MESQUITE — The City of Mesquite is set to celebrate the season with a full lineup of Real Texas Holidays events designed to bring families together. From a “race for the rest of us” to dazzling tree lightings, concerts, and historic celebrations, there’s something for everyone in this hometown holiday tradition.
Kicking off the festivities is the Jingle Jog, a playful new event on Nov. 29 at 10 a.m. in Downtown Mesquite, 113 Main Street. Held during Small Business Saturday, this 0.5K “fun run” invites participants to don their most festive attire and enjoy doughnut hole stations, holiday treats, and merry pit stops. Registration opens at 9 a.m. For details, visit downtownmesquitetx.com/events.
The holiday spirit continues with Christmas on the Square on Dec. 2 from 5–8 p.m., also in Downtown Mesquite. Families can enjoy photos with Santa, a holiday gift market, food booths, and free cocoa and cookies while supplies last. The evening culminates with a community sing-along of the “12 Days of Downtown Mesquite” and the annual lighting of the city’s Christmas tree at 6 p.m.
Next up is the beloved Christmas in the Park, held Dec. 6–7 from 2–8 p.m. at Westlake Park, 600 Gross Road. The free event transforms the park into a winter wonderland with lights, music, crafts, photos with Santa, and performances from local groups. Children can drop off letters to Santa at a special North Pole mailbox and enjoy a spectacular fireworks finale. For $12, visitors can purchase a wristband granting access to face painting, inflatables, and a 35-foot tubing slide. Details are available at cityofmesquite.com/ChristmasInThePark.
Holiday sounds fill the air on Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. with the Mesquite Community Band’s “Tinsel, Tunes & Tidings” concert at the Mesquite Arts Center, 1527 N. Galloway Avenue. The annual event is free and open to the public, offering a family-friendly evening of festive music.
For those who love history, Christmas at the Ranch brings old-fashioned charm to the Florence Ranch Homestead, 1424 Barnes Bridge Road, on Dec. 13 at 10 a.m. Visitors can tour the 1871 home decked out for the holidays, make traditional tree ornaments, and take photos with Santa. Learn more at HistoricMesquite.org.
The holiday magic continues at the Mesquite Arts Centre with the Mesquite Arts Theatre’s production of “A Sherlock Carol,” running Nov. 28–Dec. 14. This clever blend of Dickens and Doyle follows Sherlock Holmes as he investigates the mysterious death of Ebenezer Scrooge. Tickets and showtimes are available at MesquiteArtsTheatre.org.
Rounding out the season, the Mesquite Symphony Orchestra presents “Winter Lights and Festival Nights” on Dec. 13 at 4:30 and 7 p.m. in the Concert Hall at the Mesquite Arts Center. The performances include classic holiday pieces such as “Sleigh Ride” and “Christmastime is Here,” along with a special world premiere. Tickets are available at MesquiteSymphony.org.
Mesquite invites residents and visitors alike to enjoy a Real Texas Holiday filled with music, lights, and family traditions in the Rodeo Capital of Texas. For full event listings and updates, visit cityofmesquite.com/RealTexasHolidays.
