Georgetown Chrismtas Stroll
Georgetown · Community Guide · Holiday Season
Georgetown Square at Christmas Is Something You Have to See
The historic courthouse draped in lights. A Christmas Stroll that's been running for 45 years. And a square that genuinely earns its reputation as one of the most festive places in Central Texas.
There are plenty of holiday light displays around the Austin metro. But Georgetown Square at Christmas is a little different. It's not a themed theme park. It's a real historic town center, with an 1891 courthouse, locally owned restaurants and boutiques, and a community that has been gathering here in December for generations. When the lights come on, it feels like exactly what it is: a town celebrating the holidays at its front porch.
The centerpiece is the Christmas Stroll, now in its 45th year. Three days, free admission, 200-plus vendors, a parade, live music on two stages, snow in the park, and enough activity to fill an entire December weekend. But the Stroll is just the headliner. Georgetown keeps the spirit going from Thanksgiving all the way to January, and the Square is worth a visit any night the lights are on.
The Main Event
The 45th Annual Georgetown Christmas Stroll
Every year, Historic Downtown Georgetown closes its streets and opens its arms. The Christmas Stroll runs Friday through Sunday the first weekend of December, and it's completely free to attend. The scale of it surprises people the first time: Austin Avenue, Main Street, and the surrounding roads are closed to traffic and transformed into a weekend-long celebration. Over 200 artisan and boutique vendors line the streets, food trucks and downtown restaurants are in full force, and there is something happening on one of the two stages almost all day long.
The 2026 Stroll runs December 4 through 6. Here's what each day looks like:
Friday, December 4
4:00 PM to 9:30 PM
- Lighting of the downtown holiday lights at dusk
- Dancing with the Grinch and photo opportunities
- Evening concert on the Square
- Marketplace with 200+ vendors and food trucks open
- Decorated storefronts and restaurants throughout
Saturday, December 5
10:00 AM to 9:30 PM
- Christmas Parade starting at 10:00 AM
- Santa's Village, face painting, and Whoo Hair makeovers
- Snow in the Park
- Kids Zone: games, crafts, rock wall, obstacle course
- Two live music stages all day into the evening
- Jingle Bell Stage headlining band Saturday night
Sunday, December 6
10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
- Final day of vendor shopping and food
- Live entertainment continues
- Family activities through the afternoon
- "Hometown Farewell" closing celebration
Saturday is the biggest day by far. If you want the parade and the full energy, come Saturday morning. If you prefer a more relaxed experience, Sunday morning is ideal: the vendors are still there, the crowds are lighter, and it feels like a real downtown morning out. Friday night is the one to catch if you want to see the lights come on for the first time each season.
Getting There
Free Parking for the Stroll
Street closures are significant during the Stroll weekend, so knowing where to park ahead of time makes a real difference. All four Stroll parking lots are free.
8th and Forest St.
Georgetown Library lot. ADA accessible.
9th and Main St.
Across from Grace Heritage Church. ADA accessible only.
7th and Rock St.
Catty-corner from Blue Corn Harvest. No trailers.
5th and Main St.
New parking garage. No trailers.
The lights stay on every night at dusk through January 1. The Christmas Stroll is the headline, but Georgetown Square is worth a visit any night of the season.
The Full Holiday Season
Georgetown Does Christmas Right, Start to Finish
The Stroll is the big event, but Georgetown's holiday season is longer than a single weekend. The Square lights up at Thanksgiving and stays lit through New Year's Day, and there's a full calendar of activity in between.
Lighting of the Square
The season officially kicks off around Thanksgiving with the annual Lighting of the Square, when the courthouse and downtown go live with holiday lights for the first time. A community event in its own right.
Georgetown Palace Theatre
The Palace runs holiday productions through November and December each year. A classic holiday musical or comedy show in a historic venue is a pretty great way to spend an evening on the Square.
Holiday Light Photos
The Williamson County Courthouse is one of the most photographed courthouses in Texas for good reason. For the best shots: arrive after 6 PM. For a quieter night, weeknights after 10:30 PM are ideal.
Downtown Dining
The Square's restaurants and cafes are fully in the spirit all season. Dinner on the Square followed by a walk through the lights has become a tradition for a lot of Central Texas families.
Local Boutique Shopping
The boutiques around the Square make holiday shopping genuinely enjoyable. Local, independent, and actually fun to walk through instead of a box store parking lot situation.
Holiday Concerts
Live music is woven into the whole season, from the Stroll stages to the Central Texas Master Singers and Southwestern University choir events. Georgetown takes its music seriously in December.
Featured Listing
Live Near the Square: 1802 Hutto Road, Georgetown
If Georgetown at Christmas is making you think about what it would be like to actually live here, there's a home available right now worth looking at closely. 1802 Hutto Road is a 3-bedroom, 2-bath home less than a mile from Georgetown's Historic Square, and it's currently operating as an active short-term rental with strong income numbers to back it up.
This home sits in a prime Georgetown location: under one mile to the Historic Square, walking distance to local restaurants, boutiques, and events like the Christmas Stroll. It's a 3-bedroom, 2-bath home at 1,762 square feet, and it's already running as a successful short-term rental with proven income history. Use it as a primary residence, keep it as an investment, or do both.
Property Highlights
- 3 bed / 2 bath, 1,762 sqft
- Under 1 mile to Historic Georgetown Square
- Active STR with established income
- Nightly rates: $219 to $425
- Premium nights: F1, ACL, Christmas Stroll
- Walking distance to downtown dining
- Strong rental demand, proven track record
- Available for primary use or continued STR
STR Income Snapshot
This property is currently operating as a short-term rental with gross annual income in the range of $46,000 to $57,000. Nightly rates run $219 to $425, with premium pricing during F1 Austin, ACL Fest, and Georgetown's own Christmas Stroll. If you've ever wondered what a walkable location near a destination event is worth on the rental market, this home answers that question with real numbers.
Video walkthrough: 1802 Hutto Road, Georgetown, TX · The Murdock Team at Magnolia Realty
Schedule a ShowingFrom Jessica
Georgetown Square in December is one of those places in Central Texas that really earns its reputation. I've been to the Christmas Stroll more times than I can count and it genuinely gets better every year. The scale of it, the energy, the fact that it's free and right there in the heart of a beautiful historic downtown, there is nothing quite like it around here.
If you're curious about Georgetown as a place to put down roots, or if you're looking at 1802 Hutto Road as an investment property that benefits from exactly that kind of event foot traffic, I'd love to talk. Come see the Square this December and then let's connect about what it would look like to actually live there.
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