# Downtown New Braunfels Tree Lighting & Santa's Arrival > Event for families in the San Antonio–New Braunfels area (TX). Times are Central Time. - When: Fri, Nov 20 · 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM - Where: Main Plaza, 500 Main Plaza, New Braunfels, TX 78130 - Ages: All ages (flat paved plaza, stroller friendly, family seating areas on plaza grass) - Price: Free admission and free photos with Santa (bring your own camera) - Organizer: City of New Braunfels Parks and Recreation - Official page: https://www.newbraunfels.gov/Calendar.aspx?EID=11345&month=11&year=2026&day=6&calType=0 - Last checked: Sat, Nov 7 Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Nov 11, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-11-10), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/san-antonio/activities/downtown-new-braunfels-tree-lighting-and-santa-s-arrival--listing-5deca8c69ea9fda84d35cbd9 ## About The official holiday season in New Braunfels begins at historic Main Plaza with the annual Downtown Holiday Tree Lighting and Santa's Arrival. Thousands of community members and visitors gather around the historic plaza bandstand to count down as the mayor and civic leaders flip the switch, illuminating the plaza's century-old live oaks and municipal Christmas tree with over 100,000 sparkling white LED lights. Santa Claus makes a grand, siren-blaring arrival riding atop a vintage 1950s fire truck to hear children's Christmas wishes. The evening includes live performances by the New Braunfels High School brass ensemble and local community choirs, holiday story readings, and free photo opportunities with Santa and his elves. ## Similar picks in San Antonio - [Downtown Lighting & Santa's Arrival — New Braunfels](https://grassyknees.com/san-antonio/activities/downtown-lighting-and-santa-s-arrival-new-braunfels--listing-8054726561594207c2fa7336) — Fri, Nov 20 · 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM · Main Plaza, downtown New Braunfels · Free · checked Oct 20. New Braunfels' official kickoff to the holiday season on Main Plaza downtown. Thousands of lights are switched on across downtown, and Santa makes his arrival in New Braunfels… - [Breakfast With Santa at Weihnachtsmarkt — New Braunfels](https://grassyknees.com/san-antonio/activities/breakfast-with-santa-at-weihnachtsmarkt-new-braunfels--listing-37e527cb269d8482e06e81c3) — Sat, Nov 21 · 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM · New Braunfels Civic/Convention Center · Paid · checked Oct 27. 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