Are you looking to get out and explore what Austin, Texas, has to offer this holiday season? While we don’t typically see snow at all throughout the year, Austinites are still passionate about bringing some North Pole flare to the Central part of the state. Here are some of the essential ways to celebrate the Holidays out and about in Austin, Texas.

Dazzling Holiday Light Displays

Austin’s mild winter weather makes it the perfect place for a holiday stroll through a dazzling path of festive lights and decorations. The Austin Trail of Lights is a walk-thru experience like no other, held in Austin’s central and beloved Zilker Park, which is located a short 10-minute drive from Camden Gaines Ranch.

Zilker’s iconic green landscape is transformed from December 8-23 into a Winter Wonderland exhibiting more than 2 million lights, 90 lighted tree displays, and more than 70 other holiday displays and lighted tunnels for your viewing pleasure.

Looking for an experience where you can stay cozy in your car? Look no further than Peppermint Parkway, a drive-thru theatrical light and music holiday show hosted at Circuit of the Americas from until December 30.

If you’re the type of person who believes Christmas lights are best enjoyed with a steaming cup of decadent Hot Chocolate, I highly recommend snagging a reservation at Mozart’s Coffee Roasters for their Annual Holiday Lights show hosted on their gorgeous European-style patio that overlooks Lake Austin. Unlike some of its counterparts, Mozart’s Light Show runs until January 6, in case you can’t get enough of that holiday cheer.

Holiday Performances and Film Showings

Do you prefer to be entertained by holiday offerings in a cozy theater setting? Look no further than The Nutcracker, Performed by Ballet Austin with a live accompaniment from the Austin Symphony Orchestra till December 23 at The Long Center.

If you fancy a movie over a musical, the Paramount Theater will be showing classic holiday films through the month of December. Movie Talkers rejoice! Austin’s very own Alamo Drafthouse will be hosting holiday movie parties throughout December. Alamo’s Movie Parties are a unique re-watching experience for all your favorite Christmas Classics like Elf, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, and The Polar Express.

The Alamo Drafthouse Movie Party series encourages you to cheer for your heroes, boo the bad guys, shout out your favorite lines, and even sing along with the songs - all in a theater packed with fellow fans. Each ticket to a Movie Party also includes themed props to coordinate with the action on screen.

Photo courtesy of Camden Stoneleigh, near the Alamo Drafthouse!

Gift Shopping

One of my favorite ways to spread Holiday cheer is by buying gifts for my loved ones from local businesses. The Blue Genie Art Bazaar is an essential stop for holiday shopping in Austin. It is located a short 3-minute drive from Camden Lamar Heights. Open till December 24, Blue Genie Art Bazaar features over 200 artists and makers selling unique handmade products.

Austin is home to some of the most unique and long-standing businesses like BookPeople, Waterloo Records, and Uncommon Objects, which are also worthy of a detour. Prepare to be delighted by the selection of gifts you can bring to your loved ones this Holiday season.

Holiday-Themed Bars

Nothing will warm you up on a chilly Austin Night quite like a trip to one of the many bars that occupy the area, and Austin is no stranger to experiential bar settings. Austin is a place of holiday-themed bars a ‘plenty (and some of them are year-round.)

Head to the Warehouse District to see The Eleanor transformed into their holiday pop-up Miracle on 5th, complete with wall-to-wall Christmas-themed decorations and tasty and festive libations served in the most appropriately themed drinkware. The perfect place to gather a group of friends or colleagues and choose from ‘Naughty’ Or ‘Nice’ pre-made cocktails and shots. If you’re looking to try something tasty and unique, I highly recommend trying the Hot Buttered Rum.

If you are looking to skip hosting a Christmas party this holiday season, consider hosting your own holiday barhop with friends. Some other notable over-the-top Christmas pop-ups to check out are Gibson Street Bar, Sippin’ Santa at Nickel City, It’s Lit at Kitty Cohen’s.

Another festive favorite is Austin’s historic Driskill Hotel. Stop by for a sip in the swanky lobby bar, which features two seasonal cocktails. Be sure to wander through to the Christmas tree in the grand lobby for the ultimate experience.

Lastly, any guide to holiday bars in Austin would be incomplete without mentioning Lala’s Little Nugget. Lala’s is a Christmas-themed 1970s dive bar notable for sporting Christmas-themed décor year-round. Lastly, if you’d like to avoid having to Uber about the town, check out Austin’s Historic Rainey Street for a night out.

Rainey Street is ideal for checking out multiple establishments and is home to our Camden Rainey Street Community in downtown Austin. Rainey Street’s history as a bustling neighborhood of bungalow-style homes built around the turn of the 20th century makes decorating the front yard for the holidays non-negotiable.

Enjoy libations and a stroll through what feels like a Gingerbread Village this Holiday season. Love it so much you never want to leave? Check out availability for our luxury midrise community, Camden Rainey Street.

Now that you’ve danced and pranced through all of Austin’s best holiday festivities, you might be wishing you could bottle up all the Good Tidings and Cheer and bring it back to your Camden apartment home. Check out the following article for Tips on Decorating your apartment home with care for the Holidays.