Driving

• Avoid peak times on the road on the predicted busiest travel days:
  
  • Wednesday, Nov. 22:
    
    • Best time to drive: Before 11 a.m.
    • Worst time: 2-6 p.m.
  • Sunday, Nov. 26:
    
    • Best time to drive: Before 12 p.m.
    • Worst time: 3-5 p.m.
• Above all, stay safe. Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Fort Worth rank among the most dangerous traffic cities during this holiday period.

Flying

• Plan your transportation ahead of time.
  
  • Airport parking is already filling up, so check availability online
  • Avoid parking by taking rideshare or CapMetro’s Route 20 service
• Get there earlier than you think. Airport officials recommend arriving 2.5 hours before domestic flights and 3 hours before international flights.
  
  • Make sure you know the right terminal before you arrive
  • Check real-time traffic on the roads before heading out
• Coming home with leftovers? As long as it’s solid, non-liquid food, you’re good to go.

• Travis Scott | Wednesday, Nov. 22 | 8 p.m. | The Moody Center, 2001 Robert Dedman Dr., Austin | $41-$216 | The rapper’s “Circus Maxima” tour will stop in Austin with special guest Teezo Touchdown.
• “A Christmas Carol” | Now-Sunday, Dec. 31 | Times vary | ZACH Theatre, 202 S. Lamar Blvd., Austin | $25-$99 | The annual rendition of the Dickens classic returns for weeks of family friendly fun.

• Austin Flea: Black Friday & Small Business Saturday | Friday, Nov. 24-Saturday, Nov. 25 | 12-5 p.m. | Still Austin Whiskey Co., 440 E. St. Elmo Rd., Ste. F, Austin | Free | Support local businesses on one of the biggest shopping weekends of the year at this two-day pop-up market.
• Oklahoma City Blue vs. Austin Spurs | Friday, Nov. 24 | 7 p.m. | H-E-B Center at Cedar Park, 2100 Ave. of the Stars, Cedar Park | $10-$160 | Cheer on the Austin Spurs as they take on Oklahoma City.

• Light up the Plaza | Saturday, Nov. 25 | 5-8 p.m. | Hill Country Galleria, 12700 Hill Country Blvd., Bee Cave | Free | Explore a holiday market, take photos with Santa, and hear live music from Gunnar Latham and Kaitlin Butts at this tree lighting event.

• Yule in the Garden | Saturday, Dec. 2-Sunday, Dec. 3 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Zilker Botanical Garden, 2220 Barton Springs Rd., Austin | Free with admission | Kick off the month with nature-based activities, holiday music from the Austin Camerata String Quartet, and hot drinks available for purchase.

• Austin’s Homeless Strategy Division will become its own office next month, leaving its current position within Austin Public Health and reporting directly to the City Manager’s Office. The Homeless Strategy Office will continue to oversee city-run shelters and housing programs.

• Austin’s unemployment rate fell to 3.4% last month, 0.2 percentage points lower than in September. In the last year, the Capital City added 35,900 non-farm payroll jobs, ranking No. 11 among the 50 largest metro areas.

• UT is getting in on the holiday glow. The university will run the inaugural Longhorn Lights, a free light show along Guadalupe Street, from Wednesday, Nov. 29 to Monday, Jan. 1. Synchronized to music from the Longhorn Band, the display covers 24 heritage oak trees on The Drag.

• A 250-unit, $110 million mixed-used housing project could be headed to South Congress Avenue, near the Lively Middle School. Developers would need to demolish a former gas station, an auto shop, and a nursing and rehab center to build on the 2.8-acre site. (Austin Business Journal)

• For the first time in two years, Austin fell from its spot as the No. 1 destination for millennials — to No. 9. The 2023 “Where Millennials Are Moving” report from Smart Asset ranks Cambridge, MA as the new top spot.

• Have an active loved one on your shopping list? Upway delivers rigorously inspected, certified, and 99% pre-assembled ebikes from top brands (think: Specialized, Aventon, and Super73) directly to your doorstep. Get up to $1,200 off for Black Friday, and score free express shipping with code TREE.*