Like the second spirit in Dicken’s classic “A Christmas Carol,” you too can travel back to a time when Christmas was a legend to be experienced rather than read about. An immersive holiday event is happening at George Ranch Historical Park in Richmond, Texas, and you’ll want to be a part of it! Campfire Christmas is happening on December 8 to 15, beginning at 6 p.m., and it’s a journey back into the Christmases of Texas’ past that you won’t want to miss.
This unique event takes visitors to George Ranch Historical Park back to a time of holiday merriment. The evening begins at the Visitor Center with a merry greeting, including hot chocolate and coffee to take the chill off and warm the spirit. Following that, a classic, multi-era holiday dinner will be served as guests are entertained by the sounds of 1930s cowboy music. This blast from the past wouldn’t be complete without a Christmas Eve 1825 visit to a “newly-built” log cabin, where the Joneses (the homeowners) will regale you with stories about settling into the Texas frontier and the early Welsh Christmas traditions they brought with them.
Photo: Facebook/George Ranch Historical Park
Next, guests of the Campfire Christmas will seat themselves around an 1869 cowboy campfire while the local cowboys perform a living history visit to a neighboring sharecropper. Cattle drives and the growing systems of the day will fill the evening’s conversation as hot cider and coffee are shared around an open fire. Last but not least, a visit will be paid to the Davis Mansion, which will be all decked out for an 1888 festive Texas Christmas. Here, guests will learn about the many changes this family underwent over the year, as well as the Victorian Christmas traditions they use to celebrate it. Advanced reservations are required for this wonderful frontier-style, living history Christmas event. Tickets are non-refundable (since the event will go off without a hitch, come rain or shine). The cost is $50 per adult and $45 for kids, seniors, and groups consisting of 10 or more. Campfire Christmas is recommended for adults and children ages 8 and up, and tickets can be purchased by calling (281) 343-0218, extension 410 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. from Tuesday through Saturday.
