Travel Guides
Travel Guides
Family-Friendly Christmas Activities in the Sunbelt
Enjoy these fun Christmas celebrations taking place at campgrounds across the Sunbelt.
Overview
Christmas tree lighting ceremonies, visits with Santa, and Christmas carol karaoke are just some of the activities taking place at campgrounds, RV parks, and resorts in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Many parks also offer Christmas crafts, cookie decorating, and nighttime sleigh rides to look at the Christmas lights.
Here’s a roundup of some of the activities and special events taking place at campgrounds and RV resorts across the Sunbelt during the weeks leading up to Christmas:
1
Fountain of Youth Spa & RV Resort
The Fountain of Youth Spa & RV Resort in Niland, CA, has several Christmas-themed events, including:
1) A Christmas lighting event on December 5
2) A classical Christmas concert on December 13
3) A Christmas parade and party on December 19
4) A Christmas Eve service on December 24 and
5) An interfaith Christmas potluck on December 25
2
Gatlinburg East / Smoky Mountain KOA Holiday
December activities at the Gatlinburg East / Smoky Mountain KOA Holiday Campground in Cosby, NC, include hot chocolate bar socials, letter writing to Santa, visits from Santa, and pancake breakfasts on Sundays. This campground is also collecting gifts for less fortunate children in the community.
Photo courtesy of Gatlinburg East / Smoky Mountain KOA Holiday.
3
Jellystone Park Camp-Resort (Burleson, TX)
Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in Burleson, TX, will have a variety of Christmas-themed weekend activities December 5-7, 12-14, and 19-24. Activities include red and green scavenger hunts, reindeer games, opportunities to design your own ugly Christmas sweaters and compete in the park’s ugly Christmas sweater contest, and a human snowman contest in which teams race to transform their partners into a living snowman.
Guests can also join Yogi Bear and their fellow campers in Christmas Karaoke and participate in the park’s “Festival of Lights” glow hayride, a magical journey around the park illuminated by twinkling lights and holiday cheer.
4
Jellystone Park (Bremen, GA)
Jellystone Park in Bremen, GA, will have a tree lighting ceremony every weekend in December. Guests can also meet Santa and Mrs. Claus, make reindeer food, and enjoy cookie decorating complete with hot cocoa, as well as a heartwarming Christmas story featuring Yogi Bear. Cozy up in your PJs for a sleigh ride around the park to see all the lights. Don’t forget your ugly Christmas sweaters and holiday decorations for our site decoration contests and Christmas sweater party!
Photo courtesy of Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in Bremen, GA.
5
Jellystone Park Camp-Resort (Lake Charles, LA)
Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in Lake Charles, LA, will have Christmas activities every weekend in December. Activities December 5-7 include Christmas caroling and a campsite decorating contest.
Activities December 12-14 include cookie decorating, caroling, and writing letters to Santa. The Grinch will be on the loose the weekend of December 19-21, which includes festive games and Grinchy surprises. Santa will visit December 26-28.
6
Jellystone Park Camp-Resort (Pelahatchie, MI)
Every weekend in December, guests at Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in Pelahatchie, MI, can enjoy Christmas tree decorating with Yogi Bear, reindeer food, cookies with Mrs. Claus, and sleigh hay rides. Other activities include Christmas glow rides, an enchanted evergreen grove, Christmas crafts, a Christmas scavenger hunt, a Christmas unwrapping game, a gingerbread house contest, and a snowball scoop game.
7
Ocean Lakes Family Campground
Ocean Lakes Family Campground in Myrtle Beach, SC, offers a variety of Christmas activities on Thanksgiving weekend, including pressed flower ornament making; a tree trimming event; an ugly sweater contest; a visit from Santa; pet photos with Santa; and a “Rockin’ around the Christmas Tree" dance.
8
San Antonio / Alamo KOA Holiday
Christmas activities take place every weekend in December at San Antonio / Alamo KOA Holiday in San Antonio, TX, with holiday crafts from December 5-7 and 12-14. The park’s annual tamale fiesta and ugly sweater contest take place the weekend of December 19-21. Christmas Eve activities include decorating cookies for Santa Claus. There will also be a breakfast with Santa on Christmas morning.
9
San Diego KOA
San Diego KOA in Chula Vista, CA, will have its annual tree lighting ceremony over Thanksgiving weekend, which also kicks off the park’s holiday activities. Special events throughout December include “Breakfast with Santa.” There will be campsite decorating contests with prizes awarded for the best-decorated RVs. Other activities include Christmas scavenger hunts, holiday cookie decorating, letters to Santa, and family kickball games.
Photo courtesy of San Diego KOA.
10
Great Escapes RV Resort
Great Escapes RV Resort in Bryan College Station, TX, has Christmas-themed activities every weekend in December. The weekends of December 5-7 and 12-14 will have Christmas tree lighting ceremonies and live performances of Christmas carols. Kids will also have opportunities to visit Santa’s Workshop, write letters to Santa, and meet him. Other activities include gingerbread house decorating, a snowball toss, and a winter wonderland dance party.
The week of December 19-21 will be a Mele Kalikimaka Week with Hawaiian-style Christmas festivities, including a Christmas luau with island-inspired dishes and performances by local hula dancers and musicians. Other activities include lei making, a hula hoop contest, a limbo contest, and a luau dance party.
Photo courtesy of Great Escapes RV Resort in Bryan College Station, TX.
Final Thoughts
Campgrounds across the Sunbelt offer memorable Christmas activities to keep families entertained as they travel during the holiday season. As you and your loved ones embark on an RV trip over the holidays, enjoy the warm weather and campground festivities as you get ready to ring in the new year!
