Bellville will usher in the holiday season with its annual Small Town Christmas celebration, a two-day event filled with parades, festive activities, shopping, and Santa sightings throughout town. The celebration begins Friday, Dec. 5, and continues through Saturday, Dec. 6, bringing together families, local businesses and visitors for one of the community’s most anticipated holiday traditions.
Festivities open Friday at 6 p.m. with the Courthouse Tree Lighting, followed immediately by Bellville’s Lighted Christmas Parade. Once the parade concludes, crowds will move toward the Mini Park, where a full slate of activities begins at 6:30 p.m. Offerings include nonprofit food and drink vendors at the Jim Bishop Pavilion, a real snow slide, an inflated activity zone with a swing, obstacle course and LED seesaws, as well as a petting zoo and mechanical bulls.
At 7:30 p.m., Santa will arrive at the Mini Park gazebo for photos with KGoebel Photography, followed by an 8 p.m. street dance featuring The Red Bulls. Children and adults planning to participate in activities will need a wristband, available during presale for $5. Wristbands provide unlimited access to snow slides, carriage and hay rides, bounce houses, crafts, an obstacle course, face painting and more. Kids 2 and under are free. Presale pickup will take place from 5 to 5:45 p.m. Friday at Bellville Abstract Company, and online presales close at noon the same day.
Small Town Christmas continues Saturday morning with Breakfast with Santa from 8 to 11 a.m. at Newman’s Bakery. The celebration overlaps with Bellville Market Days, where more than 100 vendors will fill the square for a daylong shopping event. The Farmers Market runs from 9 a.m. to noon, while Market Day continues until 4 p.m.
Families can also visit The Learning Center from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday for photos with Brahma Santa. Children are encouraged to bring letters for Santa, and guests can enjoy complimentary hot cocoa and cookies while they wait.
Those attending Friday’s parade can also take advantage of another Santa meet-and-greet at the Mini Park from after the parade until 9:30 p.m. KGoebel Photography will provide professional photos, though families are welcome to take their own at no cost.
Organizers note that all activities are subject to change and will proceed rain or shine. Full details and wristband purchases are available at BellvilleSmallTownChristmas.com.
