Written by: Tim Ballard, Museum Education Assistant
Every year in Denton, families gather around the Courthouse Square for something magical. During the holidays, many stores put up lights and decorations, but there is one downtown event that really brightens the season… literally! It’s the Denton Holiday Lighting Festival, a tradition that has been held on the square since 1988.
In 1988, the Denton Holiday Lighting Festival Association organized the first event as a fundraising campaign to help support families in need, and sponsored a community toy drive. The festival included live music, horse-drawn carriage rides, and booth activities for kids and adults.
Over the last 36 years, the activities and additions to the festival have grown quite a bit, but the spirit of the event stays the same. Hundreds of people still flock to the square to experience the lights, music, and vendors arranged around the center of the square.
In 1992, the Lee Walker Tree was added to the southeast lawn of the Courthouse-on-the-Square in honor of former County Commissioner Lee Walker of Precinct #1 who passed away earlier that year. The cedar tree was later replaced by a Nellie R. Stevens Holly tree, which grows in the same spot on the lawn after it was transplanted there. In 2023, Denton County purchased a 20 foot artificial tree to be the new centerpiece of the official “Lighting” event.
Although the event’s main focus for many years has been the toy drive and helping families out for the holidays, other non-profit organizations have participated at the festival to spread awareness about their causes. Some organizations include those representing animal rescue, aid to the homeless, youth assistance, and the Civil Air Patrol Cadets. Attendees can make Christmas crafts, sample local food and drinks, dance to live bands, and enjoy shopping at local businesses specialties. Bands and Ensembles such as Denton’s Grammy award winning polka fusion band, Brave Combo, have performed at past festivals. Denton County Magazine also cites performers such as Sara Jaffe, Jeffery Barnes, Bubba Hernandez, Taste of Herb, Little Jack Melody, Eric Pulido of Midlake & BNQT, Bubba Turner, Boxcar Bandits, UNT Brazilian Percussion Ensemble, John Murphy, UNT Jazz Singers, Bonnie & Nick Norris, David J. Pierce and the Holiday Lighting Orchestra, and many more.
The Denton Main Street Association’s Wassail Fest, which shares the evening with the Holiday Lighting event in downtown Denton, serves fresh holiday cheer in the form of spiced cider that dates back to an English community custom we carry on today here in Texas. This event really sees both the holiday spirit and the culture of Denton blended together, so it’s no wonder that we have such a massive turnout every year. There are also specialty collector’s items such as the festival ornament released for the event each year.
The Denton Holiday Lighting Festival is Saturday, December 7, 2024 from 3 to 9 PM. We encourage you to attend the event and don’t forget to donate a toy if you can. This Denton tradition is one you don’t want to miss!
DHFA Information: https://www.dentonholidaylighting.com/toy-drive
North Texas Daily References to Businesses: https://www.ntdaily.com/arts_and_life/35th-annual-denton-holiday-lighting-festival-kicks-off-holiday-season-gives-back-to-community/article_f2a1a04a-93de-11ee-b305-6b8fc10753c4.html
Information from Denton County Magazine: https://www.dentoncountymagazine.com/fun_travel/anatomy-of-a-tradition/article_d96e2850-af6b-11eb-b2f6-ef417046dffe.html
Photos provided by Denton County Office of History and Culture, Bella Foto, Denton Record-Chronicle, and Denton Main Street Association.
