This weekend you can give Santa your wish list, throw (real) snowballs, watch a new wintry musical for kids, sing songs at the Capitol tree lighting, run through the Trail of Lights, try some Star Wars-inspired activities at the Bullock, check out Latkepalooza at a community Chanukah celebration, perfect your piñata-making skills at the Mexic-Arte Museum, and so much more!
Other stuff:
- Holiday Events This Week
- Where to See Santa in Austin
- A Christmas Carol at ZACH Theatre – Review & Giveaway
- Everything to Know About the Trail of Lights
- Gingerbread Workshops at the Thinkery & Giveaway
- Win Free Stuff
Here are our Top Austin Family Events…
— Tonight (and tomorrow) from 6-9 p.m., you can take a lovely stroll around the Hancock Golf Course in Hyde Park and enjoy the glow from the Candle Light Trail. Stop into the Hancock Recreation Center to take pictures with Santa and enjoy holiday refreshments and entertainment at this fun, free family event.
— Kick off the season at Christmas Family Night from 6:30-10 p.m. in Round Rock. This free event held at the Old Settlers Association & Dell Diamond Parking Lot includes live music, dancers, candle making, game booths, Frosty the Snowman, full-scale Carnival rides, light maze, pedal go-kart rides, holiday food, photos with Santa Claus, and more. Children can take photos with Santa (parents are encouraged to bring their own cameras). Plus, enjoy free hot dogs, popcorn, hot chocolate, and other refreshments.
— Toss a snowball, build a snowman, make a snow angel, and take family photos at the Snow Day at Hill Country Galleria from 12-4 p.m. Located outside of the Bee Cave Library, you’ll find real snow being delivered! Enjoy live holiday music, holiday carolers, and more. Free.
— Austin Scottish Rite Theater presents a new, snowy musical for kids — A Long Winter’s Night (in Texas). In this distinctively Texas tale, Suzi longs for snow in Texas until the night of the Winter Solstice when she gets more than she bargained for. This family show is at 11 a.m. & 1 p.m. (today & tomorrow). Tickets are $8 for ages 12 & under and $12 for ages 13 & up. You can purchase tickets online here or at the box office on the day of the show.
— Join the community at the annual Holiday Sing-Along & Downtown Stroll! At 6 p.m. you can meet at the steps of the Texas State Capitol to sing songs of the seasons, led by John Aielli of KUTX 98.9. As the clock strikes 7 p.m., the crowd will countdown to the lighting of the Capitol tree, and then from 7-9 p.m., everyone can enjoy special activities on Congress Ave. for the Downtown Stroll. Free & family friendly!
— Get an early peek at the Trail of Lights during the Trail of Lights Fun Run in Zilker Park at 7:30 p.m. All ages are invited to participate in an evening run/walk event while enjoying Austin’s spectacular holiday Trail. Registration for the Fun Run costs $20 for kids and $37.50 for adults, which you can do online here. (Get all the details about visiting this year’s Trail here.)
— Join a free community Chanukah Celebration from 12-3 p.m. “Into the Future” is a family-friendly event at the Dell Jewish Community Campus that will feature Latkepalooza, with free tastings from local celebrity chefs, libations and festive noshes, a menorah lighting and more.
— Are you & the kids counting down the days ’til Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens comes out? Then head over to the Bullock Museum from 12-3 p.m. for out of this world activities. Engineer an AT-AT and learn how to turn your smartphone into a 3D hologram. You can also celebrate DeSTEMber Fest with fun hands-on activities from GirlStart during the Bullock’s monthly Free First Sunday event. Free admission & free activities.
— It’s Free Family Day at the Mexic-Arte Museum, and visitors can join the fun in a hands-on Piñata Workshop from 1-4 p.m. Participants will learn how to make paper piñatas without using paper–mache. The event also includes craft projects for younger children. The workshop is completely free and includes admission to Mexic–Arte’s Mix ‘n’ Mash and Nacimiento exhibitions.
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!
