Christmas in Jefferson, Texas
December is Jefferson's biggest month. The whole historic district leans into the season—brick streets strung with lights, B&Bs dressed in fresh greenery, a Christmas train rolling along the bayou, and the Candlelight Tour of Homes, an East Texas tradition for more than four decades. Visitors come from Dallas, Shreveport, Longview, Texarkana, and beyond, and the busiest weekends sell out town. This guide covers the signature events and how to plan around them.
The Christmas train: Rail of Lights
The Historic Jefferson Railway runs its Rail of LightsChristmas train from the depot at 400 E. Austin Street, rolling along Big Cypress Bayou past lighted holiday scenes in the piney woods. It's a narrated, family-friendly ride and one of the most popular holiday train experiences in Texas—evening departures around the Candlelight weekends routinely sell out, so buy tickets online as soon as the season's schedule posts.
Candlelight Tour of Homes
Held over the first two weekends of December, the Candlelight Tour opens a rotating selection of Jefferson's historic homes—decorated with fresh greenery and lit by candlelight, with docents in period costume telling each home's story. It has run for over 40 years and is the anchor of the town's holiday calendar. Tickets cover multiple homes per evening; wear comfortable shoes, as the homes are spread across the residential historic district.
Lights, parade, and around town
Beyond the headline events, December in Jefferson means a downtown Christmas parade, storefronts and the courthouse square in lights, late shopping evenings among the antique stores, carriage rides through the district, and the Howe Truss train trestle glowing over the bayou after dark. Many restaurants and cafés keep extended holiday hours on tour weekends—but tables fill fast after the evening home tours let out.
Rail of Lights — Historic Jefferson Railway
The Christmas train ride along Big Cypress Bayou through lighted holiday scenes. Departs from 400 E. Austin St.; evening runs sell out, so book early.
Tickets & schedule
Candlelight Tour of Homes
Jefferson’s signature December event for 40+ years: historic homes in fresh greenery and candlelight, with docents in period costume, over the first two weekends of December.
Dates & tickets
Christmas in Jefferson — official calendar
The CVB’s full holiday lineup: parade, lights, shopping events, and seasonal schedules across town.
Visit website
Book your December stay
Candlelight Tour weekends are the busiest nights of the year in Jefferson — B&Bs and historic hotels fill well in advance.
Find your stay
Planning your December stay
The two Candlelight weekends are the highest-occupancy nights of Jefferson's year—historic B&Bs and inns book up weeks to months in advance. If your dates are flexible, mid-week stays in December get you the lights and the decorated town with far easier reservations. Browse availability on Find Your Stay, or read the B&B guidefirst if you're choosing between an inn, a cottage, and a historic hotel.