The Coca-Cola Holiday Caravan has become a familiar sight during the holiday season, drawing crowds with its illuminated red trucks, Santa appearances and family-friendly activities. The nationwide tour, now in its 27th year, has its roots in one of Coca-Colaโs most recognizable advertising campaigns.
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The caravanโs origin dates to 1995, when Coca-Cola released its โHolidays Are Comingโ commercial featuring a convoy of glowing red trucks moving through winter landscapes. Created by the W.B. Doner advertising agency with visual effects by Industrial Light & Magic, the commercial quickly became a seasonal staple. The imagery of the trucks became so popular that Coca-Cola began receiving requests from the public to bring the concept to life. By 2001, the company launched its first real-world Holiday Caravan tour in the United States. The traveling trucks began visiting cities and communities across the country, offering photos with Santa, holiday-themed giveaways and interactive displays. Over time, the tour expanded to include features such as the Coca-Cola Gifting Box and additional activities tailored to each stop.
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This year, the Holiday Caravan is making several stops in Texas. The tour will appear Dec. 11 from 12 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Mi Tienda, located at 3800 Little York Road in Houston. On Dec. 13, the caravan will stop at Academy Sports & Outdoors at 23155 Katy Freeway in Katy from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., followed by a visit the same day from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Kroger, 2700 W. Grand Parkway N. in Katy.
Nearly three decades after its launch, the Holiday Caravan continues to draw large crowds and maintains its reputation as one of Coca-Colaโs longest-running holiday promotions. While the event has evolved, the core elements โ festive lighting, community engagement and the recognizable red trucks โ remain unchanged. The caravan continues its seasonal route each December, bringing what many consider the unofficial start of the holidays to communities nationwide.
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