As you gear up for winter festivities, there are plenty of upcoming East Texas events to keep you busy the whole season long. However, planning is critical as you prepare for hosting a party or planning a dinner for friends and family. Remember, Texas has some interesting laws regarding alcohol sales on holidays, so leaving your shopping until the last minute is not an option for your beverage selection. When you finally figure out all the exciting activities you want to do this winter and which drinks you want to bring along for the festivities, head to a Zipps Liquor near you for the best selection and lowest prices.
Are Liquor Stores Open on Holidays in Texas?
Thanks to a few old laws dating back to the 1930s, Texas has some prohibition-era laws still on the books. These laws continue to be updated and re-established every few years but retain the prevention of alcohol sales on certain holidays. The rules are strangely detailed and prevent alcohol sales during certain times and on certain days, depending on the drink and the venue.
Most recently, House Bill 1518 went into effect in Texas on Wednesday, September 1, 2021. This bill amends the liquor laws that were previously in place. Now, you can buy beer and wine starting at 10 am on Sundays.
However, you still cannot buy liquor on Sundays in Texas. You also cannot buy alcohol on Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s Day. You also may not purchase liquor before 10 am or after 9 pm Monday through Thursday on any other days.
If you’ve got all that, here’s another wrench for your holiday plans. Should the holiday fall on a Sunday, liquor sales are banned directly following the holiday on Monday. For example, January 1, 2023, falls on a Sunday. As it stands with the liquor laws in Texas the way they are now with HB 1518, liquor stores would be unavailable Sunday, January, and Monday, January 2, 2023.
Can You Really Plan for Holiday Inconveniences?
If liquor sales are unavailable on significant holidays when you are sure to be entertaining, how can you fix a potential crisis if one should arise? The solution is to plan ahead. As you devise a plan for the events you plan to attend this holiday season in East Texas, find out whether or not beverages will be available at each venue. While the sale of liquor is prohibited, beer and wine are still viable options.
If you are concerned about planning for unexpected crises for your own events, mitigate potential problems by creating a signature drink for your gathering. A great rule of thumb is to plan for two drinks a person. Depending on how many will be attending and how many will be drinking, you can make your calculations accordingly. Be sure to let guests know that you will be serving a signature cocktail, but they are welcome to BYOB with a reminder that liquor is unavailable for sale on holidays. Find out more about how BYOB is working.
Easy Winter Cocktails for a Crowd
Planning ahead can also mean saving time by making bigger batches of crowd-friendly cocktails ahead of time. These festive drinks are sure to keep guests pleased while keeping your beverage selection stress-free.
- Cranberry Mimosas
- Spiked Eggnog
- Mulled Wine
- Christmas Punch
- Irish Coffee
- Wintery Sangria
- Cinnamon Vodka Cider
- Hot Buttered Crockpot Rum
What Winter Events Are Happening in East Texas?
Despite winter officially starting on December 21, plenty of wintery gatherings are happening from before Thanksgiving through December and on. East Texas is a lively place to be no matter the time of year you’re looking for something to do. Pick and choose from a few of these winter festivities happening soon.
Saturday, November 27, 2021
Mingle and Jingle
- Shopping starts at 10 am
- Party starts at 6 pm
- Historic Downtown Kilgore
- 815 N Kilgore St., Kilgore, TX 75662
Wassail Walk on Main Street
- 1 pm – 5 pm
- Marshall Wonderland of Lights
- 301 N. Washington Avenue, Marshall, TX 75670
Sunday, November 28, 2021
Holidaze in the Gardens
- 3 pm – 6 pm
- Longview Arboretum and Nature Center
- 706 W Cotton St., Longview, TX 75604
Monday, November 29, 2021
Chanukah Klezmer Celebration
- 7 pm – 9 pm
- True Vine Brewing
- 2453 Earl Campbell Pkwy, Tyler, TX 75701
Tuesday, November 30, 2021
The Polar Express at Texas State Railroad
- Departures at 5 pm, 6:30 pm, and 8 pm
- 789 Park Road, Palestine, TX 75801
Historic 89th Annual Christmas Parade
- 6:30 pm
- 1108 N. Kilgore Street, Kilgore, TX 75662
Wednesday, December 1, 2021
ZZ Top Live
- 7:30 pm
- Cowen Center, the University of Texas at Tyler, Texas 75799
Thursday, December 2, 2021
Christmas Parade
- 6 pm
- 1714 E. Rusk St., Downtown Jacksonville, TX 75766
Friday, December 3, 2021
Kilgore Public Library Christmas Open House
- 6 pm – 8 pm
- Kilgore Public Library
- 301 N. Henderson Blvd, Kilgore, TX 75662
Saturday, December 4, 2021
Santa Claus Crawl 2021
- 5 pm – 9 pm
- 100 E. Street, Hutto, TX 78634
Jingle Jog 5k and Fun Run
- 9 am kids start and adult races to follow
- Christus Fitness Center
- 2026 S. Jackson Street, Jacksonville, TX
Sunday, December 5, 2021
6th Annual Cookies With Santa
- 3 pm – 5 pm
- The Villa Tyler
- 7891 Highway 110 North, Tyler, TX
Saturday, December 11, 2021
Azalea District Trail of Lights
- 5:30 pm – 10 pm
- Hot Spring Carriage Company Ride
- Bergfield Park
- 1510 S. College Ave, Tyler, TX 75702
Saturday, December 18, 2021
Breakfast With Santa
- 9 am – 12 pm
- Lake Tyler Marina
- 18183 Concession Rd, Whitehouse, TX 75791
Sunday, December 26, 2021
Holiday in the Garden 2021
- 5 pm – 8 pm
- Tyler Rose Garden
- 420 Rose Park Drive, Tyler, TX
Depending on which type of events you choose to attend in East Texas this season, you’ll likely want to organize a BYOB party. Based on your knowledge of how liquor laws work, whether you’re a Texan born and raised or you’re a recent transplant to the lone star state, bringing a little something to sip on is brilliant. Be sure to plan ahead and stop in a nearby liquor store in East Texas for all your winter event supplies.