It's the Holiday Season

Christmas in Smithville, TX. Photo courtesy of TxBobS.

Wow!  Where has 2011 gone?  December is upon us already, and that means it's time for holiday events on the Colorado River Trail.

Take your pick - we have lights, carriage rides, holiday parades, home tours, caroling, and of course, Santa.  Bring the whole family, or escape with that special someone on a holiday weekend for two.  Either way, you're sure to enjoy the holidays on the Colorado River Trail.

Here are some of the upcoming holiday events:

• 25th Annual "Lights Spectacular, Hill Country Style (Johnson City) - Dec. 1 - Jan. 1
• Starry, Starry Nights (Llano) - Dec. 1 - Jan. 1
• Walkway of Lights (Marble Falls) - Dec. 1 - Jan. 1
• Lighted Christmas Parade (Schulenburg) - Dec. 2
• Carol of Lights (Lampasas) - Dec. 3
• Festival of Lights (Smithville) - Dec. 3
• Lamplight Tours of the LBJ Boyhood Home (Johnson City) - Dec. 3, 10, 17
• Down Home Christmas (Weimar) - Dec. 8
• Lighted Christmas Parade (Bastrop) - Dec. 10
• Christmas on the Square and Lighted Parade (San Saba) - Dec. 10
• Christmas Tour of Homes (Bay City) - Dec. 11

To see all of the 2011 holiday events, check out our quarterly newsletter True-Blue News.  You'll find events and stories about fun things to see and do on the Colorado River Trail.

Take Flight at the Stanzel Model Aircraft Museum

The Stanzel Model Aircraft Museum in Schulenburg chronicles the successful careers of brothers Joe and Victor Stanzel in the model aircraft industry. The museum includes three areas for visitors to experience: 1) the main museum wing, which includes interactive and static exhibits, 2) the factory wing, which demonstrates how model aircraft are manufactured, and 3) the historic Stanzel home. For more information on things to see and do in Schulenburg, contact the Schulenburg Chamber of Commerce. Photo courtesy of wlcausey.

Watch a Livestock Auction for a Taste of Rural Texas

Auction at the stockyard. Schulenburg. Texas. USA. To folks who live in the country or in small towns, a livestock auction is a normal and every-day occurrence. Big city folks don't get to see things like this, though. Livestock auctions are just one of the reasons why rural Texas is such a popular getaway for city dwellers. Visit the Colorado River Trail to experience a slower pace in rural Texas. Photo courtesy of L.Zylberman. To see other great L.Zylberman photos, visit his blog, 365 Degrees.

Schulenburg's Painted Churches Are a Sight to Behold

Schulenburg, Texas is probably best known for its Painted Churches tour. Painted churches, you ask? There are four churches in the communities of Dubina, High Hill, Ammannsville, and Praha surrounding Schulenburg. From the outside, the churches look like many other country churches that dot the Texas landscape. The insides, however, are breathtaking. German and Czech immigrant artisans hand-painted with meticulous detail the artwork that adorns the ceilings and walls of each church. To book a tour of the Painted Churches, call the Schulenburg Chamber of Commerce at (866) 504-5294, or visit them online. Photo courtesy of Paul & Kelly.