Winter 2021 is almost here and Austin knows how to celebrate Christmas and this magical season. Christmas is not only shopping for gifts but it’s also about sharing with your loved ones. There are many options in Austin for family-friendly activities and events to celebrate the 2021 holiday season and create those unforgettable memories! Check out our top picks for family-friendly events in Austin below:
The whole family can join the Driskill Hotel on Wednesday, December 1st, to celebrate the kick-off of this amazing season with the annual tree lighting!
Location:
Driskill Hotel
DATES:
December 1. 16:30 PM
Families will enjoy a Tree Lighting Ceremony, snow hill, snow playing area, games & prizes, crafts, photos with Santa, yule fire, live music, inflatables & food concessions.
Location:
Heritage Oak Park
DATES:
December 3 6:30 PM- 9 PM
With the Gingerbread Workshop Kits, kids can explore art and engineering at home.
This year, two different take-home kits will be available: a ”cookie people” kit for all ages, and a full Gingerbread House construction kit for builders ages 4 and up.
Location:
Thinkery
DATES:
Kits are available now for purchase through the Online Store, or you can buy them in-person at Thinkery beginning Thursday, December 3.
Peppermint Parkway is a one-mile driving attraction in which visitors can enjoy a lap around the race track and millions of lights coordinated with holiday-theme music!
Location:
Circuit of the Americas
DATES:
November 26- December 26
Enjoy this unique adventure with the family and have a blast at this 2-hour train ride!
It departs from the historic 1912 Bertram Depot in Bertram, TX.
Location:
Austin Steam Train Association
DATES:
November 27, 28, December 4, 11, 12: 11 AM and 2:30 PM | December 5: 11 AM | December 18, 19 : 7:30 AM and 6 PM
Before the annual lighting ceremony of the Walkway of Lights, enjoy floats filled with lights of every color parading down Main Street Marble Falls in celebration!
Kids may be lucky and wave to Santa before he returns back to the North Pole!
Location:
Light-up Parade
DATES:
November 19. 6 PM
The whole family can enjoy this musical based on the cherished New Line Cinema hit, Elf JR. that features songs by Tony Award-nominees, Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin, with a book by Tony Award-winners, Thomas Meehan and Bob Martin.
Location:
Central Texas Theatre Academy
DATES:
November 18 – 21 and December 2 – 5 | Fridays and Saturdays from 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Luminations is the perfect option to enjoy the natural wonder of winter at the Wildflower Center! Families will get to enjoy thousands of luminarias, seasonal food and drink, and the light-splashed forts of Fortlandia!
Location:
Wildflower Center
DATES:
Thursdays – Sundays Dec. 2, 2021 – Jan. 30, 2022. Entry from 6 – 9 PM
Holiday lights will continue to glow in Johnson City – with a socially distanced tour of “The Twinkliest Town in Texas” -boasting over two million twinkling lights in our historic square off Main Street.
Location:
Lights Spectacular
DATES:
November 26, 2021 – January 2, 2022. 6 PM
Families will get to enjoy this great holiday plan which displays 2 million lights in Lakeside Park and over 350+ lighted sculptures.
An amazing option to celebrate the holiday season and create great memories!
Location:
The Walkway of Lights
DATES:
November 19, 2021 – January 01, 2022. 6 PM- 10 PM
Families can enjoy ZACH’s singular adaptation of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, a musical sleigh ride through rhythm and time that combines the traditional Victorian story with a score that spans all genres and eras!
Location:
ZACH Theatre
DATES:
November 24, 2021 – January 2, 2022. Hours vary by day.
You would not want to miss this holiday light exhibit which is considered one of the best ones in Texas!
Take a drive through over a mile of winding country roads while admiring beautiful lights, animated Christmas displays, and enjoy hot cocoa!
Location:
Santa’s Ranch
DATES:
NOV 5TH 2021 – JAN 2ND 2022 | Sunday-Thursday 6 PM-10 PM | Friday-Saturday 6 PM-11 PM
Christmas 2021 will be celebrated not only one night, but the entire month!
This one-month Stroll will feature free activities and holiday happenings. Celebrate this holiday season with the entire family at Downtown Austin!
Location:
Downtown Austin
DATES:
NOVEMBER 28 – DECEMBER 31
2021 is the 57th year for this amazing Christmas event.
The most beloved and longest-running holiday tradition in Austin is ready to welcome families to Zilker Park and enjoy more than 2 million lights illuminating the park, 90 lighted holiday trees, and more than 70 other holiday displays and lighted tunnels!
Location:
Zilker Park
DATES:
November 27 – December 31, 5.45 PM- 10.45 PM
Families will have a great time at this beautifully illuminated night parade that will roll down the city’s historic Main Street, between the intersections of Washington and Bowie streets.
Location:
Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce
DATES:
December 3, 6:30 PM – 8 PM
The whole family can enjoy this story about the Herdmans, who are the worst kids in the history of the world.
When they crash Sunday school and demand parts in the Christmas pageant, the whole town panics.
Location:
Vive Les Arts Theatre
DATES:
December 3-5 & 10-12. Hours vary by day.
The whole family can enjoy this special musical about John Dale, a middle-aged bachelor and prominent businessman, who has a challenging job for Anne Weston, proprietor of the local rent shop.
Location:
Bastrop Opera House
DATES:
December 3, 4, 10, 17, 18 at 7:30 pm | December 5, 11, 12, 19 at 2:30 pm
The Old Town Christmas Festival will feature fun activities including Christmas Tree Lighting, Shopping, games, and activities, live stage shows, parade, 5K with medals, food and festivities, and Santa and his Sleigh!
Location:
City of Leander
DATES:
December 4
The event starts in the heart of Old Town and tours through the streets of Leander.
The course is flat and fast with no hills or rough terrain. This 5K will have limited participation, so sign up early to ensure you can join us for this exciting event!
Location:
Old Town Leander
DATES:
December 4
The Gingerbread Workshops for kids provide the houses, frostings, candies, edible glitter, and everything else needed to decorate the house of your kid’s dreams!
There will be hot chocolate to sip on and houses are packaged up to go home safely!
Location:
Foodie Kids
DATES:
Saturday, Dec 4th: 9:30-10:30 AM | Saturday, Dec 11th: 10-11 AM | Saturday, Dec 18th: 10-11 AM | Monday, Dec 20th: 2-3 PM | Tuesday, Dec 21st: 2-3 PM | Wednesday, Dec 22nd: 2-3 PM
2021 is the 57th year for this amazing Christmas event.
The most beloved and longest-running holiday tradition in Austin is ready to welcome families to Zilker Park and enjoy more than 2 million lights illuminating the park, 90 lighted holiday trees, and more than 70 other holiday displays and lighted tunnels!
Location:
Pottery Parlor- Cedar Park
DATES:
December 4: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm
The entire family will get to enjoy Ballet Austin’s annual production of The Nutcracker, Austin’s favorite holiday tradition!
The performance is filled with scrumptious sets and costumes, and colorful characters!
Location:
Ballet Austin
DATES:
Saturday, Dec. 4: 2 PM & 7:30 PM | Sunday, Dec. 5: 2 PM | Friday, Dec. 10: 7:30 PM | Saturday, Dec. 11: 2 PM & 7:30 PM | Sunday, Dec. 12: 2 PM | Friday, Dec. 17: 7:30 PM | Saturday, Dec. 18: 2 PM & 7:30 PM | Sunday, Dec. 19: 2 PM | Tuesday, Dec. 21: 2 PM | Wednesday, Dec. 22: 2 PM | Thursday, Dec. 23: 2 PM
This Musical is the thrilling spectacle of music and dance that transports audiences to the North Pole to glimpse the magical lives of Santa’s Scout Elves.
Featuring an original story and score, dazzling sets and costumes, and heartfelt moments that will bring the family together, this joyous and uplifting celebration will leave audiences captivated by the splendor of the season.
Location:
H-E-B Center at Cedar Park
DATES:
December 10 | 6 PM
Grammy award-winning duo for KING & COUNTRY will be embarking on A Drummer Boy Christmas: The 2021 Winter Tour.
Brothers Joel and Luke will be taking their must-see holiday spectacle across the United States over 14 dates!
Location:
H-E-B Center at Cedar Park
DATES:
December 5 | 7 PM
All runners and walkers will get to kick off the holiday season with the 26th annual Austin Jingle Bell 5K and Kids’ Fun Run!
The run will be in person and there will also be a virtual option for everyone to partake in the Holiday tradition where and whenever you can!
Location:
The Domain
DATES:
December 12 | 8 AM
Families will love the KLOVE Christmas Tour featuring Casting Crowns, Mac Powell, CAIN, Dante Bowe & Jordan St. Cyr. H-E-B Center RETURN TO LIVE!
Location:
H-E-B Center at Cedar Park
DATES:
December 19: 7 PM
You and your family can join the Texas Hill Country Community in this special tradition.
Families will enjoy carolers, a live nativity, Santa Claus, refreshments and, of course, the spectacular tree lighting. Then revisit the past at the Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm.
Location:
Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park
DATES:
December 19 | 5:30 PM
Families will have a blast enjoying this all-new production which features some of the greatest holiday songs of all time performed with the world-renowned cast of Cirque Musica.
Experience the chills, thrills, and excitement of the best Cirque performers from around the world performing to your holiday favorites.
Location:
H-E-B Center at Cedar Park
DATES:
December 27: 7:30 PM
Brighten your holidays with Lightwire Theater’s A Very Electric Christmas!
In this wonderful story, Santa’s helpers are putting the final touches on presents as a young bird named Max and his family head south for the winter.
Location:
H-E-B Center at Cedar Park
DATES:
December 24: 2 PM
