Fall in Austin this year has been simply magical – all the autumn colors and the perfect weather. December is here and so are all the holiday festivities – this is your ultimate guide to experience Christmas in Austin all December long.
SEE ALSO: 9 Things To Do In Austin This Winter
If you’re shopping for a Christmas tree, go to Papa Noel (pictured above). Even if you’re not looking to buy a real tree this year, add a visit to Papa Noel to your Dec festivities because there’s nothing more festive than the smell of pine!
Table of Contents
CHRISTMAS MARKETS TO SHOP AT
Feliz Fall Sale
Shop your favorite designers and discover new artists from around the country. Enjoy drinks from Better Half and lounge at the Loot Rentals lounge.
Date: Dec 9, 2018 from 11 AM – 6 PM
Palm Door on Sabine, 401 Sabine St, Austin, Texas
UMLAUF After Dark: Winter Fair
Date: Dec 4th, Tuesday at 6 PM – 8 PM
UMLAUF Sculpture Garden & Museum, 605 Azie Morton Rd, event link
Stockings & S’mores’ at Cosmic Coffee
Cosmic Coffee is hosting a dog-friendly party that will feature selfies with Santa, a pet-themed market, s’mores, festive cocktails, and a supply drive for Austin Animal Center.
Date: December 9th from 2-5pm
Cosmic Coffee, 121 Pickle Rd, Austin, TX
ARMADILLO CHRISTMAS BAZAAR
Dates: Dec. 13 – 24, 2018 from 11am – 10pm
Palmer Events Center, armadillobazaar.com
Cherrywood Art Fair 2018
Dates: Dec 8 at 10am – Dec 9 at 5pm
Maplewood Elementary, 3808 Maplewood Ave, Austin, Texas
Hotel San José Holiday Market
Date: Saturday, December 8, 2018 at 12 PM – 5 PM
Hotel San José, 1316 Congress Ave S, event link
CraftHER Market: Holiday Pop-Up
Date: Sunday, December 16, 2018 at 12 PM – 5 PM
The LINE Hotel Austin, 111 E Cesar Chavez St, event link
Unique Markets Holiday Pop-Up Austin
Date: Sunday, December 16, 2018 at 11 AM – 6 PM
Brazos Hall, 204 East 4th Street, event link
Blue Genie Art Bazaar
Dates: Nov 26 – Dec 24, 2018
6100 Airport Blvd, bluegenieartbazaar.com/shopping/
A Winter Oddities Market
Date: Thursday, December 20, 2018 at 9 PM – 1 AM
Elysium Austin, 705 Red River St, event link
Eden East Annual Solstice Festival & Craft Market
Live music, pig roast, farm-fresh family-style buffet, complimentary cocktails and beer, and craft market on the farm.
Date: Friday, December 21, 2018 at 7 PM – 10 PM
Eden East Austin, 755 Springdale Rd, event link
FRIDA FRIDAY ATX HOLIDAY PACHANGA
Date: Dec 21 at 6 PM – Dec 22 at 3 PM
Austin Film Society, 6406 N IH-35 Suite 3100, event link
CHRISTMAS BARS TO DRINK AT
MIRACLE CHRISTMAS BAR
The holiday sensation “Miracle on 5th Street” is back and, believe it or not, it’s bigger, boozier and better than ever. In addition to expanded hours and less buyouts, this year brings the miraculous addition of a third bar – a Shot Ski Lodge placed atop a ski slope serving Miracle’s much beloved Snowball Old Fashioneds, Naughty and Nice Shots, beer and wine, neat spirit shots and, for groups unafraid of going down a slippery slope, full-sized Shot Skis.
Dates: November 23 – December 29, 2018 from Monday – Sunday, 4 pm – 2 am.
The Eleanor, 307 W. 5th St. – Unit A
, skip the line tickets
Sippin’ Santa
Tiki Christmas pop-up bar at Nickel City.
Dates: Through December from 2PM–2AM every day
Nickel City, 1133 E. 11 St., Austin, TX
Gibson Wonderland
Gibson Street Bar is decking the halls all month long for its first-ever Gibson Wonderland. The bar will feature bountiful over-the-top decor, an instaworthy sleigh photo-op and specialty themed libations. Every Wednesday from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. leading up to Christmas is the holiday musical stylings of the Misfit Toys.
Dates: December 1 – December 31
Gibson Street Bar, 1109 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX
WHO-Tel Bar
Grinchmas themed take-over will transform W Hotel’s Secret Bar into a scene right out of Dr. Seuss’s Whoville, with a “W-centric” spin.
Dates: open to the public for most nights until December 28th
W Hotel, 200 Lavaca St, Austin, TX
La La Little Nugget
Drink specials: Sunday: $3 wells; Monday: $4 Ironwolf; Tuesday: $6 Lunchbox; Wednesday: $4 Draft of the Day; Thursday: $$4 Jack Daniels; Friday: $4 Fireball; Saturday: $5 Lala’s Mules
Dates: La la is a year-round Christmas themed bar that’s actually open all year round!
2207 Justin Ln, Austin, TX
Don’s Depot
Dates: Nov 26 – Dec 31, 2018
Donn’s Depot, 1600 W 5th St, Austin, TX
WHERE TO SEE THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS IN AUSTIN
9TH ANNUAL MOZART’S LIGHT SHOW
Dates: December 1 – January 1, 2019, except for Christmas Day, 6 – 11p
Mozart’s Coffee, mozartscoffee.com
TRAIL OF LIGHTS
Dates: December 10– 23, 2018, open from 7:00pm to 10:00pm nightly
Zilker Park, austintrailoflights.org
37th Street Lights Premier
Date: starts Saturday, December 8, 2018 at 7 PM – 10 PM
W 37th St, Austin, TX 78705
CHRISTMAS EVENTS TO ATTEND
ICE SKATING ON THE ROOFTOP PLAZA AT WHOLE FOODS
10 dollars a person (includes skate rental)
Dates: Friday, Nov. 23 through Monday, Jan. 21, 2019 from 10 am – 9 pm
Whole Foods Market on North Lamar
Free pictures with Santa
Date: December 7, 2018 from 3-5pm
Velocity Credit Union, 1230 E. New Hope Dr. Cedar Park, TX
Winter Solstice Lantern Parade
Date: Friday, December 21, 2018 at 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Mueller Lake Park, 4550 Mueller Blvd, event link
Horseshoe Bay Resort Winter Wonderland
Date: Saturday, December 15th from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
200 Hi Cir N, Horseshoe Bay, TX, event link
#ATXmas at Craftsman
This ‘grammable event features an inflatable, house-sized Santa couch so you’ll never have to worry about being too big to sit on his lap. Drink specials courtesy of Dickel Whiskey and Dos XX include $8 holiday cocktails such as the Bourbon Hot Chocolate with homemade whipped cream and cinnamon as well as $5 beers.
Date: December 15 from 6:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.
Craftsman, 2000 E. Cesar Chavez St., Austin, TX
Scream Hollow Presents: Twisted Christmas
Date: 4 – 8 PM Saturday & Sunday in December and the Christmas Haunts are open Friday & Saturday in December starting at 8 PM.
149 Split Rail Ln Smithville, TX, screamhollow.com/twistedchristmas
THE NUTCRACKER
Dates: DEC 7 – 23, 2018
The Long Center, tickets
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
Dates: November 21–December 30, 2018
Zach Theatre, tickets
AUSTIN RESTAURANTS OPEN ON CHRISTMAS DAY
Wu Chow
Wu Chow will be servings their regular menu on Christmas Day.
Hours: 6pm – 10am
500 W 5th St #168, Austin, TX
Wild Chix & Waffles
Hours: Open 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
7714 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX
24 Diner
Open all day, walk-ins only. No special menu but some of the best comfort food in Austin. Must haves are roasted chicken and meatloaf for dinner and chicken & waffles if you are looking for a great Christmas morning breakfast!
Hours: open 24 hours
600 N. Lamar Blvd, 24diner.com
Cannon + Belle
Special holiday buffet Guests can choose from a variety of dishes including holiday ham, beef wellington, ratatouille risotto, eggnog smoothies and more. Pricing is $64 for adults, $26 for children 6-12 and free for children 5 years and under. Reservations are highly recommended.
Hours: December 25 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Lakeway Resort
Offering timeless tastes made with locally sourced ingredients, menu items include Lentil and Roasted Butternut Squash Soup, Honey Smoked Ham, Turkey and a specialty Texas Peach Cobbler for dessert. Adults dine for $35 per person and children ages 6-12 for $18 per person. Reservations can be made online at lakewayresortandspa.com, or by calling 844-822-2621.
Hours: Tuesday, December 25th from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Hyatt Regency Lost Pines
Christmas day family buffet
575 Hyatt Lost Pines Rd, Cedar Creek, TX
The Tavern
Alamo Drafthouse
New Fortune
