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Christmas with kids in Victoria
In Victoria, Christmas gathers around De Leon Plaza, where a 30-foot animated tree dances to music and a lighted parade rolls down Main Street. Here is a short look at how the city celebrates.
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The story of Christmas in Victoria
How Victoria celebrates
Christmas in Victoria centers on downtown. The City and the Victoria Fine Arts Association hold what they call the traditional lighting of the H-E-B Christmas Tree at De Leon Plaza, a 30-foot animated tree that stays up through January and plays a musical light show every half hour in the evenings. The tree was in its second year in 2021, so it dates to 2020. A lighted parade follows on Main Street, hosted by the City, with school bands, churches, car clubs and more than 100 businesses taking part in 2024.
Christmas last year in Victoria
In 2025 the tree lighting at De Leon Plaza began at 5:30 pm on Saturday, Dec. 6, and the lighted parade followed the same night. The route started at Main Street and Goodwin Avenue, went down Main to Church Street and came back up Bridge Street, with hot chocolate along the way. Riverside Kids won Best in Show, Holt Cat and Texas First Rentals won Best Use of Lights, and the parade aired on TV15 and Facebook. The Texas Zoo held Christmas Nights on Dec. 26, with warm drinks and cookies.
Fun facts about Christmas in Victoria
Squirrels once chewed through the wiring on the trees in De Leon Plaza, so the Main Street Program wrapped them in tougher lights that stay up all year. In 2021 families rode hayrides down O Christmas Tree Lane, a stretch of Main Street lined with trees decorated by local nonprofits, and visited a petting zoo and Santa at City Hall. Victoria's New Year's Eve fireworks at Riverside Park began in 2023.
Traditions today
- H-E-B Christmas Tree lighting: A 30-foot animated tree at De Leon Plaza lights up at 5:30 pm, then plays a musical light show every half hour.
- Victoria Lighted Christmas Parade: Bands, churches, car clubs and businesses roll down Main Street, with food trucks and children's activities before it starts.
- Parade awards: The City names winners such as Best in Show and Best Use of Lights each year.
- Merry on Main: A downtown gathering with vendors, food trucks, activities and entertainment hosted by the Main Street Program.
- Christmas Nights at the Texas Zoo: An evening visit to the zoo after Christmas with a warm drink and cookies.
- New Year's Eve fireworks: A fireworks show at Riverside Park that began in 2023 and closes out the season.
A fact for kids
Squirrels once chewed through the lights on the trees in Victoria's De Leon Plaza, so the city put up tougher lights that now stay on the trees all year long.
Questions about Christmas in Victoria
When does Victoria light its big Christmas tree?
The H-E-B Christmas Tree at De Leon Plaza is lit at 5:30 pm on the evening of the lighted parade. In 2025 that was Saturday, Dec. 6, the same night as the parade. For this year's date, see our Victoria Christmas events guide on this page.
How big is the downtown Victoria Christmas tree?
The H-E-B Christmas Tree is a 30-foot animated tree in De Leon Plaza. It stays up through January and plays a musical light show every half hour in the evenings, so families can stop by on any night during the season, not only on the night of the lighting.
How long has the H-E-B tree been part of Victoria Christmas?
A 2021 article called the animated tree "in its second year," which means it first lit up in 2020. The City and the Victoria Fine Arts Association now describe the lighting as a traditional kickoff for the season, held each December at De Leon Plaza.
What is the Victoria Lighted Christmas Parade?
It is a downtown parade hosted by the City of Victoria, with more than 100 businesses, school bands, churches and car clubs taking part in 2024. Food trucks and children's activities start about an hour before the parade, and the whole evening is also livestreamed for families who stay home.
Where does the Victoria Christmas parade go?
In 2025 the parade started at Main Street and Goodwin Avenue, moved down Main Street to Church Street, and came back up Bridge Street to Goodwin. Those streets were closed to traffic, and hot chocolate was available along the way.
Who wins prizes at the Victoria Christmas parade?
The City hands out awards each year. In 2025 Riverside Kids won Best in Show, Holt Cat and Texas First Rentals won Best Use of Lights, and Howell Middle School and Victoria East High School were the best bands. Crossroads Cruisers won Best Car Club.
Can we watch the Victoria parade from home?
Yes. The City streams the tree lighting and parade on its Facebook page, and the parade is broadcast on TV15 (cable channels 15 and 115, or online at victoriatx.gov/tv15). In 2025 the broadcast kept running leading up to Christmas, so there is a second chance to watch.
What did Victoria do for Christmas in 2021?
After the tree lighting on Dec. 3, downtown offered cookies and cocoa, winter inflatables, a petting zoo, live music and photos with Santa at City Hall. Hayrides ran down O Christmas Tree Lane on Main Street, lined with trees decorated by local nonprofits. The parade followed the next day.
What is O Christmas Tree Lane?
In 2021 it was a stretch of Main Street between One O'Connor Plaza and City Hall lined with artificial trees decorated by local nonprofits, with hayrides running through it. It is a good example of how Victoria groups share the work of decorating downtown for the season.
Why are there lights on the trees in De Leon Plaza all year?
Squirrels had chewed through the old wiring, so the Victoria Main Street Program wrapped the plaza trees in more durable string lights in 2021. The program's director said the new lights would stay up year-round. Kids can look for the glowing trees even outside the holiday season.
What is Merry on Main?
Merry on Main is a downtown Victoria Christmas gathering hosted by the City's Main Street Program and Mother Cluckers Downtown. In 2024 it took place on Saturday, Dec. 14, with vendors, food trucks, activities and entertainment, one week after the lighted parade.
Does Victoria have a New Year's Eve celebration?
Yes. The City held its second annual New Year's Eve fireworks show at Riverside Park on Dec. 31, 2024, so the tradition began in 2023. It carries the holiday season past Christmas, and a 2025 article said celebrations were planned again at Riverside Park.
Is there a Christmas event at the Texas Zoo?
The Texas Zoo in Victoria hosted Christmas Nights on Dec. 26, 2025, from 7 to 9 pm. Tickets were $12 for adults and $10 for children, and the price included a warm drink and cookies. Check our Victoria Christmas events guide on this page for this year's plans.
Does Santa come to Victoria?
Santa has appeared at Victoria's downtown celebration. In 2021 families could take photos with Santa at City Hall after the tree lighting. Other seasonal visits come and go, so for confirmed Santa dates this year, see our Victoria Christmas events guide on this page.
What time does the Victoria Christmas parade start?
In 2024 the parade began at 6 pm, with food trucks and children's activities opening at 5 pm. In 2025 the tree lighting at 5:30 pm kicked off the evening, with the parade following. Arriving early gives little ones time to find a spot and warm up with hot chocolate.
How should I prepare kids for the parade?
Tell them that bands, lights and decorated floats will pass by, and that it may be loud. Dress them in layers, since evenings can cool off after sunset. Arrive early for the food trucks and children's activities, and pick a viewing spot where little ones can see over the crowd.
How can I explain the animated tree to a toddler?
Say that the big tree in the plaza dances to music with its lights. The 30-foot H-E-B tree runs a light show every half hour in the evenings, so a short visit is enough. Count the lights together, then head home before bedtime.
Who organizes Victoria's downtown Christmas celebrations?
The City of Victoria Parks and Recreation and the Victoria Main Street Program have organized downtown festivities, along with Townsquare Media in 2021. The Victoria Fine Arts Association joined the City for the tree lighting in 2024. Local businesses, schools and churches fill the parade.
Where do I find this year's Victoria Christmas dates?
Dates change each year, so check our Victoria Christmas events guide on this page for confirmed listings. The City of Victoria also posts the tree lighting and parade details on its news page and Facebook page shortly before the first weekend of December.
Why does Victoria celebrate Christmas downtown?
De Leon Plaza and Main Street give the city a central gathering place. The tree stands on the plaza, the parade runs along Main Street. That setup lets families walk from one part of the celebration to the next without much driving, which helps on a busy evening.
Sources
- Lighting of the H-E-B Christmas Tree, KIXS
- Victoria Lighted Christmas Parade, KIXS
- News Flash: parade winners, City of Victoria
- Downtown Victoria being transformed for Christmas festivities, 987 Jack
- Christmas Nights, HappeningNext