Santa Sightings and Other Festivities Bring Holiday Joy

The holiday season is filled with magic — particularly in Johnson Development communities, where lifestyle directors plan tree lightings, holiday parties, Breakfast with Santa events, and other happenings that bring neighbors together at this special time of year.

This chorus of festivities typically stretches throughout the month — often sprinkled with opportunities to give back. Here’s a sampling of how Johnson community residents will be celebrating the season:

Cross Creek West

Holiday celebrations started early in Cross Creek West and sister community Cross Creek Ranch, with a holiday wreath-making class in November. The annual tree lighting happened Nov. 29 — a big affair with live music, balloon artists, an airbrush station, hot chocolate, a letter-writing station, and more. Through Dec. 18, young residents can also deposit their letters to Santa in a big, festive mailbox at the Cross Creek Ranch Welcome Center. (We hear the mailbox has direct delivery to the North Pole.)

But the fun is not just for kids. Residents 21 and up can get into the holiday spirit Dec. 5 during a Holiday Cocktail Mixology Night. The Pour Tour will lead the class, and prizes will be given out for the most eye-catching ensembles in the Ugly Holiday Sweater Contest. Residents of all ages can take a bus Dec. 13 to Santa’s Wonderland in College Station. No driving and no fighting traffic — just a relaxing ride to the largest Christmas attraction in Texas.

Grand Central Park

Grand Central Park is hosting its annual Share the Joy, Give a Toy drive through Dec. 10, inviting residents and the public to drop off toys at The Lake House, 1039 Lake House Drive, or The Finding Place, 750 Grand Central Parkway, in Conroe. Donated toys will be distributed by the Conroe Police Department.

On Dec. 5, residents age 21 and over will enjoy an evening of champagne, candlelight, and holiday cheer during the Lakeview Holiday Soiree, while younger residents can meet the Ice Princess, Mickey Mouse and Santa during the Merriest Celebration on Earth on Dec. 13. Santa will also be at the Dec. 6 Artisan Market happening 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Lake House Pavilion.

Grange

One of our newer communities is inviting the public to meet Santa Claus Dec. 13 on his first official visit to Grange. Santa will touch down at Henley Park, 405 Dove Meadow Lane in Katy. This addition to Santa's flight path will be accompanied by flight attendant elves, festive tunes, holiday treats, and warm drinks. Kids can write and deliver letters to the big man and pose for holiday photos. Those interested in attending the free event can RSVP here.

Kresston

Kresston is celebrating the season as only Kresston can do with a western winter round-up Dec. 6-11. “Kressmas” starts with a hot cocoa bar and ornament pick-up 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at The Boot House, 26850 Trailblazers Run in Montgomery. Sunday, residents and the public can enjoy live holiday music and a food truck at Legends Pointe from noon to 3 p.m. People can wrap presents and sip wine at The Boot House Monday from 2-4 p.m. A Community Giving Day will be held Tuesday at The Boot House. On Wednesday, The Boot House will host cookie decorating and a holiday movie from 3-5 p.m. Kressmas concludes Thursday, Dec. 11, with a holiday vendor market 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. at The Boot House. Santa will be on hand for photos and to accept letters.

Sienna

Sienna isn’t lighting just any tree on Dec. 6 — it’s lighting up a 45-foot-tall Giving Tree, collecting new toys, books, games, clothes and more for children in need ages 2-16. The celebration includes food trucks, hot cocoa, holiday music, and photos with Santa. The racquet sports staff is serving up a morning of tennis and pickleball earlier in the day, asking players to bring a new unwrapped toy to donate to a local charity.

Santa returns Dec. 12 for photos and cookies and then is back the next morning with Mrs. Claus for breakfast. Sienna’s 50+ active adults are getting festive with two events — an Ugly Sweater Wrap Party on Dec. 12 and a Holiday Cookie Exchange Dec. 18. Attendees of this sweet event are asked to bring at least three dozen cookies to share.

Woodforest

A sleighful of holiday events in Woodforest kicked off with the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony Nov. 30. Residents and the public are invited to Deck the Pines 5-8 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Park at Pine Market, 885 Pine Market Ave. The free event includes photos with Santa, live nativity animals, rides, face painting, balloon artists, and more.

Santa is back the next day for pancakes and photos the next day during the resident-only Breakfast with Santa event. Snow is in the forecast for the Flurry of Fun event Dec. 13, complete with a polar bear slide, snow hills, and snow pits. The Palm in Woodforest will transform into Santa’s Playland Dec. 20, inviting little ones to spend more time with Jolly St. Nick, decorate cookies, and burn off their excitement in holiday-themed bounce houses. Storytime with Mrs. Claus on Dec. 22 concludes the monthlong seasonal celebration.

From Santa sightings to Giving Trees to western-themed celebrations, the season shines bright across Johnson Development communities. Whatever the celebration, the holidays here are about connection, generosity, and creating traditions that bring neighbors together year after year.