I love the Christmas season; it truly is the most wonderful time of the year. I love that no matter where you live, you can always find something fun to do to celebrate the season with loved ones. Although things might look a bit different this year, there are still plenty of activities available to get you in the Christmas spirit! I had such a fun weekend in Austin chasing the Christmas spirit all around town.

If you live in Austin or are traveling there during the holidays, here are my top can’t-miss activities:

Mozart’s Coffee Light Show

Pictured above, this coffee shop goes all-out for their light display every year where they program a giant wall of Christmas lights to coordinate to music. While this year it may look a little different since have to purchase tickets and reserve a table in advance and follow social distancing protocols, it doesn’t take away from the magic one but. Sipping hot coco, listening to live music & tapping your foot along to your favorite holiday classics under the glow of Christmas lights- honestly, what could be better?

Maywald Christmas Lights

This family creation was imagined a few years ago by a 22 year old college student (and an Aggie might I add… whoop!) and has grown over the past few years into possibly the most elaborate and impressive light display I’ve ever seen, with over 200,000 lights. You simply park your car and wander around their property, taking in every impeccably executed detail while soft Christmas tunes are playing in the background. The best part? It’s completely free, but donations are encouraged & all proceeds go towards the Make a Wish foundation. So make the trip to the Maywalds’ home, get your dose of Christmas spirit, and help make a child’s wish come true.

Vintage Market Days of Greater Austin

This is a vintage-inspired market where you can ooo and ahh over gorgeous art, antiques, clothing, jewelry, home goods, refurbished vintage treasures & more. This year they hosted a special holiday market offering a vast assortment of holiday home decor and unique gifts. I myself bought a refurbished vintage mirror for a steal of a deal, along with a hanging lantern that I have absolutely no use for and a couple of gifts. While this 3-day event already passed this year, they host markets throughout the year so keep checking their page for more opportunities to shop & bookmark this post so you don’t miss this fun holiday event next year!

Lala’s Dive Bar

Four words- year round Christmas bar. What more do you need to know? Stop in & sip on some boozy hot chocolate surrounded by an ornate arrangement of ornaments and lights. And if you can’t make it in time for Christmas- don’t fret! The Christmas spirit never dies within these four walls, so you can even visit in February while living in blissful denial that Christmas has come and gone and it’s now time to execute all those New Years resolutions you promised yourself you would do but are now questioning why…

Trail of Lights

While I must admit I’ve never been, this Christmas time event has always been on my list. While they have closed the attraction to pedestrians this year, you can still drive through the dazzling display of Christmas lights set up through Zilker park. It warms my heart to know that nothing can stop this beloved Texas tradition from lighting up our lives!

Blue Genie Art Bazaar

This holiday season pop up is the perfect spot to finish up all of your holiday shopping and the perfect opportunity to shop small this year. Anyone could easily spend hours wandering around admiring all of the unique treasures handmade by incredibly talented artists. I was honestly blown away and had to restrain myself from purchasing the entire warehouse. If you can’t make it in before December 24, you can also order from their online shop!

Enjoy your time in Austin, and have a very merry Christmas season!

xo, the Girl out of Texas