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The City of Dripping Springs is kicking off the month of December with lots of activities for Hometown Holidays, including the 21st annual Christmas on Mercer, which is set for this Saturday, Dec. 6 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
To herald the coming of the season, the city also hosted its annual Tree Lighting ceremony at the triangle on Nov. 29. It included performances from local groups. Afterwards, participants were invited to stay for a free screening of the Muppets Christmas Carol.
Dripping Springs Ranch Park has also kicked off the festivities with their second annual Winter Wonderland event. The ice rink officially opened the day after Thanksgiving, and then they had a ribbon cutting for the Trail of Lights on Sunday, Nov. 30.
This Saturday’s Christmas on Mercer celebration begins at 10 a.m., when Santa will be arriving by fire truck. Then he’ll set up shop at Hudson’s on Mercer, where he’ll be available to greet families and take holiday photos with the kids. Across the street, there will be a giant inflatable snow globe that visitors can step inside for another photo opportunity.
As usual, Christmas on Mercer also features plenty of arts and crafts, shopping, food booths and musical performances throughout the day. Red Arena will be on hand with their miniature ponies, and there will be a holiday train ride in the old post office parking lot.
And while Christmas on Mercer is just a one day event, the city is keeping the fun going all season at DSRP’s Winter Wonderland. At the heart of the party is the giant ice-skating rink, which is the largest outdoor ice-skating rink in Central Texas. It’s also covered, in case of inclement weather.
At rinkside, visitors can shop at the Holiday Market, which will include a variety of rotating vendors, so that guests can find something new and fresh every day. That will include food, beverages and holiday gifts.
Finally, guests can walk through the free Trail of Lights, which features a variety of holiday displays.
Winter Wonderland is open daily until Jan. 4, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. It will be closed on Christmas Day, and will close early at 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
General admission to the Winter Wonderland ice skating rink is $15 and includes skate rental. Spectators are free. Discounts are available for larger groups, and there is also a $100 skate pass that includes 10 visits. Those can be shared among family members and friends.
DSRP also offers ice skating lessons for all ages. They are held on Friday and Saturday mornings before the rink opens to the public, and the cost is $30.
There are also a number of micro-events planned for kids. Each one includes a story time, craft, hot chocolate, and an hour of skating. The cost is $35 per child, which includes skates. These events are held in the mornings from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Parents are required to remain present during the whole experience, and can rent skates upon arrival for an additional fee if desired.
For micro-event details and registration information, or for other Western Wonderland details, visit www.drippingspringsranchpark.com and click “Western Wonderland.”
For more information about Christmas on Mercer, visit www.cityofdrippingsprings.com/christmas-mercer.
For the latest updates, follow the social media pages for DSRP and City of Dripping Springs.
