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.’
Each December, design students from local colleges compete for scholarships in the Holiday Window Walk. The students work with businesses in the 2nd Street District to create holiday-themed window displays. Although the competition is now over, the decorations will remain up until after the holidays.
The Holiday Sing-along and Downtown Stroll is an annual tradition held at the Texas State Capitol. This free event follows the same basic pattern each year: local NPR/KUT host John Aielli leads the crowd in singing seasonal songs, the Capitol Christmas Tree is lit, and the crowd wanders down Congress Avenue.