Routes, Drive Times & Road Tips to Big BendBig Bend sits deep in far West Texas. Whether you’re coming from El Paso, Midland/Odessa, San Antonio, Austin, Houston, or Dallas/Fort Worth, choose the route that matches your arrival town and the part of the park you want...
Home / Events / Fiesta de Noche Buena 2026
Marathon, Texas Event
Fiesta de Noche Buena 2026
Fiesta de Noche Buena is Marathon’s first-Saturday-in-December holiday street fair. On December 5, 2026, residents, artists, businesses, and visitors ring in the season along the town’s main strip. Santa Claus parades into town with Marathon Volunteer Fire Department vehicles and greets children in the lobby of Trans Pecos Bank.
Shops and galleries stay open late with seasonal offerings. People visit and tailgate along Main Street while live music and food vendors fill the evening. The Marathon Chamber of Commerce hosts the celebration — a tradition dating to the 1990s — as a free community welcome to the holidays in far West Texas.
At a Glance
- Date: December 5, 2026 (evening; exact hours not published)
- Location: Main Street, Marathon, Texas
- Admission: Free community festival
- Host: Marathon Chamber of Commerce
Official listing: marathontexas.com/events
Explore More While You’re Here
Fiesta de Noche Buena 2026 pairs naturally with some of the most popular destinations in the Big Bend region.
Big Bend National Park
The Persimmon Gap entrance to Big Bend National Park is about 40 miles away on US-385, a straight shot toward the Chisos Mountains, Santa Elena Canyon, and the Rio Grande corridor. Plan a full day or more — the Chisos, Santa Elena Canyon, and the Rio Grande are all inside that gate.
Alpine
Alpine is about 25 miles away, home to Sul Ross State University, the Museum of the Big Bend, and a growing restaurant and brewery scene. Stock up here — groceries, a proper sit-down meal, and the museum — before the highway empties out south.
Terlingua Ghost Town
The historic Terlingua Ghost Town is about 65 miles away, with nearby dining and sightseeing that bring the area’s mining history to life. The old porches, the cemetery on the hill, and the nightly gathering at the Starlight Theatre are the usual finish to a Big Bend day.
When
December 5, 2026
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