I have always loved Thanksgiving. I love that it is a holiday built around a full table and homemade treats. I love the recipes handed down on index cards that only get made once a year and traditions that bring back childhood memories and the chance to use linen napkins and the idea that sitting around a table—just sitting around a table—is reason enough celebrate.

So many Texas cities really put on the glitter and lights around Christmas. Big Spring, with a population 28,000 lights up the city park with displays and giant lighted poinsettias (it’s the lighted poinsettia capital of Texas) that attract some 20,000 visitors every December. Andrews has 13,00 residents and puts on an impressive downtown light show. After people watch the lights they go to the home of Gary Rawls that has a nativity scene with live actors and live animals, camel and donkey included. Fort Worth, population 800,000, outlines its downtown buildings with lights.