HOLIDAY EVENTS AROUND THE REGION THIS WEEKEND

  

The Christmas season has arrived, and lots of festive events are happening around the area.

Here are some of the activities this weekend:

• The Brenham Christmas Stroll begins Friday with the Jingle Bell Market at the Ant Street Inn from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and the First Friday Farmer and Artisan Market on Baylor and Park Streets from 3 to 6 p.m.  Suede will perform for a “Cold Nights, Holiday Tunes” concert in the Commerce Street parking lot at 7 p.m., and Unity Theatre will present “Fruitcakes” on Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m.  On Saturday, Breakfast with Santa will begin at 8:30 a.m. at The Barnhill Center, followed by the second day of the Jingle Bell Market at the Ant Street Inn from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.  A Kid Zone with various children’s activities will be open in downtown from 1 to 4 p.m.  Local Girl Scouts will sing Christmas carols and light the courthouse trees at 5 p.m.  The lighted parade will begin at 6 p.m.  Children will later be able to visit with Santa at the courthouse gazebo and ride on the 1950 Invader Fire Truck at the Brenham Fire Museum.

• Also in Brenham, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will have nativity displays on Friday and Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m.  Music from a local artist will be performed on Friday at 7 p.m. 

• The 42^nd Annual Small Town Christmas in Bellville kicks off Friday at 6 p.m. with the lighting of the courthouse Christmas tree and the lighted parade.  Activities at the Mini-Park will follow at 6:30 p.m., including shopping, a real snow slide, inflated activity area, petting zoo, mechanical bulls, and photos with Santa.  The Red Bulls will perform for a street dance at 8 p.m.  On Saturday, Newman’s Bakery will host Breakfast with Santa starting at 8 a.m.  Holiday shopping, music and entertainment will follow on the courthouse square and under the Jim Bishop Pavilion.  St. John’s Lutheran Retreat Center will host a drive-thru living nativity on Saturday and Sunday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

• The Santaville celebration in downtown Somerville will be held on Saturday from 1:30 to 5 p.m.  Events will include a parade at 1:30 p.m., a Fun Run at 2:30 p.m., shopping at local businesses and visits with Santa from 3 to 5 p.m.

• Round Top will have several activities to enjoy over the weekend.  Holiday shopping opens on Saturday at 10 a.m., followed by the Round Top Area Historical Homes Tour from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Festivities on the town square begin at 3 p.m., with judging of the parade floats at 6 p.m. and the lighted parade getting underway at 6:45 p.m.  On Sunday, the Round Top Model Home Park will host a Custom Country Christmas from 1 to 3 p.m., and Blinn College’s “Sounds of the Season” concert will be held at 3 p.m. at the Festival Hill Concert Hall.

• Downtown Navasota will host its Jingle Around Town Christmas Sip & Shop on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with several downtown businesses offering shopping opportunities along with food and refreshments.

• The annual Fantasy of Lights in Sealy started on Thursday and continues through Saturday.  On Friday, there will be a Christmas caroling concert at Levine Park beginning at 7 p.m.  Saturday will host a Jingle Bell Fun Run with late registration starting at 8 a.m.  From noon to 5 p.m., Levine Park will have music and dance performances, a pet show, craft and ornament making, inflatables, pictures with Santa and many other activities.  The Fantasy of Lights parade begins at 7 p.m.

KWHI and KTEX-106 will have live coverage from Bellville on Friday for Small Town Christmas and from Brenham on Saturday for the Christmas Stroll and Lighted Parade.