The Ultimate List Of Holiday Activities In Austin (2024 Edition!)
Fa la la! The holidays are here in Austin, and per usual, there are tons of fun things to do this season. Whether you’re looking for family-friendly holiday activities in Austin, cute holiday pop-up bars, or a fun Christmas date idea in Austin, we have it all here. Get your calendar ready…some of these require reservations, so you’ll want to be ready to save the date. And be sure to get your ugly sweaters dusted off and all of your holiday sparkles ready!
***NOTE: if you're an OG Austinite, you'll notice how a lot of old-school Austin holiday events have changed! Certain iconic events are no more (RIP ice skating at Whole Foods), and classics like Mozart’s Lights have gotten SO popular that they now require advanced reservations. So be sure to read through the list and choose your activities in advance, if possible!
Holiday Activities In Austin
Trail of Lights
We’ll start with the big one because Trail of Lights is one of the best holiday events to happen in Austin every year! It’s the longest-running event of its kind. Enjoy walking through Zilker park and viewing 2 million holiday lights, sipping on hot cocoa, listening to carols, and enjoying the holiday festivities.
Trail of Lights is going to be BIGGER and BETTER than ever this year! Expect seasonal programming, including the regular stuff (the preview night with live music, the annual Chuy's Fun Run, H-E-B Grand Opening Night) as well as a bunch of NEW events for 2023!
We're all pretty excited for that new lighted replica of the UT tower, the plethora of local food trucks that will be on site, aaaand...word on the street is that Kendra Scott will be there December 9-16 for a bedazzling shopping experience at their new Yellow Rose themed tiny house.
Dates: December 10-23, 2024
Cost: Free - $100+, depending on the date. The zip passes and VIP passes are obviously a higher cost.
Ticket information here
Photo: Austin Trail of Lights
WEBSITE | 2207 Lou Neff Rd, Austin, TX 78746
Ice Rodeo at Four Seasons Hotel Austin
Ice skating in Austin? Sure! This holiday season you can head to Ice Rodeo, an outdoor ice rink presented by the Four Seasons that overlooks Ladybird Lake, and enjoy ice skating, fire pits, gourmet s’mores, and festive food and drinks.
Dates: November 22, 2024 - January 5, 2025
Cost: $40/hr (includes entry, skate rentals, and 60 minutes of skating)
Ticket information here
Photo: Four Seasons
WEBSITE | 98 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin, TX 78701
Ballet Austin’s The Nutcracker
The beloved ballet performance of The Nutcracker returns to the Long Center for its 60th year! The Austin Symphony provides live accompaniment to this iconic Christmas event in Austin.
Tickets sell out, so be sure to get yours early.
Dates: December 6-23, 2024
Cost: Boxes $94.00, Balcony $20.00 to $77.00, Mezzanine $74.00 to $108.00, Parterre $105.00 to $111.00, Orchestra $105.00 to $125.00 (Available Seating)
Ticket information here
Photo: Ballet Austin
WEBSITE | 501 W 3rd St, Austin, TX 78701
Peppermint Parkway
Peppermint Parkway emerged in 2020 during the height of the pandemic as a socially-distanced way to spread some holiday cheer, and it has become a favorite holiday event in the Austin community.
Grab your ticket, load up the car, and drive around the COTA race track, where you can view millions of lights, holiday displays, dancing characters, and more. After you drive the track, enjoy the plaza with music, food, and games.
Dates: November 22 – December 29, 2024
Cost: The Parkway $45.00, The Parkway + Track Lap $80.00, The Parkway + Fast Pass Entry $90.00, The Sweetest Deal $99.00
(Additional admission tickets for Peppermint Plaza are $4 each.)
Ticket information here
Photo: Peppermint Parkway
WEBSITE | 9201 Circuit of the Americas Blvd, Austin, TX 78617
Mozart’s Lights
Another old-school/iconic Austin holiday tradition, the Christmas lights at Mozart’s Coffee on Lake Austin, are returning to be even bigger and better in 2022.
Reserve a table (or…book a boat tour this year!), order some hot cocoa, and enjoy the epic light show. This event is best
Dates: November 29, 2024 - January 4, 2025
Cost: General Admission to the Festival of Lights is $5/per person (+taxes and fees), children under 11 accompanied by an adult are free.
Ticket information here
Photo: Mozart’s Coffee
WEBSITE | 3825 Lake Austin Blvd, Austin, TX 78703
Luminations at Wildflower Center
A glowing celebration at the Wildflower Center in far South Austin! Inspired by the four elements — earth, air, fire and water — this year's exhibition spans nearly two miles of this Texas Arboretum.
They have food available to purchase, as well as a full bar with wine, beer, and cocktails.
Dates: Nov 22, 2024 - Jan 5, 2025
Cost: Members: $23 for adults, $13 for youth (ages 3-17)
Non-members: $28 for adults, $18 dollars for youth (ages 3-17)
free for children 2 and under
Ticket information here
Photo: Wildflower Center
WEBSITE | 4801 La Crosse Ave, Austin, TX 78739
Ice Skating At Hill Country Galleria
The city of Bee Cave has an ice skating rink set up at the Hill country Galleria! It's a pretty reasonable price to rent skates and get on the ice for 50 minutes, and they're open 7 days a week.
Dates: November 15, 2024 - December 5, 2025
Cost: $15 for 50 minutes of skating (includes rentals)
Ticket information here
WEBSITE | 4000 Galleria Parkway Bee Cave, TX 78738
Igloos at Hotel Van Zandt
The Lodge at Hotel Van Zandt is one of the cutest holiday pop-up bars in Austin! You and a few friends can step into your own private igloo on the rooftop lounge at Hotel Van Zandt and enjoy an evening of catered bites and sips, your own record player of holiday tunes, and games! Each igloo gets its own dedicated server.
Dates: November 29 to December 29, 2024
Cost: $125 reservation fee + $200 food and drink minimum per igloo
Ticket information here
WEBSITE | 3825 Lake Austin Blvd, Austin, TX 78703
Zilker Tree Lighting
This is a really sweet, low-key, and FREE holiday event in Austin for the family. The Zilker “tree” is one of the historic moon towers in Austin, and every holiday season, Austin strings light off the sides of it so it looks like a Christmas tree.
And every November, there’s a tree lighting ceremony. It feels like a small-town event, with a little kids choir performing, a band playing Christmas carols, and a countdown to the tree lighting at the end of the event. It’s one of the free activities in Austin, but there’s carnival food and drink available to purchase.
Date: Sunday, December 1 from 6-7 pm
Cost: free
Event information here
WEBSITE | 2100 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78746
Handel’s Messiah
Enjoy Handel’s Messiah, the oratorio composed in 1741 by George Frederick Handel, performed by Chorus Austin and the Austin Symphony Orchestra.
Date: December 3, 2024 at 8:00PM
Cost: $19-64
Ticket information here
Photo: Austin Symphony
WEBSITE | 4214 North Capital of Texas Hwy., Austin, TX 78746
Blue Genie Art Bazaar
When it’s time to do some local holiday shopping in Austin, the Blue Genie Art Bazaar is the place to go. Local vendors sell everything from candles to socks, ornaments to homemade soaps, and (of course) lots of local art to hang in your home.
If you want something unique for yourself or a loved one, be sure to plan an afternoon of shopping at the Blue Genie Art Bazaar.
Dates: November 15 - December 24, 2024
Cost: Free Entry
Event information here
WEBSITE | 6100 Airport Blvd ste b, Austin, TX 78752
Downtown Austin Holiday Stroll
This is a very sweet, relaxed, FREE annual holiday event in Austin. Every year, thousands of Austinites gather in downtown Austin to sing carols, listen to live music, and view the downtown Austin tree lighting (right in front of the Texas State Capitol.)
Date: December 7, 2024 from 3:00PM-8:00PM
Cost: Free Family-Friendly Event
Event information here
WEBSITE | Congress Ave, Austin TX 89801
A Christmas Carol at ZACH Theatre
The longest-running independent theater in Texas presents Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol again in 2022! It’s a family-friendly holiday activity in Austin that’s sure to light up the Christmas spirit.
Dates: November 20 - December 29, 2024
Cost: $95-135, depending on date and seat selection
Ticket Information here
Photo: ZACH Theatre
WEBSITE | 202 South Lamar, Austin, TX
Armadillo Christmas Bazaar
If you're searching for the best holiday activities in Austin for SHOPPING, this. is. it. The Armadillo Christmas Bazaar is one of Austin’s longest-running art and music festivals, and it’s the perfect place to get some last-minute holiday shopping done.
It takes place at the Palmer Events Center, where you can enjoy 40,000-sq-ft of pop-up shopping, holiday music, cocktails, and pizza. Whether you’re shopping for gifts or you just want to grow your own art collection, the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar is a must-try Christmas activity in Austin.
Dates: December 14, 2024 to December 23, 2024
Cost: $12 one day ticket, $60 season ticket, kids under 12 are free
Ticket Information here
Photo: Armadillo Christmas Bazaar
WEBSITE | 8701 Leo St, Austin, TX 78745
Miracle on 5th Street Pop-up Bar
Every year The Eleanor is transformed into a winter wonderland pop-up cocktail bar, and every year it’s absolutely packed every single night! Austin LOVES this holiday event.
This year you need to purchase a General Admission ticket to get in, and drinks are an additional cost. Psst: here's a map of all the holiday pop-up bars in Austin.
Dates: November 14, 2024 - December 28, 2024
Cost: $5 + for admission, plus the cost of drinks. You can reserve for a group for around $500-1,000, depending on the night.
Ticket Information here
WEBSITE | 307 W 5th St, Austin, TX 78701
Holiday Cheer at the Paramount
Watch one of your favorite holiday movies in the decked-out halls of the historic Paramount Theatre in downtown Austin. They show a bunch of classics like Love Actually, Elf, Home Alone 2, It’s a Wonderful Life and Miracle on 34th Street.
Dates: December 4 - December 22, 2024
Cost: $12 to $78
Ticket Information here
WEBSITE | 713 Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78701
Alamo Drafthouse Holiday Movie Parties
This one is a great holiday activity in Austin for kids! The holiday movie parties at Alamo Drafthouse feature holiday film favorites like The Grinch, Little Women, and It’s a Wonderful Life.
They have props for you to wave around, themed menu options, and you’re encouraged to sing along or quote alone with your favorite lines. It’s a fun way to bring holiday movies up to the next level!
Dates: all of December 2024
Cost: standard Alamo movie ticket prices
Ticket Information here
Photo: Alamo Drafthouse
WEBSITE | Multiple Locations
German-Texas Christmas Market
Over 3,000 visitors attend this one-day event in Austin! The German Free School transforms into an annual German village each year. Attend food, festivities, and shopping.
Date: November 30, 2024 from 10AM - 4PM and December 04, 2024 from 11AM - 4PM for members only, and the PUBLIC MARKET will be on December 7 from 10AM - 5PM
Cost: $8 entry
Event information here
WEBSITE | 507 E 10th St, Austin, TX 78701
The Driskill Tree Lighting
While the tree lighting ceremony is fun to attend, you should honestly stop by the beautiful Driskill hotel lobby to see the stunning 16-ft Christmas tree and sip on a cocktail at any time of the year.
Date: December 6, 2024, 5pm-7pm
Cost: Free
Ticket Information here
WEBSITE | 604 Brazos St, Austin, TX 78701
Elgin Christmas Tree Farm
This is one of the sweetest local Christmas tree farms in the Austin area! The family-owned Elgin Christmas Tree Farm has been a local favorite since 1984.
Head out to Bastrop to chop down your own live Christmas tree. They even have live wreaths available for purchase!
Dates: start November 23, 2024 (Weekends and Weekdays schedule)
Cost: Free entry, pay per tree
More information here
WEBSITE | 120 Natures Way, Elgin, TX 78621
Holiday Events at Other Towns Near Austin
There are plenty of other fun holiday events in town around Austin! Here are a few worth noting:
Walkway of Lights in Marble Falls |WEBSITE|
Buda Trail of Lights |WEBSITE|
Georgetown Christmas Stroll |WEBSITE|
Light Up The Lake in Round Rock |WEBSITE|
Lago Vista Trail of Lights |WEBSITE|
San Marcos Sights and Sounds of Christmas |WEBSITE|
Photos with Santa in Kyle City Square |WEBSITE|
Christmas on Mercer in Dripping Springs |WEBSITE|
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You may want to consider posting this event for christmas on your to do list. It is the Austin Giving Machine supporting local charities.