O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Your candles shine out brightly.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Your candles shine out brightly.
Each bough does hold its tiny light
That makes each toy to sparkle bright.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Your candles shine out brightly.
A large crowd gathered on the south steps of the Texas State Capitol on Monday to hear Tuba Christmas Austin. This annual event featured the often-forgotten low brass instruments—euphoniums, tubas, and sousaphones—playing well-known Christmas songs. One of the conductors announced that a total of 225 musicians had registered to play in the hour-long concert.
Wild, Wild West was the theme of this year’s gingerbread village in the Four Seasons Austin. The village was created by the hotel’s pastry chefs and set up in the front lobby. Proceeds benefited the Seton Shivers Cancer Center.
Unseasonably warm weather contributed to a large turnout for this year’s Holiday Sing-Along. Several thousand carolers of all ages gathered on the south lawn of the Texas State Capitol to sing secular and religious songs of the season. The event was free, although attendees were urged to bring canned goods for the Capital Area Food Bank.
Over 200 merchants filled the Palmer Events Center for last weekend’s A Christmas Affair. This annual Christmas market was sponsored by the Junior League of Austin. This year’s theme was ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas in Texas—Y’All (pronounced with a Texas twang). Proceeds from this popular event benefited 32 local non-profits.
Toy Joy is a fun place to visit any time of the year, but I especially like to go to this Second Street toy store during the holiday season. This year, this was my go-to store for stocking stuffers. And they definitely had the most unusual Christmas trees in town.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
You set my heart a-singing.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
You set my heart a-singing.
Like little stars, your candles bright,
Send to the world a wondrous light,
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
You set my heart a-singing.
The often-neglected low brass instruments took center stage at Monday’s Austin Tuba Christmas, held on the south steps of the Texas State Capitol. Over 100 tuba, euphoniums and sousaphone players played holiday songs in the hour-long concert.
The Armadillo Christmas Bazaar is a long-time Austin tradition that started in 1976 at the Armadillo World Headquarters, a music hall in south Austin. The ‘Dillo was torn down in 1980 (for good reason, I’ve heard), but the legend lives on in the lore of the city. The Christmas Bazaar has been held at several venues since then, but seems to have settled at the Palmer Events Center for the past few years.
‘I know just the twosome to find my father, the missing King,’ says Princess Lolly, of the Lollipop Woods. In a voice as light and airy as the fluffiest marshmallow, she says, ‘They’re the Candy Land Kids… courageous, clever, and ever so determined.’