Downtown Lufkin lights up for Rudolph the Red-Nosed Pumping Unit

The annual lighting of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Pumping Unit, along with the spectacular lighted Christmas parade, will take place this weekend in Downtown Lufkin.

History of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Pumping Unit

In the early 1950s, Lufkin employee Walter Trout invented the counter-balance 'pumpjack'. A little over a decade later, employees with Lufkin Industries decorated one of the pumpjacks at their plant with lights and antlers to resemble a reindeer. Fast forward, and the decorated pumpjack became a traditional mainstay every holiday season in the Lufkin Mall parking lot. Santa's sleigh, a Lufkin Trailer, was added and also decorated with lights.

Several years ago, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Pumping Unit was moved from the Lufkin Mall parking lot to Downtown Lufkin.

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Details on the 2025 Rudolph Event

This year's lighting will take place on Friday, December 5, at 222 East Shepherd Street in Downtown Lufkin. Festivities will get underway at 5 p.m. with music and the distribution of complimentary foam antlers. Then, as the sun sets, the switch will be thrown, turning on the lights decorating Rudolph and Santa's Sleigh. The decorated pumpjack will bob up and down throughout the holiday season.

Following the Rudolph lighting, all are welcome to watch the Rankin-Bass movie Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. It will be shown on a big screen in Cotton Square, also in Downtown Lufkin.

Lighted Christmas Parade

The annual lighted Christmas parade in Downtown Lufkin is set to get underway at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 6. The parade will start near the Pitser Garrison Convention Center and move down South First Street, then towards the Angelina County Courthouse, before ending near Angelina Street.