Real Estate Photographer in Johnson City, TX

Meet Johnson City, the "twinkliest town in Texas."

There’s a 2006 holiday movie, Deck the Halls, where Danny DeVito’s character’s not-so-friendly competition with his neighbor prompted him to place so many Christmas lights on his house that it would be visible from space. The movie is fiction, but holiday lights so bright that NASA has reported seeing them is a reality for one Texas Hill Country town. Meet Johnson City, the “Twinkliest Town in Texas.”

Thirty-Six Years

Johnson City’s annual Lights Spectacular has been bringing the holiday cheer to the Hill Country for 36 years. It began as a fundraiser for local nonprofits with 100,000 lights. Today, more than two million lights drape the sprawling Live Oaks behind the Blanco County Courthouse, with the surrounding town square glowing to match. The festivities draw heavily on the area’s natural beauty and perfectly check the box for merry and bright vibes without crossing into overly commercial territory.

Lights Spectacular Basics

Lights Spectacular begins on Saturday, November 29. Opening weekend brings the Lighted Hooves and Wheels parade, where classic cars, carriages, and more bring a festive shimmer to the streets. The online events calendar provides additional information on happenings throughout the month-long (and then some!) event, which runs through January 4. Expect to see fun, Texas-themed festivities like tractor and horse-drawn carriage rides, a living nativity, and more,

The event brings approximately 8,000 people to Johnson City each season, which is four times the number of residents. Local businesses get in on the action with their own lights, decorations, and pop-ups, making downtown a warm and twinkly spot to spend a winter evening or even an entire weekend.

Lights Bright Enough to Shine in Space

NASA has reported seeing the glow of Johnson City’s lights from the International Space Station. While it’s fun to have a mental image of an astronaut up there peering out a window and saying, “Hey check out Johnson City down there!” that’s not quite how it works. Satellites capture images of nighttime light emissions that reveal spikes in overall illumination in certain areas, a common phenomenon across the planet when communities break out the holiday lights. But, Johnson City’s claim to shine from space is legit, which is a well-deserved point of pride for a small town in the Texas Hill Country.

Johnson City business owner and Lights Spectacular chair Rayette Bible says part of the event's magic is how people return to Johnson City year after year and how Lights Spectacular becomes part of so many people’s core holiday memories. “We see children playing together…thousands of photos are taken. Every year, there are more than a few marriage proposals under the lights!”

Beyond the Lights

Although Johnson City has been historically best known as the birthplace of President Lyndon Johnson, this next-door neighbor to Fredericksburg is enjoying a quiet renaissance. In addition to Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park and Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site, which have traditionally been the hallmarks of visiting Johnson City, there’s an emerging dining scene and a vibrant town square that will make you want to stay a spell and get to know Johnson City beyond presidential history.

Here’s a list of don’t-miss spots:

Unsurprisingly, there’s a robust selection of craft beers brewed on site, but there’s also a selection of local wines and cocktails, plus pub bites, burgers, pizza, and brunch. Pecan Street Brewing is open seven days a week and has a dog-friendly patio.

June Bloom Lavender is a boutique lavender business that offers home-grown lavender and lavender-made self-care products such as candles, teas, sprays and sachets.

Named for the owner’s daughter, Tatum Cellars is an intimate winery with a small menu of single-vineyard wines and small bites.

Herencia Cuisine is a food truck and culinary hidden gem helmed by Michelin-recommended Chef Christophe. The eclectic food truck offerings are informed by Chef Christophe’s years of culinary innovation and experience in some of the world’s top restaurants.

Quirky, laid-back bar with creative craft cocktails, local wines and beer. The food menu is ever-changing but you can usually find a gourmet hot dog or Frito pie. Nice N Easy is normally closed Monday through Wednesday but it’s open daily during the Lights Spectacular.

Open seven days a week, Ron Yates offers a variety of Texas wines crafted by the seventh-generation rancher the winery is named for. There’s a healthy mix of reds and whites, plus small-bite (think meat-and-cheese board) options.