The weather isn’t going to feel like the holidays this weekend — more like spring — but there are still many festive events to put on your calendar. Be aware, it might rain on Sunday, so if you’re looking at something outside, opt for Friday or Saturday instead.
Santa will be showing up all over Austin this weekend, including the Caring Santa on Sunday. He’s a Santa that is ideal for kids on the autism spectrum.
Friday
Thinkery. Parents’ Night Out. Kids ages 4 and up play at the Thinkery while you see a movie at the Alamo Drafthouse Mueller. 5:30-10 p.m. Friday. $40 for first child, $20 each additional child. Thinkery, 1830 Simond Ave. thinkeryaustin.org
Little Thinkers Club. Amazing Animals. Do art and yoga inspired by animals. 9:45 a.m. for 2-year-olds, 10:45 a.m. for 3-year-olds, Fridays through Dec. 15. $20 per class, $140 for the series. Thinkery, 1830 Simond Ave. thinkeryaustin.org
Barnes & Noble Events: “Polar Express” Story time. 7 p.m. Friday, all locations.
Bow Wow Reading with Bonnie. 11:30 a.m. Friday, Yarborough Branch.
Friday-Saturday
Winter Wonderland at the Circuit of the Americas. See lights, go skating, enter the petting zoo and Santa’s workshop and more. 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. $16, plus additional fees for some activities. circuitoftheamericas.com/winter-wonderland.
Friday-Sunday
Elgin Christmas Tree Farm. Ride a hay ride to the Christmas tree grounds and select your tree. 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. Elgin Christmas Tree Farm, 120 Nature’s Way, Elgin. elginchristmastreefarm.com
Evergreen Christmas Tree Farm. Buy Christmas trees through Christmas Eve. Noon to dark daily, except Saturdays, when it opens at 10 a.m. Weekends there’s s’mores making and pinecone painting, too. 242 Monkey Road. evergreen-farms.com
Trail of Lights. 6-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 6-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, through Dec. 28. Free. EmilyAnn Theatre 1101 Ranch Road 2325, Wimberley. emilyann.org
Mozart’s Christmas Light Show. 6-11 p.m. nightly through Jan. 1. Mozart’s Coffee Roasters at Oyster Landing, 3825 Lake Austin Blvd. mozartscoffee.com
Whole Foods Skating on the Plaza. Go ice skating 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. now through Jan. 15. Closed
Whole Foods’ skating rink is back at the downtown store. Jay Janner/American-Statesman
Saturday
Paper Airplane Day. See demonstrations on how to make a paper airplane. 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. and learn more about flight with workshops 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Hill Country Science Mill, 101 S. Lady Bird Lane, Johnson City. sciencemill.org.
“The Muppet Christmas Carol.” See it in IMAX. 1 p.m. Saturday. Bullock Museum, 1800 N. Congress Ave. thestoryoftexas.com
Elf Academy. Train to be Santa’s best elf. 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Domain. Reserve your spot at simonsanta.com.
Santa in the Garden. Find your favorite jolly old elf among the plants. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Zilker Botanical Garden. 2220 Barton Springs Road. $1-$3. austintexas.gov
“The Muppet Christmas Carol.” See it in IMAX. 1 p.m. Saturday. Bullock Museum, 1800 N. Congress Ave. thestoryoftexas.com
Holiday Ornament Workshop. Make ornaments with things found in nature. Noon-2 p.m. Saturday. $15-10. Wildflower Center, 4801 La Crosse Ave. wildflower.org
Skate with Santa. Yes, Santa ice skates, and you can skate with him. Noon-2:30 p.m. Saturday. Skating and admission is $14 per person. $2 pictures with Santa or bring two non-perishable food items for the Capital Area Food Bank. Chaparral Ice, 2525 W. Anderson Lane. chaparralice.com
Breakfast with Santa. A light breakfast, crafts, a sing–along and Santa. 9-11 a.m. Saturday. Dittmar Recreation Center, 1009 W. Dittmar Road. austintexas.gov
“Holiday Heroes.” Zach Theatre’s annual Christmas family tradition. 11 a.m. Saturday. $18-24. Topfer Theater, 202 S. Lamar Blvd. zachtheatre.org
Baby Bloomers. Learn all about shapes. For infant to 3. 9 a.m. Monday. Learn about winter. 9 a.m. Saturday. $5. Thinkery, 1830 Simond Ave. thinkeryaustin.org
DeSTEMber Fest. Celebrate science and holidays with activities for the whole family. 9:30 a.m. to noon Saturday. Free. Girlstart. 1400 W. Anderson Lane. girlstart.org
Nina Martinez watches as Jimena Gonzalez rolls a marble down a roller coaster the girls and others built at the GirlStart rockin’ roller coasters workshop. Celebrate science at DeSTEMber at GirlStart. DEBORAH CANNON / AMERICAN-STATESMAN
Date night babysitting. For ages 1-5. $25 first child, $10 siblings. 5-8 p.m. Saturdays. Toybrary Austin, 2001 Justin Lane. toybraryaustin.com
Zach Theatre presents “The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.” Head to Narnia in the C.S. Lewis tale. 11 a.m. Saturday. More shows through Feb. 10. $18-$24. Whisenhunt Stage, 1510 Toomey Road. zachtheatre.org
Barnes & Noble 11 a.m. Saturdays story times at all locations: “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”
BookPeople story time. Modern First Library. 10:30 a.m. Wednesday and 11:30 a.m. Saturday. BookPeople, 603 N. Lamar Blvd. bookpeople.com
Saturday Movie Matinee: “Rogue One.” 2 p.m. Saturday, Windsor Park Branch.
Saturday-Sunday
Teddy Bear Tea. Tea, carolling and a reading of “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” with Santa. Bring an unwrapped new teddy bear to donate to Dell Children’s Medical Center. While you’re there, don’t miss the gingerbread village. $30-$45. Saturday and Saturday. Four Seasons Hotel Austin, 98 San Jacinto Blvd. Make reservations by calling 512-685-8300. fourseasons.com/austin
“A Christmas Carol.” 10 a.m. Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, through Dec. 17. $8-$10. EmilyAnn Theatre 1101 Ranch Road 2325, Wimberley. emilyann.org/productions
Alamo Drafthouse events: Kids Camp: “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, Lakeline. 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, Slaughter Lane. drafthouse.com
“Junie B. Jones in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells.” Junie B. is ready to take on her nemesis May in this holiday story. 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. $10-$15. Scottish Rite Theater, 207 W. 18th St. scottishritetheater.org
Sunday
Caring Santa. Meet Santa in an autism-friendly way. 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Barton Creek Square; 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Lakeline Mall. Reserve your spot at simonsanta.com
Neill-Cochran House Museum. History Lab: A Historic Holiday. Make pomanders, putz houses and historic board games. 1-4 p.m. Sunday. Free. 2310 San Gabriel St. nchmuseum.org
Hideout Theatre Presents: “Monster Holidays.” 2 p.m. Sunday. $5. Hideout Theatre, 617 Congress Ave. hideouttheatre.org
“Mr. Popper’s Penguins.” See the book come to life. 2 p.m. Sunday. $18 and up. Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress Ave. austintheatre.org
Bullock Museum.H-E-B Free First Sunday. Free family fun around the museum with the theme “Bundle Up.” Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Bullock Museum, 1800 N. Congress Ave. thestoryoftexas.com
Storybook Dance Making. 2 p.m. Sunday, Recycled Reads Bookstore.
