A Piney Woods Christmas in Palestine, TX
The Texas State Railroad runs a Fall Harvest Lunch Train through the turning color of the Piney Woods — and when winter arrives, Palestine transforms into one of East Texas's most magical holiday destinations.
Palestine, TX spends Christmas the way small East Texas towns have for generations. Storefronts glow gold under strings of lights, wood smoke drifts over the sidewalks, and you can almost hear Santa laughing, just around the corner.
Before the town turns into its own Hallmark movie, they do fall right. East Texas heat tends to hang on into early December, so October brings the first real relief, cooler mornings, the sound of dry leaves, pine needles underfoot on the walking trails. The Texas State Railroad runs a Fall Harvest Lunch Train through the turning color of the Piney Woods, with a catered lunch served depot-side in nearby Rusk, plates set out under the trees while the woods begin to shift toward orange and rust. If you’re here at just the right time, you’ll witness the stunning fall colors – and we’ve got a 100+ mile long driving trail to enjoy them. When you’re ready to face your fears, the Texas Jailhouse lets spooky season take over it’s 3 stories of cell blocks, with their annual Locked in Fear haunted house.
By Mid-November, the Christmas is on track with the Polar Express at the Texas State Railroad, the Official Railroad of Texas. The ride runs more than 20 miles out toward the North Pole and back, long enough that the woods outside the window turn fully dark before the lights appear. The whistle sounds the way it always has. The conductor still punches every ticket by hand. Kids in pajamas press their faces to the glass, breath fogging it, when the North Pole finally comes into view, and grandparents riding along often find themselves back at the same depot, on the same tracks, decades after their own first ride. Texas Monthly named Palestine, TX one of its Top Small-Town Christmas Festivals Worth the Drive.
The first weekend of December belongs to the Parade of Lights, a downtown tradition that draws thousands of visitors. A mile of floats strung end to end in Christmas lights move slowly past storefronts already dressed for the season, kids on shoulders, the whole town and all her guests turned out at once.
Downtown holds its own on any other day, too, regardless of whether the train whistle blows. Small independent shops have their windows dressed for the season, offering gifts that feel personal. And this year, the 1930s Texas Theatre is running Christmas movie nights. Enjoy dinner on the town and then head over to the theatre to enjoy the show. The vintage seats worn soft with age, the smell of real popcorn, and a holiday film on the big screen. It's the kind of evening that stretches a day trip into something longer.
Also dressed up for the holidays, the historic Redlands Hotel anchors downtown, one of more than 1,800 documented historic sites across Anderson County. You can come and enjoy the atmosphere at the Queen Street Grille, located on the ground floor of the hotel without ever leaving the building.
Some families make the trip once. Many find themselves making the trip back to the place that makes it easy to find at least one more memory with their loved ones. We would love to have you find out why. And don’t forget your PJs!
Palestine, TX is only two hours from DFW and two and a half hours from Houston through the stunning piney woods of East Texas. Head over to VisitPalestine.com/Christmas or call 800-659-3484 to start planning.