With dazzling trees, generosity and comedy, Wichita Falls celebrates Christmas 2023

Trish Choate, Wichita Falls Times Record News
·2 min read

Christmas in Wichita Falls is joyful, spiritual, heartwarming, generous, so bright you gotta wear shades and much more.

The Christmas tree for Luelen and Mark Hood's family hits all the highlights with sparkling lights and a range of lovely ornaments collected over their years with their four children.
The Christmas tree for Luelen and Mark Hood's family hits all the highlights with sparkling lights and a range of lovely ornaments collected over their years with their four children.

These photos capture city residents celebrating the holidays in their own way with sparkling Christmas trees, whimsical penguin ornaments, breathtaking displays of Christmas lights and a playfulness and humor that may be unmatched at any other time of year.

The Grinch was a special guest at the Wichita Falls Police Department's Coffee with a Cop Dec. 16 at the 8th Street Coffeehouse downtown. Judging from the photographic and video evidence, he was guilty of being an entertaining Christmas ham. To get a feeling for the crime scene, head on over to the city of Wichita Falls Police Department's Facebook page to view his unique dance moves.

Christmas displays light up the night with the magic of the holiday, ranging from the prizewinning Brown Family Christmas Lights to an almost ethereal rendition of the cross.

A beautifully decorated tree in the front yard of a home located near Taft Boulevard and Harrison Street in Wichita Falls.
A beautifully decorated tree in the front yard of a home located near Taft Boulevard and Harrison Street in Wichita Falls.

The holidays are a time to make memories with family, friends and coworkers.

One Wichita Falls police sergeant got a special visit from his tiny, beautiful granddaughter during a recent Coffee with the Cop event. She was decked out with a big red Christmassy bow.

Wichita Falls police Sgt. Charlie Eipper, community services supervisor, holds his seventh grandchild, Emersyn Davis, and her big red bow during a Christmassy Coffee with a Cop event Dec. 16 at 8th Street Coffeehouse downtown. Emersyn is the daughter of Zach and Brianna Davis.
Wichita Falls police Sgt. Charlie Eipper, community services supervisor, holds his seventh grandchild, Emersyn Davis, and her big red bow during a Christmassy Coffee with a Cop event Dec. 16 at 8th Street Coffeehouse downtown. Emersyn is the daughter of Zach and Brianna Davis.

Pets are getting in on Christmas with festive outfits, reindeer hats and photos to capture the moment. Sometimes a pet falls asleep still wearing a snuggly Christmas sweater.

Win Fowlks' kitties, Muffins, left, and Jude Paw, right, do their part to spread the Christmas spirit.
Win Fowlks' kitties, Muffins, left, and Jude Paw, right, do their part to spread the Christmas spirit.

Wichitans across the city open their wallets and their hearts this time of year to make sure local children and families have something to look forward to on Christmas morning.

The long arms of the law from the Wichita County Sheriff's Office loaded Christmas presents for the Angel Tree program Dec. 6. Participating in the program is a 20-year tradition for the WCSO. The Angel Tree provides Christmas toys and clothes to families dealing with financial challenges during the holidays. Charlie and Shirley White of the Salvation Army started the Angel Tree in 1979.

Some of the giving has become iconic. Angel tree programs, bell ringers with the Salvation Army and the Hospice of Wichita Falls' Tree of Lights Campaign are among the annual opportunities to help others at Christmas.

Volunteer Leroy Page patiently rings as donations are received towards Salvation Army's $150,000 goal.
Volunteer Leroy Page patiently rings as donations are received towards Salvation Army's $150,000 goal.

Every once in awhile, a maverick comes along like "Eddie the Ahole" dog. The spitfire dachshund mix's adoption story is a happily-ever-after showing there's a home out there for pretty much every pet needing one.

Eddie's new owners let him take part in a Christmas photo-shoot fundraiser to benefit the Humane Society of Wichita County.

Animal lover Liz Vernon had a Christmas photo taken in a fundraiser with "Ahole Eddie," the dachshund mix whose spitfire qualities were famously detailed in a Nov. 16 Facebook post by the Humane Society of Wichita County. Within hours, Eddie found a forever home with a Cleburne family.
Animal lover Liz Vernon had a Christmas photo taken in a fundraiser with "Ahole Eddie," the dachshund mix whose spitfire qualities were famously detailed in a Nov. 16 Facebook post by the Humane Society of Wichita County. Within hours, Eddie found a forever home with a Cleburne family.

Many traditions unique to Wichita Falls have been around for a long time.

For instance, Santa Claus — also known as Woody Gossom, now retired Wichita County judge — has been handing out candy canes at the Wichita County Courthouse since the 1980s.

Santa Claus, also known as retired Wichita County Judge Woody Gossom, hands out a candy cane to county employee Dora Dehoyos during his annual yuletide rounds at the Wichita County Courthouse.
Santa Claus, also known as retired Wichita County Judge Woody Gossom, hands out a candy cane to county employee Dora Dehoyos during his annual yuletide rounds at the Wichita County Courthouse.

There are so many ways to celebrate the holidays and Christmas. Giselle Fernandez, Cunningham Elementary School fifth-grader, reminded us there is also more than one way to say, Merry Christmas, with her contest-winning artwork.

Cunningham Elementary School fifth grader Giselle Fernandez's artwork with "Merry Christmas" in sign language was selected to be featured on the Wichita Falls ISD School Board's Christmas card this year.
Cunningham Elementary School fifth grader Giselle Fernandez's artwork with "Merry Christmas" in sign language was selected to be featured on the Wichita Falls ISD School Board's Christmas card this year.

We at the Times Record News wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy and safe New Year.

More: Wichita Falls nights ablaze with Christmas lights

More: WFISD school choirs bring the fa-la-la-la-la to district's holiday open house

Trish Choate, enterprise watchdog reporter for the Times Record News, covers education, courts, breaking news and more. Contact Trish with news tips at tchoate@gannett.com. Read her recent work here. Her X handle is @Trishapedia.

This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Wichita Falls celebrates Christmas 2023