Austin Trail of Lights Entrance by MarkScottAustinTX via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0
There are always lots of things to do in Austin, and that’s especially true during the holiday season. While Central Texas rarely sees snow, we have plenty of ways to spread Christmas cheer. Check out our holiday guide here for some of our favorite festive events in town!
Trail of Lights
Mid- to Late December
Zilker Park, 2100 Barton Springs Road, Austin, TX 78704
https://austintrailoflights.org/
The Trail of Lights is our yearly must-do holiday activity in Austin, and it doesn’t feel like the holiday season until we’ve done it! Also, because it’s always warm in Austin. Zilker Park transforms into a winter wonderland. Attendees walk the trail and see the lights. There are more than 40 installations and over 2 million lights. Plus, there are a few extra activities, such as community performances, a fun run, a music night, and a movie night.
You’ll need to grab a ticket ahead of time. The event is very popular, and there are typically lots of people there, especially as Christmas approaches. Plan ahead and prepare for traffic on Barton Springs Road.
See their website for all the info: https://austintrailoflights.org
S’mores at Halcyon
All Season
Downtown: 218 W. Fourth St., Austin, TX 78701 — http://halcyoncoffeebar.com/?location=austin
Mueller: 1905 Aldrich St. #110, Austin, TX 78723 — http://halcyoncoffeebar.com/location/mueller
Year-round, Halcyon is one of our favorite coffee shops in Austin. Their downtown location makes for a great espresso pit stop or location to plug in your laptop and get some work done. Around the holidays, we love cozying up with some friends with Halcyon’s s’mores. Sitting outside bundled up and roasting marshmallows always puts us in a festive mood. Pair it with a hot cup of coffee or tea, and you’re good to go!
They also have a new location in the Mueller development.
Christmas at the Caswell House
November & Early December
1404 West Ave., Austin, TX 78701
http://www.christmasatcaswell.org/
https://www.austinjuniorforum.org/?nd=caswell-flyer
The Austin Junior Forum rings in the holiday season every year with Christmas at the Caswell House.
This great event transforms the Daniel H. Caswell House, a vintage venue in Austin, into a festive event. They sell holiday items, such as tree ornaments, jewelry, clothing, and much more. If you have some Christmas shopping to do, this can be a great place to find a unique item for a special person on your list. They also have a number of special events, including brunches, teas, dinners, luncheons, and happy hours. They are also able to host private events.
This event has donated over $1.7 million to charities and nonprofit organizations. That’s amazing! The Austin Junior Forum, which organizes Christmas at the Caswell House, is a nonprofit volunteer group that organizes local community service and fundraising to benefit and support Austin, Texas women, children, and elderly.
Armadillo Christmas Bazaar
Mid- to Late December
Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Road, Austin, TX 78704
http://www.armadillobazaar.com/
Ready to do some holiday shopping? How about at a very Texas-inspired Christmas fair. The Armadillo Christmas Bazaar is a fun and festive event where we always find some of our favorite gifts to give others every year. If you’ve had trouble finding the perfect gift or put off your shopping, then make sure to stop by this event at the Palmer Events Center. They’re even open late, till 10 p.m. every night, because the holidays are a busy time.
Alongside the bazaar, they have special performances and musical guests playing regularly. Grab your ticket online or at the door. Kids 12 years old and younger get in free.
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