A big week of holiday events for families in Austin, Dec. 10-16
December 9, 2017
Article by: Nicole Villalpando, austin360.com
Holiday events
Ballet Austin’s “The Nutcracker.” 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday and Saturday. $15-$98. The Long Center, 701 W. Riverside Drive. thelongcenter.org
Luminations. It’s back. See the Wildflower Center outlined in luminarias. 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday. $15. Wildflower Center, 4801 La Crosse Ave. wildflower.org
Austin Trail of Lights. 6 to 10 p.m. through Dec. 23. Free admission Sunday-Thursday, $3 other nights. Zilker Park. austintrailoflights.org
ADVERTISING
Zilker Tree. The tree will be lighted every night through Dec. 31. Zilker Park. austintexas.gov/zilkerholidaytree.
BookPeople Happy Hanukkah Bedtime Story Time. 6 p.m. Wednesday. BookPeople, 603 N. Lamar Blvd. bookpeople.com
Elgin Christmas Tree Farm. Ride a hay ride to the Christmas tree grounds and select your tree. 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. Elgin Christmas Tree Farm, 120 Nature’s Way, Elgin. elginchristmastreefarm.com
Evergreen Christmas Tree Farm. Buy Christmas trees through Christmas Eve. Noon to dark daily, except Saturdays, when it opens at 10 a.m. Weekends there’s s’mores making and pine cone painting, too. 242 Monkey Road. evergreen-farms.com
Trail of Lights. 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 6 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, through Dec. 28. Free. EmilyAnn Theatre, 1101 Ranch Road 2325, Wimberley. emilyann.org
Mozart’s Christmas Light Show. 6 to 11 p.m. nightly through Jan. 1. Mozart’s Coffee Roasters at Oyster Landing, 3825 Lake Austin Blvd. mozartscoffee.com
Whole Foods Skating on the Plaza. Go ice skating 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. now through Jan. 15. Closed Christmas Day. $10 per person. Whole Foods Market, 525 N. Lamar Blvd. wholefoodsmarket.com
“The Elves and the Shoemaker.” For ages 5 and up. 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Twin Oaks Branch; 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Willie Mae Kirk; 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, St. John Branch, Thursday; 3:30 p.m. Friday, Old Quarry Branch.
Teddy Bear Tea. Tea, carolling and a reading of “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” with Santa. Bring an unwrapped new teddy bear to donate to Dell Children’s Medical Center. While you’re there, don’t miss the gingerbread village. $30-$45. Sunday and Saturday. Four Seasons Hotel Austin, 98 San Jacinto Blvd. Make reservations by calling 512-685-8300. fourseasons.com/austin
Winter Wonderland at the Circuit of the Americas. See lights, go skating, enter the petting zoo and Santa’s workshop and more. 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 30, including Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. $16, plus additional fees for some activities. circuitoftheamericas.com/winter-wonderland.
“A Christmas Carol.” 10 a.m. Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, through Dec. 17. $8-$10. EmilyAnn Theatre, 1101 Ranch Road 2325, Wimberley. emilyann.org/productions
Alamo Drafthouse PBS Kids Holiday Mix. 10 a.m. Sunday, Lakeline. drafthouse.com
“Junie B. Jones in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells.” Junie B. is ready to take on her nemesis May in this holiday story. 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Sunday and Saturday. $10-$15. Scottish Rite Theater, 207 W. 18th St. scottishritetheater.org
Elf Visit. 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. $10. Holiday Sing-along With Miss Ariel. 10:30 a.m. Friday. $10. Toybrary Austin, 2001 Justin Lane. toybraryaustin.com
Hideout Theatre Presents: “Monster Holidays.” 2 p.m. Sunday. $5. Hideout Theatre, 617 Congress Ave. hideouttheatre.org
Thinkery Gingerbread House Workshops. Traditional or Tot (ages 5 and younger) 9:30 a.m., 9:45 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 11 a.m., 2:45 p.m., 4 p.m., Sunday and Saturday. $12 per person plus $20 house kit. Gingerbread Art and Architecture for ages 7 and older. 10:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Sunday and Saturday. $12 per person plus $30 house kit. Candy Chemistry for ages 7 and older. Make candy to go on your house. 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday and Saturday. $12 per person plus $30 house kit. Thinkery, 1830 Simond Ave. thinkeryaustin.org
Gingerbread House Workshop at The Candy Jar. 3:30 p.m. Sunday and Saturday. $50 per house; children younger than 6 must have an adult with them. The Candy Jar, 12700 Hill Country Blvd. Suite 110. Register at thecandyjartx.com.
Meet & Greet with Santa. Come meet Santa at the Hill Country Galleria. Noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, 4 to 8 p.m. Monday-Friday, noon to 8 p.m. Saturday. Plus a synchronized tree lighting every half hour 5 to 10 p.m. daily. Hill Country Galleria, 12700 Hill Country Blvd. hillcountrygalleria.com
An Afternoon with Santa. Take photos, make crafts and eat cookies. 3 p.m. Sunday. Driskill Hotel, 604 Brazos St. driskillhotel.com.
Holiday Cookie Decorating Class. 6 p.m. Sunday, Windsor Park Branch.
Pictures with Santa + Crafts. 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Cepeda Branch of the Austin Public Library.
Holiday Movie: “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians.” 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Carver Branch.
The Carver’s Christmas Special. Celebrate Christmas with Santa at the Carver Museum. Noon to 3 p.m. Saturday. Carver Museum, 1165 Angelina St. austintexas.gov.
Cookies and Crafts. Get a picture with Santa, plus make crafts and enjoy cookies. 4-7 p.m. Wednesday. Catch Air Round Rock, 1401 S. Interstate 35 Frontage Road, Suite 130. Round Rock. 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Catch Air Austin, 13450 U.S. 183 Suite 107. Free with admission. catchairparty.com.
Theater
Zach Theatre presents “The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.” Head to Narnia in the C.S. Lewis tale. 11 a.m. Saturday. More shows through Feb. 10. $18-$24. Whisenhunt Stage, 1510 Toomey Road. zachtheatre.org
Museums
Zilker Botanical Garden. Story time in the Garden: Naked Trees and the Other Four Seasons. A bilingual story time. 10:30 a.m. Thursday. $1-$3. Zilker Botanical Garden. 2220 Barton Springs Road. austintexas.gov
Bullock Museum. Little Texans: Take Flight. 10 a.m. Thursday. Science Thursdays. 10 a.m. Thursday. Bullock Museum, 1800 N. Congress Ave. thestoryoftexas.com
Thinkery. Little Thinkers Club. Nature as Our Canvas! Make art inspired by nature. 9:45 a.m. for 1-year-olds, 10:45 a.m. for 2-year-olds. Wednesday. $20 per class, $140 for the series. Little Thinkers Club.Amazing Animals. Make art and do yoga inspired by animals. 9:45 a.m. for 2-year-olds, 10:45 a.m. for 3-year-olds, Friday. $20 per class, $140 for the series. Baby Bloomers. Learn all about winter. For infant to 3. 9 a.m. Mondays and Saturdays, except Christmas Day. Special guests throughout the month. $5. Thinkery, 1830 Simond Ave. thinkeryaustin.org
Hill Country Science Mill. Homeschool Day: Game Development. All day, Wednesday. Hill Country Science Mill, 101 Lady Bird Lane, Johnson City. sciencemill.org
Wildflower Center. Winter, Wonder, Land . Find out what happens to a garden in winter. $15 adults, $10 children. Noon-2 p.m. p.m. Saturday. $15. Wildflower Center, 4801 La Crosse Ave. wildflower.org
Toybrary Austin. Gardening class. 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays. Free. Date night babysitting. For ages 1-5. $25 first child, $10 siblings. 5-8 p.m. Saturdays. Toybrary Austin, 2001 Justin Lane. toybraryaustin.com
Books
BookPeople story times. 10:30 a.m. Tuesday HeartSong Music, 10:30 a.m. Wednesday Ms. Staci. 11:30 a.m. Saturday BookSpring story time. 12:30 p.m. Saturday Kids Book Club for ages 8-12. BookPeople, 603 N. Lamar Blvd. bookpeople.com
Barnes & Noble 1 1 a.m. Saturdays, story times at all locations: “River Rose and the Magical Christmas. ”
At the library
Bow Wow Reading with Bonnie. 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Yarborough Branch; Bow Wow Reading with George. 3:45 p.m. Wednesday, Pleasant Hill Branch.
The Contemporary Austin Presents: Glowing Aliens. For ages 3-5. 11 a.m. Tuesday, Hampton Branch; 11 a.m Wednesday, Old Quarry Branch; 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Twin Oaks Branch.
Music & Movement. 11 a.m. Monday, Pleasant Hill Branch; 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Manchaca Road Branch.
Austin Ukestra. 1 p.m. Sunday, Recycled Reads Bookstore.
Crafternoon. 3:30 p.m. Monday, Manchaca Road Branch; 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Howson Branch.
NBTween Book Club One Half from the East.” 4 p.m. Wednesday, Howson Branch.
Graphic Novel Book Club. “Identity Crisis,” 7 p.m. Thursday, Windsor Park Branch.
Teen Book Club. “The Upside of Unrequired,” 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Spicewood Springs Branch.
Night Builders: Family Lego Lab. 7 p.m. Thursday, Hampton Branch.
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