Highland Lakes has a list of Christmas activities this season

MARBLE FALLS — Highland Lakes residents have several ways to get into the holiday spirit starting in November.

In the mood for a Christmas parade and a light show?

• The Marble Falls/Lake LBJ Chamber of Commerce is registering participants for the city’s Christmas Light-Up Parade on Nov. 18.

The parade begins on Main Street at 6 p.m. with lineup at 5 p.m. The procession ends at Lakeside Park, 306 Buena Vista Drive, with the switch being thrown to turn on the city’s Walkway of Lights.

Christmas is for Kids will collect toys for underprivileged children at the end of the parade. Members will take new, unwrapped toy donations from parade-goers as the group’s float passes by. The drive will provide Christmas gifts for ages infant to 16 years.

For more about the parade, contact the Chamber at amy@marblefalls.org or (830) 693-2815. The Chamber is located at 916 Second St.

• The Burnet County Courthouse lighting ceremony is Nov. 21.

The sixth annual event takes place at 220 S. Pierce St. in Burnet.

The ceremony kicks off at 6:30 p.m. with performances by the Burnet High School choir and the Highlandettes on the east lawn of the courthouse. Santa Claus will make an appearance at 7 p.m.

Bring an unwrapped toy or a money donation for the Santa’s Helper toy drive which provides gifts for underprivileged children across Burnet County.

The courthouse will be lit 6-10 p.m. each night through Dec. 31.

For more, visit www.thehighlandlakes.org; email tourism@burnetcountytexas.org or call (830) 798-3029.

• The annual Christmas on the Square festival in Burnet is Dec. 10.

The festival, sponsored by the Burnet Chamber of Commerce, will include a parade, arts and crafts vendors, holiday entertainment and a visit from Santa.

Deadline for parade entries is Dec. 2.

Festival sponsorships are available for $50-$250. Contributions will help provide bicycles for the event’s Great Bike Giveaway.

Parade and sponsorship applications are available at www.burnetchamber.org or at the Chamber office, 229 S. Pierce St.

For more, contact (512) 756-4297 or info@burnetchamber.org.

Help make it the season of giving.

• CASA for the Highland Lakes Area is collecting donations for its Angel Tree.

The nonprofit Court Appointed Special Advocates organization is asking for new and unwrapped gifts or gift cards for Highland Lakes children that it helps, according to a news release. The Angel Tree is located at Security State Bank and Trust, 608 U.S. 281.

CASA assists abused and neglected children who have been placed in foster care in Burnet, Llano, Lampasas, Blanco and San Saba counties.

Angels may be picked up now and gifts or gift cards should be brought by Nov. 30 to the bank. The angel tells donors whether the recipient is a boy or girl and the child’s age.

For more on becoming a CASA volunteer or a list of upcoming CASA events, visit www.highlandlakescasa.com or call (325) 388-3440.

• The Brown Santa program sponsored by the Llano County Sheriff’s Office needs help finding children in need this Christmas.

Underprivileged children ages toddler through 16 in the unincorporated area of Llano County may receive toys and gifts through the program.

Anyone who knows of a child or a family in need can call (325) 247-5050 or pick up an application at a justice of the peace office.

Need to do some Christmas shopping?

• The second annual Hill Country Christmas Market is Nov. 18-19 at Galloway-Hammond Recreation Center in Burnet.

The event is 10 a.m.-6 p.m. both days at the center, 1601 U.S. 281.

More than 65 vendors from across the Hill Country will offer items including handmade jewelry, fine art, handcrafted birdhouses, furniture, clothing, holiday treats and more. Lunch and refreshments will be available.

Admission is $2 in advance, $3 at the door and free for children under 8 with an adult.