When one thinks of a quintessential Hill Country town, one typically thinks of a broad Main Street, a creek or river, historic stone façades, and cozy community events. On every one of those fronts Boerne delivers–especially at Christmas. And one of the most popular Boerne events of the year is the Dickens on Main affair, held every year on Thanksgiving weekend.
If you’ve never been, then go ahead and pencil it in for next year.
We’ll wait.
We’ll wait, yes, and reminisce about the fabulous evening we had at this year’s event, walking right down the middle of the main thoroughfare. (Main Street–a.k.a. “Hauptstrasse”–is blocked off for the event, allowing for a pedestrian-only zone.) There were musicians on a main stage and at various points along Main Street, a snow slide, horse-drawn carriages, folks dressed in Victorian attire, two open-air markets filled with vendors, and more foodie delights than you can shake a corndog at.
Most downtown restaurants and stores were open late, with the popular The Christmas Shoppe being, well, extra popular. (It is, after all, home to an incredible assortment of tree ornaments and seasonal decor items.)
More satisfying than the wonderful food, music, and holiday lights were the genuine moments we encountered strolling along.
Over the course of the evening we saw families and neighbors greet one another warmly, watched friends take turns dancing the Texas Two-Step, and spied what we’re pretty sure was the first glimmer of young love at a table in the back corner of The Dienger Trading Company‘s bistro while a harpist played near the front door.
Christmas magic, it seemed, was everywhere. Indeed, if we didn’t know better, we’d reckon the magic is what caused the snowflakes to fall. Manufactured though those flakes may have been, the cozy cheerfulness of Dickens on Main was undoubtedly real.
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Hoping to spark a little holiday magic this December in a charming Hill Country town? See our calendar for ideas! (The December 2 entry for Boerne’s Weihnachts Parade is especially relevant.)
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