Special by Myra Salinas, Main Street & CVB tourism assistant
(Seguin) — There is a full weekend of festivities dedicated to spreading holiday cheer in Seguin. The three-day festivities kicked off Thursday night with the Holiday Stroll Parade and Lighting of Central Park. Hosting the events was the Seguin Parks and Recreation Department.
Friday night is the return of one of Seguin’s favorite holiday traditions, the Sip n’ Stroll. Stroll through the historic downtown district with mugs in hand to sample homemade hot cocoas.
“We are so excited to announce that Downtown Seguin’s Cocoa Sip n’ Stroll is back in full force with nearly 40 chocolatiers throughout Downtown and in Central Park,” said Dana Hall, president of the Downtown Business Alliance.
Downtown merchants will stay open late from 6 to 9 p.m. In addition to the cocoa and shopping, there will be performances, pictures with Santa, snow, and a variety of food vendors throughout Central Park.
“Our mugs this year feature a beautiful watercolor rendition of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, painted by area high school student, Lydia Shanafelt,” said Hall. You can purchase your Sip n’ Stroll mug for $15 at Father Christmas Shop, Gift & Gourmet, Keepers Interiors or from the bandstand the night of the event unless sold out.
On Saturday, families will want to start off their morning with the annual Jingle Bell 5k Run.
The 5K gets underway at 8:30 a.m. Saturday. Registration on the day of the event begins at 7 a.m.
Entry fees are $20 for kids ages 5 to 12 and $30 for those age 13 and older. The cost on the day of the race will be $35. It’s also $20 for those just wanting a commemorative t-shirt.
Registration is available online at athleteguild.com.
Following the race will be the annual North Pole Stroll. Holiday activities for the day will include but will not limited to pictures with the Downtown Seguin Squirrel, letters to Santa, a peppermint toss, cookie decorating and snow. Local school choirs will also be performing holiday classics in the bandstand. There will also be the first ever Annual North Pole Stroll Shoe Box Parade. Line-up is at 10:45am and parade begins at 11am.
“The atmosphere set during the holiday events is perfect for the family.”, said Kyle Kramm, Main Street and CVB director. “We hope that everyone enjoys celebrating these traditions in Seguin.”
The Holiday Stroll would not be possible without the sponsors of this year’s event. A huge thanks to the city of Seguin, CMC Steel Texas, Father Christmas Shop, Edward Jones Office of Kristy Kirkland, Emmanuel’s Lutheran Church, First Commercial Bank, Guadalupe Printing Solutions, Guadalupe Regional Medical Center, GVEC, Koehler Company, Law Offices of Stephen Finch, Lone Star Home Solutions, Paws to Perfection, Pecantown Books & Brews, Southern Good, Texas State Optical, The Magnolia Hotel, and VA Electric.
This weekend’s holiday line-up and other events happening in Seguin can be found at www.seguintexas.gov/holidaystroll.