It's the weekend! You've worked hard to get to this point, so you deserve to play hard, too. We've curated our favorite events happening around Austin for the next few days, from pop-ups to festivals to grand openings—all you have to do is round up your crew. Have a great weekend, y'all!
Fri 1
Winter Wonderland at Circuit of the Americas
Winter Wonderland premiers at Circuit of the Americas on December 1, and it has everything: A petting zoo. Holiday movies on the lawn. A walking light trail. A human snow globe. Santa's workshop. A tunnel of lights. Did we mention the lights? Yeah, there's approximately one million of them. Ticket prices start at $16, but you can also add experiences to your package, like a hot air balloon ride, skating on a giant ice skating rink, camel rides and photos with Santa Claus. Fri & Sat at 6pm
Saturnalia Festival
In ancient Rome, Saturnalia was celebrated as a holiday to reject all forms of work. Take a cue and play hooky on the first Friday of December so you can attend all three official days of the fest. The roster features some seriously top-notch talent, both local (Golden Dawn Arkestra, Octopus Project, American Sharks, etc.) and from afar (Allah-Las, Morgan Delt and Cosmonauts, among others). Fri-Sun at various times
Sat 2
25th Art from the Streets Show
Back for a 25th year, AFTS’s popular and impactful holiday show sells artwork by homeless and at-risk artists. Sat at 11am
German-Texan Holiday Market
Apple cider, nutcrackers and glühwein (for the uninitiated, that’s hot spiced wine)—entice Austinites at the German-Texan Christmas Market, an annual tradition organized by the German-Texan Heritage Society. Pretend you’re strolling along the cobbled streets of Munich as you listen to German Christmas music and peruse handcrafted wares. Sat at 11am
Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting
Join 20,000 of your closest friends at the Capitol for an evening that starts with a special night market and a sing-along and ends witha downtown stroll. Watch the Capitol Christmas Tree illuminate, then enjoy dance performances, live music and carnival games as the festive spirit settles over Congress Avenue. Sat at 5pm
Sun 3
Parade
Catch the last night of this contemporary dance performance by the Kathy Dunn Hamrick Dance Company held at a discount furniture store in South Austin. Audiences can expect highly athletic, explosive dancing by a company of nine exceptional professional modern dancers. Sat at 11am