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Christmas with kids in Temple
In Temple, Texas, Santa has been known to arrive by train. The city's Christmas parade reached its 79th year in 2025, and a month-long celebration called Holly Jolly now fills downtown.
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The story of Christmas in Temple
How Temple celebrates
Temple's best-known Christmas tradition is the City of Temple Christmas Parade, which counted its 79th annual edition in 2025, so it traces back to the 1940s. Santa arrives at the end, coming down W. Adams Avenue. In recent years the city has wrapped its events into a month-long celebration called Holly Jolly, which opens with Christmas at the Plaza and a tree lighting at Santa Fe Plaza. Another favorite is Santa at the Depot, where Santa arrives on a real train at the Temple Railroad & Heritage Museum.
Christmas last year in Temple
In 2025 Holly Jolly opened with Christmas at the Plaza on Saturday, November 29, with a market, live reindeer, carriage rides, a drone show and the tree lighting, with the event moved earlier to 3 PM because of rain. The 79th Christmas Parade, themed A Lone Star Christmas, rolled on Monday, December 1, and brought thousands downtown. Santa at the Depot followed on December 6. The city also opened Temple's first outdoor ice rink, Rink on the Rails, from December 12 to January 4.
Fun facts about Christmas in Temple
Temple's parade route runs along Adams Avenue and ends at Temple High School, and in 2023 it drew illuminated displays from more than 100 applicants. At Santa at the Depot, children can make a Winter Wonderland in a Bottle and reindeer food, and a trackless train gave free rides around the depot in 2025. The Christmas at the Plaza market in one guide listed more than 75 vendors. Rink on the Rails was billed as Central Texas's largest outdoor ice rink and made entirely of real ice.
Trains and Christmas in Temple
Trains are part of Temple's Christmas story. At Santa at the Depot, held at the Temple Railroad & Heritage Museum at 315 W. Avenue B, Santa arrives in Temple on a real train and greets families on the platform, and in 2025 the day included a holiday sing-along, crafts, games and a trackless train giving free rides around the depot. The city's ice rink opened in 2025 under the name Rink on the Rails.
Traditions today
- The City of Temple Christmas Parade: A downtown evening parade along Adams Avenue that ended with Santa and counted its 79th year in 2025.
- Christmas at the Plaza: A market, live reindeer, carriage rides, a drone show and the tree lighting at Santa Fe Plaza.
- Santa at the Depot: Santa arrives on a real train at the Temple Railroad & Heritage Museum for crafts, a sing-along and photos.
- Holly Jolly: The City of Temple's month-long holiday celebration with events across downtown.
- Rink on the Rails: Temple's first outdoor ice rink, opened in 2025 on the MLK Festival Grounds.
- Merry & Bright Holiday Lights Contest: A city contest that invites neighbors to show off their holiday lights in December.
A fact for kids
In Temple, Texas, Santa has arrived by real train at the old depot. Kids make reindeer food and meet him on the platform.
Questions about Christmas in Temple
What is the oldest Christmas tradition in Temple?
The City of Temple Christmas Parade is the oldest we could verify. It was the 79th annual parade in 2025 and the 77th in 2023, which places its start in the 1940s. It travels Adams Avenue downtown and ends with Santa's arrival, and thousands of people come each year.
Does Santa come at the end of the Temple Christmas Parade?
Yes. The parade ends with Santa's arrival, coming down West Adams Avenue at 7:20 PM in 2025, after the parade began at 6:30 PM. Santa has other stops in the season too, including Santa at the Depot, where he arrives by train. Check the city's page for this year's schedule.
When is the Temple Christmas Parade?
The parade is held in the evening in early December. In 2025 it was Monday, December 1, starting at 6:30 PM, and in 2023 it was Monday, December 4. Dates change each year, so see our Temple Christmas events guide on this page for this year's details.
What route does the Temple Christmas Parade take?
The parade begins at East Adams Avenue and North 8th Street, travels west along Adams Avenue and ends at Temple High School at 415 N. 31st Street. Santa's arrival begins down West Adams Avenue at 7:20 PM. Roads close in the afternoon, and viewing along the route is first-come, first-served.
What was the 2025 Temple Christmas Parade theme?
The 2025 theme was A Lone Star Christmas, celebrating Texas pride and local holiday traditions. In 2023 the 77th parade was themed An Old-Fashioned Christmas, and it drew illuminated displays from more than 100 applicants. Themes change each year, so check the city's announcement.
What happens right before the Temple Christmas Parade?
For 2025 the evening schedule was this: roads along the route close from 4 PM, the parade begins at 6:30 PM and Santa arrives at 7:20 PM. Parking is free at City Hall, Santa Fe Plaza and the 1st Street garage, so plan to arrive early.
What is Holly Jolly in Temple?
Holly Jolly is the City of Temple's month-long holiday celebration. In 2025 it included Christmas at the Plaza, the parade, Kringle Krawl, Santa at the Depot, a senior Christmas dinner, a concert, a lights contest and a new ice rink. It starts in late November, right after Thanksgiving.
What is Christmas at the Plaza?
Christmas at the Plaza is the tree lighting kickoff at Santa Fe Plaza, 301 W. Avenue A, in downtown Temple. In 2025 it had a holiday market, children's activities, carriage rides, live reindeer, a drone show and the tree lighting with fireworks. Rain moved the event earlier to 3 PM that year.
Where can kids see a giant Christmas tree in Temple?
The big tree stands at Santa Fe Plaza in downtown Temple, where the city lights it at Christmas at the Plaza. For this year's date, time and activities, see our Temple Christmas events guide on this page. In earlier years the tree lighting was also held at City Hall before the parade.
How does a drone show fit into Temple's Christmas?
At Christmas at the Plaza in 2025, a drone show was planned for 6:15 PM, just before a 6:30 PM tree lighting, though rain moved the event earlier to 3 PM. Another guide described a countdown, drones and a pyromusical production. For young children, point to the sky and talk about how the lights make shapes.
Is there a Christmas market in Temple?
Yes. The Christmas Market at Christmas at the Plaza in downtown Temple had local vendors in 2025, and one guide described more than 75 vendors with handmade gifts, decor and treats. Whether it returns this year is best checked in our Temple Christmas events guide on this page.
What is Santa at the Depot?
Santa at the Depot is a free community celebration at the Temple Railroad & Heritage Museum, 315 W. Avenue B. In 2025, on December 6, Santa arrived on a real train and greeted families on the platform, with crafts, treats, games, a holiday sing-along and photo stations.
How do kids meet Santa at the Depot?
In 2025 families could watch Santa's train arrive, and photos with Santa inside the depot were by appointment only. Guests were asked to arrive by 9:30 AM to see the train. Check the City of Temple's page for how this year's visits will work.
What crafts do kids make at Santa at the Depot?
In 2025 children made a Winter Wonderland in a Bottle and reindeer food. The Chisholm Trail Chorus led a holiday sing-along, and a new trackless train gave free rides around the depot. The day is built around young children. Registering ahead or arriving early is wise.
What is the Temple Railroad & Heritage Museum?
It is the museum at 315 W. Avenue B in Temple that hosts the city's free Santa at the Depot celebration each December. In 2025 it offered holiday crafts, treats, games, photo stations and winter wonderland displays, plus a gift shop. Check the museum for its regular hours before you visit.
What is Rink on the Rails?
Rink on the Rails is Temple's first outdoor ice rink, opened in December 2025 on the MLK Festival Grounds at 301 S. 4th Street. The city billed it as Central Texas's largest outdoor ice rink, made entirely of real ice. Admission was $12 per person and $5 for skates.
What is Kringle Krawl in Temple?
Kringle Krawl is a First Friday downtown event that was part of Holly Jolly in 2025, on Friday, December 5. The city lists it among its holiday events in downtown Temple. See our Temple Christmas events guide on this page for current details.
What is the Merry and Bright Holiday Lights Contest?
It is a City of Temple contest in the Holly Jolly lineup that ran from December 8 to December 15 in 2025. Residents show off their holiday lights, and it is a good reason to take a car ride after dinner to look at decorations with your kids.
How do I explain the drone show and fireworks to a young child?
Tell your child that tiny flying lights will draw pictures in the sky, and then the big tree will light up with music and fireworks. Bring ear protection for little ears, a blanket and a jacket. At Christmas at the Plaza the grassy area was closed that year, so check where to stand.
Has Santa ever left Temple by helicopter?
Yes. In 2024 the City of Temple held Santa's Send-Off at Draughon Miller Regional Airport, where families took photos with Santa, joined a countdown and watched him board a helicopter for the North Pole. Pre-registration was required and tickets sold out. Check the city for whether it returns.
Sources
- Month-long festivities kick off with Christmas at the Plaza on Saturday, November 29, City of Temple
- City of Temple to host 79th Annual Christmas Parade, City of Temple
- Santa at the Depot 2025, City of Temple on Eventeny
- Rink on the Rails to be open Friday, December 12, through Sunday, January 4, City of Temple
- Temple's Christmas at the Plaza event moved earlier to 3 p.m. Saturday, KWTX
- A guide to Christmas at the Plaza, Discover Temple
- City of Temple Hosts 77th Annual Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting Ceremony, City of Temple
- Santa's Send-Off, City of Temple on Eventeny