Kilgore Christmas Under the Stars: 2026 Dates for East Texas Families

Every Christmas season, Kilgore lights the stars on top of its oil derricks downtown.

If you have never seen it, it is one of the prettiest things in East Texas.

The City of Kilgore's tourism site, Visit Kilgore, has posted its Christmas Under the Stars calendar. Here it is in one place so your family, your church or your Sunday school class can plan.

The dates

A Very Derrick Christmas. Thursday, November 12, 5 to 8 p.m., Historic Downtown Kilgore. The Visit Kilgore page says downtown will be filled with kids activities, entertainment and holiday cheer, and the lighting of the derricks is at 7 p.m. sharp.

95th Annual Kilgore Christmas Parade. Tuesday, December 1, 6:30 p.m., Historic Downtown Kilgore. The Kilgore Chamber of Commerce hosts it. The page calls it an evening lighted parade with more than 90 entries each year. The theme had not been announced when I checked.

Mingle and Jingle. Saturday, December 5, 6 to 9 p.m., Historic Downtown Kilgore. Downtown stores stay open for after-hours shopping under the lit derricks.

Christmas in the Woods Outdoor Nativity. December 10 through 12, 6 to 9 p.m., at Forest Home Baptist Church. It is free. The listing says more than 150 cast members across 13 scenes, free hot chocolate for everyone who drives through, and a tradition going back to 1993.

Kilgore College Rangerette Christmas Show. Sunday, December 13, at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., Dodson Auditorium. The page says the show began in 2011 and includes the Kilgore High School Hi-Steppers, area dance studios and guest performers alongside the Rangerettes.

Want to be in the parade?

The Visit Kilgore page invites businesses, organizations, churches, sports teams and individuals to enter. There are awards for best decorated float, best use of theme and best overall, with business and civic or nonprofit categories. The page lists a Kilgore Chamber email for applications.

If you run a small business in Gregg County, a float is a warm, friendly way to let people know you are here. If your church has a youth group, it is a great project to do together.

One honest note before you go

The calendar lists the dates without the year printed beside them, and one line about parade judging still mentions 2025. The weekdays line up with the 2026 calendar, and the parade is labeled the 95th. Still, check the page the week of, or call Visit Kilgore at the number in the site's footer, 903.218.6896, before you load up the car. East Texas weather has moved more than one parade.

Take someone with you

Here is the part that matters most to me.

Somebody in your life will not get out to see the lights this year unless someone takes them. A widow down the road. A veteran who does not drive at night anymore. A single mom working doubles. A family new to town who does not know anybody yet.

A few more ways to make it count:

• Shop the Mingle and Jingle night. Buy one gift from a downtown store instead of a big box. That money stays in Gregg County.
• Bring a canned good or a coat to drop at your church or a local pantry on the way home.
• Thank the volunteers. Parades and nativity scenes do not happen without a lot of people working in the cold. Tell them it mattered.

Christmas in East Texas is best when nobody is left at home who wanted to come.