NOVEMBER

  November 4–5 - Brenham
CHRISTMAS AT THE MANSION... Heritage Belles bring the 1869 Giddings Stone Mansion alive! Hermann Furniture hosts a Christmas-themed, beautifully-decorated open house at the Giddings Stone Mansion. An afternoon tea and home tour kick off the holiday season. For details, go to www.giddingsstonemansion.com. For tea tickets, call (888) 886-7237.

  November 4–5 - Austin
TEXAS BOOK FESTIVAL… Free book festival at the Texas State Capitol & surrounding area. Presentations & book signings by 300 authors, panels, cooking demonstration tent, exhibitors, local foods, entertainment, children’s events. 50,000 attendance.  11^th St at Colorado. (512) 477-4055. www.texasbookfestival.org.

  November 16–18 - Bryan/College Station
BRAZOS VALLEY WORLDFEST - CELEBRATE THE WORLDWIDE CULTURES... Enjoy performing groups, cultural  displays, dance lessons, storytelling, international food, arts & crafts, stage performers and Latin music. International Film Series 6pm on Nov 16-18. Saturday festivities 10am-4pm. Brazos County Expo in Bryan. www.brazosvalleyworldfest.org.

  November 25 - Anderson
TWILIGHT FIRELIGHT AT FANTHORP… Celebrate the holiday season with a journey back to the 1850s! Enjoy the ambiance of the candlelit inn, period music, living history, poetry, stagecoach rides, and holiday fare. 4:30-7:30pm. Tickets sold in front of Courthouse 4:30-7:30pm. Fanthorp Inn State Historic Site. (936) 878-2214. www.birthplaceoftexas.com.

  November 29–December 3 - Brenham
UNITY THEATRE PRESENTS "THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER"... The Hardman kids are the worst in the history of the world. Watch how they turn the Christmas pageant upside down! Unity Theatre, 300 Church St. Call for tickets: (979) 830-8358. www.unitybrenham.org. Tickets@UnityBrenham.org.

DECEMBER

  December 1–2 - Brenham
DOWNTOWN BRENHAM'S CHRISTMAS STROLL AND LIGHTED PARADE... Enjoy live entertainment and holiday shopping as you stroll the beautifully-lighted streets of Historic Downtown Brenham. Saturday downtown lighted parade is sure to put everyone in the holiday spirit. Free admission & free parking. 1-888-Brenham. www.downtownbrenham.com.

  December 1–2 – Flatonia
CHRISTMAS IN FLATONIA... Dec 1 - Wonderful Winter Wine Walk, 5:30 to 9pm - Lots of samples for $20! Dec 2 - Merry Market 9am-4pm with Santa, Arts & Crafts and a Cookie/Candy Carnival - Civic Center, 208 E. North Main St. in Flatonia. Exit 661 on IH-10. (361) 865-3920. www.FlatoniaChamber.com.

  December 2 - Elgin
HOLIDAY BY THE TRACKS... Catch the holiday spirit in Historic Downtown Elgin! Before or after cutting your Christmas tree from one of two local tree farms, enjoy live music, caroling, shopping & kid's activities. There are also pictures with Santa and a lighted holiday parade at dusk. 9am-3pm. Only 19 miles east of Austin on Hwy 290. www.elgintx.com. (512) 285-4515.

  December 2–3 - Boerne
34th ANNUAL OMA'S CHRISTMAS FAIR... Shop for handcrafted merchandise among dozens of vendors in three buildings at the Kendall County Fairgrounds. Enjoy photos & scheduled visits with Santa, door prizes, kid's activities, toy drive, and a bake sale. Held rain or shine. www.KCFA.org.

  December 7–9 & December 14–16 - Canyon Lake
NORTH POLE VILLAGE... Discover the magic of Christmas where children can write a letter to Santa, pet puppies, adopt a toy, go "fishing", select Library books, make a craft, decorate cookies, get their face painted, go on a hayride, see a nativity and sit on Santa's lap! 6pm-9pm. CRRC Recreation Center, 125 Mabel Jones Dr., Canyon Lake, TX. www.crrcofcanyonlake.org. (830) 964-2324.

  December 9 - Winedale
CHRISTMAS IN WINEDALE... Enjoy 19th-century folk-life demonstrations, stagecoach rides, historic homes decorated as they would have been in the mid-1800s, farm animals, storytellers, children's crafts, musical entertainment, family friendly event. FREE. 12-4pm. Winedale Historical Complex, 3738 FM-2718, Round top. For more info: winedale@austin.utexas.edu or www.cah.utexas.edu.

  December 9 - Cameron
CHRISTMAS PARADE... Join us for Cameron's Annual Christmas Parade. Come see the decorated historic downtown Cameron, museums and Old Jail. Get a snack, listen to the music and check the Old Town Cameron in miniature of the 1940s. Get your picture taken with Santa. Festivities start at 5pm, with Candyland themed parade at 5:30 pm. Recapture your childhood Christmas spirit with lights, music and floats! www.cameron-tx.com. (254) 697-4979.

  December 28–29 - Cameron
CAMERON CHAMBER CHRISTMAS BASKETBALL CLASSIC... Come join us for our 20th Annual Cameron Area Chamber of Commerce  Christmas Classic Basketball Tournament. 18 teams of the best basketball talent, no just in Central Texas, but across the state. 12 boys & 12 girls' teams play hard, giving spectators thrilling, often edge-of-your-seat game play. www.cameron-tx.com. (254) 697-4979.

JANUARY

  January 13 - Brenham
UPTOWN SWIRL... Treat yourself, your spouse and your friends to a fun afternoon and evening of sipping wine and swirling through historic Downtown Brenham from 3-7pm. For a small fee, attendees enjoy a tasty wine sampling and a collectible wine glass. For details or to order tickets, call (979) 337-7384. Or visit www.BrenhamUptownSwirl.com.

FEBRUARY

  February 1–16 - Brenham
UNITY THEATRE PRESENTS "ALL MY SONS"... An intense drama concerning the relationships between fathers and sons and between business and personal ethics. Downtown's Unity Theatre. Thurs 7:30pm, Fri/Sat 8pm, Sun 4pm. www.unitybrenham.org. Call for tickets: (979) 830-8358.

MARCH

  March 15, April 19, May 17, June 21, July 19, Aug 16, Sept 20, Oct 18, Nov 15 & Dec 20 - Gruene Historic District / New Braunfels
COME AND TASTE IT... Meet Texas' best winemakers the third Thursday of each month. Enjoy complimentary wine & beer tastings & learn directly from the craftsman. Live music complements the wines on Gruene Historic District's Grapevine patio. Also live entertainment nightly at Texas' Oldest Dancehall. www.GrapevineinGruene.com. 830-606-0093.

  March 24 - Flatonia
SPRING MARKET DAY WITH TEXAS INDEPENDENCE RELAY EXCHANGE... Arts & crafts, jewelry, hand-crafted one of a kind items, food, drinks, music & more! CHEER on the TIR runners on South Main St. Downtown Flatonia. (361) 865-3920. www.flatoniachamber.com. flatoniacofc@sbcglobal.net.

  March 30–April 7 - Burton
LA BAHIA ANTIQUE SHOW AT LA BAHIA HALL...