Classic Fairy Tales is the theme of this year’s Gingerbread Village at the downtown Four Seasons. This yearly tradition is created by the hotel’s pastry chefs. The village is on display in the center of the hotel lobby through Christmas Day.
Yes, I know it’s January now, but I’m stretching out the holiday season with just one more Christmas-related entry. This is because I happened to visit downtown’s Mexic-Arte Museum just before their Nacimientos: Traditional Nativity Scenes from Mexico exhibit closed last week.
Our neighborhood became a little cooler—and weirder—a few years ago when Toy Joy moved to Second Street. After getting through a rough spell last year, our favorite toy store was stocked full of fun stuff for the holidays and crowded with customers. And their decorated trees were unique as always!
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.
