BOERNE, Texas — Boerne goes all out for Christmas. Nestled in the Texas Hill Country, the small city welcomes tens of thousands of visitors each holiday season.
“This time of year, we watch the Christmas stories on television - the Hallmark series – and there’s always a small town that’s very well-decorated and people are dressed up,” said Larry Woods, the director of Visit Boerne. “Well, that’s what we have here. It’s a Christmas spectacle, it really is.”
Dicken’s on Main, the city’s hallmark festival, kicks off the spending season this weekend.
“It’s our 23rd year, it’s a great Christmas celebration,” said Woods. “It has everything you can think of: live entertainment, food booths, carolers, a big stage, a tree lighting. It will bring approximately 20,000 visitors per night.”
According to city officials, it’s a huge boost for the local economy.
“On average, each night of Dicken’s on Main is about $100,000 of additional sales tax generation for our businesses here,” said Chris Shadrock, a spokesperson for the City of Boerne. “Amazon is not going to miss your $20 purchase. That small business right here on Main Street, that makes all the difference.”
Emily Carvalho owns The Christmas Shoppe on Main Street. She says the revenue generated over the Christmas season helps keep her doors open year-round.
“We are here because y’all want us here,” she said. “If the shopping doesn’t happen, then we have to go away and then we wouldn’t have this cute downtown area that everybody loves so much.”
This year, the city announced its first-ever outdoor skating rink. If you plan to go ice skating, Boerne officials highly recommend booking a reservation online. Walk-ups are allowed, but space is limited. To reserve a spot, click HERE.
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