The holidays are fast approaching, which can mean only one thing: It’s time to seek out the best festive and free events in Austin! Whether you and your family are looking to enjoy a seasonal concert, attend a tree lighting, do some holiday crafting, or stroll around a Christmas village with hot cocoa in hand, there’s a little something for everyone in the Austin area.
We know the holidays can occasionally be tough for some of us (er, most of us) — which is why it’s so important to remember what this time of year is really about: our loved ones and life’s simple pleasures. So, it’s time to put the wrapping paper down, push pause on any holiday-related stressors, and really enjoy the season with your little ones. Treat your babysitter or nanny to a fun holiday surprise, gather up the family, and set out to enjoy some of the best (free!) holiday events Austin has to offer.
Austin Trail of Lights at Zilker Park
Address: 2400 Barton Springs Road, Austin, TX 78746 (Zilker Park)
Date & Time: Dec. 9 – 23, 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. | Check the calendar for free nights & other specialty programming, or pay $3 for general admission.
Phone: 512-907-8891
The Trail of Lights in Zilker Park is an Austin holiday staple and has been since the mid-1960s. Don’t miss this sparkling light extravaganza (that’s 2 million lights, to be exact!) that runs throughout Zilker Park and includes tons of food trucks and activities for the little ones. It’s truly the perfect way to ring in the holiday season!
Attend the official grand opening on Saturday, Dec. 9, if you can. It’s free, super fun, and always features awesome local entertainment by community performers.
Mueller Tower Lighting
Address: Berkman Drive, Austin, TX 78722 (Mueller Control Tower)
Date & Time: Dec. 5, 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Phone: 512-703-9202
The annual Mueller Tower Lighting is a beloved tradition around these parts! This family-friendly, completely free event always promises good times. This year, the Reagan High School Drumline and Boss Street Band will perform, and there will be plenty of yummy s’mores, hot chocolate, cookies, and other seasonal goodies to go around. They’re free while supplies last! (Food trucks will also be on-site if you’d like to purchase dinner.) We recommend RSVPing to the Facebook invite so that you can stay up to date on event details.
Christmas Stroll in Georgetown
Address: Georgetown Square, Georgetown, TX 78627 | Click here for a map of the annual Christmas Stroll parade route.
Date & Time: Friday, Dec. 1, 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. | Saturday, Dec. 2, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Phone: 512-868-8675
Get ready to feel like you’ve stepped into an old-timey Christmas card when you visit the 37th annual Christmas Stroll in nearby Georgetown! Every year, the Georgetown Square becomes aglow with twinkling trees, magical décor, and plenty of holiday attractions. This year, the Christmas Stroll will feature an old-fashioned Christmas tree farm, a visit from Santa Claus, and the Grinch’s Hoo Village. Kiddos will love Friday night’s “Dessert with the Grinch,” which starts at 5 p.m. and is set to be followed by free popcorn and a screening of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!”
We highly recommend taking a look at the schedule, as there will be several events throughout the weekend. The stroll itself is free, of course, and there are also over 300 food, drink, and crafts vendors in attendance every year.
Christmas in the Community with Austin Symphony
Address: Concerts held throughout the city. | Click here for a full list of locations.
Date & Time: Nov. 26 – Dec. 23 | Click here for a full list of dates and times.
Phone: 512-476-6064
There’s nothing better than holiday tunes around this time of year — particularly when those tunes are played by an esteemed local orchestra. “Christmas in the Community” is a series of free concerts held throughout the city, featuring various ensembles of the Austin Symphony playing seasonal music. This 10-concert event kicks off with a woodwind ensemble at Barton Creek Mall, and concludes the night before Christmas Eve at Symphony Square. (See here for a list of all dates, times, and locations.) Whichever concert you attend, rest assured you’ll leave humming with holiday cheer!
Pfestival of Lights and Christmas Parade
Address: Main Street, Pflugerville, TX 78660
Date & Time: Christmas Parade begins at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2. | Activities (including a holiday concert) run until 8 p.m. | Check out the full schedule of events here.
Phone: 512-990-6113
Every year, downtown Pflugerville (just a 30-minute drive from Austin) hosts a giant Christmas parade and events, complete with tons of fun holiday freebies. We’re talking hot cocoa, arts and crafts to take home, seasonal baked goods, photos with Santa, and more! We predict that kids of all ages will adore checking out the parade and indulging in a holiday cookie or two. Click here for a look at the parade route.
Holiday Sing-Along in Downtown Austin
Address: 1100 Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78701
Date & Time: Holiday Sing-Along is on the steps of the Capitol on Dec. 3, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. | Congress Avenue shops open, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. | View the schedule here.
Ring in the holiday season right at Austin’s Holiday Sing-Along and Downtown Stroll! The festivities will begin with Christmas carols on the Capitol steps, followed by a countdown to the lighting of the Capitol tree. In addition, families can enjoy the programmed light show set to holiday songs by local Austin musicians and peruse the many downtown galleries and shops that will stay open late that evening.
If you’d like to donate non-perishable food items to the Capital Area Food Bank, there will be a donation drop-off at the Capitol tree. ‘Tis the season for giving!
Mozart’s Christmas Light Show
Address: 3825 Lake Austin Blvd., Austin, TX 78703
Date & Time: Light show runs nightly through Jan. 1, 6 p.m. – 11 p.m. (excluding Christmas Eve & Christmas Day)
Phone: 512-477-2900
Every year, Mozart’s Coffee Roasters, one of Austin’s most beloved coffee joints, holds its famed (and free!) Christmas light show — and it’s always one for the books. (Plus, Mozart’s location on scenic Lake Austin is already fantastic.) Expect to be surrounded by more than 1 million LED lights molded into awesome, iconic shapes and objects. In addition, more than 20 choirs from local schools are scheduled to perform traditional Christmas songs. Admission may be free, but don’t pass up the chance to purchase one of Mozart’s delicious hot chocolates with speciality flavors!
Elgin Tree Farm
Address: 120 Nature’s Way, Elgin, TX 78621
Hours: Monday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Sunday, 11 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Phone: 512-281-5016
Wandering around an old-fashioned Christmas tree farm is truly one of the best free holiday activities — and there’s no better place to do so than Elgin Tree Farm! This storied family farm in Elgin, just outside Austin, specializes in creating a fabulous Christmas tree experience for the whole family. The farm grows its own Virginia Pine and Leyland Cypress, and they also import Fraser Firs. When you arrive, you’re given a tag, and a hayride will you take you out to begin the search for your tree. Someone will also help pick your tree up once you cut it. The tree will be shaken, baled, and ready to go home with you.
The little ones will undoubtedly adore riding the hayride to the tree field, and the whole family will love picking out the perfect evergreen to take home and decorate!
Gingerbread Village Open Houses
Address: 98 San Jacinto Blvd., Austin, TX 78701 (Four Seasons Hotel Austin)
Hours: Gingerbread Village open Dec. 4 & 5, 5 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Phone: 512-478-4500
Soak up the holiday season at the lovely Four Seasons Hotel in downtown Austin. This Dec. 4 and 5, sip on complimentary hot apple cider and giant cookies in the lobby as you check out the hotel’s “Monopoly”-themed Gingerbread Village, made by the Four Seasons’ pastry chefs. Santa will also be on hand to pose for photos. Keep in mind that while the display runs from Nov. 21 through Dec. 28 this year, the free festive refreshments and Santa visit will be the weekend of Dec. 4 only.
Santa’s Wonderland at Bass Pro Shop
Address: 200 Bass Pro Drive, Round Rock, TX 78665 (Bass Pro Shops)
Date & Time: Open daily through Dec. 24. | Click here to view schedule of events & times.
Phone: 512-876-2700
This Christmas season, Santa Claus is making a special trip to Bass Pro in Round Rock — every day until Dec. 24! Visit the store to get your picture taken with Santa. Everyone will receive a free 4×6 studio-quality photo with Santa in-store, and other packages are available for purchase. There will be plenty of fun games and activities set up, including a Lincoln Logs Building Area, various crafts tables, and a Santa letter-writing station.
Did we include your favorite free holiday events in and around Austin? Tell us in the comments below!
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