The sun will come out again this weekend and the weather will be warmer. There’s so much to do this week: many trails lined with lights, holiday plays, Santas to see. How will you choose?
Friday
Pictures with Santa. 10:30 a.m. Friday. Toybrary Austin, 2001 Justin Lane. toybraryaustin.com
Friday Movie Matinee “Home Alone.” 3 p.m. Friday, Old Quarry Branch.
Little Thinkers Club. Amazing Animals. Make art and do 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
People explore a light tunnel during the Winter Wonderland event at Circuit of the Americas. NICK WAGNER / AMERICAN-STATESMAN
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.
“The Elves and the Shoemaker.” For ages 5 and older. 3:30 p.m. Friday, Howson Branch; 2 p.m. Saturday, Hampton Branch.
Ballet Austin’s production of “The Nutcracker.” Choreography by Stephen Mills. Photo by Tony Spielberg.
Friday-Sunday
Ballet Austin’s “The Nutcracker.” 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. $15-$98. The Long Center, 701 W. Riverside Drive. thelongcenter.org
Luminations. It’s back. See the Wildflower Center outlined in luminarias. 6 to 9 p.m. Friday-Sunday. $15. Wildflower Center, 4801 La Crosse Ave. wildflower.org
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 pine cone painting, too. 242 Monkey Road. evergreen-farms.com
Trail of Lights. 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 6 to 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 to 11 p.m. nightly through Jan. 1. Mozart’s Coffee Roasters at Oyster Landing, 3825 Lake Austin Blvd. mozartscoffee.com
Go skating at the ice rink at Whole Foods downtown.
RALPH BARRERA/ AMERICAN-STATESMAN
Whole Foods Skating on the Plaza. Go ice skating 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. now through Jan. 15. Closed Christmas Day. $10 per person. Whole Foods Market, 525 N. Lamar Blvd. wholefoodsmarket.com
Zilker Tree. The tree will be lighted every night from through Dec. 31. Zilker Park. austintexas.gov/zilkerholidaytree
Meet & Greet with Santa. Come meet Santa at the Hill Country Galleria. Noon-6 p.m. Sunday, 4-8 p.m. Monday-Friday, Noon to 8 p.m. Saturday. Plus a synchronized tree lighting every half hour 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Hill Country Galleria, 12700 Hill Country Blvd. hillcountrygalleria.com
Saturday
Story time with Mrs. Claus. 11 a.m. Saturday. Hill Country Galleria Central Plaza Pavilion. hillcountrygalleria.com
Winter Fest. 10 a.m. Saturday, Yarborough Branch.
Baby Bloomers. Learn all about winter. For infant to 3. 9 a.m. Saturdays. Special guests throughout the month. $5. Thinkery, 1830 Simond Ave. thinkeryaustin.org
Holiday Open House. 11 a.m. Saturday, Willie Mae Kirk Branch; noon Saturday, Pleasant Hill Branch; 1 p.m. Saturday, Howson Branch; 2 p.m. Saturday, Manchaca Road Branch.
Blanton Museum of Art. Holiday Family Day. Road trip-inspired activities. Free with admission. Noon to 2 p.m. Saturday. Blanton Museum of Art, 200 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. blantonmuseum.org
Toybrary Austin. Date night babysitting. For ages 1-5. $25 first child, $10 siblings. 5-8 p.m. Saturdays. Toybrary Austin, 2001 Justin Lane. toybraryaustin.com
“Holiday Heroes” at Zach Theater has become a holiday tradition. Kirk Tuck
“Holiday Heroes.” Zach Theatre’s annual Christmas family tradition. 11 a.m. Saturday. $18-24. Topfer Theater, 202 S. Lamar Blvd. zachtheatre.org
Contemporary Austin. Families Create: Gingerbread Villas. Make your own candy home. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Free. Laguna Gloria, 3809 W. 35th St. thecontemporaryaustin.org
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
Harry Potter Fest. “Sorcerer’s Stone” and “Deathly Hallows Part 1.” 6 p.m. Saturday. Various prices. Blue Starlite Mini Urban Drive-In. 12419 Lowden Lane, Manchaca. bluestarlitedrivein.com
Barnes & Noble Events: 11 a.m. Saturdays, story times at all locations: “Olaf’s Frozen Adventure Big Golden Book.” .
Bow Wow Reading with Bonnie. 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Yarborough Branch; Mornings with Moxie. 10 a.m. Saturday, Manchaca Road Branch.
Saturday-Sunday
Austin Trail of Lights. The annual tradition begins. 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Free admission Saturday. Zilker Park. austintrailoflights.org
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. Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 17. 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.” 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Lakeline, Slaughter Lane. PBS Kids Holiday Mix. 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, Lakeline. 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. Sunday, Saturday. $10-$15. Scottish Rite Theater, 207 W. 18th St. scottishritetheater.org
Thinkery Gingerbread House Workshops. Traditional or Tot (ages 5 and younger) 9:30 a.m., 9:45 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 11 a.m., 2:45 p.m., 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. $12 per person plus $20 house kit. Gingerbread Art and Architecture for ages 7 and older. 10:45 a.m.-1:15 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. $12 per person plus $30 house kit. Candy Chemistry for ages 7 and up. Make candy to go on your house. 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. $12 per person plus $30 house kit. Thinkery, 1830 Simond Ave. thinkeryaustin.org
Gingerbread House Workshop at The Candy Jar. 3:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. $50 per house; children younger than 6 must have an adult with them. The Candy Jar, 12700 Hill Country Blvd. Suite 110. Register at thecandyjartx.com.
Sunday
Hideout Theatre Presents: “Monster Holidays.” 2 p.m. Sunday. $5. Hideout Theatre, 617 Congress Ave. hideouttheatre.org
An Afternoon with Santa. Take photos, make crafts and eat cookies. 3 p.m. Sunday. Driskill Hotel, 604 Brazos St. driskillhotel.com.
Holiday Cookie Decorating Class. 6 p.m. Sunday, Windsor Park Branch.
Austin Ukestra. 1 p.m. Sunday. Recycled Reads Bookstore.
