Jellystone Park Pelahatchie Snow Time Like Christmas

Trip Planning

Enjoy These Christmas and New Years' Activities

Visit these holiday celebrations across the country.

Christmas tree lighting ceremonies, luminaria walks, and breakfasts with Santa are just some of the activities taking place at campgrounds, RV parks, and resorts in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

Many parks also offer Christmas crafts, cookie decorating, and nighttime sleigh rides to look at the Christmas lights. There’s even a few parks with ugly Christmas sweater contests and Christmas carol karaoke. Here’s a sampling of some of the activities and special events taking place at campgrounds and RV resorts across the country during the weeks leading up to Christmas:

Christmas Celebrations

  • Great Escapes RV Resort in Chestnut Bay: This park will have four consecutive Christmas-themed weekends beginning Dec. 6-8. Activities include ugly Christmas sweater competitions, holiday games, and sleigh rides through the park to look at the lights. 

  • Rincon Country RV Resorts in Tucson: Rincon Country East and Rincon Country West will each have Christmas potlucks, with the resorts providing the hams and guests bringing side dishes. Guests are also encouraged to bring their favorite appetizers and beverages to share. Signup sheets will be available to help coordinate the events.
  • Fountain of Youth Spa & RV Resort in Niland, California: This park has several Christmas-themed events, including a tree lighting ceremony Nov. 29; a golf cart Christmas light parade on Dec. 13, along with a Christmas party; a Christmas classical concert on Dec. 14; as well as services on Christmas Eve and an interfaith Christmas potluck on Dec. 25.

  • Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in Lodi: This campground will celebrate holiday weekends Dec. 13-15 and Dec. 20-22. Activities include golf cart decorating, lighting up the park with Christmas lights and visits from Santa.

  • San Diego KOA in Chula Vista, California: This campground will have its first annual tree lighting ceremony over Thanksgiving weekend, which also kicks off the park’s holiday activities. Special events throughout December include “Breakfast with Santa.” The Sandcastle Cafe will also be cooking up peppermint mochas and Christmas cookie lattes.

  • San Francisco North / Petaluma KOA Resort in Petaluma: This park will have a Christmas party on Christmas Day.

  • Santa Cruz / Monterey Bay KOA Holiday in Watsonville: This campground has three consecutive “Yule Tide Holiday Event” weekends starting Dec. 6-8 with a campsite decorating contest, breakfast with Santa on Saturday morning and a holiday dance party. The same activities take place the weekend of Dec. 13-15, but with a few additions, including a marshmallow war, marshmallow shooters, a holiday PJ dance party, and s’mores and cocoa. From Dec. 20-24 there will be a campsite decorating contest, an ugly sweater contest, and holiday train rides with Santa and Mrs. Claus. 
     

  • Jellystone Park in Bremen, Georgia: This park will have four consecutive Christmas-themed weekends beginning Dec. 6-8. Activities include ugly Christmas sweater competitions, holiday games and sleigh rides through the park to look at the lights. 
  • Fireside RV Resort in Ponchatoula: Christmas activities at this park are scheduled for Dec. 21 and include campsite decorating, a kids craft, and pictures with Santa.
  • Alamagordo / White Sands KOA Journey in Alamagordo: On Christmas Eve this park will invite its guests to light hundreds of luminarias, which will be set up around the campground in celebration of Christmas. Luminarias are made with small brown paper bags that are weighted down with sand and illuminated from within by a candle. They look beautiful when they are lit up at night and can be used to illuminate pathways, creating the ambiance for memorable “luminaria walks.” This campground will also celebrate Christmas Eve with a bonfire and s’mores.

  • Hattiesburg / Okatoma River KOA in Hattiesburg: On Dec. 7 this park will host a Christmas arts and crafts fair featuring works of art from local artists.

  • Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in Pelahatchie: This park will have Christmas-themed activities for three consecutive weekends beginning Dec. 6-8. Activities include a magical Christmas tree patch. As night falls, gather the kids to plant magical seeds. Embrace the wonder and anticipation as everyone drifts off to sleep with dreams of holiday magic. The next morning, watch in awe as a small Christmas tree has sprouted in place of the seeds planted in the Enchanted Evergreen Grove. There will also be other children’s activities throughout the weekend, including a sleigh ride through the park, which will be adorned with dazzling lights.

Jellystone Park Pelahatchie
Photo courtesy of Jellystone Park Pelahatchie 

 

  • Camp Cedar Cabin & RV Resort in Mason: This park will have one of the more unusual Christmas activities Dec. 5-7 when guests can step into the whimsical world of Dr. Seuss during the park’s “Welcome to Whoville” weekend! Enjoy Seuss-themed crafts, games, and activities. Participate in a Whoville parade, meet the Grinch, and enjoy a Seuss-inspired movie night. It's a magical weekend that's perfect for Dr. Seuss fans of all ages. On the weekend of Dec. 12-14, this park will have a Festival of Lights celebration with light-themed crafts, games, and activities. Guests can create their own light displays and participate in a lantern parade. It's a bright and festive weekend that celebrates the beauty of lights. The park will have a “Santa's Workshop Weekend” Dec. 12-14 with Christmas-themed crafts, games, and activities. Guests can visit Santa's workshop, make your own holiday gifts, and meet Santa himself.

  • Great Escapes RV Resort in Bryan College Station: This park will have four consecutive Christmas-themed weekends beginning Dec. 6-8. Activities include ornament making and visits by Santa Claus.

  • Jellystone Park in Burleson: On the weekends of Dec. 6-8, Dec. 13-15 and Dec. 20-24 this park will have its annual holiday activities, including its red and green scavenger hunt, ugly Christmas sweater contest, reindeer games human snowman contest, and Christmas carol karaoke.

  • Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in Canyon Lake: This campground will celebrate holiday weekends Dec. 13-15 and Dec. 20-22. Activities include golf cart decorating, lighting up the park with Christmas lights, and visits from Santa.

  • Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in Kerrville: This campground will celebrate holiday weekends Dec. 13-15 and Dec. 20-22. Activities include golf cart decorating, lighting up the park with Christmas lights, and visits from Santa.

  • Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in Tyler: This campground will celebrate holiday weekends Dec. 13-15 and Dec. 20-22. Activities include golf cart decorating, lighting up the park with Christmas lights, and visits from Santa.

  • Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in Waller: This campground will celebrate holiday weekends Dec. 13-15 and Dec. 20-22. Activities include golf cart decorating, lighting up the park with Christmas lights, and visits from Santa.

  • Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in Wichita Falls: This campground will celebrate holiday weekends Dec. 13-15 and Dec. 20-22. Activities include golf cart decorating, lighting up the park with Christmas lights, and visits from Santa.

  • San Antonio / Alamo KOA Holiday in San Antonio: Holiday activities at this campground include its annual Tamale Fiesta on Dec. 21. Christmas Eve activities include decorating cookies for Santa Claus.

Great Escapes RV Resorts North Texas
Photo courtesy of Great Escapes RV Resorts North Texas

 

  • Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in Hurricane: This park will have a “Christmas Movie Marathon PJ Party Weekend” on Dec. 6-8. Guests are invited to wear their favorite holiday pajamas and enjoy classic Christmas movies, popcorn, and hot cocoa by the fire. The park will also offer holiday-themed games and crafts. Activities on the weekend of Dec. 13-15 will include a Christmas-themed campsite decorating contest, holiday-themed crafts, and games. There will also be a tree lighting ceremony and a visit from Santa Claus.

New Year’s Eve Celebrations

Some campgrounds are also planning New Year’s Eve activities for families and for adults. Here are a few examples:

  • Camp Cedar Cabin and RV Resort in Mason: This park will have a “New Year's Countdown” celebration Dec. 26-28 with fun crafts, games, and activities as the park counts down to midnight. Guests can participate in a festive parade, make their own party hats, and enjoy a New Year’s Eve movie night.
  • Jellystone Park in Burleson: This park will celebrate New Year’s Eve on the weekend of Dec. 27-29 with a “Year in Review Scavenger Hunt” in which participants can search for clues and hidden treasures that highlight the best moments of the past year. There will also be a 2024 trivia game, a “Festival of Lights Glow Hayride,” a “Name That Tune” game, and a New Year’s Eve dance party.
Jeff Crider

Author

Jeff Crider, President and CEO of Crider Public Relations, has been involved in covering the campground industry for over 25 years. Jeff has worked as a freelance writer for publications such as RV Business, Motor Home Magazine, Trailer Life, Highways and other Affinity Group Inc. publications since 1995. He has also successfully pitched many of the nation's top tier media outlets, including CNN, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, USA Today, The Financial Times, Reuters, The Associated Press and National Public Radio. In addition to writing, Jeff is also a talented photographer and humanitarian.