Northline isn't hosting Leander's 2026 holiday season. The new downtown along 183A still says on its homepage that "The Shops at Northline to Open in Early 2027." The season's main events are happening on older ground instead. Two markets on South Bagdad Road open the season on Nov. 21, Old Town's one-day festival takes up most of Dec. 5, and a riding center out on County Road 279 holds evening events the week after. For a Travisso household planning its weekends, the next month runs along the city's original main road.
Why the new downtown sits this one out
When Northline is finished, it should be the obvious place for a tree lighting. The developer describes a town square and signature parks as part of the plan. For now, the public piece is Northline Circle Civic Space, home to "Cascade," the development's first public artwork. The retail side is roughly 100,000 square feet, and its leasing page still lists anchor, restaurant and pad-site space.
That puts this December's gatherings in older parts of the city, and most of them sit on Bagdad Road or just off it.
Saturday, Nov. 21: two markets, one road
The first full holiday Saturday has two events on South Bagdad Road, and their hours overlap enough to do both.
Holidays at the Homestead fills the 1865 Mason Homestead at 1101 S. Bagdad Rd., next door to the Leander Public Library, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Mason Heritage Foundation runs it, and 2026 is its fourth year. The city's facility page tells the house's history. It was the farmhouse on a 300-acre tract that Charles C. Mason received from his father after the Civil War in 1865. In 2005 his granddaughter, Christine Mason, donated the 3½-acre homestead to the City.
Every vendor sells handcrafted goods, and the house is decorated for Christmas. Adults get in by donation and anyone under 18 is free. Bands play outside all day:
| Time | Act | Style |
|---|---|---|
| 10:15 a.m. | Johnny Blue | Zydeco and oldies |
| 11:45 a.m. | Timeless | Top 40 and country hits |
| 1:15 p.m. | The Caterwaulers | Country, blues and rock |
| 2:45 p.m. | Sky Zito Band | Classic rock and originals |
The holiday card photo is the best deal here. Esmeralda Gonzalez of Portrait Design by Esmeralda takes 10-minute portraits inside the house, in front of the Christmas tree, for $25. That money goes to the Mason Heritage Foundation and its local history education work. Free parking is on the grass in front of the homestead. The house has a ramp at the back, and the shopping area is outside on uneven grass, which matters if you're bringing a stroller or anyone who needs steady footing.
The Leander High Craft Market runs the same morning, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Leander High School, 3301 S. Bagdad Road. The craft market closes two hours before the homestead does, so a simple plan for the day looks like this:
- Start at 3301 S. Bagdad Road soon after the 9 a.m. opening.
- Drive up Bagdad to the Mason Homestead in time for Timeless at 11:45 or The Caterwaulers at 1:15.
- If you've booked a portrait, schedule it after you've finished shopping, while the afternoon light is still in the house.
Saturday, Nov. 28: the spread-out version
The weekend after Thanksgiving has no single venue. Community Impact's November events roundup lists the Leander Loop Small Business Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Nov. 28, held at participating businesses around the city. It's a quieter Saturday between the Bagdad Road markets and the biggest day of the season.
Saturday, Dec. 5: Old Town takes the whole day
The Old Town Christmas Festival happens on the first Saturday of December. The City of Leander and the Leander Chamber of Commerce host it, and Mohan Marchetty & Family sponsor it. The city calendar lists hours of 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., centered on 100 N. Brushy St. The posted 2026 schedule shows a day that builds toward evening:
| Time | What's happening | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 9:30–10:00 a.m. | Rudolph Run 5K check-in | Willis St. & Bagdad St. |
| 10:00 a.m. | Rudolph Run 5K start | Willis St. & Bagdad St. |
| 10:50 a.m. | 5K awards | Main Stage |
| 11:00 a.m. | Band of the Hills; Christmas Marketplace opens | Main Stage; Old Town |
| 12:30 p.m. | Leander Music School | Main Stage |
| 1:00–2:00 p.m. | Holiday Community Parade | Old Town |
| 2:00 p.m. | Sisters Act Performing Arts | Main Stage |
| 3:00 p.m. | Center Stage Dance | Main Stage |
| 3:30 p.m. | Strike Martial Arts | Main Stage |
| 4:30 p.m. | BASIS Charter School–Cedar Park | Main Stage |
| 6:30–9:00 p.m. | Tree Lighting & Holiday Movie in the Park | Main Stage |
The run is on Bagdad too. The Rudolph Run 5K is chip-timed on a mostly flat course, and it starts and finishes at W. Willis St. and Bagdad St. Registration on RunSignup is $43 per person plus a signup fee of about $3.58, which can vary slightly by registrant, with group discounts for four or more and for 10 or more. A household or a group of neighbors can register together and save on the per-person price.
The organizer's market page says hundreds of local vendors will sell specialty goods, food and beverages, and beer and wine. The activities page lists rides and games, a petting zoo, pony rides and stage performances as regular parts of the festival.
Getting in and parking
Plan your parking before you leave. According to the festival's Eventeny page, road closures start at 5:30 a.m. on Dec. 5, and all streets reopen by midnight. Streets will open and close through the day as activities move, and towing is strictly enforced. You can park on any Old Town street that isn't marked for closure or in the Leander ISD lots around Old Town. Don't park on or in front of residents' lawns. The parade page also names Camacho Elementary School and the Leander ISD building lots as parking options. There's no shuttle, so every car needs its own spot.
The schedule helps with that. If you arrive for the 6:30 p.m. tree lighting and movie, you'll come after the parade crowd has started to leave and walk to the Main Stage in the dark. If you want the parade and the lighting both, plan on a long afternoon, since there are four and a half hours between them.
Dec. 12–13: the season heads out to the county road
The last date on the season's main calendar is farther out than the rest. Open My World Therapeutic Riding Center holds Holidays with the Horses on Dec. 12 and 13, from 7 to 10 p.m. both nights, at 5300 County Road 279, as listed in Community Impact's roundup. Old Town's evening ends at 9. These nights run until 10 and take place at a riding center.
The new businesses filling in around the edges
The retail growth near Travisso is happening along Hero Way and the 183A frontage, not in Northline's square. Spec's Wine, Spirits & Finer Foods held its Leander grand opening on Aug. 22 at 1481 Hero Way, which helps with stocking up for holiday hosting. Crave Cookies and Soda opened Oct. 10 at 19397 Ronald Reagan Blvd., Ste. 120. On the 183A frontage, Ike's Love & Sandwiches at 10209 183A Toll Frontage Road had an expected construction completion date of Dec. 30. The Shops at Northline are scheduled for early 2027, so the city's festivals this December are in Old Town.
Holiday weekends are also when friends and family visiting Travisso start asking about the area. If those conversations turn into real questions about Leander, the Thomas Luxury Group team can talk through how the city's new and older parts fit together. Request a private consultation whenever it's useful.
