Austin’s Best Bets for Holiday Activities
With the holiday season right around the corner, it’s time to gather your friends and family and explore a few of the many festive activities Austin has to offer. Here are just a few of the exciting ways you can enjoy the season – and explore the city at the same time.
Zilker Trail of Lights – The Zilker Trail of Lights is a must-see for families. Located in Zilker Park off of Barton Springs Road, the park is filled with a half-mile stretch of Christmas lights, Santa’s House, nightly entertainment, and food and concession stands. There is no entry fee so the only cost is parking, which is around $10 per car. The festival typically runs from December 13 – 23 from 7 – 10 p.m.
Ice Skating on the Plaza – Bundle up the kids for the ultimate family-friendly activity. The downtown Whole Foods (located on 6th and Lamar) has converted their rooftop to an outdoor ice skating rink for the holiday season. Public skating is available in one-hour sessions from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily from now until January 17th. The cost is $10 per person, which includes skate rental. Check their website for special hours around the holidays.
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center – The Wildflower Center is offering free admission during the entire month of January. It features stretches of public gardens where visitors can view beautiful, diverse wildflowers and other native plants. It’s home to more than 20 themed gardens, a butterfly garden, and an area designed especially for children to explore. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and noon to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Blue Genie Art Bazaar – A great place for last-minute holiday shopping, this 23-day art show is free to the public and one of the biggest craft events of the year. More than 100 local and regional artists will have their work on display, selling things like paintings, photographs, ceramics, and accessories. The event runs from now until December 24, 2009. It’s located at the Monarch in the Lincoln Village Shopping Center, just north of downtown. Hours are Sunday – Thursday: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m. to midnight, and Christmas Eve: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Gingerbread Workshop – A great family-friendly event, the Austin Children’s Museum hosts this special event where parents and children can build their own gingerbread house. Each ticket ($30-$35) gets you all the supplies you’ll need to make the perfect creation – soft gingerbread, candy and icing. Best of all, you won’t need to worry about cleaning up! The event runs until December 20. Reservations can be made by calling the museum at (512) 472-2499 (Extension x201). A full schedule of workshop times is available here.
The Nutcracker at Ballet Austin – Ballet Austin is hosting the 47th annual production of the Nutcracker, featuring an excellent cast and an unforgettable story. It’s Texas’ longest running production of this holiday favorite. Each performance is unique, with a different “celebrity” playing the role of Mother Ginger. The show runs until December 23 and tickets range from $15 to $73. You can purchase them here.
Your friends and family are sure to enjoy the holiday season with these many events Austin has to offer.
About the Author
This article was written on behalf of Brian Talley of Regent Property Group LLC, providing an updated list of Austin homes for sale. Brian provides Austin texas real estate services to those buying or selling an Austin home and is a top Austin real estate agent.
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