Must-do Austin holiday activities
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Kat Landon and her grandson Caleb Rodriguez twirl under the Zilker Holiday Tree in November. Photo: Sara Diggins/The Austin American-Statesman via Getty Images
Time to ring in the holidays around Austin.
The big picture: From themed bars to markets, lights and more, we're rounding up some ideas to get you started.
Walk the Trail of Lights
The magical favorite returns to Zilker Park through Dec. 23.
Details: Children 11 and under are free with a ticketed adult. Pets are not permitted.
- General admission prices vary. Purchase tickets online in advance. (Admission is free on Dec. 12 and 15-18.)
- Consider purchasing the ZIP pass, which gets you in early and is a popular option for families with young kids.
Other lights: Peppermint Parkway at the Circuit of the Americas has been revamped as a walk-through experience.
- For a free light show, stroll 37th Street.
Enjoy a festive drink
Get in the holiday spirit with a drink (or two) at one of these cheery spots.
- Dive bar Nickel City hosts a Sippin' Santa pop-up through Dec. 27.
- Kitty Cohen's annual Hanukkah pop-up bar is back through Jan. 2.
- The North Pole meets Central Texas at Lala's Little Nugget, which celebrates Christmas year-round.
- And, of course, there's Miracle on 5th Street. The pop-up at The Eleanor downtown runs through Dec. 28 and is decked out with wall-to-wall decorations and plenty of photo ops. Reserve your spot online.
Chop down a tree
Ride a wagon to pick out your tree at the Elgin Christmas Tree Farm.
Details: The farm's Virginia pines have longer needles and can shed more than the Fraser firs you find at Christmas tree lots, but if you want to re-create Clark Griswold's holiday magic, this is the place to go.
- Currently available pines are 4-7 feet tall. (A 7-foot tree is $109.) Saws are provided.
- Free kid activities include a hay bale maze, ball toss and playground.
Lace up your ice skates
Nothing feels more like Texas after a long, hot summer and fall than skidding around on some frozen H2O. Prices below include skate rental.
- Shop and skate at Bee Cave on Ice at the Hill Country Galleria through Jan. 19. $16 for 50 minutes of skating.
- Feel fancy at the Ice Rodeo at the Four Seasons downtown. Tickets start at $40.
- Skate with theatrical flair at the Long Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets start at $22.
Visit Santa's Ranch
Head to New Braunfels and drive through more than a mile of gleaming country roads.
Details: Ranch hours are Sunday–Thursday, 6-10pm; Friday and Saturday, 6–11pm.
- Admission is $37 for a single vehicle. Tickets are valid for any night of the event, which runs through Jan. 4. Get them online.
Peruse a market for festive finds
Spend a lovely afternoon shopping from vendors at local marketplaces.
- The Armadillo Christmas Bazaar runs through Dec. 21 at the Palmer Events Center, featuring art, music and more. Purchase a $12 one-day ticket online or in person.
- The free Blue Genie Art Bazaar is open through Dec. 24 and offers shopping in person and online, with options to pick up your items in person or ship them anywhere in the U.S.
- Browse the Merry Market Dec. 13 and 14 on South Congress or the new holiday market on Republic Square, which runs through Christmas Eve.
Cozy up at Mozart's
Sip lattes and stay for the iconic light show at Mozart's Coffee Roasters on Lake Austin.
- The event runs through Jan. 3. Get tickets online for standing admission or reserved seating.
Bask in supermarket holiday music
If you want holiday cheer but you're feeling cheap or lazy, just head to your local supermarket.