This weekend you can enjoy free admission at Trail of Lights, play in the snow, sing along with Holiday Heroes, have a feast with the Grinch, come party with us at Hat Creek Burger Company in Georgetown, see thousands of luminaries at the Wildflower Center, do some shopping at the Cherrywood Art Fair, attend a glow-in-the-dark Chanukkah celebration, meet the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles — and much much more!
Other stuff:
- Holiday Events This Week
- Everything to Know About the Trail of Lights
- Christmas Lights in Austin
- Where to See Santa
- Where to Play in the Snow
- Where to Ice Skate
Here are our Top Austin Family Events…
— Come out to Zilker Park to marvel at the Trail of Lights! The trail is open from 7-10 p.m. Admission is FREE through Dec. 15. Click here for all the details about parking, shuttles, ZiP Fast Passes and more before you go. You can also check out this handy My Trail, My Way printable that includes suggested photo ops and a checklist of fun stops to make along the Trail with the family. Tonight is also UT Night at the Trail, and we will be there with freebies for the kids! Stop by the Do512 Family tent located near the Globe light display where kids can get FREE glow sticks and make holiday cards with us!
— Check out a modern adaptation of Peter and the Wolf from Lionheart Youth Theatre. This show features puppetry set to a new musical score composed and performed live by Mother Falcon. This production is great for ages 5 & up and is showing at the Stateside at The Paramount today at 7 p.m. (Saturday & Sunday shows available too). Tickets are $16 and can be purchased online here.
— Have some fun at ZACH Theatre’s holiday show for children! Holiday Heroes is great for kids ages 3 & up and is full of good cheer, singing and laughter. Families can check it out today at 11 a.m. Tickets are $15 for kids and $20 for adults and can be purchased online in advance here or by calling the box office at 512-476-0541 x1.
— NEW DATE: This has been rescheduled to Saturday, Dec. 19.
Head to the CHASCO Family YMCA (Boles Family Sports Complex) in Round Rock to play in real snow from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Christmas Dreams & Snowy Things event. Enjoy activities in the snow, giant slides, paintball, tango tower, zip line, horse-drawn wagon rides, train rides, inflatables, concessions, live music, and world famous clydesdale horses. You can also visit with Santa Claus from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Free.
— Be the ART-chitect of your very own candy home! Join the fun at the Second Saturdays are for Families gingerbread house event at The Contemporary at Laguna Gloria from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. They’ll be whipping up edible abodes like you’ve never seen before, inspired by the architecture of the Driscoll Villa at Laguna Gloria. Free.
— Want to transport the family to Whoville for a delicious feast with the Grinch? Austin event company, Door No. 4, is making this a holiday reality today from 1-3:30 p.m. at East Space. You can enjoy a lunchtime Who’s Feast dining experience inspired by Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Click here for the menu. Tickets are $30 per person and can be purchased online here. Costumes encouraged.
— Come join us for some holiday cheer at The Big Big Bash at Hat Creek Burger Company in Georgetown from 4-7 p.m. Kids can enjoy free activities such as face painting, balloon twisting, petting zoo, bouncy house and special visit from Santa. Parents can kick back with $1 beer specials while supporting a great cause. Hat Creek will be donating twenty-five percent of the entire day’s sales to Brookwood in Georgetown (BiG).
— Walk among thousands of luminaries and twinkling lights during the annual Luminations at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Everyone’s invited to this Austin holiday tradition from 6-9 p.m. (today and tomorrow). Enjoy 2,300 luminaries, live music, children’s crafts, a visit from Frosty the Snowman. Reduced admission fees for this event are $5 for adults, $3 for ages 5-17, free for children 4 & under. Click here for the full schedule of events.
— Do some holiday shopping at the 14th Annual Cherrywood Art Fair at Maplewood Elementary School from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. This is a great place to find unique, handmade holiday gifts. And this art fair offers so much more, including live music, food trucks, and a kids art area, too. Free admission and open to the public! Click here for the entertainment schedule.
— Cowabunga! Everyone’s favorite “heroes in a half shell” will be at Mt. Playmore today from 2:30 – 6:30 p.m.! You can take the kids to meet all four of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Jason Ybarra from The Power Rangers. Even the Turtley Radical TMNT Van is going to be there for photos ops! This special event is FREE with regular admission to Mt. Playmore — free for infants (ages 0-1), $4.95 for ages 2-3, $10.95 for ages 4-18, and $1.50 for ages 19 and up.
— Check out a free, glow in the dark party from 4:30 – 7:30 p.m. at The Hebrew Preparatory School. Light the Night Chanukkah Celebration includes a giant ice menorah to be carved on site, fire jugglers, glow in the dark activities, food and more.
These are just some of the fun events happening in Austin this weekend. For much more, browse our daily calendar of events!
Have a great weekend!
