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-Cola’s most recognizable advertising campaigns.
The caravan’s origin dates to 1995, when Coca-Cola released its “Holidays Are Coming” 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.
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-Cola’s longest-running holiday promotions. While the event has evolved, the core elements — festive lighting, community engagement and the recognizable red trucks — remain unchanged. The caravan continues its seasonal route each December, bringing what many consider the unofficial start of the holidays to communities nationwide.
