By Megan Wehring

WIMBERLEY — Strolling down the streets of downtown Wimberley, sipping on hot cocoa and listening to live music performances are the highlights of the Winter’s Eve festival in December. Events throughout the year have been canceled or changed to a virtual setting because of concerns surrounding the coronavirus pandemic;  as for the city of Wimberley, the show must go on.

“You do have to enjoy the holidays even during a pandemic,” said Jeanne Anne Cope, president of the Wimberley Merchants Association. “It’s been a long year and we need to have a little uplift.”

Wimberley Winter’s Eve has typically been a night full of holiday shopping, enchanting seasonal lights, live music, a visit from Santa and raffles. This year will bring a more casual, all-day event on Dec. 12 from noon to 8 p.m from the Cypress Creek Bridge to the Blanco Bridge in downtown Wimberley. Individual musicians will play throughout the day so attendees can still enjoy the sound of Christmas while walking along the square, visiting the shops and restaurants.

Wimberley Winter’s Eve poster

“It’s just live music scattered through the square,” Cope said. “It’s all open air. There are also restrictions as to how many customers can be in shops at the same time, so be patient and enjoy the music if you have to wait to enter a business.”

Attendees can expect performances by: Jake Sims, Frank Iarossi, Nikole Isakson, John Cavender, Jon Paramentier, Monte Good, Carmen Elise, Marvin Bottera, Devan Jones, The Latin Dukes, Brenda Varne, Grant Ewing, Texas Renegade, Jerialice Arsenault, Lee Baker and Heather Wiley.

While the city tried not to stray too far from its traditional holiday celebrations, it still needs to abide by COVID-19 restrictions; food vendors and Santa visits will not be available at the event.

Other festivities will live on this year.

Gift basket drawings will begin at 7:30 p.m. Donations were made by businesses in the Wimberley Merchants Associations to craft 10 gift baskets that will be in the drawing, according to Cope. If an attendee goes through eight of the shops to get stamps, they will receive a free ticket to enter the drawing for one of the baskets.

The holiday season is among us — undoubtedly, it’s been a difficult year for all and it’s time to ring in the new year. Cope said people need to take advantage of these kinds of events during trying times and “come early and take your time to enjoy the day.”