Whether it’s Halloween, Summertime, or any other special time of the year, Austin never disappoints!
The 2022 Winter season comes packed with so many ways to spend quality time together while getting festive—and yes, there are plenty of options for those who don’t want to brave the cold temperatures. Check out Kid City Guide’s top picks for the best things to do in Austin this winter!
Field of Light is a stunning display of 28,000 vibrant solar-powered, fiber-optic light pods that showcase the intersection of art, technology, and nature and Illuminates 16 acres in the Texas Arboretum at the Wildflower Center!
Location:
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
DATES:
During December.
Santa’s Ranch is one of the best holiday light exhibits in the state!
Families will take a drive through over a mile of winding country roads while taking in the beautiful lights, animated Christmas displays, and enjoying homemade hot cocoa, kettle corn, and snacks.
Location:
Santa’s Ranch
DATES:
November 11– January 1, 2023 | Sunday- Thursday 6 PM- 10 PM | Friday- Saturday 6 PM- 11 PM
During Walkway of Lights, families will enjoy displays of 2 million lights in Lakeside Park and more than 350 lighted sculptures.
It is FREE to the public and is entirely funded by donations. Experience the lights reflecting off of Lake Marble Falls for 44 nights in a row this year, and make it a family tradition.
Location:
Lakeside Park- Marble Falls
DATES:
6 PM-10 PM Daily from November 18th to December 31st.
Peppermint Parkway is a magical, marvelous, and magnificent holiday drive-thru experience for the whole family!
Experience a drive-thru holiday spectacular with a mile of holiday displays, millions of lights, dancing characters, and a holiday plaza with food, rides, activities, and more!
Location:
Circuit of the Americas
DATES:
6:30 PM- 9 PM
The entire family can enjoy this free Christmas/Holiday Lights display! There will be over 2 Million Christmas lights, this display is so big, NASA reported seeing it from space!
Arrive before sundown, walk the historic downtown with your family, and enjoy local food, beer, wine, and festivities in a family-fun atmosphere.
Location:
Lights Spectacular
DATES:
November 25, 2022 – January 8, 2023. 6 PM
The classic North Pole Flyer will depart from the historic 1912 Bertram Depot, the 2022 trip brings back some of your favorite activities and entertainers!
This special 2-hour excursion on a real train features a visit (and hugs!) from Santa and Mrs. Claus, all-you-can-drink hot cocoa, and a locally baked holiday cookie.
Location:
Austin Steam Train Association
DATES:
November 26-27 and December 3-4
Families can enjoy the annual Light Up the Lake, a 2-day holiday festival around the lake and festival area at Old Settlers Park!
The event will feature SPECTACULAR giant balloons hovering over Bright Lake, an amazing light show, LIVE music, holiday displays, holiday food and refreshments, crafts, family activities, a yule log, and more!
Location:
Old Settlers Park
DATES:
December 2 and 3.
Families will get to sip on hot cocoa, decorate a gingerbread house with all the trimmings, dust it with edible snow, and take the whole thing packaged up home!
Only two people, including adults, per house.
Location:
Foodie Kids
DATES:
December 3, 10, 17, 9:30-10:30 AM | December 22,23, 2-3 PM
From the scrumptious sets and costumes to the colorful characters you adore, Ballet Austin’s annual production of THE NUTCRACKER is Austin’s favorite holiday tradition!
Hundreds of dancers perform Stephen Mills’ enchanting choreography to Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s magical score with live accompaniment from Austin Symphony Orchestra.
Location:
The Long Center
DATES:
December 3, 2 PM | December 3, 7:30 PM | December 4, 2 PM | December 9, 7:30 PM | December 10, 2 PM | December 10, 7:30 PM | December 11, 2 PM | December 16, 7:30 PM | December 17, 2 PM | December 17, 7:30 PM | December 18, 2 PM | December 20, 7:30 PM | December 21, 7:30 PM | December 22, 2 PM | December 23, 2 PM
This is a walking trail through approximately 8 acres of lighted exhibits.
There will be live entertainment on most nights, complimentary marshmallows, and hot chocolate. Santa Claus flies in most nights from the North Pole and will be in his house to greet everyone!
Location:
EmilyAnn Theatre & Gardens
DATES:
December 3-4, 7-11, 14-23, 26 | Fridays/Saturdays 6 -10 PM | All Other Days 6 PM-9 PM
This annual event in Zilker Park celebrates the unique spirit and people of Austin!
The most beloved, and longest-running holiday tradition of its kind in Texas’ capital city, Austin Trail of Lights powered by H-E-B, welcomes hundreds of thousands of guests from Central Texas and around the world each year for its jubilant displays of lights.
Location:
Austin Trail of Lights
DATES:
December 8-23
Kids will have a blast during these Gaming Camps for Winter Break!
They will have so much fun this Winter with these Minecraft Master Builder Challenges.
Location:
The Scholar Ship
DATES:
THE POLAR EXPRESS (Gaming Camp, December 19-23) | ICE SCULPTURES (Gaming Camp, December 26-30)
Families with kids ages 4+ can join this Christmas classics camp to make reindeer cheese balls, baked brie, and rosemary bread wreaths, gingerbread cupcakes with teeny gingerbread men, and finish with decorating cookies for Santa!
Location:
Foodie Kids
DATES:
December 22, 10 AM- 1 PM
Kids ages 4+ will have a blast in this silly camp where they’ll pretend to be on Foodie Kids’ own Christmas-themed episode with golden hats, panic buttons, and sprinkles galore.
Campers will do a cupcake, cookie, and mini cake round with a bit of friendly and fun competition.
Location:
Foodie Kids
DATES:
December 23, 10 AM- 1 PM
