By Brynna Williamson
Around Christmastime, we all start to get a little bit antsy. We like going out. We want to see beautiful things. We want to hearthe caroling. We want to see people acting a little happier and a little less like a rat race.
Well, over in Winnsboro—along with our other Wood County, Texas towns—you’ll get a chance to do that this year. Winnsboro has plenty to do this Christmas season; and if you’ve missed anything in 2025, they just might bring it back for 2026.
The Christmas Parade
An annual Christmas Parade is a small town staple. Who doesn’t love seeing Santa atop a fire truck? We all, as kids, loved getting free candy from paradegoers. And now, even as adults, there’s just that something special about going to a parade. Yes, parking might be terrible, and there might be a bunch of people eagerly crowded around to participate, but there’s something about feeling the cold air on your cheeks and seeing so many kids scurrying around with plastic shopping bags full of candy. It’s part of the magic of Christmas.
From everything I’ve heard, Winnsboro’s Christmas parade is like that. In 2025, this Wood County parade featured a “Frosty and Friends” theme, with the high school band playing, a bunch of interesting and beautiful floats, and tons of local organizations participating. The long and short of it is, you just never know what the Winnsboro Christmas parade will have. One year it even had bagpipers!
The Community Choir Christmas Concert
Music is a classic staple of Christmas, too. But when’s the last time that you heard of someone actually going out to carol, or having a public Christmas music concert?
Well, let me update you. Winnsboro had one of these, too. The concert was completely free, but they said—and I quote here—“Admission is FREE (a $5 donation is appreciated).” The concert was put on by the Winnsboro Community Choir and was live on the Bowery Stage. It was on a Sunday afternoon, too, so it wouldn’t interrupt anyone’s schedule too much. Check this out for 2026!
The Play: A Christmas Carol
Winnsboro is rightly known as a place where people can actually see and participate in the arts. Via Winnsboro, Wood County isn’t providing us with some janky theater production: no, no, no. This year, they brought us Charles Dickens’ classic Christmas story, “A Christmas Carol,” via a two-hour play. Personally, this sounds like something I’d take a few hours to go see, especially as it’s slated to come back in 2026. What about you?
Breakfast With Santa
In this era of television, phones, and internet trends, there is still something magical about seeing Santa live and in person. No online interaction with Mr. Claus—say on TikTok, YouTube, or even an A.I. replacement (yes, it’s a real thing)—can replace the genuine wonder on a child’s face at seeing the gift-giving legend there in the same room.
This is why the Winnsboro Chamber of Commerce hosts the annual Breakfast With Santa. Families can pay $5 a child, or $25 for the whole family, to come and participate. That’s not bad for any experience, let alone when you consider that everyone will get fed with pancakes, muffins, juice, water—or for those of us who need caffeine at 8:00 a.m.—coffee!
Country Christmas Farmers Market
“This isn’t just a market, it’s a Christmas celebration,” assures the Winnsboro Online Guide. After reading the description for the market, that much is clear. While this is the same Winnsboro, Texas Farmer’s Market that we all know and love, there’s a little extra thrown in there to reflect the season, too: from a DJ “keeping the vibes merry and bright,” to the Winnsboro Center for the Arts Adult Choir coming to sing carols, to Santa coming to take photos, this is an extra-special Farmer’s Market.
“Come hungry. Come festive. Come ready to shop local and soak up the Christmas spirit at the Winnsboro Farmers Market,” says the Winnsboro Online Guide.
Reading Around the Christmas Tree
No, not “Rockin’” Around the Christmas Tree, as Brenda Lee popularized. This idea, which is new to Winnsboro this year, is all about sharing favorite Christmas stories.
According to the Facebook page for the Winnsboro Main Street & Tourism program, “Reading Around the Christmas Tree” is a 12-day program, where at 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, a “special guest” will read letters, books, etc. to kids.
The first day of Reading Around the Christmas Tree featured Mrs. Claus as a special guest; Mrs. Claus read letters aloud and answered questions about Santa.
Oaklea Mansion Holiday Tours
The beautiful and historic mansion near downtown Winnsboro is putting on an indoor tour this year. I say that like it’s a new concept, but it’s not. Oaklea Mansion will probably be doing Christmas-themed tours next year, too! Check out their Facebook page for more information.
One thing that is new in 2025, however, is that local businesses are hosting decorations for each room. For instance, Gail Peterson Interiors has decorated the kitchen, the “warmest heart of any home;” Nancy Beauchamp Studio and Beth Garner DeLamar have decorated the library; and the Kehoe Wilson Shop has decorated the music room. This sounds nostalgic and beautiful.
And honestly, so does everything else Winnsboro is doing for our Wood County community. This sounds like something we all would have enjoyed as kids; and if we’re thinking about it, it’s something we all would enjoy as adults, too. Merry Christmas to all!