🎁 Ways to Give Back This Holidays, New Braunfels Plant Swap, + More

Happy Friday, New Braunfels! The weekend is here, and it’s shaping up to be a fun one. Our Unicorns look to continue their playoff run tonight, there’s plenty of holiday fun around town, and we have some cool ways you can give back to the community if that’s your thing. Whether you’re planning a night out, a family outing, or just want to see what’s going on around town, we’ve got all the highlights for you.

STREAM NEW BRAUNFELS UNICORNS PLAYOFF FOOTBALL TONIGHT AT HOME

The Texas High School Football Playoffs continue tonight as New Braunfels takes on Smithson Valley at the Alamodome and looks to advance to the next round. If you missed last week’s game against Boerne Champion, it was incredibly exciting, so you don’t want to miss the action tonight.

The good news is if you can’t make it out to the game, you can still catch every play live as it happens from home. The game will stream live on the NFHS Network, which you can stream on their website, mobile app, or on your TV via ROKU, Amazon Fire, Google TV or Apple TV.

Click here to get signed up now so you don’t miss out tonight!

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🎁 WAYS TO GIVE BACK THIS HOLIDAY SEASON IN NEW BRAUNFELS

Spread holiday cheer while supporting your local community

New Braunfels is full of holiday spirit, and there’s no better time to make a difference. From toy drives to blanket collections, local events this season are all about giving back and helping those in need.

We’ve just published a guide on our website outlining some of the upcoming donation drives and other campaigns going on right now that will let you give back and spread some good this holiday season.

👉 Click here to read the full story and get all the details.

🌱 DIVE INTO DECEMBER’S BIGGEST PLANT SWAP

Trade, buy, or sell plants at The Villa this weekend

Calling all plant lovers! The December Plant Swap is happening on Sunday, December 7, from 12–3 PM at The Villa’s covered patio. Bring your indoor or outdoor plants to trade, sell, or simply browse a green paradise.

• Under 21? You’re welcome!

• Dogs allowed in the patio area

• Sellers: bring your own table and label your plants

Connect with local plant enthusiasts and maybe find your next favorite greenery!

ROBOTICS + ROCKETRY DAY IS BLASTING OFF AT THE SCIENCE MILL

Robotic + Rocketry Day is coming to the Science Mill in Johnson City this Saturday, December 6 from 10am–2pm, and it’s shaping up to be one of their most exciting STEM events of the year. Kids (and parents!) can get hands-on with competition-ready robots, go head-to-head in a shoot-off against the PantherBotz robot, explore rockets engineered for mile-high and Mach-1 launches, and meet the Texas student teams leading the next generation of innovation.

There’s even a special talk from Alia Riscado, Aerospace Engineering student at UT Austin and president of Texas Flight. If your family loves robotics, engineering, rockets, or just seeing big ideas turned into real-world science, this quick trip from New Braunfels is absolutely worth it.

Click here for more info.

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SNEAK PEEK AT THIS WEEKEND👀

Here’s What’s Going On Around Town

FRIDAY
🐾 Paws to Read at New Braunfels Public Library
🎶 Friday Afternoon Club at Gruene Hall
🤝 Teen and Tween Drop-In Volunteer Hours at New Braunfels Public Library
🤺 New Braunfels Renaissance Faire at Church Hill Drive
🎨 X Factory at Krause’s Cafe
🤠 Santa’s Ranch in New Braunfels

SATURDAY

🎸 Tanner Menegay Band at Happy Cow Bar
🗑️ Bulky Goods Drop Off in New Braunfels
🐴 24th Annual Gruene Pony Express Ride at Gruene Historic District
🛒 Gruene Market Days in Gruene Historic District
📸 Photos with Cowboy Kringle in Historic Gruene
🤺 New Braunfels Renaissance Faire at Church Hill Drive
📚 Family Storytime at New Braunfels Public Library

SUNDAY
🎸 Dallas Moore at Gruene Hall
🎅 Meet Santa at Freiheit Village
💍 Bridal Jubilee 2025 at Wursthalle
📸 Photos with Cowboy Kringle in Historic Gruene
🛍️ Traders Village Christmas
🌿 Christmas Wreath at Painting With A Twist

LIMITED-EDITION NEW BRAUNFELS LIFE ICE CUBE SET IS HERE 🧊🤘

Our custom New Braunfels Life x rOks ice mold bundle is officially live — and it’s only available for one week. Each set includes a NB Life–branded silicone tray plus six Texas-themed inserts (state, boot, star, cactus, horseshoe, longhorn) to give your drinks some Hill Country style.

It’s food-safe, dishwasher-safe, and guaranteed to arrive by Christmas if you order by December 10. Preorders close soon — grab yours while you can!

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Find A Home Friday: Hill Country Dream Home in New Braunfels

Step into 1147 Sapling Spring, a stunning Texas Hill Country home that blends modern comfort with timeless style. This single-story residence spans 3,387 sq. ft., featuring 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, and a thoughtfully designed open floor plan perfect for both entertaining and everyday life. From the cozy living room fireplace to the recessed lighting and seamless flow between rooms, every detail invites relaxation and warmth.

The chef’s kitchen is a showstopper, complete with gas cooking, double ovens, granite counters, a walk-in pantry, and energy-efficient appliances. A private office and dedicated game room provide the perfect balance of productivity and play. Retreat to the luxurious primary suite boasting dual vanities, a garden tub, separate shower, and ample storage for a peaceful end-of-day sanctuary.

👉 Click here to learn more about 1147 Sapling Spring

WEATHER FORECAST 

Here’s a look at the weekend weather forecast:

Friday: High: 52º | Low: 47º | 25% chance of precipitation

Saturday: High: 72º | Low: 51º | 10% chance of precipitation

Sunday: High: 69º | Low: 42º | 5% chance of precipitation

Burn Ban: ON

Water Restrictions: Stage 2

LAST CALL FOR SANTA’S RANCH PASSES 🎄

We’re down to the final few free Santa’s Ranch passes for New Braunfels Life Plus members — once they’re gone, they’re gone! If you’ve been thinking about joining Plus, now’s the moment. Sign up today, lock in your perks, and claim your free pass to one of New Braunfels’ most magical holiday traditions before they run out.

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BUZZ AROUND TOWN

🏗️ NEW BRAUNFELS LUXURY DEVELOPMENT SPARKS MIXED REACTIONS
A new project called Neue is set to transform a vacant property along San Antonio Street into luxury residences, office space, and retail. While some residents worry about financial risks, others see it as a catalyst for downtown growth. The city approved $2.2M in incentives to support the project.

📄 CITY HOSTS OPEN HOUSE FOR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE
Residents are invited to share ideas for the future of New Braunfels at the Envision New Braunfels Open House on December 11th from 4–7 p.m. at the Public Library Westside Branch. The community’s input will shape the city’s long-term vision through 2035 and beyond.

🌭 PORTILLO’S COMING SOON, BUT DELAYS CONTINUE
Fans of Chicago-style hot dogs, Italian beef sandwiches, and shakes will have to wait a bit longer. Portillo’s plans for the Creekside shopping center have been delayed, with construction permits still pending. The new opening is now projected for 2026.

📈 HILL COUNTRY ZIP CODE RANKED FASTEST-GROWING IN TEXAS
ZIP code 78130 in New Braunfels ranked No. 2 nationwide for move volume in October, drawing 354 new residents in a single month. The surge reflects strong demand for housing, proximity to San Antonio and Austin, and the city’s growing reputation as a top destination.

🗑️ BULKY GOODS DROP-OFF COMING SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6
Residents can dispose of large household items like furniture, mattresses, and tires at four city locations. Limit one load per household. Note that trailers and certain items like electronics or yard waste are not accepted.

🏫 NBHS OPEN HOUSE INVITES COMMUNITY
New Braunfels High School is hosting an open house on December 10th from 5:30–6:30 p.m. Visitors can tour the new building, stroll the old halls, and celebrate the school’s past and future.

🎅 SANTA MEET & GREET AT FREIHEIT VILLAGE
Mark your calendars for this Sunday from 12–2 p.m. Kids and families can meet Santa and enjoy holiday festivities at Freiheit Village.

💡 OPEN ENROLLMENT IS HERE — DON’T SETTLE FOR ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL COVERAGE

Health insurance shouldn’t be complicated or limiting. If you’re frustrated by rising premiums or stuck in a plan that doesn’t really fit, Penn Mallery can help. As a local health insurance expert, Penn builds custom PPO plans with nationwide coverage, dental and vision options, and no enrollment windows, so you can switch when it actually makes sense for you.

👉 Learn more and explore your options today.

Thanks!

That's a wrap for today! Thanks for joining us—we’ll be back soon with more stories, events, and updates that make New Braunfels such a special place to live.

Don’t forget that you can become a Plus member and get tomorrow morning’s exclusive Bonus edition with exclusive stories you won’t find elsewhere.

Until next time,

— The New Braunfels Life Team