Celebrate the Holidays in the Heart of the Hill Country

The holiday season is truly magical in Fredericksburg, Texas, and the surrounding Hill Country, offering festive events, dazzling lights, and time-honored traditions. Willow Grove Estate, just five minutes from downtown Fredericksburg, is the perfect place to stay for groups looking to immerse themselves in the holiday spirit. Enjoy luxury accommodations while being close to all the holiday cheer Fredericksburg and Johnson City have to offer.

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Holiday Events in Fredericksburg

Lighting of Marktplatz: November 26, 2024 – January 6, 2025

Kick off the holidays with the stunning lighting of Marktplatz on November 26, 2024. The highlight is the iconic German Weihnachtspyramide, a tradition dating back to the 16th century, and the Community Christmas Tree. Visitors can enjoy a nightly 10-minute audio presentation about Fredericksburg’s German heritage paired with festive holiday music from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM.

Light the Night Christmas Parade: Friday, December 6, 2024

The annual Light the Night Christmas Parade in downtown Fredericksburg is a free event filled with dazzling floats and festive music. Arrive early to secure parking and the perfect spot to enjoy this community favorite.

Fredericksburg’s Christmas Nights of Lights | Outdoor Events

Eisbahn Outdoor Ice Skating Rink: November 23, 2024 – January 5, 2025

Marktplatz is home to the Eisbahn Outdoor Ice Skating Rink, a family-friendly tradition perfect for creating winter memories. Lace up your skates and enjoy this seasonal activity while supporting a good cause—proceeds benefit local nonprofits. Price: $15 per day come-and-go pass includes skate rental. $10 Tuesdays.

Eisbahn | Heritage School

LBJ State Park Tree Lighting: Sunday, December 15, 2024

Celebrate the season at the Lyndon B. Johnson State Park with a tree lighting ceremony. This special tradition started 55 years ago by President and Mrs. Johnson. Enjoy carolers, a live nativity scene, refreshments and even a visit from Santa Claus. Journey back in time when you visit the Sauer-Beckmann Farm at dusk with ambiance created by a lantern-lit path, a real Christmas Tree in the parlor and live music that transports you back to what an authentic Texas-German Christmas was like at the turn of the century. This heartwarming event is a Hill Country favorite.

55th Annual Tree Lighting — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department

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Johnson City: “The Twinkliest Town in Texas”

Just 30 minutes from Willow Grove Estate, Johnson City transforms into a glittering holiday wonderland. Known as “The Twinkliest Town in Texas,” its Lights Spectacular is a must-see.

Lighting Ceremony: November 29, 2024

Kick off the Lights Spectacular with the official Courthouse Lighting Ceremony 5:30 PM and fireworks display to follow. The Blanco County Courthouse will shine with thousands of lights, and the festive atmosphere is sure to inspire awe. The breathtaking light displays across Johnson City remain lit nightly through January 5, 2025. Stroll through the town and marvel at millions of twinkling lights adorning trees, historic buildings, and the iconic courthouse.

Events Calendar

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Holiday Shopping and Festive Experiences

Downtown Fredericksburg offers boutique shopping perfect for finding one-of-a-kind holiday gifts. Stroll through locally-owned shops offering handmade crafts, unique home décor, and Texas-themed treasures. 

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Christmas Wine Affair

The Christmas Wine Affair is a highlight of the holiday season for wine enthusiasts in Texas Hill Country, taking place from November 25 to December 20, 2024. This event invites participants to explore over 45 participating wineries with a signature passport, which provides complimentary tastings and special discounts on wine purchases. Individual tickets are available for $65, while couples can enjoy the experience for $100. It’s the perfect opportunity to savor Texas wines, take in festive surroundings, and find the ideal bottles to share during your holiday celebrations.   

Christmas Wine Affair Passport 2024 Passes – Texas Hill Country Wineries

Stay Close to the Festivities at Willow Grove Estate

Located a mere five-minute drive from downtown Fredericksburg, Willow Grove Estate offers unparalleled proximity to these holiday events. Our estate provides a serene and luxurious setting for groups, ensuring a comfortable and memorable stay. After a day of exploring the town’s festive offerings, retreat to the tranquility of Willow Grove Estate, where you can relax and unwind with a curated private dinner created by your on-site estate chef/host. Willow Grove is a perfect getaway for creating cherished holiday memories

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Plan Your Holiday Getaway Today

Fredericksburg and Johnson City are ready to welcome you with holiday cheer, and Willow Grove Estate is the perfect home base. Book your stay now and experience the magic of the Hill Country this holiday season!

Luxury Private Guest House & Event Space in Fredericksburg, Texas

Wine tasting weekends are the perfect opportunity to explore new places, taste new wines and enjoy good company. There are a handful of great wine regions in the U.S. ranging from the most popular, Napa Valley, to those with growing street cred, like Texas Hill Country. 

Wherever you’re tasting wine, here are some tips and things to think about to get the most out of your experience.

1. Decide how “hands-on” or “geeky” you want the experience to be

This starts with you deciding how you want to taste wine!  Do you want to know a bit about what’s in your glass or do you prefer to just sip it and take in the experience?

When visiting a winery, there is a spectrum of how involved and educational the experience is. For example, most vineyards in Napa Valley take time and care to educate you on the wine, vineyard, grapes, winery history etc. Whereas in Texas Hill Country it’s more of a split between these types of wineries and ones that are more of a sip and relax environment. Keep this in mind when choosing your destination.

2. Tasting the Wine: See, Sniff, Taste

Here’s a simple way to taste and evaluate wine. Learning to evaluate wines will help you better understand what you like so you can drink and enjoy more of those types of wine.  It can also elevate your experience by choosing the best foods to pair/compliment the wines.

See – holding the stem, hold the glass up tilting it into the light (cupping the glass with your hand will change the temperature of the wine, and thus…the taste), then stare straight down. Notice what color you see, how deep it is, and if there is any translucence in the glass.

Put the glass down on the table, while holding the stem with two fingers, swirl the wine. If the wine has more prominent “tears” that form on the glass, it is likely a bolder and heavier pour.

Sniff – Hover over the glass face down and get a good sniff. Take your time while you let the aromas register in your brain. Here is a quick run down of the different aromas in wine:

Fruit

Flowers, Leaves, Herbs

Spices

Vegetables

Aged Barrels

Taste – Finally, take a slow sip (just a sip!) just as you would sip out of a straw, and let your mouth take note of the flavors.  Believe it or not, the wine will taste different in the front of your mouth versus the middle of your tongue or the back when you swallow/. 

Questions to ask yourself as you taste the wine:

• What do you notice as you start to sip/taste the wine (meaning as it’s entering your mouth/hitting your tongue)?
• How does the wine feel around your tongue & mouth (i.e. the mouth feel)?
• As you swallow it, does it taste the same as above or has it changed?

3. The “Do’s”

• Make sure you’re not tasting wine on an empty stomach.
  Most wineries serve only light bites.
• Use water in between glasses to “reset” your pallet
• Plan in advance, routing the best way through your desired wineries
• Ask for recommendations/reviews

4. The “Dont’s”

• Don’t drive yourself if you’re going to be tasting/drinking wine all day!
• Don’t “save the best for last”, go to the must-see wineries first.
• Wear heavy perfume or other loud scents that will mess with the wine aromas for both you and people around you.

This blog was written by Willow Grove Estate, a 2.5 acre compound in Texas Wine Country that is home to a private event venue, overnight group accommodations and an on-site host. At Willow Grove Estate, we love wine and we are here to help others have the best experience tasting their way through Texas Wine Country!

We are a short five minutes from Main Street in Fredericksburg and with our on-site host, we can accommodate all of your needs, from wine-tour planning to meals and beyond. Learn more or reserve your weekend here.

Stay connected! Follow Willow Grove Estate on Instagram and Facebook.

Take the Bride to Hill County’s Unofficial Capital of Food and Wine

If your bride loves….

• A good glass of wine
• A relaxed yet fun environment
• A little bit of country with a little bit of class

…then a Bachelorette weekend in Texas Wine Country is THE place for your bride and her tribe.

Fredericksburg, Texas is a quaint yet lively town that is known as the unofficial capital of food and wine in Hill County.

There is something for everyone and plenty of opportunities to tailor your group’s experience so that it is unique, and memorable.

What to do in Texas Wine Country for a Bachelorette Weekend:

• Vineyard visits and wine tastings
• Hike at the Enchanted Rock
• Farmhouse chic shopping 
• Casual and fine dining options
• Horseback Riding
• Animal Experiences
• Moped and Bike Rentals
• Custom wine tours with Transportation
• Festivals and Trade days
• In-home wine ratings and cooking experiences
• Wildflower farms
• Night life, music, and dancing

When you stay at Willow Grove Estate during your travels to Fredericksburg, Texas you get a total getaway experience whether you’re exploring the town, sipping wine at a vineyard, or relaxing back at your vacation home.

Your host, Jeff, is a hospitality expert who offers his guests unique in-home and around-town experiences to make your stay seamless and care-free.

The Willow Grove Estate can customize your stay by offering:

• Custom/Themed decorations

• Grocery shopping/stocking 
• Private Chef
• Welcome wine tasting & bites
• Bubbly brunch delivery
• On-site yoga, massages, etc.
• Custom wine tour itinerary
• Transportation around town
• Private dinners in on-site pop up restaurant 
• … and more!

Itinerary Idea for Bachelorette Weekends in Fredericksburg, Texas:

Friday:

• Welcome party at you vacation rental on Willow Grove Estate – light bites and wine tasting for you and your girls
• Dinner and drinks at Chase’s place 
• Post-dinner dancing and music at Luckenbach’s Dance Hall and Bar

Saturday:

• Brunch at Hill & Vine
• Wine tasting:
  • Wildflower farms
  • Heath Sparkling
• Sip, snack, and shop at the Warehouse District 
• Head back to Willow Grove Estate for a private, in-home chef and game night

Sunday:

• Brunch Delivery
• Departure

We hope you enjoy your time in Fredericksburg, Texas! To get started, contact Jeff, the host at Willow Grove Estate, to talk about reserving your group’s weekend and what details and experience can take the weekend to the next level.

What to do with your Group vacation to Texas Wine Country

Why Travel to Fredericksburg, Texas?

Fredericksburg, Texas is a central-texas city located just over an hour from Austin. Fredericksburg is home to some incredible venues within Texas Wine Country. Vacationers typically travel here to enjoy vineyards, wineries, breweries, and the great food and good vibes that this town has to offer.

Texas Wine Country is not the only thing that makes Fredericksburg unique! In addition to some hidden gems, great shopping, and war history, Fredericksburg also holds a deep German heritage that makes for some interesting museums, sightseeing, and delicious food and beer. 

Here are five things to do during your visit to the Texas Wine Country of Fredericksburg, Texas:

1. Visit Enchanted Rock

Grab your walking shoes and head to Enchanted Rock. This state owned natural area is home to a park, hiking/walking trails, wildlife, cave exploration and more. You will experience some gorgeous views and scenery – the perfect activity to diversify your group’s vacation plans in Fredericksburg, Texas.

2. Experience Texas Wine Country with a Customized Wine Tour

Vineyards are the heart and soul of Fredericksburg. Most people vacation here to enjoy the local wine scene. Some of our favorites include: Ab Astris, Airis’Ele Vineyards and Lost Draw. We recommend getting a custom wine tour itinerary put together. B based on your preferences and/or previous experiences, Jeff will know how to prioritize each location for ease and desired activity, and can even call ahead to ensure your spot is reserved and ready for you upon arrival. Cheers!

3. Snag Unique Goodies at The Warehouse District

Any shoppers in your group? The Warehouse District is a must-do during your group trip to Fredericksburg, Texas. Located south of Main Street, The Warehouse District is where shopping lovers will find unique home decor, antique stores, and more. The best part? There’s something for everyone! The Warehouse District is home to great food and beverage venues that you won’t want to miss out on. Grab breakfast or lunch at the Woerner Warehouse or relax for an afternoon pour at Lincoln Street Wine Bar.

4. See the Giraffes at Longneck Manor

Got kiddos or animal lovers joining on your group getaway for Fredericksburg? They are in for a treat. Stop by Longneck Manor to experience close-up encounters with Giraffes and Rhinos. Be sure to make a reservation or have your Fredericksburg host do so for you. Tours take about an hour and a half and are offered between 10:30 am and 2pm. 

5. Dance the Night Away at Luckenbach Texas

Ready for a night out on the town? Head to Luckenbach. This Fredericksburg favorite is a historic trading post turned general store, bar, and concert hall. Enjoy an evening under their gorgeous oak trees and listen to music almost every weekend, during the afternoon and into the night. Be sure to check their calendar upon arrival! Some of their events require tickets. 

Fredericksburg, Texas is the perfect group getaway. Willow Grove Estate is a beautiful, private guest home tucked into 2.5 acres of quiet, only a five minute drive to Main Street. Jeff, your host, (and his extensive wine cellar!) makes the trip care-free, unique, and unforgettable for his guests with on-site experiences like welcome wine tastings, champagne breakfasts, dinner, and more.

Learn more at www.willowgroveestate.com and https://www.visitfredericksburgtx.com