December - Texas Music Events Calendar 2013

The 2013 TMEC lists more than 500 annual events featuring live music. To update listing information for your 2013 event, please contact the Texas Music Office at music [at] governor.state.tx.us or call (512) 463-6666.

For a listing of Texas live music venues, please click here.

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Email: music [at] governor.state.tx.us | Request Info | Texas music event application

Annual Christmas Concert
December 6-7
Sulphur Springs, Texas; 1200 Houston Street, Sulphur Springs, TX
North East Texas Choral Society
Carol R. Allen
P. O. Box 66; Sulphur Springs, TX 75483
(903) 348-8552
Music: A cappella, Big Band, Children's, Classical, Jazz, Pop, Traditional Christmas
Activities: Concert season
"A Family Christmas Spectacular" will be presented by the North East Texas Choral Society. This 100-voice community chorus presents this Christmas concert in addition to a spring concert, and a fund raising dinner-show/Cabaret annually. The Christmas choruses from The Messiah will be presented accompanied by a string quartet. The concert is fun-filled with traditional Christmas music and audience participation.

Christmas Pops Gala
December 6-7
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church Auditorium; 18220 Upper Bay Road, Nassau Bay, TX 77058
Clear Lake Symphony
Bob Wall
P. O. Box 890582; Houston, TX 77289-0582
(281) 482-6032
Music: Classical, Gospel, Pop, Christmas
Activities: Concert season, Annual Christmas Event
Clear Lake Symphony's annual Christmas "Pops" Concert, with Associate Conductor Robert F. Wall, will be on Friday, December 3 and Saturday, December 4, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. in the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church Auditorium. The Symphony will perform a melody of Christmas Seasonal Favorites and also well known classical works. Other selections include a sing-a-long with the audience. Christmas seasonal favorites by the Symphony. Guest Artists: Gloria Dei Lutheran Festival Choir and Handbells. The concert has become a Bay Area holiday tradition for many of our local residents. Seating is available on a first-come/first-served basis. So get your group together and plan to join us for a wonderful holiday celebration.

Dickens on the Strand
December 7-8
Galveston Island; Strand Street , Between 21st - 25th Streets
Galveston Historical Foundation
Peggy Clark
502 20th Street; Galveston, TX 77550-2014
(409) 765-3432; Fax (409) 765-7851
Music: Victorian Christmas Music
Activities: Victorian Christmas Festival
Presented by Galveston Historical Foundation, Dickens on the Strand will take you and your family on an enchanted journey through history as a bustling 19th Century cityscape comes to life. For an entire weekend, hundreds of costumed vendors and performers will provide a look at the pomp and pageantry of the British Empire, at a time when commercial and cultural ties provided a strong connection between London and Texas’ largest and richest city. Centered in Galveston’s The Strand National Historic Landmark District, located approximately one hour south of downtown Houston, the family festival will include parades, non-stop entertainment on the festival’s stages, plus strolling carolers and roving street musicians, bagpipers and entertainers. Additionally, costumed vendors peddle their wares from street stalls and rolling carts laden with tasty culinary delights and Victorian-inspired crafts, clothing, jewelry, holiday decorations and gift items.

Holiday at the Hall
December 7
Old Town Lewisville; Main & Church Streets
City of Lewisville
Jennifer Galante, Marketing and Events Coordinator
P.O. Box 299002; Lewisville, TX 75029
(972) 219-3710; (972) 219-3401; Fax (972) 219-3719
Music: Holiday
Activities: Music festival, breakfast
Holiday at the Hall is held in Old Town Lewisville, complete stage performances, visits with Santa, festive holiday activities for the kids, and more!

Holiday by the Tracks
December 7
City of Elgin; Downtown
Elgin Main Street Board
310 North Main St.; Elgin, TX 78621
(512) 281-5724; Fax (512) 281-5724
Music: Bluegrass, Children's, Country, Folk/Acoustic, Tejano, Christmas
Activities: Annual Christmas Event
On the first Saturday of December, come to downtown Elgin from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for the Holiday by the Tracks event featuring live music, a holiday bazaar, a farmers market, pictures with Santa Claus, art for kids, a lighted Christmas parade, and a live nativity.

The International Film Festival Summit & International Music Festival Conference
December 8-10
Hyatt Regency; Downtown Austin, TX
Laurie Kirby
Austin, TX
(626) 470-6043; Fax (917) 398-2125
2013 Speakers Include: Martin Elbourne (Glastonbury), Philip Blaine (Insomniac), John Warren (Road Manager Lady Gaga), Dave Norman (Tour Manager John Legend), Dede Flemming (Lightning in a Bottle), Caroline Burruss (Austin City Limits), David Silbaugh (Summerfest), Ryan Kruger (Live Nation Canada), Kevin Lyman (Vans Warped Tour), Peter Manning (C3 Presents), Logan Mulvey (GoDigital), and Dana Harris (Indiewire)

International Music Festival Conference ~ 2
December 8-10
Hyatt Regency Austin; Downtown Austin, TX
International Music Festival Conference
Laurie Kirby, Executive Director
244 Fifth Avenue, No. 2150; New York, NY 10001
(626) 470-6043; Fax (530) 325-4125
Activities: Awards show, Music festival, Trade show/convention
The International Music Festival Conference (IMFCON) is the only conference addressing the issues facing the music festival industry. The IMFCON mission is to promote and strengthen the global music festival industry through education, networking, dissemination of information, and the cultivation of high standards for the industry. The IMFCON was founded in 2007 and provides the only annual conference & symposium for music festival professionals and entertainment executives to network, learn from one another, establish partnerships, and understand the latest trends in festivals and music.

Annual Candlelight Musical
December 14-18
Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church; 963 South West 40th Street, San Antonio, TX
Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church
Germond Sance
963 South West 40th Street; San Antonio, TX 78237
(210) 433-5636
Music: Gospel, Christmas Gospel Worship Celebration
Activities: Music festival, Christmas Gospel Worship Celebration
The Annual Candlelight Worship Celebration is committed and dedicated to the perpetuation of gospel music as an original American art form and to promote various Christian music styles within San Antonio and surrounding areas. Over the years, we have secured the services of our leading christian/gospel recording artist to serve as our special guest clinician. Then on that Saturday, we conclude with a worship service/ celebration.

Candlelight
December 14-15
Dallas Heritage Village; 1515 South Harwood Street, Dallas
Dallas Heritage Village
Melissa Prycer
1515 South Harwood Street; Dallas, TX 75215-1273
(214) 421-8455; (214) 421-5141; Fax (214) 428-6351
Music: Bluegrass, Children's, Classical, Country, Cowboy, Folk/Acoustic, Holiday
Activities: Exhibits, Carriage rides, Crafts
Candlelight is a holiday celebration for the entire family. Witness the holidays as they were celebrated from 1840-1910. Visit Mrs. Blum and learn the traditions of Hanukah. Learn the 1901 Tejano Catholic holiday traditions from Mrs. de Léon. Enjoy strolling carolers, telling St. Nicholas your Christmas wishes and riding around the Village in Nip and Tuck's donkey pulled carriage. The kids can make an ornament for your tree or a dreidal to share with friends. Come celebrate the holidays December 14-15 from 3 - 9pm. Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for senior 65+, $8 for children 4 -12, children under 4 and members are free. Discounted tickets available online in Fall 2013.

Armadillo Christmas Bazaar ~ 2
December 17-24
Palmer Events Center; 900 Barton Springs Road, Austin, TX
Armadillo Christmas Bazaar
Bruce Willenzik
4428 Gillis; Austin, TX 78745
(512) 447-1605
Activities: Music festival, Trade show/convention
The Armadillo Christmas Bazaar is an iconic arts and music festival featuring three music performances per day over an eight day run in 2013. The show has a tradition of booking Austin A-List and emerging bands with a large fan base. Performers on the Armadillo stage enjoy excellent sound quality, a low to moderate volume gig and an intimate stage experience. An art fair and music festival rolled into one, it has long been Austin's favorite scene for holiday shopping, live music and fun. Open 11 a.m.-11 p.m. daily from December 17-24, 2013.

Texas Cowboys' Christmas Ball
December 19-21
Pioneer Hall; 2300 Avenue G, Anson, TX 79501
Texas Cowboys' Christmas Ball Association
Suanne F. Holtman
P. O. Box 215; Hawley, TX 79525
(325) 537-2589
Held every year for 78 years at the Historic Pioneer Hall in Anson, Texas. Reenactment 1885 Christmas Ball. Live band 12/19 and 12/21, Muddy Creek (area band), 12/20; Michael Martin Murphey & Rio Grande. Ladies require dress to be on dance floor and men check hat at door. Dances of the Ball: Schottische, waltz, polka, virginia reel, put your little foot, Paul Jones, square dance, and two-step.

Christmas Ball
December 21
Luckenbach; 412 Luckenbach Town Loop, Fredericksburg
Abbey
412 Luckenbach Town Loop; Fredericksburg, TX 78624
(830) 997-3224 Ext. 29; (888) 311-8990; Fax (830) 997-1024
Music: Country, Cowboy
Activities: Dance in Dancehall
Luckenbach's Annual Christmas Dance featuring Gary P. Nunn. Nunn has been described as everything from "a pioneer of Texas country music" to "a part of the fabric of contemporary Texas culture" to "the mule that pulls the Texas country music wagon!" However, one chooses to describe him, there is no denying his contribution, presaging the "Cosmic Cowboy" movement. Show starts at 8:00.