Every holiday season, the old Harrison County Courthouse in downtown Marshall gets wrapped in lights from foundation to dome, and the whole square turns into a small-town Christmas card. Wonderland of Lights has been doing this for nearly four decades. The 2025 festival was billed as the 38th, which puts 2026 on track for the 39th. Here’s what to expect and how to plan, even before the city posts this year’s schedule.
First, a word on 2026 dates
As of early October 2026, the City of Marshall had not published dates for this year’s Wonderland of Lights. What we can tell you is the pattern. The festival has opened with a courthouse lighting ceremony on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving for several years running: Nov. 23 in 2022, Nov. 27 in 2024 and Nov. 26 in 2025. If that holds, the 2026 lighting would land on Wednesday, Nov. 25. In 2024 the festival ran through Dec. 29.
Treat that as a planning guess, not a promise. Watch the City of Marshall website and local news for the official schedule. In 2025 it was out by early November.
The lighting ceremony
Opening night is the big one. In 2025, festivities on the square ran from 4 to 7 p.m., and Santa flipped the switch to light the courthouse at about 5:45 p.m. It draws a crowd, so plan to arrive early, park a few blocks out and walk in. Admission to the festival itself has been free.
What’s on the square
Once the lights are on, the festival has run Thursday through Sunday evenings for the rest of the season. Based on the 2024 and 2025 schedules, here’s what you can generally expect:
- The courthouse: The Old Harrison County Courthouse, trimmed in red ribbon and wreaths, is the centerpiece, and it’s worth seeing up close and from across the square.
- Ice skating: An outdoor rink goes up near the courthouse. In 2024 it was $12 per skater with skate rental, in 45-minute sessions starting on the hour.
- The carousel: Marshall’s vintage carousel, roughly a century old, was $3 per rider in 2024.
- Rides around downtown: In 2024 there were carriage rides ($10), wagon rides ($5) and the Wonderland Express, a trackless train ($5).
- Santa’s Village: Free crafts, face painting and visits with Santa.
For reference, 2024 hours were 6 to 9 p.m. Thursdays, 6 to 10 p.m. Fridays, 4 to 10 p.m. Saturdays and 4 to 9 p.m. Sundays. Tickets for the paid attractions were sold online as well as on site. Prices and hours could change for 2026.
Special nights worth planning around
Marshall fills the season with themed evenings. In 2025 the calendar included an outdoor Christmas market, a Wassail Walk, snow parties on Main Street, themed skating nights, a lighted Christmas parade on the first Saturday in December, live music at Telegraph Park and a Texas Tenors concert at Memorial City Hall. Expect a similar lineup this year, but wait for the 2026 schedule before you book a hotel around any single event.
Making a trip of it
Marshall is the seat of Harrison County, about 2.5 hours east of Dallas on Interstate 20 and about 40 minutes west of Shreveport. That makes Wonderland an easy overnight from the Metroplex.
If you’re staying the weekend, the cypress swamps of Caddo Lake are less than half an hour northeast, and the old riverport town of Jefferson is a short drive north. Our Jefferson, Texas guide covers what to see there. And if you’re chasing lights all season, our guide to Grapevine, the Christmas Capital of Texas makes a good second stop on the way home.
Tips for a smoother visit
- Go on a Thursday or Sunday if you’d rather skip the biggest crowds.
- Buy skating and ride tickets early in the evening, before lines build.
- East Texas December nights can be raw and damp. Wear layers and real shoes for walking the square.
- Check the city’s schedule for weather cancellations before you drive in; outdoor events can be called off on stormy nights.
Good to Know
- Where: Old Harrison County Courthouse square, downtown Marshall, TX 75670 (Harrison County).
- 2026 dates: Not yet announced as of Oct. 7. Recent years opened the Wednesday before Thanksgiving (would be Nov. 25, 2026) and ran through late December.
- Days: Recent years: Thursday through Sunday evenings after opening night.
- Cost: Free admission; skating, carousel and rides cost extra.
- Drive: About 2.5 hours from Dallas; about 40 minutes from Shreveport.
Hours, dates and prices can change. Check the official website before you head out.
There’s something about standing on a courthouse square in a small Texas town with a cup of something warm, watching the lights come on. Marshall has been doing it right for a long time. Keep an eye out for the official dates, and plan on a night under the lights.
