Holidays, East Texas Style

I gathered with my daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter along with hundreds of other local and area residents to enjoy the holiday festivities, wait for darkness, and the lighting of the historic Harrison County Courthouse in Marshall, Texas.

This East Texas city of about 25,000 has lit up its courthouse and downtown since 1987 when George Smith, then Marshall News Messenger Editor, wrote an editorial. “Picture this: Marshall’s square, every tree, every bush…the Harrison County Courthouse Museum…a Gigantic Christmas Tree…businesses around the square…decorated in tiny white lights. It could be a spectacle that would rival any other Christmas lighting scene in this area; think about it. We could make it happen.”

A few months later, a Marshall native living in France received a copy of the editorial and responded with a check for $25,000 and the simple note, “Have your wish.”

Today, in addition to the courthouse and community lights, there is an outdoor ice-skating rink, vintage carousel, train ride, and a collection of tiny houses making up Santa’s Village.

After the courthouse lighting, I joined my granddaughter in Santa’s Village to make a tiny train engine, get her face painted, and decorate a cookie. Santa was on hand to officially start the festivities and greet children in his own tiny house.

If you find yourself traveling along Interstate-20, you may want to take a slight detour. In addition to the official courthouse lighting, there are other festivities planned in December, including: