Rally is researching the season
Christmas with kids in Bryan
Bryan's Christmas story starts on Main Street, where the first known Christmas parade rolled through downtown in 1889. More than a century later, the same historic streets still fill with lights, floats and families every December.
2026 Christmas events are coming in late November
We are confirming this season's Christmas events in Bryan with every host. Subscribe and we'll email you the day they are released.
Free. One email a week with new events in Bryan. Unsubscribe anytime.
The story of Christmas in Bryan
How Bryan celebrates
Bryan's best-known tradition is the Christmas parade in Historic Downtown Bryan. The first known parade there took place in 1889, according to The Eagle, and Destination Bryan calls it the oldest Christmas parade in the Brazos Valley. Today it is the Downtown Bryan Holiday Stroll and Lighted Parade, with decorated floats from local schools, groups and businesses. The city also hosts Holiday Magic at Sue Haswell Memorial Park, which reached its 27th year in 2025, and Lights On!, the evening when downtown switches on its holiday lights and the Sale Park tree.
Christmas last year in Bryan
The 2025 season opened on Friday, November 21, with Lights On! in Historic Downtown Bryan from 5 to 10 p.m. The Sale Park tree countdown began at 5:40 p.m., and families found live music, face painting, bounce houses and a visit from Santa. On December 4, Holiday Magic brought snow hills, train rides and photos with Santa to Sue Haswell Memorial Park. The Lighted Parade followed on December 11 with the theme Rockin' Around Downtown. Kids also hunted for nine hidden reindeer in city parks from December 1 to 14.
Fun facts about Christmas in Bryan
Every year the parade gets a new theme. Recent ones include Holidays Around the World in 2021, Holidays Are Sweeter in Bryan in 2022, Howdy Holidays in 2023, Holiday Movie Magic in 2024 and Rockin' Around Downtown in 2025. Bryan also has Santa mailboxes, where letters with a return address get a written reply. In 2025 they stood at the Carnegie History Center, the Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History and POV Coffee House. Even in Texas, Holiday Magic has snow hills, with one slope for small children and one for bigger riders.
Traditions today
- Downtown Bryan Holiday Stroll and Lighted Parade: Decorated floats, carolers and live music travel through Historic Downtown Bryan on a December evening, with a stroll before the parade starts.
- Lights On!: Downtown Bryan lights up for the season with a tree countdown at Sale Park, live music, face painting, bounce houses and a Santa appearance.
- Holiday Magic at Sue Haswell Memorial Park: A free evening with snow hills, train rides, hot chocolate, cookies and photos with Santa, now more than 25 years old.
- Reindeer on the Run: Kids follow clues from Santa's elves to find nine reindeer hidden at city parks and facilities, then enter a prize drawing.
- Santa mailboxes: Children drop letters to Santa at special mailboxes around town and get a written reply when they add a return address.
- Holiday Porch Stroll: Families walk the East Side Historic District on their own to see decorated historic homes, using a guide and map from Heritage Park.
A fact for kids
In Bryan, Texas, kids can slide down snow hills at Holiday Magic, and an earlier year had two hills, one for little kids under 42 inches tall and one for taller riders.
Questions about Christmas in Bryan
What is the oldest Christmas tradition in Bryan, Texas?
The downtown Christmas parade is Bryan's oldest tradition. The Eagle reports the first known parade in Downtown Bryan in 1889, and Destination Bryan calls it the oldest Christmas parade in the Brazos Valley. Today it is called the Holiday Stroll and Lighted Parade and still rolls through Historic Downtown Bryan each December.
Who builds the floats in the Bryan Christmas parade?
The floats in Bryan's downtown Christmas parade are built by local schools, groups and businesses, who design them around the year's theme. The parade itself goes back to 1889, according to The Eagle, so families today are watching a tradition that is more than 130 years old. The modern version is a lighted evening parade.
What is the Bryan Lighted Parade theme this year?
The 2026 theme is Candy Cane on Main, according to Destination Bryan. Each year brings a new theme, such as Rockin' Around Downtown in 2025 and Holiday Movie Magic in 2024. See our Bryan Christmas events guide on this page for current dates.
What were past Bryan parade themes?
Recent themes include Holidays Around the World in 2021, Holidays Are Sweeter in Bryan in 2022, Howdy Holidays in 2023, Holiday Movie Magic in 2024 and Rockin' Around Downtown in 2025. Local schools, groups and businesses build floats around each theme, so every year looks a little different from the last.
What is Lights On! in Historic Downtown Bryan?
Lights On! is the evening that kicks off the holiday season downtown. In 2025 it ran Friday, November 21, from 5 to 10 p.m., with a tree lighting countdown at Sale Park at 5:40 p.m. Families found live music, face painting, bounce houses, food and a Santa appearance, and the city added new lights and decorations.
What is Holiday Magic at Sue Haswell Memorial Park?
Holiday Magic is a free family evening at Sue Haswell Memorial Park. It reached its 27th year in 2025, so it has been a local tradition for decades. Kids can enjoy snow hills, train rides, inflatables, face painting, hot chocolate, cookies and photos with Santa and holiday characters.
Does it really snow at Holiday Magic in Bryan?
Not real snow, but there are snow hills. Holiday Magic features hills kids can slide down, and in an earlier year one hill was for children under 42 inches tall and another for taller riders. Sliding needed a signed release form that families could complete online. Check the city page each year for current rules.
How do kids send a letter to Santa in Bryan?
Bryan sets up Santa mailboxes around town. In 2025 they stood at the Carnegie History Center, the Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History and POV Coffee House from November 21 to December 11. Children who include a return address get a written reply, so remind little ones to add it.
What is Reindeer on the Run?
Reindeer on the Run is a free scavenger hunt run by the City of Bryan. Santa's nine escaped reindeer hide at parks and city facilities, and kids follow clues from Santa's elves to find them all. In 2025 it ran December 1 to 14, and finding every reindeer earned an entry in a prize drawing.
What is the Holiday Porch Stroll?
The Holiday Porch Stroll is a self-guided walk through the East Side Historic District to see decorated historic homes. In 2025 it took place on Sunday, December 7, from 4 to 7 p.m., and guides and maps were available at Heritage Park. It is free and works well for families who like a slow evening walk.
What is the Nutcracker storytime at the Bryan library?
Ballet Brazos performs a Nutcracker storytime at the Clara B. Mounce Public Library each holiday season. In 2025 it was a free show on November 21 at 4 p.m., with tickets handed out 30 minutes before on a first come basis. Seating was limited, so families arrived early.
What is Winter Wonderland at Travis Fields?
Winter Wonderland is a free holiday event at Travis Fields in Bryan Midtown Park. In 2025 it was in its fourth year, on Saturday, December 6, with Santa, holiday games, a petting zoo, a holiday train, a vendor market and a toy drive run by the Marine Corps League.
Is there a Christmas tree in downtown Bryan?
Yes. Downtown Bryan has a Christmas tree at Sale Park, and it is lit during the Lights On! evening with a countdown. In 2025 the countdown began at 5:40 p.m., and the city invested in new lights and decorations downtown. Our Bryan Christmas events guide on this page lists this season's dates.
Is there a Christmas parade in Bryan this year?
Yes. Bryan holds its Holiday Stroll and Lighted Parade in Historic Downtown Bryan every December, with a stroll in the early evening and the parade after dark. The 2026 theme is Candy Cane on Main. Check our Bryan Christmas events guide on this page for the most current date and time.
Where do families watch the parade in Bryan?
Families line the streets of Historic Downtown Bryan, including Bryan Avenue and Main Street. In 2025 the floats featured live music and carolers along those streets. Bring chairs or blankets, arrive early for a good spot, and plan to browse downtown during the stroll before the parade starts.
How can I explain the parade to young kids?
Tell them the parade is a big Christmas party on Main Street that people have enjoyed since 1889. Neighbors, schools and businesses decorate floats with lights and music, and everyone watches together. Pointing out the yearly theme, like Howdy Holidays, gives kids something fun to look for.
Does Santa visit Bryan events?
Yes. Santa appears at several Bryan traditions, including Lights On! downtown and Holiday Magic at Sue Haswell Memorial Park, where kids can take photos with him. He also appears at Winter Wonderland at Travis Fields. Children can also write to him through the town's Santa mailboxes and get a reply.
What else is happening on First Friday in December?
Historic Downtown Bryan hosts a First Friday evening each month, and the December one has a holiday feel. In 2025 it ran Friday, December 5, from 5 to 10 p.m., with lights, open shops, live music, art, vendors and dining. It is free to walk around, which suits families.
Where can kids see Christmas lights in Bryan?
Historic Downtown Bryan is the main spot, with thousands of lights on Main Street and Bryan Avenue after Lights On!. Sue Haswell Memorial Park glows during Holiday Magic, and the lighted parade adds moving lights after dark. Our Bryan Christmas events guide on this page lists this season's dates.
Is Bryan the same as College Station for Christmas?
No. Bryan and College Station are neighboring cities, and Bryan has its own traditions, like the downtown parade, Lights On! and Holiday Magic. Many families in the Brazos Valley enjoy both cities. Our Bryan Christmas events guide on this page focuses on what happens in Bryan.
Sources
- Bryan prepares for the magic of a decades-old tradition, Destination Bryan
- Jingle All the Way to These Holiday Events, City of Bryan
- Bryan's Lighted Holiday Parade: Legendary Floats Throughout The Years, Destination Bryan
- Holiday Magic Returns Dec. 4 to Sue Haswell Memorial Park, City of Bryan
- Holidays in Bryan, City of Bryan