Fredericksburg’s German roots show up all year, but they really come through in December. Every evening of the holiday season, folks gather on the Marktplatz in the middle of town, a short program tells the story of the town’s heritage, carols play, and a countdown lights up a tall community Christmas tree and a hand-carved German Christmas pyramid. A few steps away, skaters circle an outdoor ice rink under the pavilion.
Here’s what to know about Fredericksburg’s holiday season for 2026, including what’s confirmed and what’s still to be announced.
A quick word on 2026 dates
As of early October 2026, the Fredericksburg visitors bureau was still showing last season’s schedule, and 2026 dates hadn’t been posted yet. Based on recent years, Christmas Nights of Lights runs nightly from the week of Thanksgiving through the first week of January. Last season, for example, it began the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and ran through January 6. Expect similar timing this year, and double-check the official calendar once it’s updated.
Christmas Nights of Lights on the Marktplatz
The nightly ceremony is free and takes place on the Marktplatz, in the 100 block of West Main Street. In recent seasons the schedule has gone like this:
- 5 p.m.: holiday music begins on the square
- 6 p.m.: a 10-minute audio program about Fredericksburg’s German heritage, carols and a countdown to the lighting
- 6:30 p.m.: music wraps up, and the lights stay on for the evening
The stars of the show are the roughly 30-foot community Christmas tree, decorated with ornaments made by Hill Country artisans, and the 26-foot German Christmas pyramid, a tiered, carousel-like wooden structure that was handcrafted in Germany for Fredericksburg in 2009. Pyramids like this are a longtime Christmas custom in parts of Germany, and seeing one lit up in the Texas Hill Country is a treat.
In past years, the nightly program has paused on the night of the Christmas parade and on New Year’s Eve, though the lights still come on.
Ice skating at the Eisbahn
Fredericksburg’s outdoor ice rink, called the Eisbahn, sets up each holiday season under the Kinderhalle pavilion on the Marktplatz at 122 West Main Street. It’s run as a charity fundraiser by volunteers with Heritage School, with proceeds going to local charities and tuition assistance.
Last season, a full-day, come-and-go pass with skate rental was $15 per skater, and a 10-day punch pass was $135. The school also rents the rink for private parties outside regular hours. The 2026 season calendar and any price changes should appear on the Eisbahn page as opening day nears.
The Christmas parade and Main Street shopping
Fredericksburg’s Light the Night Christmas Parade traditionally rolls down Main Street on the first Friday of December at 6:30 p.m., with Santa and Mrs. Claus available for photos on the Marktplatz afterward. If that pattern holds in 2026, the parade would fall on Friday, December 4, but the date hadn’t been confirmed when we wrote this.
Between events, Main Street is made for holiday browsing, with more than 150 locally owned shops and galleries according to the visitors bureau. Many stores stay open a little later in December.
Planning your visit
Fredericksburg is the seat of Gillespie County, about 1.5 hours west of Austin and about 1 hour 15 minutes northwest of San Antonio. Hotels, inns and guesthouses book up fast for December weekends, so reserve early if you want to stay overnight.
- Arrive by 5:30 p.m. to find parking and a good spot before the 6 p.m. lighting.
- Pair it with Johnson City. The lights there are about 30 miles east on US 290 and stay on until midnight.
- Bundle up. The Marktplatz is open to the wind, and Hill Country nights get chilly.
Heading to the area anyway? Our guide to nearby Comfort, Texas makes a fine side trip on the drive in.
Good to Know
- Where: Marktplatz, 100 block of W. Main St., Fredericksburg, TX 78624
- When: 2026 dates not yet announced; usually nightly from Thanksgiving week through the first week of January
- Lighting program: 6 p.m. nightly in recent seasons (music from 5 p.m.)
- Cost: Lighting is free; Eisbahn skating was $15 per day with skates last season
- Parade: Traditionally the first Friday in December, 6:30 p.m.
- Drive times: About 1.5 hours from Austin; about 1 hour 15 minutes from San Antonio
Hours, dates and prices can change. Check the Fredericksburg visitors bureau before you head out.
Few Texas towns do Christmas with this much old-world heart. Come for the pyramid, stay for a skate, and leave with a sack of something from Main Street.
Featured photo: Michael Barera via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
