From Santa Rita Ranch, three downtowns hold holiday events: Liberty Hill, Georgetown and Leander. For 2026, those towns have spread their tree lightings, parades and festivals across Thanksgiving weekend and the first two Saturdays of December. Only one Saturday has two parades, and they start three hours apart.
The last big day of the season starts inside the neighborhood. Liberty Hill's December festival opens with a race at Santa Rita Middle School on Santa Rita Blvd, hours before the town's lighted parade comes down Main Street.
The Season on One Page
| Date | Event | Town | Time | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri., Nov. 27 | Annual Lighting of the Square | Georgetown | 5:30–6:30 p.m., lights on about 6 p.m. | East steps, Williamson County Courthouse, 710 S. Main St. |
| Sat., Nov. 28 | Christmas Tree Lighting | Liberty Hill | 5:30–6:30 p.m. | Downtown Roundabout |
| Fri.–Sun., Dec. 4–6 | 45th Georgetown Christmas Stroll | Georgetown | Fri. 4–9:30 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–9:30 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. | Historic Downtown Georgetown |
| Sat., Dec. 5 | Old Town Christmas Festival and Holiday Community Parade | Leander | Parade at 1 p.m. | Old Town Leander |
| Sat., Dec. 12 | Jingle Bell Run, Christmas Festival and Christmas Parade | Liberty Hill | Run from 8 a.m., festival 10 a.m.–3 p.m., parade 6 p.m. | Santa Rita Middle School, Downtown LHTX, Main Street |
The table shows three separate weekends, and each one has a different feel. Thanksgiving weekend has two short evening events on back-to-back nights. December 5 is a full day, and you can split it between two towns. December 12 is Liberty Hill's day from early morning to evening.
Thanksgiving Weekend Has Two Lightings, One Night Apart
Georgetown goes first. The Annual Lighting of the Square is on the day after Thanksgiving, Friday, Nov. 27, on the east steps of the historic Williamson County Courthouse at 710 S. Main St. The Uptown Carolers perform from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Around 6 p.m., Georgetown Mayor Pro Tem Kevin Pitts and Williamson County Court Judge Steven Snell turn on the lights on the courthouse, its grounds and the Square. The city's listing says many stores will be open late.
The Square's lights are funded by the City of Georgetown, and the courthouse lights by Williamson County. They stay on every evening through January 1. Even if you miss the Friday ceremony, the Square stays lit for weeks, including a December 4 kickoff when the Stroll adds thousands more lights.
Liberty Hill lights its tree the next evening. The Christmas Tree Lighting is Saturday, Nov. 28, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Downtown Roundabout. Both events start at the same time on consecutive nights, so a household can see both towns light up over Thanksgiving weekend without choosing between them.
December 5 Has Two Parades, Three Hours Apart
The first Saturday in December is the only day this season when two towns hold parades. The timing still works.
Georgetown's parade starts at 10 a.m. as part of the 45th Annual Georgetown Christmas Stroll. This year the Downtown Georgetown Association calls it "Hometown Christmas Stroll: A Season to Gather." It runs three days, Dec. 4 through 6, and admission is free. The association counted more than 72,000 attendees in 2025. Saturday has more than 200 artisan and boutique vendors, food trucks, Santa's Village, a Kids Zone with a rock wall and obstacle courses, and Snow in the Park, with real falling snow in the middle of downtown. Two stages run all day. The Jingle Bell Stage has live music and a Saturday-night headliner. The Silver Bell Stage features local schools, dance studios, cheer teams and community performers.
Leander's parade is at 1 p.m. the same day. The City of Leander's Old Town Holiday Community Parade runs alongside the Old Town Christmas Festival, which the Leander Chamber of Commerce and the City of Leander host as the town's holiday kickoff, with shopping, music, food and Santa. The parade page lists parking at Camacho Elementary or any Leander ISD building lot.
So December 5 can mean Georgetown in the morning and Leander in the afternoon. You could also choose one and stay all day. The Stroll runs until 9:30 p.m. Saturday, and if Saturday is too full, its Sunday hours run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For Georgetown, the association's Stroll FAQ lists free public parking at these locations:
- The public parking garage at 502 S. Main St.
- The Williamson County parking garage at Third and Rock streets
- The lot at Seventh and Rock streets
- The lot at Eighth and Forest streets
- The City lot on the west side of Austin Avenue at Fifth Street
Accessible parking is at the City lot at 10th and Main and on the east side of the library lot at Eighth and Forest. A placard or license plate designation is required. The FAQ says the 502 S. Main garage closes during parade-morning hours because it sits on the route, but its dates are carried over from an earlier year. If you plan to arrive before the 10 a.m. parade, use one of the other lots on that list. Folding chairs are allowed along the route, but umbrellas and canopies are not.
December 12 Starts on Santa Rita Blvd
Liberty Hill saves its biggest day for last, and it starts in the neighborhood. The Liberty Hill Jingle Bell 5K runs out of Santa Rita Middle School at 90 Santa Rita Blvd on Saturday, Dec. 12. Packet pickup and day-of registration run from 6:45 to 7:45 a.m. The 1K Fun Run starts at 8 a.m., the 5K at 8:30 a.m., and awards begin at 9:45 a.m. The race runs rain or shine, and the page says no refunds are given.
On the morning of the race, part of the season's last big event is within walking or biking distance for many households in the ranch.
Registration is where planning ahead saves money. Before Nov. 19, the 5K costs $30 for adults and $25 for students 18 and under, and the 1K costs $25 and $20. After Nov. 19, every price goes up $5. For a family of two adults and two students in the 5K, registering early costs $110 instead of $130. Three weeks after this post goes up, that difference ends.
After the race, the day moves to downtown Liberty Hill. The Liberty Hill Christmas Festival runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Experience LHTX describes a day of shopping, food and music, while children snow tube, play in real snow and visit Santa and Mrs. Claus. The lighted Christmas Parade comes down Main Street at 6 p.m. Vendor applications have closed, and parade registration for community floats opens Nov. 1.
That makes Dec. 12 a three-part day with natural breaks. You can do the run in the ranch, spend late morning at the festival, go home for the afternoon and return for the 6 p.m. parade.
What the Official Pages Have Not Posted Yet
Several details are still being finalized as of late October. Liberty Hill's festival page says "more details coming soon" and has not listed snow-activity pricing or parking. Leander's festival schedule page says "Coming Soon!" and does not yet show festival hours. Leander's FAQ page has a parade route map, but its road-closure dates are from a previous year.
The dates and start times above come from the 2026 listings. For parking, road closures and activity fees, check these three pages in the week before each event:
- Experience LHTX for the Nov. 28 lighting and everything on Dec. 12
- Downtown Georgetown Association for the Dec. 4–6 Stroll, and Visit Georgetown for the Nov. 27 lighting
- Old Town Leander for the Dec. 5 festival and parade
The Square in Georgetown stays lit through New Year's Day, so after Liberty Hill's parade ends on the night of Dec. 12, you still have three weeks to see it.
If you're hosting family in Santa Rita Ranch this season and want help planning which Saturday works best for your guests, or if you're thinking ahead to a move in the new year, Diego Corzo and the team are glad to help. Contact Us.
