Needing a day or night out without the kids? You’ve come to the right place. Here are the best FREE date nights and day events in Austin this week.
Tuesday, December 10 through Monday, December 16
Tuesday
December in the District
Tuesday, December 10 | All Day | 2ND Street District, Downtown Austin
2ND Street District (2SD) is excited to welcome back “December in the District.” Starting on December 2, visitors can watch the storefronts of 2ND Street District businesses transform into decorative holiday scenes during the ninth annual Holiday Window Walk. Whether heading to 2ND Street District for a bite to eat or holiday shopping, visitors can enjoy the festive installations, all while supporting the Austin community. Visit the district and vote for your favorite window display on the 2ND Street District Facebook page.
Wednesday
Trail of Lights “Heroes Night”
Wednesday, December 11 | from 7 to 10 p.m. | Zilker Park, 2100 Barton Springs Road
This is one of the free admission nights at Trail of Lights. They will be honoring veterans, active military, and first responders (police, fire, EMS) at the annual Heroes Night, presented by Humana. Heroes Night provides an extra special opportunity to recognize, honor and thank the hundreds and thousands of military, first responders, and veterans for their countless hours and dedication to our communities and nation. Guests and their families will have the opportunity to write “letters to Heroes” and join other activities to pay tribute to first responders’ service.
Thursday
Tree Lighting Picnic, S’mores, and Caroling
Thursday, December 12 | from 4 to 8 p.m. | The Wayback, 9601 Bee Cave Road
The Wayback will have picnic dinners available for purchase. Sit by the outdoor fire and roast s’mores with the entire family. The West Ridge Middle School Choir will perform at 5:30 on the lawn.
Friday
Community First! Village of Lights
Friday, December 13 | from 5:30 to 9 p.m. | Community First! Village, 9301 Hog Road
This FREE event boasts more than 250,000 lights choreographed to holiday music and is one of the biggest Christmas light displays in Central Texas! Santa will make an early visit and be available for family photos. Our Advent Market offers unique, handcrafted gifts made by formerly homeless artists and makers who live in Community First! Village. Classic Christmas movies will be featured each night at the Community Cinema.
Candy Cane Crawl
Friday, December 13 | from 6 to 7 p.m. | Mueller, 1911 Aldrich Street
This free, holiday event will feature: caroling from the Mueller Community Singers, hot chocolate, holiday photos opportunities, class pack specials from barre3, chair massages and skin mapping from Massage Heights, and 15% off all holiday decor items Lilla & Beth. There will also be a Flashlight Candy Cane Hunt. The hunt will be begin at 7 p.m.. and end at 7:15 p.m. Flashlights will be provided. There will be prizes for the person that finds the most candy canes and for the three people that find the candy-filled candy canes. Holiday costumes are encouraged!
Saturday
The Domain Light Shows & Carolers
Saturday, December 14 | from 2 to 9 p.m. | 11410 Century Oaks Terrace
Not only does The Domain have tons of great shopping for the holidays, but they go all out on their decor. There’s 10 minute nightly light shows in between Dick’s Sporting Goods and Dillards with more than 82,000 lights. Or, visit the Century Oaks Park or the lawn to hear Christmas carolers on the weekends in December. Lastly, the lawn at The Domain will have free holiday crafts and story time for kids on December 7, 14, and 21.
Lighted Christmas Parade (Bastrop)
Saturday, December 14 | from 6 to 8 p.m. | Historic Main Street, Bastrop
Bastrop’s fanciful, fantastic, fun—and even famous—annual Lost Pines Christmas Parade will light up the night skies as it makes its way down Main Street on Saturday, December 14th. If you were in on the fun last year, you know first-hand it’s an experience not to be missed…or—if you were a participant—it’s not too early to gear up for this year’s fun. If you missed last year, we’ve got an experience that you, your family and your friends will remember for a lifetime. It’s Bastrop’s famous Lighted Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 14, 2019, an absolute highpoint of the Lost Pines Christmas season. More than 100 entries—from fanciful floats to fire trucks, from Honey Bears to longhorns, from Santa’s helpers to the man himself—will light up the Main Street night for this joyful Bastrop tradition, produced by the Bastrop Downtown Business Alliance and the City of Bastrop. With festive lights blazing and music in the air, this year’s parade taps your vision—celebrating the message, magic and memory of Christmas through your eyes: what Christmas means to you. Sugarplums and sparkles, sights and sounds, cherished moments of Christmas past, or bright hopes for the future, it’s yours to express.
Sunday
Handmade Holiday Market at Lady Quacks
Sunday, December 15 | from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. |Lady Quackenbush’s Cakery, 1900 Simond Avenue
This outdoor market, adjacent to the bakery, will feature local handmade and vintage vendors. $2 mimosas and tasty treats – what more could you want while shopping.
Trail of Lights (Buda)
Sunday, December 15 | from 6 to 10 p.m. | Historic Stagecoach Park, 880 Main Street, Buda
Trail of Lights at Stagecoach Park opens to the public on Friday, December 6 and is open Fridays through Sundays. Trail of Lights is a free holiday event that features lighted and decorated displays that are provided by local businesses and organizations. Visitors are able to walk the lighted trail in the park to view the dazzling exhibits, sip hot chocolate, and meet Santa himself.
Easy Tiger Winter Movie Series
Sunday, December 15 | from 8 to 10:30 p.m. | Easy Tiger, 709 East 6th Street
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Join for free holiday movies featuring your favorite seasonal films. Round up your elves for drinks & desserts in the Beer Garden – all movies start promptly at 8 p.m. Arrive early for good seats! December 15 movie is National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.
Monday
Intro to Meditation
Monday, December 16 | from 7:15 to 8:15 p.m. | Life in the City, 205 East Monroe Street
Intro to Meditation is a guided meditation practice for all levels of meditation experience. Time will be dedicated to gentle stretching, breathing exercises, a guided meditation practice, and time in silence. This class is great for people who have been interested in meditation but haven’t had much experience or those who would like to practice in a group setting. Please allow some time for parking. Parking is in the neighborhood and is allowed unless indicated by a posted sign. No registration required. Any schedule changes will be posted at www.rootedmindbody.com.
Check out the Free Fun Calendar for more date nights and other ways to fill your week with fun Austin events.
