so, it’s beginning to feel a lot like the holidays! whether you are either staying in Austin, visiting for the week for the holidays, or having friends and family in town, you are probably wondering what you are going to do to celebrate, unwind and feel festive!

November 30 2022


themed bars

lights

shows


shopping

activities

 

miracle on 5th street. | credit: atx fyi

miracle on 5th street. | credit: atx fyi

T H E M E D B A R S

miracle on 5th street | dt atx
307 west 5th st atx 78701
- next to their sister bar, the roosevelt room, the eleanor is turned into an ultimate winter wonderland with returning with their shot ski lodge (with, of course, a shot ski)! joann spiegel, the cocktail creator, brings holiday-themed libations including the elfing around, jolly koala, on dasher, sanTaRex, christmapolitan, snowball old-fashioned, and so many more!

in addition to miracle on 5th street, other festive bars include:
nickle city | e.atx
1133 east 11th st atx 78702

dumont’s down low | dt - warehouse district
214 west 4th st suite B atx 78701)

gibson street bar | s.atx
1109 south lamar blvd atx 78704

kitty cohen’s | e.atx | hanukkah pop-up! [nov 28]
2211 webberville rd #3548 atx 78702

donn’s depot | dt - west 5th
1600 west 5th st atx 78703

wonder bar | domain
11500 rock rose ave ste d atx 78758

tinseltown pop-up | dt atx | $22
wanderlust wine co
610 north I-35 atx 78701

bee’s knees | dt atx
610 neuces st ste 100 atx 78701

lucky robot | soco
1303 s congress ave atx 78704

sunny’s backyard | east atx
3526 east 7th st atx 78702

and of course, the year-round christmas bar, lala’s little nugget | cen atx
2207 justin lane atx 78757

 

L I G H T S


Credit: Mozart’s Coffee Roasters Website

Light Show at Mozart’s Coffee Roasters

in its 13th year, Mozart’s decorates their deck on lake austin with over one million LED lights and perform a show to holiday music for 45 minutes, every hour on the hour!

Location

mozart’s coffee roasters - 3825 lake austin blvd atx 78703 

WHEN

dates: now - friday, january 6 2022
hours: 6pm to 12am 

Pricing

free for standing area - tickets HERE
$40 - 60 for seated or standing table - tickets HERE
$15 for all ages silent disco - tickets HERE

Parking

there is a parking lot in front of mozart’s and an additional parking lot across Lake Austin Blvd. 

an atx FYI: they will push you out as soon as your time is up so be sure to enjoy all you can within that time.


credit: Images From Texas

zilker tree lighting

at a whopping 155 feet tall, with over 3300 lights… the zilker holiday tree is attached to a moonlight tower, which is the epitome of iconic austin. the first lighting occured on december 10 of 1967!

location

zilker park - 2207 lou neff road atx 78746

schedule

dates: november 27 2021 - january 1 2022
hours: 6pm to 10pm

pricing

free to attend!

parking

available on-site, first come first served on paved surface lots only

details

more details HERE

there is NO walk-up or pedestrian access to the trail of lights from the tree area.  vehicle entry passes must be pre-purchase in advance to that event.


Credit: 37th Street Lights FB Page

the 37th Street Lights

this ‘Keep Austin Weird’ tradition is BACK! for decades this tradition has been alive so keep it that way by visiting or even donating to their amazon wish list or donation boxes! the lights are between guadalupe and home street on 37th. Entering 519 W 37th St, Austin, TX 78705 or La Tazza Fresca into your GPS will get you here. The best house though is actually on the corner of 35th Street and Cedar just around the corner at the end of the block.

Location

507 west 37th street atx 

Credit: 37th Street FB Page

Schedule

dates: december 9th 2022 - tbd
hours: 7pm to 10pm 

Pricing

tickets: FREE Admission

Parking

depending on the night, you can find parking on 37th. otherwise, try neighboring streets such as 34th and 35th. all residential parking is free. ridesharing or carpooling is recommended to bypass traffic.  

an atx fyi

enter 519 west 37th street, austin, texas 78705 or la tazza fresca into your GPS will get you there. the best house is said to be on the corner of 35th street and cedar just around the corner at the end of the block.

RESPECT THE STREET! This is a residential neighborhood! Please remember that families, students, young professionals, and more are sharing their homes with you. The group loves to bring the community together, but please be respectful with noise after bedtimes and of the street overall.


FAQs from the facebook group:

are you accepting donations?
Your donations help these wonderful volunteers put it on and keep it going. about half the block are renters and they especially appreciate the donations as many are students and funds are tight.

they prefer donations of equipment, especially: LED christmas lights | extension cords | weird sculptures

also, here is their amazon wishlist.

should I drive or walk? 
the lights are best enjoyed walking as some are inaccessible via car. You can drive, and if you do please enter on the Guadalupe side.  

what's the traffic like? 
there’s more traffic on the weekends, but generally you should be able to do the drive in 10 minutes. But we really recommend walking.   

what time should I come?
they aim to have all the lights on from 7pm to 10pm. These hours can vary by house depending on work schedules and bed times.  

what dates are the lights on until?
they’ll be on through the new year, at least. There will also be some on before the premiere night, but not to completion.”



Credit: Trail of Lights Website

THE Iconic Trail of Lights

the trail of lights is austin’s longest-running holiday tradition is back to its typical fashion… walking through the trail versus the drive!

more than 2 million lights, 90 lighted trees, 70 displays & lighted tunnels, plus a ton of holiday magic! hosted by the trail of lights foundation.

credit: atx fyi

- new for 2022 - “a new layout, thoughtfully designed to encompass new displays, interactive spaces, and talent of all ages on the Zilker stage. Santa will be waiting at the North Pole, while guests make their way through Candy Cane Lane, now home to the premium ZIP Lounge Area. The Trail welcomes all to indulge in the new s'mores program, to visit the Keep Austin Weird local holiday market, and adults are welcome to enjoy a sip at the expanded Cork & Sleigh in the all new Zilker Square area.”

Location

zilker park - 2100 barton springs road atx 78704

Schedule

dates: thursday december 8 2022 - friday december 23 2022

hours: 6:00 pm to 10:00pm

dates not open to the public: mon dec 12, mon dec 19, sat dec 24
take a look at their calendar for more details.

Pricing

general admission: $5 (plus fee)
ZIP ticket: $25 (+ fee&tax)

platinum ticket: $90 (+fee&tax)

zip pass: $65 per vehicle, zip passes allow for early entry, exclusive zip entrance, plus access to the zip lounge area with complimentary holiday cookies, cocoa, comfortable seating, heating washrooms, a bar, and near food trucks.

for more details about their shuttles and parking on their website.

tickets: purchase HERE


Drive Through The Peppermint Parkway

drive through a mile of millions of holiday lights, dancing elves, plaza with food & activities, holiday displays, and more!

location

circuit of the americas - 9201 circuit of the americas blvd atx 78617

schedule

dates: now- friday december 30 2022
hours: 6:30pm to 9:30pm

ticket packages

the parkway [$40] - admission for one vehicle to the peppermint parkway

candy cane cruise [$65] - parkway admission + lap on track
all of the fun of the parkway pass plus the once-in-a-lifetime experience of taking a 25mph lap around the only purpose-built f1 racetrack in the US.

polar express fast pass [$80] - parkway admission + fast pass
skip the wait with a separate fast pass entrance and check-in lane for the parkway

the sweetest deal [$95] - parkway admission + track lap + fast pass

OTHER FESTIVITIES

wonderwoods discount tree lot

one of the most affordable tree lots in austin, open from 10am to 9pm
5’ - 6’ fraser fir | $79
6’ - 7’ fraser fir |.$99
7’ - 8’ fraser fir | $139

peppermint plaza

visit before or after your trip through the peppermint parkway to experience COTA karting, the sweet shoppe, peppermint pub, send a letter to santa, amusement rides, dazzling lights, mistletoe kissing booth, and more!

website: https://peppermintparkway.com/


H O L I D A Y
S H O P P I N G

Credit: Armadillo Bazaar Website

Shop at The Armadillo Bazaar

a very unique Austin holiday shopping staple that features almost 200 local and touring makers plus live music and food! you will find gifts in all price ranges and I promise that no one else will have the same gifts as you if you visit the armadillo christmas bazaar.

Location

palmer events center (outside) - 900 barton springs road atx 78704

Schedule

dates: saturday, december 17 2022 - sunday, december 23 2022
hours: 11am - 8:30pm

Pricing

tickets: $10

  • purchase tickets HERE

  • full list of the artists and a gallery of their work HERE

Parking

parking garage at the palmer events center


blue genie art bazaar

another iconic holiday shopping experience with exhibition categories: body care, ceramics, clothing, fine art, folk art, gift items, glass art, home decor, jewelry, mixed, photos, prints, sculpture, wood, and more.

now with the ability to shop online and pick it up or have it shipped! bluegenieartbazaar.shop/

location

6100 airport blvd atx 78752

schedule

dates: friday november 18 2022 - saturday december 24 2022
hours: daily, 10am to 10pm

parking

free parking is available in the lot (enter from dillard circle) and along dillard circle. bike parking is also available on site. the bazaar is also accessible via capmetro bus and metrorail, visit capmetro.org for routes and schedules.

other details

capacity: shoppers are allowed inside on a first-come, first-served basis. however, you may have a brief wait if the store is already at capacity.
masks: wearing a mask is optional while indoors. disposable masks are available at the entrance.
payment options: credit/debit cards are preferred for a contact-less payment process. all major cards accepted.


 
 

Downtown austin alliance holiday stroll

over twenty days, visit local downtown austin restaurants, bars, shops, hotels, & more to support and empower local austin. 

Location

downtown austin - see participating businesses below

schedule

saturday december 4 2022 - friday december 24 2022

PARTICIPATING BUSINESSES

Food & Drink
Rosen’s Bagels- Hot Chocolate
Street Sweets- Cookie Decorating
Gold Star Kettle Corn
KD’s Elote & More
Tiff’s Treats
Roppolo’s (V)
Wholly Cow Burgers (V)

Retail
Decades in Retro*
Frida Friday*
Black Makers Market*
The Cathedral*
Elisabeth Flohr*
The Mothership*

Non-Profit
Mothers' Milk Bank
St. David’s Church
Central Texas Food Bank
Downtown Austin Alliance & Foundation
KUT/KUTX

https://www.downtownholidaystroll.com/


 

credit: desert door

 

Desert door’s texas makers market

desert door out in driftwood is hosting their 4th annual texas maker mark with crafters and artisans from all over texas!

WHEN

december 8 from 5pm to 8pm

grab food from lo salvaje food truck and incredible cocktails by desert door while you walk around and explore potential Christmas presents for your loved ones!

TICKETS

grab your free tickets HERE

TEXAN MAKERS 2022

Northern Fir - Men's Beard Care Products
Jim Koehn - Watercolor Artwork
Little Blue Lane - Custom Gift Boxes
Saguaro House - Custom Curated Works
Bleueprint - Cyanotypes, Framed Art, Greeting Cards, Prints, and other Natural Pieces
Cosmic Plant Co. - Tropical Houseplants, Desert Specimens, Botanical Goods, Self-Care Products, and Hand-Poured Candles
Agave Muerto Clay - Ceramist
Joaihú Chocolate - Craft Brazilian Cacao
Williams Knife Co. - Custom Knives
Poppy Collective Co. - Sterling Silver and Genuine, Ethically Sourced Stone Jewelry
Rancho Sueño - Custom Chain-stitching & patchwork
OG Lone Star - Vintage Lone Star Beer, Pearl Beer & Shiner Bock Merchandise
Amore Apparel - Vintage Apparel

their friendly tasting room team will be whipping up a few choice seasonal cocktails. make sure to visit their cargo space or cargo booth, which features great gifts and goods by texan makers throughout the year.

can't make the market? you can always shop their one-of-a-kind Cargo online. order before 12/15 to make sure your delivery arrives on time!


holiday vibe market

what

a two-day shopping event at the distribution hall in east austin with 200+ local artists, creatives, and more. complimentary cocktails by deep eddy vodka, dripping springs distillery, and dulce vida tequila with vibes by dj lifted.

when

sat & sun december 17 - 18

where

1500 east 4th st atx 78702

more info here


S H O W S

ballet austin’s the nutcracker

with two 50 minute acts & a 20-minute intermission, choreography by stephen mills, music from pyotr ilyich tchaikovsky, and live accompaniment by austin symphony orchestra. the show will include footlights for families, ballet-o-mania, photo stations, and warm cookies & hot cocoa.

location

the long center - 701 west riverside drive atx 78704

schedule

  • saturday dec 4 at 2pm & 7:30pm

  • sunday dec 5 at 2pm

  • friday dec 10 at 7:30pm

  • saturday dec 11 at 2pm & 7:30pm

  • sunday dec 12 at 2pm

  • friday dec 17 at 7:30pm

  • satuday dec 18 at 2pm & 7:30pm

  • sunday dec 19 at 2pm

  • tuesday dec 21 at 2pm

  • wednesday dec 22 at 2pm

  • thursday dec 23 at 2pm

pricing

prices: ranging from $20 - 99
buy tickets HERE


a christmas carol at the zach

credit: zach theatre

after two years, austin’s hottest holiday tradition has returned with all new music and surprises to ring in the holiday season!

location

zach theatre - 202 south lamar atx 78704

schedule

now - december 31

pricing

prices: $25+

buy tickets here


a c t i v i t i e s


ice skating

teaming up with lady quackenbush cakery, thinkery in mueller is offering a selection of gingerbread kits you can build & decorate at home.

location

701 w riverside dr atx 78704

schedule

december 1 2022 through january 1 2023
time: 10am to 10pm

pricing

$15

buy your tickets here

reserve your spot; walk-ups will be first come first serve and have a high chance on selling out!


Wherever you end up over this holiday season, I hope that you have a very safe and blessed holiday!

Let me know if you have other places you enjoy celebrating!

Cheers!

 
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