Santa's Stops

With my first child, I was so excited to get him all dressed up for his first picture with Santa. I imagined a perfect picture with everyone smiling to put on our first family Christmas card.  My (very thrifty) husband does not like the idea of spending anything over $5 for a picture. His suggestion?  Pictures with Santa for a buck. Aaannnnddd this is what I got.....

 

 

Not at ALL what I had imagined, but this has become one of my very favorite holiday pictures!

 

Here are some places around the area to take the kids to meet Santa this season. Hopefully, you will have better luck than I did!

 

San Marcos:

Sights & Sounds of Christmas

When: November 28th-December 1st

Time: 5-11pm

Cost: Admission for kids 12 & under are FREE, Pictures are FREE

Additional Info: Santa will be arriving each night at 6:30pm by helicopter (Wednesday), Harley Davidson (Thursday), Classic Car Parade (Friday), River Boat (Saturday).

 

New Braunfels:

 

Downtown Tree Lighting & Santa's Arrival

When: November 16th

Where:  Main Plaza Downtown

Time: 6pm

Cost: FREE

Additional Info: (830) 221-4350

 

Photos With Cowboy Kringle

When: November: 17th- 10a-5p, 18th- 12-5p, 23rd- 10a-5p, 24th- 10a-5p, 25th- 12-5p

            December: 1st- 10a-4p, 2nd- 12-5p,  8th- 10a-5p, 9th- 12-5p, 15th- 10a-5p, 16th- 12-5p

Where: Between The Grapevine and Gruene General Store

Cost:    Varies

 

Weihnachtsmarkt

When: Breakfast with Santa on November 17th

Where: New Braunfels Civic Center

Time:   8:30a-10a

Cost:   Admission $10

Additional Info: Registration is required, call 830-629-1572.

Paint With Santa
When: November 18th & 24th
Where: Bisque Bistro
Time:  4-6pm on the 18th, 9-11am on the 24th
Cost: $26 for mug, $28 for plate or $30 for bowl.
Additional Info: Bring your child in to put their handprint on a mug, plate or bowl with Santa's handprint. They can then decorate their piece and paint an ornament. Kids will get a chance to sit on Santa's lap and take a picture and receive a gift to take home! **You must pre-pay to hold your spot! Call (830) 629-5475.**
 

Dine-in Flick with Saint Nick

When: December 15th

Where: Landa Haus

Time:  5pm

Cost:   $5/person

Additional Info: Enjoy heavy appetizers and festive activities including cookie decorating. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be available for photos and gift requests. Take a caroling mini-train ride through Landa Park and stop for hot chocolate and a viewing of Polar Express on the big screen at the Landa Park Dance Slab. Bring warm clothes and blankets. **Pre-registration is required and spots are limited! Call 830-221-4350 to register**

 

Kyle/Buda:

 

Santa's Arrival & Tree Lighting Ceremony (Kyle)

When: November 28

Time:  4:30-9pm

Where: Historic Kyle City Hall

Cost:  FREE

Additional Info: Bring your own camera, there will not be a photographer available.

Budafest
When: December 1st & 2nd
Time: 10am-5:30pm both days
Where: Main Street & San Antonio St.
Cost: FREE admission, but there will be a small fee for parking that benefits project graduation.
Additional Info: There will be a parade (Saturday at 10am), vendors, live music, full carnival and much more!
 

Cabela's

When: December 8 & 9, 15 & 16

Time: 10a-1pm

Cost: FREE

Additional info: Kids can tell Santa their wish list and enjoy craft projects and treats.

 

Wimberley:

 

Winter's Eve

When: December 8

Time:  5pm

Where: Wimberley Square

Cost:   FREE

Additional Info: Santa arrives at 6:30pm





 

Campfire Kids Nature Tikes Program

Every third Saturday of the month at 10am, the San Marcos Nature Center partners with the Campfire Kids to host their "Nature Tikes" program. Families with toddlers and pre-school age children can come experience fun and educational nature-related activities that promote early childhood literacy, kindergarten preparedness, and access to the outdoors.
Cost is $2 per child. Here is the tenative schedule (subject to change):

November: Trees, Leaves, and Seasons
December: Wildlife fur, skins, and coverings
January: Oceans and Seashells
February: Geology

Buy 1 Get 1 FREE Holiday Drinks at Starbucks

 

November 15th-18th Starbucks will be offering a Buy 1 Get 1 Free promotion on their holiday drinks! Stop in between 2pm-5pm and choose from one of these 3 flavors and get your second choice for FREE! The flavors are:

* Gingerbread Latte
* Caramel Brulee Latte
* Peppermint Mocha

*Please call ahead to your local Starbucks location to make sure they will be participating.*

Vote!

Tuesday, November 6th is voting day! Confused about where you need to vote? Click on your city and check out where  your polling place is located.
San Marcos
New Braunfels
Kyle
Buda
Wimberley

FREE Family Photos at JCP

Check out this great deal from JCPenney! Just in time for the holidays you can get a free sitting fee, free 8x10, and a free digital copy of your portrait emailed to you. Visit the JCPenney Portraits website to find a JCP closest to you and book your appointment fast before they are gone!

Moonlit Date on Landa Lake

Need a different idea for date night this Friday? Moonlit Date on Landa Lake in New Braunfels is Friday from 7-8:30pm. Couples can cruise in paddleboats or relax in a lakeside cabana. Dinner is provided by Cravings. Cost is $30 per couple and pre-registration is required! Call 830-221-4370 for more info!

National Night Out

It's National Night Out! Get out and meet your neighbors! Click on an area near you to find out what special activities are going on in your neighborhood.

San Marcos

New Braunfels

Kyle/Buda

Free Haircuts for Breast Cancer Survivors

JCP Salons are offering FREE cuts and styles to Breast Cancer survivors for the entire month of October! For the first 50,000 haircuts they will be donating $1 each to the Breast Cancer Foundation.

Area Fall Activities

Looking for some family-friendly Fall activities around the area? Check out what is happening near you:

San Marcos:
Farmer Fred's Fall Carnival: October 27th, 6-9pm, Plaza Park. Kids can enjoy carnival games, a barrel train ride, tonds of candy and prizes an dmuch more! Dress up for the costume contest too! Admission, carnival games, and the costume contest are FREE. Concessions and some atractions will have a small fee.

Creature Crawl: Sunday, October 28th 4-7pm at the San Marcos Nature Center. Come meet all of the creepy-crawly creatures up close and personal. Touch a tarantula! Pat a python! Stroll through the wildscape gardens and visit Halloween themed stations: face painting, crafts, storytelling, Tarot readings, meet the animals and Halloween games. Come in costume to trick-or-treat. Food & drink will be available for purchase. $2 per person and all proceeds benefit the San Marcos Nature Center.

Fall Carnival at First Baptist Church San Marcos: October 31st, 5:30-8:30pm. Fun for the whole family! Carnival and activity booths, obstacle course and giant slide, trunk decorating contest, train rides, food booths and more! Trunk-or-Treat is from 7:30-8pm.

Old Towne Faire at First United Methodist Church: Saturday, October 27th, 10am-2m. Face painting, games, petting zoo, pony rides, bounce house and dunking booth! Activity package prices are $5, $7 or $10 per child. There will be an outdoor grill serving a variety of food.

Travis Elementary's 3rd Annual Fall Fest & Monster Mash: October 26th, 5-8pm in the Travis Elementary cafeteria and gym, anyone in a costume is welcome! The best costumes will win prizes. For more info call 512-393-6450.

Fall Bash at Chick-fil-A San Marcos: October 30th, 4-7pm. There will be a petting zoo, pumpkin carving contests and a puppy costume parade.

Halloween Kids Fest: Wake the Dead Coffee House, October 27th, 4-6pm. Kids can enjoy a costume contest, musical chairs/pass the pumpkin, a Skeleton Scavenger Hunt, pinata, Jack-o-Lantern contest, live music and more!

Fall Fair: Calvary Baptist Church, October 31st, 6-8pm, free food, bouncy house, train rides, face painting, puppet show, cake walk, carnival games and candy! Open to the public, Free event!

Mimi's Spookylicious Halloween Bash: Mimi's Trailer Park Eatery, October 31st, 11am-9pm. Kids eat FREE from 6-7pm, trick-or-treat, pumpkin carving contest, cookie decorating, and costume contest.

Pumpkin Patches:
First United Methodist Church: October 11th-31st, Noon-8pm every day.


New Braunfels:
Fall Fest at First United Methodist Church New Braunfels: October 13, 4-7pm. Carnival games, pumpkin painting, train rides, jump castles, dunk tank and more. Concessions will be available.

Fall Festival for Special Needs Families: Head to Dayspring Christian Fellowship (1895 S. Walnut Ave) on October 20th from 10am-2pm. FREE admission, train rides, dietary specific treats, carnival games, crafts and more! Call 830-620-9363 or click here for more info.

New Braunfels Girl Scouts Fall Festival: October 20, 4-7pm at the Girl Scout House. Admission is $1, tickets for games are $.50.

Cross Lutheran's Fall Festival: October 26, 5-9pm, $15 admission- $10 meal plate/$5 activities. Open to the public!

Yogi Bear Jellystone Fall Festival: October 27, 9a-9p, $10 day passes available, open to the public. Costume contest, pumpkin and treat bag decorating, mini carnival, face painting, pony rides, camper-treating and much more! For more info click here.

Sts. Peter & Paul Fall Festival: October 27, 5-9:30pm, open to the public. Trunk or treat, pumpkin carving contest, costume contest, haunted house and more!

Haunted Haus: Visit the Landa Haunted Haus and experience chills that tickle your funny bone and make your hair stand on end. Guests will travel through a maze of mysteries and tricks an leave with a treat! All ages welcom, $5 per person, at the Landa Park Aquatic Center. Thrusday, October 25 & 26, 8-10pm.

Soul Searching Night in the Comal Cemetery: The Comal Cemetery is the burial ground for some of New Braunfels' founders and notable citizens. Hear stories of these illustrious soulds told by actors as living history portrayals. October 26 & 27, tours will begin at 6:30pm and continue until 9pm. Each tour will take about 1 hour. Tickets are $15 per person and available at the Parks and Recreation office. Call 830-221-4350 for more info.

4th Annual YMCA Trunk or Treat: The event will be held at Peter Piper Pizza on October 26th, 6-8pm

Halloween Festival at the Fairgrounds: October 28, 2-7pm, admission is one canned good per family. Safe trick or treating, free candy and prizes, free games for kids!

Stones & Bones Cemetery Tour: A guided tour of the New Braunfels Cemetaery to learn more about the cultural and historical heritage of New Braunfels. Examine the artistry of the monuments and headstones and discuss the contribution of the people buried there. All ages are welcome, $3 per person, 4pm Sat, November 3rd at the New Braunfels Cemetery. Pre-registration is required, call 830-221-4350.

Trick or Treat Downtown Spooktacular: Wednesday, October 31st from 3-6pm along West San Antonio Street. Safe trick or treating, costume contest at 4pm, free kids costume photos, and more! Call 830-221-4091 for more information.

Fall Fest: Head to the Landa Park Dance Slab on November 17th for the first annual New Braunfels Fall Fest! Families will enjoy square dancing, activity booths, food, live music, a pie baking competition and much more! The fun will begin at 3pm.


Pumpkin Patches:
Gruene United Methodist Church: Open Sept. 24th-Oct. 31st, 9am-dark everyday. Starting Oct. 2nd, every Wednesday and Saturday in October they will have Storytime at the Patch at 10am. Fall stories and crafts for all ages. On Saturdays, there will be hay rides at 10am & 11am and there will also be face painting and caramel apple decorating!

First United Methodist Church New Braunfels: October 7th-31st, 10a-8p every day.

Hill Country Gardens: 9a-5p M-Sat, 11a-4p Sundays, mini pumpkins, carving, baking, novelty and more! Click here for more info.


Buda:
Boo-da Halloween: October 28th, 6-8pm at the Downtown Buda Greenbelt. Enjoy a safe alternative for kids to trick-or-treat! FREE admission, Halloween stories, crafts, games and more at the Buda Public Library too! Call 512-295-7170 for more info.

Pumpkin Patches:
Presented by the Buda Methodist Church, dowtown next to the Stagecoach House and Visitors Center. (880 Main St.) September 27th-October 31st. They will have storytime available on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10a-2p and 2p-4p.


Kyle:

Pumpkin Patches:
Kyle Methodist Church: October 14th-30th, M-F: 2:30p-7p, Sat: 9a-7p, Sun: 12p-7p


Wimberley:
Wimberley United Methodist Church: Fall Carnival 10/20, 10a-4p: Fall carnival, games, pumpkin patch, pumpkins for sale, music, car show, silent auction, concession food for sale. Habitat for Humanity Walk

Pet Parade and Pumpkin Fest: Saturday, October 13th, 10a-5p, on the Wimberely Square: Activities include a bounce house, train rides, face painting, balloon art, and pumpkin painting. Specialty pumpkins, Cinderella Pumpkins, Fairy Tale Pumpkins, and Jack-o-Lanterns will be for sale.

Pumpkin Carving Contest: Saturday October 20th: On Wimberley Square, 10am-5pm.

Trick-or-Treating on the Square: Wednesday, October 31st, 4-7pm.

Pumpkin Patches:
Pumpkins will go on sale throughout Wimberley starting October 5th!

Wimberley United Methodist Church: Oct. 17-31, 10a-7p


*If you don't mind a short drive, here are some fun places to take the kids for tons of fall activities that will make it worth your while:

Sweet Berry Farm
Elgin Christmas Tree Farm

FREE Haircuts for Kids at JCP

JCP Salons are offering a FREE haircut to kids ages K-6th grade every Sunday starting November 4th! Schedule your appointment at your nearest JCP Salon today!

Tax Free Weekend 8/17-8/19

Tax Free Weekend is almost here! This weekend take advantage of the holiday and finish up any back-to-school shopping you have left. Not sure what items are tax exempt? Here is the official list of items that qualify this weekend:

SCHOOL SUPPLIES:

Binders                                                                                               
Backpacks                                                                                        
Calculators                                                                                             
Blackboard chalk                                                                                    
Compasses                                                                                                  
Composition books                                                                                     
Crayons                                                                                                    
Erasers                                                                                                     
Folders: expandable, pocket, plastic, and Manila                                     
Glue: paste and glue sticks                                                                         
Highlighters                                                                                                
Index cards
Index card boxes
Legal pads
Lunch boxes
Markers and dry erase markers
Notebooks
Paper
Pencil boxes and other school supply boxes
Pencil sharpeners
Pencils
Pens
Protractors
Rulers
Scissors
Writing Tablets

For a detailed list of CLOTHING & FOOTWEAR click here.

Not finding what you're looking for? Check out some FAQs for the Sales Tax Holiday.

Happy Shopping!

FREE Health Screenings For Kids at SAM's Club in August

At all Sam's Club locations with a pharamacy, kids can get  free health screenings during the month of August. Screenings will include: Fingerprinting kits, Take-home DNA swabs, Dental tablets, BMI (Body Mass Index) and Blood Pressure tests. This offer is free for members as well as guests!

5th Annual School Supply Give Away in New Braunfels

Stop by Tooth Time Family Dentistry Friday, August 3rd for their 5th Annual School Supply Give Away! It's a FREE event, so show up while supplies last! Parents without children with them will be limited to two backpacks. For more inforomation call 830-625-6410.

Starbucks Treat Receipt

Starbucks Treat Receipt is returning for the entire month of August! If you make a purchase in the morning, you can bring your receipt back to any participating Starbucks after 2pm and get a cold grande (16 fl. oz.) beverage for just $2 (plus tax).

"Ladies Lift 'em Up at Cuttin Up" Event in San Marcos

Cuttin' Up Hair Salon in San Marcos is having a personalized and professional Bra & Shapewear Fitting Tuesday, July 31st from 3-8:30pm. Come and go as you please! Here is what their event flyer states:

Stop by for your private, personalized and professional fitting if you are in need of a comfortable, uplifting and figure enhancing bra and/or shapewear.

You're going to love Essential Bodywear (EBW)! "Not only are most of us wearing the wrong size (85% of women) of bra, but we are hiding the narrowest part of our bodies", says Michie Reid, Certified Bra Fitting Consultant & Team Leader for EBW. "If you lift a woman's breasts of of her rib cage, you will see her shapely figure and silhouette. It looks like you have lost 10-15 pounds. Women love what they see when they look at the before and after."

This is a fun, enlightening and comfortable way to shop for "foundation undergarments" while enjoying the camraderie of others. We can hardly wait to see you! Feel free to bring a guest!

Essential Bodywear has been featured in Family Circle, Harpers Bazaar, Glamour and Oprah's Magazine and was named "One of America's Best Products" seen on the Today Show. EBW offers incredible contouring and naturalizing garments.

Panties S-M-L-XL-1X
Thongs S-M-L-XL
Bras 32A-44H
Sports Bras 32B-52DD
Shapewear S-M-L-XL-1X-2X-3X

Enjoy some Mimosas with a friend while you find your perfect bra!

Please wear a bra that you typically wear and a t-shirt.

For more information call 512-392-8846.

Gruene Market Days

Need something fun to do this weekend? Gruene Market Days are held every 3rd full weekend of the month from February-November and on the first weekend in December, Saturday and Sunday from 10am-5pm. Check out their vendor list and head to the Gruene Historic District for a unique shopping experience!

FREE Kids Workshops at Lowe's

Lowe's has free kids clinics one weekend a month where kids can build a wooden project and receive googles, an apron, patch and much more! To register, find a store nearest you and check out their full schedule click here. The next Build and Grow clinic will be July 28th & 29th where kids can build a Kung Fu Panda Friends Stacking Kit!

Baby Fest is Coming to CTMC 7/22!

Whether you are a first time expecting mother or one who is expecting again, you won't want to miss the Baby Fest at the Central Texas Medical Center in San Marcos this Sunday, July 22nd. I went when I was pregnant with my youngest two years ago, and it was such a great experience.

There are several exhibitors that give out every piece of information you can think of for an expecting mother. Some of the exhibitors include Pediatricians, Women's Services, OBGYN's, Nutritionists and many more! For more information and to see a list of the exhibitors click here. You can also register for door prizes and take home some goodies for you and your new little one.

This is such a fun and informative event, I highly recommend going if you're expecting!

National Icecream Day

Cool off with some icecream today! Check out some deals that are going on around the area for National Icecream Day:

Baskin Robbins: Buy 1 get 1 single serve for $0.99 at participating stores (call ahead for confirmation) 7/15

Marble Slab: Half off any single serve coupon, M-F, between 12p-12a through 7/28

Landa Mini-Golf- FREE Bluebell icecream starting at noon. 7/15

FREE Kids' Haircuts in August!

What a great deal just in time for back to school! Find your local JCPenny Salon and schedule an appointment for your K-6th grader to recieve a FREE haircut in August.