Christmas Along the Corridor

Christmas Along the Corridor in Goliad. Photo courtesy Texas Tourism

Looking for Christmas? Don't search the horizon for a man in a red suit or for eight tiny reindeer. Look for the Pony Express rider.

The Alamo-La Bahia corridor, a 90-mile stretch from San Antonio to Goliad, heralds Christmas in true Texas style with an annual "Christmas Along the Corridor" celebration. This event combines history and Christmas joy in a festival that's as unique as the region itself. The result is a festival that features Pony Express Christmas Couriers, horseback riders who gallop from town to town spreading the spirit of Christmas. After official swearing in during a formal ceremony in late November in front of the Alamo, the 100-plus couriers prepare for their duties in early December.

Festivities begin in Goliad with the departure of the Pony Express riders from Presidio La Bahia, the oldest fort in the West. From the Presidio, the riders travel to Goliad's Courthouse Square for the reading of a Governor's Proclamation marking the start of the festivities.

Following the proclamation, the riders split up along three routes that wind through this historic region and into the city of San Antonio. Like the Pony Express riders of yesteryear, these rider hand off their duties to the next rider as they travel, so the journey is a team effort.

Riders continue spreading Christmas cheer as they travel to the communities of Runge, Helena, Panna Maria, Cestohowa, Stocksdale, Sutherland Springs, La Vernia, Kenedy, Karnes City, Hobson, Falls City, Poth, Floresville, Pleasanton, Poteet, and Elmendorf. Many of these communities set up special Pony Express postal cancellation stations. Bring along your Christmas cards for a special cancellation commemorating the festival.

Although the arrival of the Pony Express riders is the most unique element of this celebration, festivities continue throughout the day even after the riders have continued down the road. In Goliad, Santa and Pancho Clauses and the Goliad "reinsteer" delight young visitors, while parents enjoy craft booths, food, live music, and an evening Las Posadas procession from the Courthouse Square to Presidio La Bahia.

Just down the road in Panna Maria, which means "Virgin Mary" in Polish, guests can enjoy walking tours of the historic church, museum, and village.

It's appropriate that this historic burg is part of the Christmas corridor festivities, because its very roots date back to a Christmas over a century ago. After a nine-week voyage from Poland to Galveston, 100 families rented Mexican carts to transport their farm tools and bedding as well as the cross from their parish church. They made the difficult journey to central Texas on foot, finally stopping at the hillside that overlooks the San Antonio River and Cibolo Creek. The day was December 24, 1854, and the pioneers offered a midnight mass beneath one of the large hilltop oaks. The site later became Panna Maria.

After a look at the location where those early pioneers built their first church, visitors can shop for locally made crafts or enjoy Polish sausage cooked on site at the Panna Maria Visitors' Center. Evening festivities include a lighting ceremony, evening mass, and singing of Polish Christmas carols.

Floresville residents and guests celebrate the day with "Christmas in the Country." A Las Posadas procession, Christmas concert, tree lighting, and a hayride to view the colorful holiday lights will be followed by an evening of holiday foods, the reading of "Cowboys Night Before Christmas," and caroling.

The festivities reach a peak with the arrival of over 100 Pony Express riders into San Antonio. Following an honor guard bearing the six flags of the corridor, the riders gallop through the southeast gates of the Mission San Juan at 4:30 p.m. bearing the Governor's Proclamation. Following the proclamation of the start of the Christmas season, the mission celebrates with period crafts and foods, and Native American dances and music, all representing mission life during the 18th century.

Admission: free

Locations: San Antonio, Goliad, Panna Maria, other communities

Schedule of Activities