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Christmas parades, events and dazzling displays will light up Bluebonnet area nights. Help us spread the good cheer.
By Sidni Carruthers
Share the holiday magic with us
There's a lot to love about the Christmas season in the Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative service area. Start marking your calendar with can’t-miss seasonal spectacles. Keep an eye on our social media in late November and throughout December for information about holiday events and activities — and impressive light displays — across the Bluebonnet region.
This list is not comprehensive. Please tell us about your community events or the best neighborhood light displays in any of our communities. See the “Christmas lights” box for contact information.
BASTROP: The city’s River of Lights display runs 6-9 p.m. daily, Nov. 24-Dec. 31, at Fisherman’s Park on Farm Street. The annual Lost Pines Christmas Parade will traverse Main Street from 6-8 p.m., Dec. 10.
BRENHAM: In downtown Brenham you can enjoy the Christmas Stroll starting at 6 p.m., Dec. 3, followed by The Storybook Christmas Parade.
CALDWELL: Christmas on the Square downtown is Dec. 10 and features holiday music, dancing and Santa.
ELGIN: The annual Holiday by the Tracks & Hot Cocoa Stroll will be Dec. 3. There are photos with Santa, shopping and the lighted Christmas parade, which starts on Main Street at 7 p.m. A live Nativity will be in Veterans’ Memorial Park afterward.
GIDDINGS: The Christmas at Tejas lights are a feast for the eyes. Organizers at Tejas Camp and Retreat, 1038 Private Road 2191 in Giddings, promise it will be one of their biggest light displays yet. A maximum of 500 people per night can participate in three nights of activities, 5:30-10 p.m. Dec. 9-11. General admission is $30; $45 for VIP admission, which offers extra treats. Overnight stays are also available Dec. 16-20. Get more information at mytejas.org (search for Christmas at Tejas.)
LOCKHART: A Christmas to Remember in Lockhart is the first weekend in December. Activities start at 7 p.m., Dec. 2, with the Christmas tree lighting on the town square; 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Dec. 3, there will be activities downtown with vendor booths and entertainment; at 7 p.m., the lighted Christmas parade will travel down Market Street and loop around the Caldwell County courthouse.
LULING: Cookies and Carols will kick off holiday celebrations, 5-8 p.m., Dec. 2. The event will include a craft market, Christmas tree voting, photos with Santa, hayrides and more. This also marks the start of the Yule Trail’s more than 140 lighted holiday signs downtown, which runs nightly Dec. 2-Jan. 6.
MANOR: Holidays in the Park returns to Timmermann Park, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Dec. 3, followed by a showing of “The Polar Express” movie in the park at 7 p.m. The festivities include an ice skating rink, food trucks, vendors, train rides, photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, inflatable figures and other activities.
ROUND TOP: The lighted Christmas parade and Holiday Fun event is Dec. 3. Starting at 10 a.m., events include holiday shopping, historical home tours, activities on the square and the lighted parade at 6:45 p.m.
SAN MARCOS: The Sights and Sounds of Christmas Festival will be open two weekends, Dec. 1-3 and Dec. 8-10, along the San Marcos River. Activities are 5:30-11 p.m. Along with lights and music, there will be a carnival, arts and crafts, photos with Santa and more. Admission is $5 nightly, $15 for a six-day pass and free for kids 12 and younger.
SMITHVILLE: The annual Festival of Lights and lighted parade on Main Street is set for Dec. 3. Events start at 10 a.m. with a holiday market at the Smithville Recreation Center, plus a fest area just for the kids, a cornhole tournament, live music and train rides. The day’s events end at 9 p.m.
Information provided by city, chambers of commerce and location websites; event representatives.
Haven’t spotted any of the highly anticipated Ford Lightning electric trucks on the roads? That’s because they’re very hard to get.
Ford unveiled the all-electric F-150 in May 2021 and began production at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, Mich., in April 2021. A year later, the vehicle officially launched and the first deliveries began arriving at Ford dealerships in May 2022.
As of late August, more than 4,500 F-150 Lightning trucks had been sold, but demand quickly outpaced supply. The current 2022 F-150 Lightning is no longer available for order online at ford.com. Ford began sending invitations to order a 2023 F-150 Lightning in August of this year, and production for the 2023 model started this fall. Ford plans to produce 80,000 of the 2023 F-150 Lightning trucks, a miniscule quantity compared to the 362,686 gas-powered F-150s sold as of July, 2022. Orders will be accepted for the 2024 Ford Lightning in summer 2023, according to Ford.
Can you get one now?
Orders are closed for the 2022 F-150 Lightning through Ford, but you can order through a local dealership. Availability at each dealership is limited and vehicles could only be purchased at dealerships as of late August.
How far will it go?
An estimated 230-320 miles per charge, based on the vehicle trim and battery options.
How much does it cost?
From $46,974 (base) all the way up to $96,874 for the Platinum Extended Range model.
How much will it cost to charge it?
The average cost to charge a 2022 F-150 Lightning at home, with a daily commute of 40 miles, is $59 a month. A comparable gasoline-powered 2022 F-150, if fuel prices average $3.50 a gallon, would cost $212 a month. That translates to an annual savings of more than $2,000, if you charge from home at least 70% of the time.
Why aren’t there more of them?
A global semiconductor shortage is impacting the production of these and other vehicles. Ford plans to double all-electric F-150 Lightning production to 150,00 units annually.
To get notifications on the availability of the electric trucks, visit Ford’s website, ford.com.
Sources: Ford Media Center, Consumer Reports, Energy.gov, Wall Street Journal
