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Check this list twice for holiday gift ideas you can only get in Texas

Make it a wrap on holiday shopping.

Photo by Elena Noviello/Getty

It's time to get a jump on your holiday shopping, and you probably have a varied list of tastes, budgets, and interests to accommodate.

This gift guide takes all that into account, with a wide range of suggestions for an even wider range of friends, family, colleagues, neighbors, babysitters, pet sitters, tutors ... well, you get the idea.

From festive experiences to cozy clothing, the best presents are right here. You might even finish your shopping early this year, which is perhaps the best present of all.

DSO Holiday Pops Photo courtesy of DSO

Dallas Symphony Orchestra concerts
Hear the sounds of the season with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra with a trio of festive concerts. At Christmas Pops, December 6-15, the DSO performs such holiday favorites as "Joy to the World," "Jingle Bells," and more.

Kings ReJoyce on December 11 invites audiences to experience the magic of multi-Grammy Award-winning opera vocalist Joyce DiDonato. She joins forces with Dallas vocal group Kings Return and pianist Craig Terry for a night of festive carols and seasonal classics.

Your holiday spirit will be overflowing December 20-22 when you experience Elf in Concert. The Christmas film classic is accompanied by a live symphony orchestra.

Looking ahead to the New Year, Enrico Lopez-Yañez leads the Dallas Symphony Orchestra through the epic music of Star Wars on January 3-4, 2025. Prepare for an intergalactic experience featuring John Williams’ iconic scores, including “Revenge of the Sith,” the heroic “Star Wars Main Title,” and the intense “Duel of the Fates.” From the thrilling space battles to the epic journeys of beloved characters, this special two-night concert will bring the excitement and grandeur of the Star Wars saga to life.

Grapevine ice rink Photo courtesy of Grapevine CVB

Grapevine Peace Plaza Ice Rink
Get festive this season in Grapevine, the Christmas Capital of Texas. Ice skate under the stars and the twinkling lights of a 60-foot live Christmas tree at Peace Plaza Ice Rink, presented by Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Grapevine. Considered "the Rockefeller Center of the Southwest," this Texas-sized, high-quality ice rink offers a magical skating experience right on Peace Plaza, in front of the stunning Grapevine Main Station. Whether you’re a seasoned skater or trying it out for the first time, there’s nothing quite like gliding on ice surrounded by festive lights, Christmas music, and the sparkle of Grapevine at Christmas. It's $20 per person for a one-hour session (ice skates included), or $500 for a private hour for up to 50 people.

The ice rink is just one highlight this season in the Christmas Capital of Texas, with more than 1,400 events happening over 40 days. After a fun-filled skate, warm up at Harvest Hall and enjoy bites from 10 international kitchens and cocktails at the Holly Jolly Bar at Third Rail. Stroll along Historic Main Street, adorned with millions of twinkling lights, and check off your Christmas list at the locally owned boutiques, check out the art galleries, people watch at the bistros and cafés, and sip wines on the Urban Wine Trail. Make sure you stop at various photo opps along the way, from Hometown Christmas to Toyland.

For more information on all the experiences in the Christmas Capital of Texas, including Gaylord Texan Resort’s ICE! and Meow Wolf’s The Unreal Winter, and to book a getaway at one of Grapevine's 20 hotels, visit ChristmasCapitalofTexas.com.

Plaza at Preston Center holiday Photo courtesy of Plaza at Preston Center

Plaza at Preston Center
Come explore one of Dallas’ premier open-air shopping centers, where everyday holiday shopping is transformed into an elegant experience.

You can't go wrong with gift cards to il Bracco and True Food Kitchen — or stopping in for a bite during a shopping sesh. Luminary Lifestyle stocks clothing, accessories, and home décor, covering a lot of bases in one store. And don't forget about four-legged family members! Lucky Dog Barkery has all the treats, toys, and even apparel a fur baby could wish for.

Camp Aspen sweartshirt Photo courtesy of Camp Aspen

Camp Aspen elevated loungewear
Aspen is where scenic majesty is bookended by frozen winter wonderlands and sun-dappled summers; townie charms easily intersect with fabulous global luxury; mountain purity meets playful debauchery; and adventure junkies hobnob with opulence connoisseurs.

But the place with almost everything was, until recently, missing one special something: a premium and playful lifestyle brand to celebrate the destination year-round. Hence, Camp Aspen elevated loungewear, co-founded by Houston siblings Maidie and Patrick Ryan.

Camp Aspen elevated loungewear is designed to embody the spirit of this timelessly cool Colorado destination while playing into the whimsical nostalgia of sleepaway camps so deeply rooted within a sizable Texan contingent that has now made Aspen its home away from home.

Its Range collection nods to an iconic way to get around Aspen. The Range crewneck sweatshirt, in particular, has twice sold out online, so with this latest restock the brand enhanced its desirability even further. It has been luxuriously upgraded with a sleeker logo patch on the back and a more indulgent, 100-percent cotton fabrication. Available in Aspen green (obvi), summit white, and the new midnight blue.

Holiday espresso martini Photo courtesy of Valencia Hotel Collection

Valencia Hotel Collection Holiday Packages
Make this season truly unique with two exclusive packages crafted to bring a touch of holiday magic to your stay. Experience the charm of the boutique hotels located in Austin, College Station, Las Colinas, Lubbock, and San Antonio, each offering a distinctive blend of luxury, style, and warm hospitality.

The Holiday Sweets package invites you to relax in luxurious guest room accommodations and savor two praline-infused signature holiday cocktails or mocktails, perfect for setting a festive mood.

For a more indulgent experience, The Sweet Holiday Escape package includes guest room accommodations, a delightful holiday breakfast at the hotel restaurant, and two praline-infused cocktails or mocktails to make your stay even sweeter.

Whether you’re looking for a festive retreat or a cozy getaway, these packages offer the perfect blend of seasonal warmth and luxury in the inviting atmosphere of these boutique hotels. Celebrate the season in style and book your holiday escape today.

Elevate your holiday gifting with the luxury of Valencia Hotel Collection. Choose eGift cards for memorable stays or shop Valencia at Home for signature scent candles and sprays, bedding, and more.

gift guide shopping holidays promoted

Pestilence News

New invasive pest in Texas is destroying grasses and pasture

TAMU

Mealyworm is small but damaging.

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller has issued an urgent alert to farmers to inspect their pastures for a newly detected and highly damaging pest: the pasture mealybug (Helicococcus summervillei).

According to a release from the Department of Agriculture (TDA), this invasive species, never before reported in North America, has been confirmed in multiple Texas counties and is already causing significant damage to pasture acreage across the southeast portion of the state.

The pasture mealybug causes “pasture dieback,” leaving expanding patches of yellowing, weakened, and ultimately dead turf.

This pest was first detected in Australia in 1928; its first detection in the Western Hemisphere occurred in the Caribbean between 2019 and 2020.

The TDA is working with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to coordinate a rapid response and protect Texas producers.

Mealybug history
Although the mealybug is just now being spotted, researchers suspect it may have been introduced before 2022.

Since mid-April 2025, southern Texas pasture and hay producers have been reporting problems in their fields. These fields show grass patches becoming brown or necrotic, or patches that are completely dead. Originally, it was presumed that symptoms were caused by another mealybug called the Rhodes grass mealybug, which has been reported in the U.S. since 1942. However, further investigations confirm that it's this new pasture mealybug (Heliococcus summervillei).

It has devastated millions of acres of grazing land in Australia and has since spread globally. Its rapid reproduction, hidden soil-level feeding, and broad host range make it a significant threat to pasture health and livestock operations.

MealybugTAMU

Adult females are approximately 2-5 mm long, covered in a white, waxy coating. They are capable of producing nearly 100 offspring within 24 hours, resulting in several generations per season. While adult females can live for up to 100 days, most damage is inflicted by the youngest nymphs, which feed on plant sap and inject toxic saliva that causes grass to yellow, weaken, and die.

“This is a completely new pest to our continent, and Texas is once again on the front lines,” Commissioner Miller says. “If the pasture mealybug spreads across Texas grazing lands like it has in eastern Australia, it could cost Texas agriculture dearly in lost productivity and reduced livestock capacity. TDA is working hand-in-hand with federal and university partners to respond swiftly and protect our producers from this unprecedented threat.”

Houston has a problem
The estimated impact area currently covers 20 counties, primarily in the Houston area, including: Cameron, Hidalgo, Willacy, Refugio, Calhoun, Victoria, Goliad, Dewitt, Lavaca, Fayette, Jackson, Matagorda, Brazoria, Galveston, Wharton, Colorado, Austin, Washington, Burleson, Brazos, and Robertson. AgriLife entomologists have submitted a formal Pest Incident Worksheet documenting significant damage to pastures and hayfields in Victoria County.

Research trials are underway to determine the best integrated pest management options. Currently, there is no known effective labeled insecticide for pasture mealybug.

Affected plants include: Bermudagrass, Bahia grass, Johnsongrass, hay grazer (sorghum–sudangrass), St. Augustine grass, various bluestem species, and other tropical or subtropical grasses. Damage can occur in leaves, stems, and roots.

Symptoms:

Yellowing and discoloration of leaves within a week of infestation
Purpling or reddening of foliage
Stunted growth and drought stress despite rainfall
Poorly developed root systems
Dieback starting at leaf tips and progressing downward
Premature aging, making plants more vulnerable to pathogens

How to spot it

Scout regularly for mealybugs on grass leaves, stems, soil surface, leaf litter, and under cow patties
Focus on unmanaged areas such as fence lines, ungrazed patches, and roadsides
Look for fluffy, white, waxy, or “fuzzy” insects on blades and stems
If plants appear unhealthy and insects match this description, investigate further

“Early identification is critical, and we need every producer’s eyes on the ground,” Commissioner Miller added. “We are working diligently with our federal and state partners to determine how to best combat this novel threat and stop it in its tracks.”

If you observe suspicious symptoms or insects matching the descriptions above, contact TDA at 1-800-TELL-TDA immediately.

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