Walk through the Trail in between rides on the Zilker Eagle and dance to some local music during this year’s annual tradition. | Photo courtesy of the Trail of Lights
‘Tis the season to get busy. It’s officially December — don’t let that holiday cheer pass you by. Take out your calendar and text all your friends — these are the top events we recommend heading to this month.
Concerts
A Charlie Brown Christmas | Saturday, Dec. 13 | 6-7:30 p.m. | The Paramount Theatre | $28+ | Hear all the beloved Vince Guaraldi classics from the “Peanuts” universe to get you right in the holiday cheer.
Theater
Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite | Monday, Dec. 15 | 7 p.m. | The Paramount Theatre | $52+ | Ballet Afrique presents this performance to honor tradition, celebrate the season, and showcase the vibrant lens of Harlem’s jazz era.
Seasonal Events
“Christmas Vacation” Screening with Chevy Chase | Tuesday, Dec. 16 | 7:30 p.m. | Bass Concert Hall | $58+ | Chevy and Jayni Chase will share their tales from behind the scenes of this hilarious holiday film.
Photos with Santa | 12-2 p.m. | Renaissance Austin Hotel | Free+ | Celebrate the season with Santa photos, festive brunch at Knotty Deck Kitchen + Bar, and toy donations for patients at Texas Children’s Hospital — complimentary parking available.*
Saturday, Dec. 13
Billy Strings | 7:30-10:30 p.m. | The Moody Center | $59+
Consider this your sign to call in the pros to help keep your trees healthy, safe, and beautiful. | Photo provided by Good Guys Tree Service
If you’ve been staring at that one overgrown branch thinking, “Eh, it’ll be fine” — same.
But a new season is a great time to check a few things off the home maintenance list. Enter: Austin’s top-rated, licensed, and insured tree company, Good Guys Tree Service.
Brrr... did you wake up feeling chilly? The National Weather Service declared a freeze warning for this morning in Williamson and Burnet counties, with temperatures as low as 29º in the forecast. Meanwhile, there was only a 40% chance of freezing temperatures within Austin city limits. (Austin American-Statesman)
Closing
Pour one out. Nashville-based Standard Proof Whiskey Co. closed its Austin tasting room after three years in business on Rainey Street.
Ranked
We’re having a holly, jolly holiday season. Austin is Thumbtack’s No. 1 “Most Festive City” in the US for the fourth year in a row, thanks to our mild winters, standard-setting holiday decor, and strong sense of community. By the way, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio also made the top 10.
Trending
Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, and Chris Del Conte were spotted arm-in-arm on the sidelines during Saturday’s Longhorns vs. Aggies game. As if that wasn’t enough star power, Glen Powell was also in the endzone.
Eat
Blue Agave Tex Mex — from the owners behind Pelons Tex Mex and 508 Coffee Shop — opened over the weekend in far northwest Austin. (Community Impact)
Concert
Chicago + Styx are bringing The Windy City to the Capital City next summer. The two rock bands announced “The Windy Cities Tour” will take over The Moody Center in August — tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 5.
Sports
After a crushing loss to their rivals over the weekend, the Aggies have to be on their game going into week 14. Get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of the Texas A&M Aggies with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Finance
Austin drivers: Stop overpaying for car insurance and use FinanceBuzz’s free tool to see if you can save $600+ a year in minutes.*
Featured Deal
Hawaiian Airlines is celebrating Travel Tuesday with some of its lowest fares of the year. Make 2026 the year you take your dream vacation + browse flights as low as $99 — you’ll feel like you’re in Hawaiʻi the moment you step on board. Hurry, the sale ends Thursday.*
Category
Culture
🎨 A new HOPE
You don’t have to wait to see it for yourself — HOPE is now open Wednesday-Sunday. | Photos by ATXtoday
The outdoor hub for graffiti and street art is back in a new way after closing its Downtown location, which was redeveloped in 2019. HOPE is open to the public for free, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.
What’s new
HOPE is already covered in art from 30 street artists with semi-permanent murals that will change over time. That means you can get inspiration from the pros before you crack open a can.
It’s not just walls on a hillside anymore — the new HOPE features a coffee shop + bar, a rooftop overlook, a gift shop, working spaces, and a paint shop on-site. The expanded space will also allow HOPE to embark on art education and community events in the future.
Plus, looking at the new facility from above, you can see that the buildings spell “HOPE.”
The perfect two-piece sweater set for winter. It features a long sleeve crew neck top paired with a split hem midi skirt. We love that it’s cute, comfy, and warm, and can be dressed up or down for any occasion. Bonus: It’s available in some great seasonal colorways like almond white + red white.
Something nightmarish happened to me on Thanksgiving: I watched the Cowboys vs. Chiefs game with my extended family, who are half Dallas fans and half Kansas City fans.
Thankfully, my team won and nobody got hurt, though my Fitbit informed me that I spent 40 minutes with a heart rate of 120+. UT fans also had an exhilarating weekend when the Longhorns beat the Aggies 27-17.
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