Real Estate Photographer in Boerne, TX

It may still be summer in the Texas Hill Country, but Boerne is already getting some national recognition for its Christmas spirit.

The City of Boerne has been named one of the 25 finalists nationwide in the Hallmark Channel’s 2026 Merriest Christmas Town contest, and the only Texas community on the list.

The public can vote for Boerne as the town that best captures the heart, wonder, and magic of the holiday season. You can vote once per day until Friday, Sept. 4.

Once voting closes, a panel of judges will evaluate each finalist town and select a winner based on:

The winning town will be named Hallmark’s Merriest Christmas Town and receive the opportunity to serve as a filming location for a Hallmark movie.

Boerne Christmas Magic

The recognition highlights what residents and visitors have long known: During the holiday season, Boerne’s combination of small-town charm, community traditions, and festive events can make a stroll through downtown feel like stepping into a movie.

“At the center of the celebration are the people who are part of our wonderful community,” Mayor Frank Ritchie said. “That sense of community is what has helped Boerne build a reputation as a Texas Hill Country destination throughout the holiday season.”

Among Boerne’s signature traditions is Dickens on Main, which transforms downtown during Thanksgiving weekend with live entertainment, holiday activities, and Victorian-inspired characters and decorations.

“What makes Christmas in Boerne so special is that it’s truly a community effort,” Visit Boerne Marketing Specialist Tori Bellos said. “Our role is to help visitors discover everything that makes Boerne unique while making sure our local businesses have the information and resources they need to welcome them.”

The celebration continues throughout the holiday season with Weihnachts Weekend, including the annual nighttime Weihnachts Parade, Kinder Fest, holiday markets, shopping events, and other festivities throughout December.

Boerne’s selection is about more than lights, decorations, and events.

“It is no mystery, a key component of the community’s Christmas celebration are the local businesses, volunteers, organizations, and residents who help bring the season to life each year,” said Kim Blohm, Greater Boerne Chamber of Commerce president/CEO. “Our small business owners welcome visitors, neighbors share longtime traditions, and families gather along Main Street to create the kind of personal, small-town experience that has become synonymous with Boerne.”

Boerne doesn’t try to be the biggest holiday destination. Instead, the community has built its seasonal traditions around what makes Boerne special year-round: its historic downtown, locally owned businesses, Hill Country setting, and a welcoming spirit that invites visitors to feel like part of the community.

Boerne Little League is back on the national stage Friday, with its Little League World Series game airing on ESPN and at least 9 watch parties planned across the San Antonio suburb.

Boerne will face Southview Little League of Tacoma, Washington, at 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21, at Howard J. Lamade Stadium in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

They advanced to the World Series after defeating Louisiana 4-1 in the Southwest Region championship game.

Boerne's road to Williamsport included some off-field drama. After Little League International disqualified Tulsa National over an ineligible player, Boerne defeated Louisiana 4-1 in what was designated the Southwest Region championship. Hours later, a Texas judge issued a temporary restraining order that would have required Boerne to play Tulsa for the title. The judge dissolved the order the next day, allowing Tulsa's disqualification to stand and confirming Boerne's trip to the Little League World Series.

As the Southwest Region champion, Boerne will face Southview Little League of Tacoma, Washington, the Northwest Region winner. Southview advanced after defeating Phenix City, Alabama, 2-0 on Wednesday.

This marks Boerne's second trip to the Little League Baseball World Series in three years. Here's what to know about Friday's game, including when it starts, how to watch and what's next.

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Salvador DOBBS

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Las Palapas Restaurants in Boerne

Rhyma Castillo is a trending reporter for the Express-News and a member of its Digital Go Team. She can be reached at Rhyma.Castillo@express-news.net.

A native of San Antonio and a Texas A&M University graduate, she is a journalist with nearly a decade of experience. She has reported on politics, immigration, climate change, gun violence, and workers’ rights. Additionally, she excels in lifestyle and entertainment writing, covering music, television, video games, technology, and relationships.

In her free time, she enjoys painting, drawing, cooking, hiking, climbing, gardening, playing video games, cuddling with her cats, and making music with her band.

There is a distinct, rhythmic beauty to the way things shift along the banks of the Cibolo. For years, the historic property at 119 Staffel Street existed as a sanctuary of quiet comfort, where the gentle murmur of the water outside matched the steady cadence of dining tables at The Creek Restaurant. When the doors closed this past March, a stillness settled over the familiar space, marking the quiet conclusion of a beloved local chapter.

But the finest kitchens understand that heat transforms, and for Chef Jean Tardif, the lingering embers of the past offered the perfect foundation to build something entirely new. The masterful French-trained mind behind Tardif’s American Brasserie is breathing new life into this creekside landmark, preparing to introduce Le Steak, a high-end steakhouse anchored in radical simplicity, absolute precision, and premium cuts. “I think it was the right opportunity,” Tardif says. “Instead of being The Creek, we decided to evolve like a phoenix and be reborn from the ashes. It’s the end of an era, but the start of another one.”

The planning for Le Steak began roughly six months ago. After The Creek closed its doors, Tardif maintained a strong, collaborative relationship with the landlord. As he stood in the empty dining room looking out at the water, he began to consider the Hill Country culinary ecosystem. He discovered that while Boerne’s food scene was rapidly expanding, it lacked a dedicated, ultra-premium steakhouse anchored in the rigorous French techniques he loves.

The vision crystallized rapidly, down to the minimalist name. “I started thinking about what Boerne needed,” Tardif says. “I’ve been a chef for 15 years, and this is a new concept we’re trying to install here. Everything came together; I saw a window open, and I took the opportunity to go in this direction.”

Tardif’s culinary DNA uniquely positions him for this venture. His father is French, and his mother is of Cuban and Mexican descent, introducing him to a wide variety of bold flavors and cuisines at an early age. His profound love for cooking began when he was just seven years old, leading him eventually to Le Cordon Bleu, one of the top culinary institutes in the world.

After graduation, Tardif honed his skills by opening his first restaurant in the highly competitive culinary arena of Mexico City before moving north to open Tardif’s American Brasserie near The Dominion in 2021. “People know Tardif’s already. I mean, we’ve been here for five years,” Tardif says. “But what they should know is that we’re going to put the same effort and techniques into every single dish we serve here. I love to have perfect dishes, and I’m surrounded by a beautiful, hardworking team that transmits my passion into every dish.”

While the brasserie boasts an expansive, multi-page menu, Le Steak represents a complete about-face toward minimalism, channeling the spirit of the iconic, single-focus steakhouses of Paris. Tardif's mission for the new venture remains the same at its core: to meld Texas flair with his love for French cuisine in a more distilled way.

The menu for Le Steak will consist of only three salads with three different sauces, three cuts of steak with sauces and substitutes for lamb, pork, or salmon, starches as sides—such as French fries, mashed potatoes, loaded potatoes, or roasted potatoes—and one dessert: beignets with ice cream and chocolate drizzle. This offering is not about branching out, but homing in on cooking the perfect steak for the people of Boerne.

To achieve this, the restaurant will operate on a fixed-price model with no reservations required. This eliminates the excess noise of a traditional dining experience. By narrowing the focus so intensely, Tardif forces the guest to appreciate the raw execution of the craft. “I'm calling this a steak ritual because we're only seasoning our steaks with salt, and we're not hiding any single flavor of the steaks,” Tardif says. “It’s pretty simple with real flavors with tasteful steaks.”

The transformation of the physical space matches the focused ethos of the menu. Over the last six months, Tardif and his team have been working tirelessly to prepare the restaurant to open for the Boerne community. Instead of hiring an outside commercial contractor, Tardif and his team renovated the space themselves to create a brand-new atmosphere for Le Steak. Moody lighting, new flooring, and updated fixtures led to a focused ambiance for the restaurant’s opening.

For the chef, the physical labor was a deeply personal necessity. “I did these floors and painted the building with my bare hands,” Tardif says. “Everything is put together by three other people and me. It’s like a baby for me, so I hope when people come, they say, ‘Wow, it’s a beautiful location.’”

For Tardif, Le Steak represents a fresh start, and one he hopes will give the Boerne community a steakhouse dining experience built on simplicity, perfection, craftsmanship, and hospitality. “Boerne has been amazing for me and very welcoming,” Tardif says. “People are going to have the flavors I love with beautiful views by the creek.”

830-816-2005 | 119 Staffel St.

“I love to have perfect dishes, and I’m surrounded by a beautiful, hardworking team that transmits my passion into every dish.”

“Instead of being The Creek, we decided to evolve like a phoenix and be reborn from the ashes. It’s the end of an era, but the start of another one.”

It’s August, but Boerne is already working on its Christmas list. At the top: becoming the set for the next great Hallmark Channel holiday movie.

Boerne is one of 25 finalists in Hallmark’s Merriest Christmas Town competition, and the only Texas contender. The winner will receive both the title of “Hallmark’s Merriest Christmas Town” and the chance for a Hallmark movie to be filmed there.

The Hill Country town of 24,000 writes in its contest entry that though it is not the biggest Christmas destination, its “one of the most heartfelt.”

“Every storefront sparkles with garlands, wreaths and thousands of white lights,” Boerne’s entry says. “Strolling through downtown with a cup of hot cocoa in hand feels like stepping into a classic Christmas movie.”

Boerne’s holiday celebrations commence the weekend after Thanksgiving with its two-day Dickens on Main event and continue the first two weekends of December. Festivities include a tree lighting ceremony, a visit from Santa Claus, an ice carving show, a live bird show, caroling contests, a holiday-themed shopping crawl and a parade of up to 100 floats.

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The fast-growing town’s holiday traditions have expanded since they began three decades ago. Last year’s festivities included a Nutcracker performance by the Greater San Antonio Academy of Ballet and a 22-foot ice slide.

“Our small business owners welcome visitors, neighbors share longtime traditions and families gather along Main Street to create the kind of personal, small-town experience that has become synonymous with Boerne,” said Kim Blohm, president and CEO of the Greater Boerne Chamber of Commerce.

Boerne has already earned the “Official Hallmark Christmas Town” title by making it to the final 25. It’s unclear how many municipalities signed up to be considered.

The public can vote once per day through Sept. 4, on the Hallmark website. Judges will make the final decision based on community spirit, holiday tradition, neighborhood charm and goodwill, Hallmark said.

Hallmark will name this year’s “Merriest Christmas Town” around Halloween.