Downtown Bonham Christmas Tree Lighting and S'Mores Cook-Off

Fannin County's county seat knows how to kick off December. The Downtown Bonham Christmas Tree Lighting gathers families around the courthouse square on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and this year that falls on November 28. The centerpiece is the community tree on the square at 101 E. Sam Rayburn Drive, but the evening is really built around everything that happens around it: the S'Mores Cook-Off, hot cocoa, and the whole downtown flipping on its holiday lights at once.

The tree lighting doubles as the unofficial start of Bonham's holiday calendar, which continues with the Christmas parade on December 4 and the Sweets, Spirits & Sparkles holiday market and Wine Stroll on December 5. Visitors who come for the lighting often find the downtown storefronts decorated and open late, with the courthouse glowing in the middle of it all.

Getting there from Paris

Bonham is about 25 minutes southwest of Paris on Highway 82, and about 20 minutes from 3870 County Road 45080 in Arthur City, making the evening an easy round trip. Parking rings the square, and the event is free, so families can wander the courthouse grounds, load up on roasted marshmallows, and take in the lights at their own pace.

Why it matters for the area

Small-town holiday rituals like this one are what Northeast Texas does best. For buyers weighing acreage in Lamar or Fannin County, knowing there is a friendly, well-run holiday celebration in every county seat adds real texture to the "what is there to do?" question. The season here is built on events like this, and they are free and open to everyone.