It’s the most wonderful time of the year in Austin! The city has decked the halls with all things merry and bright giving it the most magical and nostalgic feeling that everyone loves. ‘Tis the season of dazzling decor, twinkling lights, cozy cocktails, and more. We’ve found some of our favorite frosty festivities taking place throughout the city, and we can assure you they’re all 100 percent Santa-approved!
Miracle on 5th Street
Miracle on 5th Street has been one of our go-to’s for the past several years! It’s a Christmas-themed pop-up cocktail bar that serves holiday cocktails in the most festive and nostalgic setting in the city. Featuring wall-to-wall Christmas decor, multiple bars, cheery social experiences, and a whole lot of Christmas spirits!
When: November 20th – December 27th
Where: The Eleanor, 307 W 5th Street, 78702
A Taste of Koko Holiday Pop-up
Jane Ko, the blogger behind Austin’s original food and lifestyle blog A Taste of Koko, is bringing back The Koko Holiday Pop-Up. The limited-time menu features fun, festive items including eggnog boba tea, frozen hot koko, peppermint bark bubble waffles with Amy’s Ice Cream, and Korean Army Stew, Japanese Sukiyaki, and Taiwanese Beef Noodles, with a full at-home hot pot setup for takeout orders.
When: Now through the end of the year
Where: 101 by Tea Haus, 6929 Airport Blvd. #132, 78752
Tea Haus – Riverplace, 10815 Ranch Road 2222 #207, 78730
Winter Wanderland At Austin Motel
Where: 1220 S. Congress Ave., 78704
Get Lit at Kitty Cohen’s
Get Lit is a Hanukkah pop-up at Kitty Cohen’s starting December 8th. Kitty Cohen’s decks the halls in all things blue and silver and serves up festive cocktails available by the glass or in punchbowl form so the whole crew can join in!
When: December 8th – 30th
Where: 2211 Webberville Rd., 78702
Peppermint Parkway at COTA
COTA is here to save Christmas with Peppermint Parkway, a holiday drive-thru extravaganza! Peppermint Parkway is a one-mile driving attraction that will immerse visitors in millions of holiday lights, décor pieces standing at over 30’ tall, a 6-story light show tree, and lots more. Tickets are $35 per vehicle, but they also upgrades if you wanna go all out.
When: November 27th – January 3rd
Where: COTA, 9201 Circuit of the Americas Blvd, 78617
Wonderbar
If you live for an Instagram moment, you’re no stranger to Wonderbar, the most picture perfect bar at the Domain. For the holiday season, they have decked out the entire bar turning it into a total winter WONDERland. Along with the over-the-top decor, you can also sip on their festive drinks like the Santa Claws!
When: Everyday through the holiday season
Where: 11500 Rock Rose Ave, 78758
The Trail of Lights
The 56th annual Austin Trail of Lights is returning to Zilker as a drive-thru event and will be extended by two whole weeks. Now you can see more than 2 million lights, 70 displays and lighted tunnels, and 90 lighted trees. Click here to purchase your vehicle pass, which range from $25-60 depending on which entry option you choose.
When: November 28th – January 3rd
Where: Zilker Park, 2100 Barton Springs Rd., 78704
Sippin’ Santa at Nickel City
Sippin’ Santa is a fun combo of tiki and Christmas. Imagine Santa on a surfboard instead of a sleigh and palm trees instead of pine. Sippin’ Santa started in New York and is now partnered with 27 locations across North America! Head over to Nickel City to experience the tropical tiki Christmas you’ve been missing. Parties of 6-10 can email events@nickelcityatx.com to guarantee entry for their group by reserving a table for 90 minutes.
When: November 27th – December 30th
Where: Nickel City, 1133 E. 11th Street, 78702
Mozart’s Christmas Light Show
Mozart’s Christmas light show, one of Austin’s best and most over-the-top holiday traditions, has tweaked its format to keep us all safe and merry this year. This year you can make a reservation between 6-11 p.m. and enjoy the show for a one-hour time slot. You can also preorder a Mozart’s At Your Table tray for parties of up six people:
- Bottomless Hot Chocolate & Bottomless Coffee
- Fresh-baked assortment of Mozart’s Best Brownies and Holiday Cookies
- Giant Bavarian Cinnamon Sugar & Salt Warm Pretzels
When: now through January 6th
Where: 3825 Lake Austin Blvd., 78703
Geraldine’s Presents: The South Pole
The South Pole is presented by Geraldine’s, and the event is being held in Hotel Van Zandt’s gigantic ballroom, featuring industrial grade air filtration, allowing guests to enjoy the company of others at a safe distance. Tickets to The South Pole will include a progressive cocktail tasting menu featuring four festive holiday cocktails per person, roving s’mores station that’s toasted table side, festive photo-ops, and more. Tickets are sold in pairs and start at $70.
When: Weekends, December 4th – 19th
Where: Kimpton Hotel Van Zandt, 605 Davis St., 78701
Blue Genie Art Bazaar
Blue Genie Art Bazaar is back for its 20th year in Austin and adapting its traditional holiday shopping experience to keep everyone safe and merry. Along with expanding its run by two additional weeks, you can shop the bazaar online and in-person this year!
When: November 13th – December 24th
Where: 6100 Airport Blvd., 78742
The Naughty List at Old Thousand
Old Thousand made a list, checked it twice, and it’s up to you to decide if their new holiday cocktails are naughty or nice! Their Naughty List menu consists of five new festive cocktails utilizing all the traditional and beloved Christmas flavors in exciting and creative new ways. Our favorite is the Under The Mistletoe made with Finlandia vodka, peppermint schnapps, cranberry shrub, lemon, rosé, and bitters.
When: December 5th through the end of the year
Where: 1000 E. 11th St., 78702
East Austin Hotel
Head over to the East Austin Hotel at both @SixthandWaller and @TheUpsideBar for holiday cheer and festive sips. Treat yo’Elf downstairs in their Gnome for the Holidays pop-up, or head Up on the Rooftop and snuggle up over s’mores as you watch a Christmas film on the big screen.
When: Now through the end of the year
Where: 1108 E. 6th St., 78702
Downtown Holiday Stroll
The Downtown Holiday Stroll is full of free, family-friendly activities that take place throughout downtown and include a holiday shopping experience, curated weekend artisan markets, photo opportunities, pop-up activations, holiday-themed window displays, and the signature 45-foot holiday tree located in front of the Capitol at 11th Street and Congress Avenue.
When: Now through the end of the year
Where: Downtown ATX
Gibson Wonderland
The halls are decked, mistletoe is hung, and we’re walking in a Gibson Wonderland all December long! Rock around the Christmas Tree, then Sleigh All Day while sippin’ on Gibson Street Bar’s Festive Cocktails and snappin’ your holiday photo in their very own Gibson Sleigh!
When: Now through the end of the year
Where: 1109 S. Lamar, 78704
Holiday Movies at Blue Starlite Drive-In
Blue Starlite Drive-In‘s holiday movie schedule is here and headlining it is Tenet as well as over a dozen of everyone’s beloved holiday pop culture classics! They have locations in Mueller and downtown, and movies stream every night of the week.
When: now – January 14th
Where: Mueller – 2015 E M. Franklin Ave., 78723
Downtown – 300 San Antonio St., 78701
Snow Much Fun On Congress – JW Marriot Austin
Grab your festive friends because Snow Much Fun On Congress is back at The Edge Rooftop! They’ll have snowfall every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights starting at 6 p.m. with holiday cocktails and live music. Reservations are required.
When: Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights through December 26th
Where: 110 E. 2nd St., 78701
Lala’s Little Nugget
With the halls decked with boughs of holly year round, Santa and his reindeer perched on the roof and generations of Christmas memorabilia, Lala’s Little Nugget is a North Pole oasis in Central Texas. They’ve got quite the selection of both cold and warm cocktails, and have happy hour on weekdays from 4–7 p.m.
When: All year round
Where: 2207 Justin Ln., 78757
