AUSTIN, TX - While our neighbors to the north dig their cars out of snow banks and bundle up to head outside, Austin prepares for a warm winter of exciting events, both indoors and out. Children spin beneath a 155-foot tree of lights; sports buffs cheer the Austin Toros; friends sing along with the Austin Symphony; and families revel in a New Year’s Eve street festival. Contact the Austin Convention & Visitor’s Bureau at (512) 478-0098 or (866) GO-AUSTIN for more information. Details are also available at www.austintexas.org. All listed events are subject to change. DECEMBER 12/1-12/31 37th Street Lights 37th Street Neighborhood Local residents string up lights to create a funky holiday display along 37th Street from Guadalupe Street to Home Lane in one of Austin’s most unique Christmas traditions. http://texaslesstraveled.com/37thstreet.htm 12/1 Sweet Honey in the Rock Paramount Theatre Six African-American women join their powerful voices to create a narrative that shares history, encourages activism and praises life. Their harmonies mix gospel, blues and jazz. 512-472-5470 www.austintheatre.org 12/1-12/2 Austin Symphony “Young at Heart” Bass Concert Hall Acclaimed pianist Anton Nel performs "Variations on a Nursery Song" by Dohnányi. Also featured are Benjamin Britten's "Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra" and Beethoven’s “Symphony #2.” 512-476-6064 www.austinsymphony.org 12/2 Hot Art, Hip Kids Blanton Museum of Art The Blanton's new program for children (ages 6-12) encourages them to experience and learn about works of art. Each session includes games, a hands-on studio activity, interactive stations and special family-oriented performers such as dancers, singers or storytellers. 512-471-7324 www.blantonmuseum.org 12/2 Texas State Capitol Tree Lighting/KUT Holiday Stroll Texas State Capitol Grounds Thousands of people surround thousands of lights on a 550-foot tree to kick off the “official” holiday season outside the State Capitol. John Aielli, host of local NPR affiliate KUT’s “Eklektikos,” leads the group in traditional carols. Participants are encouraged to place food donations at the base of the tree to benefit the Capital Area Food Bank. www.capitol.state.tx.us 12/3-12/31 Trail of Lights and Zilker Christmas Tree Zilker Park This month-long holiday festival begins with lighting of the Zilker Tree on December 3. The pedestrian Trail of Lights transforms a mile-long stretch of Zilker Park into a wonderland of lights starting December 11. 512-974-6700 www.cityofaustin.org/parks 12/8-12/10 Luminations: A Winter Celebration Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center glows with soft light from thousands of luminarias, torches, and lanterns as music fills the night air. Children’s activities include storytellers, holiday crafts in the Little House and photos with Frosty the Snowman. The gift shop remains open for holiday shopping. 512-292-4200 www.wildflower.org 12/8-12/24 Armadillo Christmas Bazaar Austin Music Hall This uniquely Austin holiday tradition offers a wide variety of distinctive gift items in every price range. Shoppers browse among jewelry, fabrics, handmade goods, blown glass, paintings and prints from numerous artists. An incredible schedule of live music is provided by local musicians. 512-4471605 www.armadillobazaar.com 12/9-12/23 Ballet Austin presents The Nutcracker Bass Concert Hall Choreographed by Stephen Mills and set to Tchaikovsky’s timeless score, “The Nutcracker” pairs dance with live accompaniment by the Austin Symphony Orchestra. Audiences are captivated by an evening of magic and merriment with Clara and her friends. 512-469-SHOW www.balletaustin.org 12/12 Austin Symphony presents Handel’s Messiah Riverbend Centre Austin Symphony teams up with Chorus Austin to present Handel’s immortal masterpiece and ring in the holiday season. 512-476-6064 www.austinsymphony.org 12/14 Scottish Christmas with Bonnie Rideout Paramount Theatre Celebrate the holidays with traditional Scottish music and caroling tunes. Traditional dancers add grace and excitement. 512-472-5470 www.austintheatre.org 12/17 Jingle Bell 5K Auditorium Shores Bell-clad runners jingle along their course during this popular family-friendly fun run. The event also features photos with Santa, games and costume contests for people and pets. 800-777-6233 www.runtex.com 12/19 Austin Symphony’s Christmas Sing-a-long Riverbend Centre Austin Symphony invites families and friends to sing holiday favorites with a full orchestra. The concert is free, but tickets are still required. 512-476-6064 www.austinsymphony.org 12/20 and 12/27 Holiday Favorites in the Museum Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum Local musicians perform holiday favorites in museum galleries while guests browse among Miss Ima's Quilts, an exhibit showcasing American tradition through the elaborate quilting of Miss Ima Hogg. 512-936-8746 www.thestoryoftexas.com 12/30-12/31 Holiday Pops with The Association Palmer Events Center One of the most successful bands of the Sixties, The Association earned six gold discs and one platinum with such hits as "Never My Love," "Windy" and "Cherish." Austin Symphony conductor Peter Bay leads the performance. 512-476-6064 www.austinsymphony.org 12/31 First Night Austin Downtown This family-friendly and alcohol-free New Year's Eve festival revives the ancient tradition of marking the passage of time with art, ritual and festivity. The city’s plazas, storefronts and parks serve as a background for dance, music, film/video, poetry and visual art. 512-476-5577 www.firstnightaustin.org JANUARY 1/19-1/29 Waiting for the Barbarians Bass Concert Hall Austin Lyric Opera presents the second of three shows in its 20th anniversary season. Waiting for the Barbarians is a dramatic allegory based on the novel by Nobel prize-winning South African author John Maxwell Coetzee, with music by minimalist Philip Glass. 800-31-OPERA www.austinlyricopera.org 1/21 Roald Dahl’s Willie Wonka Paramount Theatre Join Willy Wonka and his band of Oompa Loompas as they lead Charlie and the other golden ticket holders through a labyrinth of lemon drops, life lessons and giggles galore. Live actors, puppets and songs make this a scrumptious musical treat for the entire family. 512-472-5470 www.austintheatre.org Opening 1/30 The American Twenties UT Harry Ransom Humanities Resource Center The Center commemorates its 50th anniversary year with the opening of this 1920s retrospective, one of many programs planned in a year dedicated to "Celebrating the Imagination." The exhibition explores race, religion, capitalism, love and modernism in the decade immediately following World War I through contemporary literature and art. 512-471-8944 www.hrc.utexas.edu FEBRUARY 2/2-2/3 Man of La Mancha Paramount Theatre Don Quixote returns to the stage in this new production featuring the classic song “The Impossible Dream.” Man of La Mancha won five Tony awards, including Best Musical, and ran for nearly six years on Broadway. 512-472-5470 www.austintheatre.org 2/3 Carnaval Brasileiro Palmer Events Center In the tradition of Brazil’s Carnaval celebration, this festival returns for its 30th year of samba music, elaborate costumes, dancing and uninhibited revelry. Renowned performers Grupo Saveiro, Kenia and Acadêmicos da Opera provide musical highlights. www.sambaparty.com Opening 2/15 Disney’s The Lion King UT Performing Arts Center The animal kingdom comes to life in a spectacular production of Disney’s classic coming-of-age tale. Highlights of the show include elaborate costumes and an Oscar® winning score by Elton John and Tim Rice. 512-471-1444 www.utpac.org 2/15-2/18 Ballet Austin presents Director’s Choice/Golden Paramount Theatre Artistic director Stephen Mills presents the spirited and compelling “The Golden Section” by Twyla Tharp in conjunction with other works, including one by Ballet Austin’s own Gina Patterson. The performance is a collaborative piece between Tharp and the musical work of David Byrne, formerly of The Talking Heads. 512-476-2163 www.balletaustin.org 2/16-2/18 Austin Marathon Downtown Austin More than 10,000 runners participate in this annual event, which includes a full marathon, a half marathon and social events throughout the weekend. 512-478-4865 www.austinmarathonfoundation.org 2/20 Kodo Drummers Paramount Theatre This celebrated Japanese ensemble utilizes drums of all sizes, including a 900 lb. Odaiko, as dancers perform in rhythm with athletic pageantry. www.austintheatre.org ONGOING East End Fourth Fridays East 11th Street DiverseArts presents this festival on the fourth Friday of each month. Guests mingle among vendors and community organization booths while enjoying food from local eateries and live music. 512-477-9438 www.diversearts.org First Thursday South Congress Avenue Merchants of the historic, pedestrian-friendly strip keep their doors open until 10 p.m. with music, arts, crafts and food vendors creating a street-party atmosphere on the first Thursday of every month. www.firstthursday.info 9/22/06-5/28/07 Power to the People: The Rural Electrification of Texas LBJ Library and Museum Walk into a world before television, computers, the iPod, even refrigerators and running water. This exhibit recounts the unique story of then-Congressman Lyndon Baines Johnson’s campaign to bring power to rural Texas in the 1930s. Lady Bird Johnson narrates home movies from the era in one exhibit highlight. 512-721-2000 www.lbjlib.utexas.edu 11/24/06-5/14/07 Austin Toros Basketball Austin Convention Center The Austin Toros take on teams from Sioux Falls, Tulsa, Fort Worth and other NBA Development League cities. The 2006-2007 season features 24 home games with 19 convenient weekend dates. www.nba.com/dleague/austin/ 10/21/06-3/25/07 Austin Ice Bats Hockey Chaparral Ice Arena The Ice Bats skate into the new season with games against Arizona, Lubbock and Grand Valley, among others. The 64-game season includes 32 home games. 512-927-PUCK www.icebats.com LAST CHANCE Through 12/31 Norman Mailer Takes on America UT Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center Drawing on the recently acquired Norman Mailer archive, this exhibition details the career of Norman Mailer and traces the central role he plays in our understanding of the "shocks of history, politics, and contemporary life" that reshaped the last half of the twentieth century. 512-471-8944 www.hrc.utexas.edu Through 1/1/07 Luca Cambiaso Blanton Museum of Art Luca Cambiaso is known as the first great "modern" artist in Genoa. His works inspired innovation and influence throughout Italy in the early 18th century. This is the first exhibition of Cambiaso's work in 50 years and the first presentation ever outside of Italy’s coastal Liguria area. 512-471-7324 www.blantonmuseum.org