Take a weekend trip to Austin during the holiday season to discover live music, unique boutiques and theatrical performances. The Zilker Park Trail of Lights features 43 sparkling scenes stretching more than a mile and leads to the 155-foot tall Zilker Tree.

The Zachary Scott Theatre presents three special shows for the holidays; Plaid Tidings, The Santaland Diaries and Rockin' Christmas Party run from November 23-January 6. Ballet Austin's The Nutcracker brings the magical tale of Clara to life, December 1-23.

Looking for the perfect gift? Round Rock Premium Outlets boasts more than 100 stores and special holiday sales from Calvin Klein, Swarovski, Zales, Bose and more. Or check out South Congress Avenue for local art, music, fashion and food. The 2nd Street District and The Domain offer upscale shopping and dining.

Families can enjoy First Night Austin on New Years Eve. This alcohol-free event provides an artsy alternative to late-night revelry and marks the passage of time with art, dance, theatre and live music.
Top Picks: Austin's Sounds of the Season

Pick up your copy of "Happy Holidays from Austin, TX," a unique collection of holidays hits from the Live Music Capital of the World®. Presented in holiday card format, the CD celebrates the season with tracks such as "Give You My Gift" (Asleep at the Wheel), "Feliz Navidad" (Vallejo), "Kwanzaa Time" (Chandra Washington) and more.

CDs are $9.99 at the Austin Visitor Center and Waterloo Records. Call 866-GO-AUSTIN to order the CD by phone.

Austin Keeps it Weird

It wouldn't be the holidays in Austin without shopping and theatre that remain just a little bit "weird."

From November 29- December 15, the Mexican American Cultural Center presents La Pastorela, the story of a shepherd's quest to visit newborn Jesus, and the "devils" that tempt him along the way. Esther's Follies brings humor to dysfunctional holidays with special Christmas and New Year's Eve shows. The elaborate lighting displays that decorate the homes on 37th Street add a funky, twinkling twist to the holiday season through January 1. Enjoy a leisurely walk down 37th Street from Guadalupe Street to Home Lane to get the full effect. The Armadillo Christmas Bazaar features art, crafts and gifts from local vendors and artists, December 14-24. Shoppers are serenaded by rock and blues from Austin musicians.

A Holiday from the Holidays
Had your fill of festivity? Austin offers an array of experiences to help alleviate the holiday blahs. Austin Museum of Art showcases prints by Roy Lichtenstein, one of America's most celebrated innovators of pop art, from November 17-February 3. Or to get some fresh air, don your skates and hit the ice at Whole Foods Market Ice Rink. You won't spend all of your time hooked on the railing—skating lessons are available at the downtown location at Sixth and Lamar through January 1.

If the best things come in small packages, families will certainly enjoy the Austin Children's Museum's It's a Nano World exhibit, which runs through Jan. 13. Get a close-up view of common objects with hands-on activities and tools scientists use to see the microscopic world. Or stop by the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum to view rare portraits of Native Americans transitioning to life on the reservation. In Citizen's Garb: Southern Plains Native Americans, 1889-1891 also showcases Native American artifacts.



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starCALENDAR OF EVENTS

Ballet Austin's
The Nutcracker
Dec. 1-23
Paramount Theatre
Ballet Austin and the Austin Symphony Orchestra present the holiday classic.

Zilker Park Tree
and Trail of Lights
Dec. 9-31, Zilker Park
The 43 lit scenes stretching one mile, begins with an annual tree-lighting ceremony on the first Sunday in December.

Armadillo Christmas Bazaar
Dec. 14-24
Austin Convention Center
The Austin twist on Christmas shopping features distinctive jewelry, art, handmade goods, and prints as well as live music performances.

First Night Austin
Dec. 31, Downtown
An entirely new way to welcome the new year. A festival of art, imagination and creativity spreads across downtown Austin.

Martin Luther King Jr. March and Festival
Jan. 21, 900 Chicon St.
More than 10,000 march to the historic campus of Huston-Tillotson University for an outdoor festival.

Carnaval Brasileiro
Feb. 2, Palmer Event Center
Flamboyant costumes, Brazilian samba music and a spirited atmosphere make Austin's Carnaval one of the biggest parties of the year.