, Nov. 13.
Wassail Fest, Nov. 28
Wassail Fest lands on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 28, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Downtown businesses serve their own homemade, non-alcoholic wassail for visitors to sample while they shop. Guests rate their favorites by QR code or paper ballot to pick the People’s Choice winners.
Light Up Main Street, all December
Through December, downtown businesses compete on storefronts, window displays and Christmas lights in the Light Up Main Street Christmas Light Competition. Residents and visitors vote online for their favorites, and winners are announced in early January 2027.
Christmas movie nights, Dec. 4 and Dec. 18
Main Street is showing two free outdoor Christmas movies at the Visitor Center Stage in the 200 block of Pilar Street, both at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4 is “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Friday, Dec. 18 is “Elf.” Bring blankets and lawn chairs. Free popcorn, hot chocolate and sweet treats are available while they last. Pilar Street closes before each show for setup and safety, and if it rains the movies move inside the Visitor Center.
Stocking Stuffer Stroll, Dec. 18-19
Last call for shopping is the Stocking Stuffer Stroll, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18 and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19. Start at the Visitor Center to pick up a free Christmas stocking and a map of participating businesses, then collect a small stocking stuffer with a purchase at each stop. Stockings and giveaway items last while supplies do, and a purchase is required to get a stuffer at each business.
“The holiday season is such a special time in Downtown Nacogdoches, and we’re excited to continue some of our favorite holiday traditions,” said Main Street Manager Tori Proctor. “Shopping local is especially important this time of year, and these events are a great way to encourage our community to support downtown businesses while enjoying everything downtown has to offer during the holidays.”
The Main Street Office has details at 936-559-2652 or mainstreet@nactx.us. Updates and the list of participating businesses also go up on the Downtown Nacogdoches Main Street Facebook page.
