Concho Christmas Celebration

About Concho Christmas Celebration

Every December the banks of the Concho River light up for the Concho Christmas Celebration, San Angelo's biggest holiday tradition. It began in 1994 as a Christmas lights walking tour and has grown into a 2.5-mile drive-through Tour of Lights with more than three million lights, giant Christmas greeting cards from local sponsors, and a kickoff weekend downtown with a community tree lighting and the Lights of Christmas Parade.

The Tour of Lights

The heart of the celebration is a 2.5-mile driving tour along the river, with more than three million lights. Along the way you'll pass oversized Christmas greeting cards put up by dozens of local sponsors.

The tour runs nightly from December 5 to 31, 2026: 6 to 10 p.m. on weeknights and 6 p.m. to midnight on weekends. There's no admission fee; a donation of $8 per vehicle is suggested and helps keep the lights on.

Kickoff weekend downtown

Opening night is Saturday, December 5, 2026. The community tree lighting starts at 5:15 p.m. in the parking lot at Concho Avenue and Chadbourne Street, followed by the Lights of Christmas Parade through downtown at 6 p.m. Santa may make an appearance.

Make it a Christmas weekend

Come the first weekend of December and you can pair the lights with Christmas at Old Fort Concho, December 4-6, 2026, when reenactors and period traders fill the historic fort. Our Christmas in San Angelo itinerary puts it all together.

Want more lights? SanAngeloLights.com maps the best-decorated houses around town so you can plan a neighborhood lights cruise.

Plan your visit

• Weeknights are usually less crowded than weekends.
• Bring cash or a card for the suggested $8-per-vehicle donation.
• Arrive early for the tree lighting and parade on December 5 to find parking downtown.
• Check conchochristmascelebration.com for weather updates and any schedule changes.