Uncategorized - December 20, 2017

Weekend Top 10 Events: December 22-24, 2017

0 comments

Take a break from the holiday bustle with some fun, FREE (and nearly free) events in Austin! You still have several chances to take the kids to see Santa and enjoy free treats! Plus, you can wrap up your holiday shopping at a unique Austin shopping event, catch an outdoor holiday movie, enjoy a special symphony performance, geek out on anime, and more! Check out our calendar for even more FREE fun.

Weekend Top 10 FREE Events: December 22-24, 2017

  1. Storytime with Santa ($2)
    Friday, Dec. 22 | at 10:30 a.m. | Northwest Recreation Center, 2913 Northland Dr
    It’s that time of year again! Put on your favorite holiday pajamas and come visit Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Northwest Recreation Center for a special reading of “The Polar Express”. There will be a hot cocoa bar, cookie decorating station, photos with Santa and a chance to send your Christmas list to the North Pole!
  2. Cocoa with Santa
    Friday, Dec. 22 | from 1 to 3 p.m. | Southeast Health and Wellness Center, 2901 Montopolis
    Come to the Central Health Southeast Health and Wellness Center for free cookies, hot cocoa, apple cider, crafts, raffles, and photos with a bilingual (English/Spanish) Santa. For more information call 512.978.9807. FREE!
  3. Blue Genie Art Bazaar 2017 – Last Weekend!
    Friday-Sunday, Dec. 22-24| from 10 a.m to 10 p.m. | Blue Genie Art Bazaar, 6100 Airport Blvd.
    The Blue Genie Art Bazaar is a fixture of the Austin holiday shopping season, open every year from Black Friday to Christmas Eve. The Bazaar features unique work from over 200 local and regional artists – with a portion of proceeds going to Make-A-Wish®. Parking and admission are always FREE of charge.
  4. Friday Family Movies @ Ski Shores Cafe
    Friday, December 22 | at 5:30 p.m. | Ski Shores Cafe, 2905 Pearce Rd
    Bring the clan and head over to Ski Shores Cafe for Friday Family Movie nights! The film will start at dusk and you can have FREE s’mores by the fire! What better way to celebrate the end of your work week than an evening by the lake with loved ones, movies, food and beverages? This week: Flubber. *Note: Ski Shores will be open on days when it is above 60 degrees and dry (closed otherwise).
  5. Mozart’s Christmas Light Show
    Fri-Sun, Dec. 22-24 | from 6 to 10 p.m. | Mozart’s Coffee Roasters, 3825 Lake Austin Blvd
    Thousands of dazzling lights have been sculpted into giant iconic objects, custom-made in Greece, that evoke Austin’s culture and the Christmas season, including a dozen guitars, the State Capitol, and a tree filled with presents, plus, an audio-activated wall of lights. Thousands of other lights will be imaginatively strung in the trees, facades, and rooflines. All will be placed around Mozart’s lakeside deck. For refreshment, Mozart’s acclaimed coffee and hot chocolate can be purchased inside the coffee house and at kiosks outdoors. Special holiday goodies from Mozart’s bakery will also be available. High Points of the Show/Timing: The exhilarating high points of the show, super light-ups and live choral singing, will be spaced throughout the entire evening. Families can relax and arrive at any time to get their over-the-top dose of Christmas magic. Show is FREE!
  6. Dads and Donuts
    Saturday, Dec. 23 | at 10:30 a.m. | Lake Travis Community Library, 1938 Lohmans Crossing
    Come for a story time, craft, and donuts provided by Shipley Do-Nuts! The whole family is welcome! FREE!
  7. TubaChristmas at the Capitol
    Saturday, Dec. 23 | at noon | Texas State Capitol, 1100 Congress Ave
    Be a part of a fun Christmas tradition! 200 tuba players performing Christmas carols on the south steps of the Texas Capitol. FREE!
  8. Anime Afternoons
    Saturday, December 23 | at 3 p.m. | Barrel O’ Fun, 1911 Aldrich St, Ste 120
    Stop by Barrel of Fun, where they are mashing up Anime favorites with crafts and activities from Colony Drop Cosplay and Texas Anime, and trivia with Alamo prizes and special surprises. They’ll also have some hands on activities for our younger Anime fans. It’s Austin’s moment to dress up and geek out over giant robots, fantasy, and high-speed fun. Dancing optional, COStumes welcome. This family-friendly event is FREE!
  9. Christmas in the Community with the Austin Symphony Orchestra
    Saturday, Dec. 23 | at 6 p.m. | APL – New Central Library, 710 W. Cesar Chavez St
    The Austin Symphony is once again bringing FREE music to all Austinites this holiday season. Christmas in the Community is a series of concerts held throughout the city of Austin featuring different ensembles of the orchestra playing familiar holiday music.
  10. Movie Night at the Trail of Lights
    Saturday, December 23 | at 7 p.m. | Zilker Park, 2400 Barton Springs Rd
    Grab a bag of kettle corn, bundle up, bring a blanket and enjoy holiday movies under the stars and lights in Austin’s beloved Zilker Park. Prep & Landing – 7 p.m., Elf – 8 p.m. This night’s general admission is FREE and open to the public, but you may also purchase ZIP Fast Passes or Platinum Passes for a premium Movie Night experience. Don’t forget to purchase limited nearby parking early or shuttle passes. This event was rescheduled from Dec. 19.

Bonus Nearly FREE Fun:

  • Armadillo Christmas Bazaar ($8 for adults, kids FREE)
    December 14-24 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. |   Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Rd., Austin
    Hot music, fine art, and cold beer make the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar the place where Austin shops in the giving season. The show is actually two events in one: an art fair and music festival with a vibrant community-driven vibe. Visitors can explore an amazing array of handmade items from 160+ artists while enjoying live local music and sips from a full bar. It all adds up to a fun authentic Austin experience. Food and drink from open to close. $8 for a single day pass; kids 12 and under are free. Check out this amazing lineup of live music this weekend, including Shelley King, Asleep at the Wheel, Nakia, the Peterson Brothers, and more! Get your tickets here.

Bonus FREE Fun Near Austin:

  • 5th Annual Holiday Model Train Show (Round Rock)
    Friday-Sunday, Dec. 22-24 | hours vary | ArtSpace, 231 E Main St, Round Rock
    Visit a dynamic train display replete with a Harry Potter scene, a 1950s city with a trolley weaving through its downtown that is filled with vintage cars, a farm, amusement park, mountain range where Boy Scouts are on an outing, an old train depot, and even a water tower, just like Round Rock! For a donation to the Tinplate Trackers, you can be a “junior engineer” and operate the train controls, many of which have different speeds and audio components (bells, engineer’s commands, etc). Additionally, raffle tickets are available for purchase to enter to win a Thomas the Train set. To add an interactive component for children and families, they are also offering “ArtSpace Activity Booklets,” containing the ever popular scavenger hunt. FREE!
  • Christmas Cookie Crawl (Bastrop)
    Saturday, Dec. 23 | from 1-4 p.m. | Downtown Bastrop,904 Main St, Bastrop
    Downtown merchants will be hosting the inaugural Lost Pines Cookie Crawl, baking up the most delicious treats for jolly old Saint Nick. Sample dozens of cookies at various locations. Pictures with Santa will also be available until the cookies run out. FREE admission and family-friendly!

Love These Free Austin Events? You May Also Be Interested In:

Tags: