Year after year, downtown Austin is one of the top spots in the city to experience the holiday season, as the streets are filled with lights, music and festive celebrations, all hallmarked by a unique Central Texas flair. No matter what holiday one celebrates, there are plenty of events and activities taking place within walking distance from The Austonian throughout the next month that showcase the best of what the holiday season has to offer.

From the high rising windows of the building, residents of The Austonian downtown luxury condominiums can enjoy watching the trees around the city and the surrounding Central Texas Hill Country fill with lights as the season progresses, including a one-of-a-kind view of the Zilker Holiday Tree in Zilker Park. Starting November 30^th with the tree lighting ceremony, the 155-foot tall tree will illuminate the Austin skyline from 5:30 to 10:00 p.m. until December 31^st. In conjunction with the Zilker Holiday Tree is the Austin Trail of Lights, which will be open December 7^th-21^st. This Austin holiday tradition continues to delight attendees of all ages, and this year promises to be the biggest and brightest Trail of Lights yet.

Right outside the building along Congress Avenue is the Holiday Sing-Along and Downtown Stroll, which takes place Saturday, December 6^th and provides residents and visitors to downtown Austin with music, festivity, and the lighting of the Capitol Christmas Tree. The Downtown Stroll will be chock full of holiday cheer, including a light and dance show by Blue Lapis Light, just steps outside of The Austonian’s front door. For more music and dance, Ballet Austin’s annual production of The Nutcracker is another iconic Austin holiday tradition. Celebrating 52 years running, performances will occur throughout the month of December.

For holiday shopping, downtown Austin hosts a variety of bazaars and markets, where Austinites can purchase local arts and crafts to fulfill their holiday gift lists. The Armadillo Christmas Bazaar in the Palmer Events Center is one of the largest and most well-known holiday shopping fairs in the city, featuring arts and wares from local artists, as well as daily live music from December 16-24^th. A Christmas Affair, also held in the Parmer Events Center, features both shopping and different nightly events to suit whatever way you want to celebrate. For something a little less traditional, the German-Texan Heritage Society’s German Christmas Market taking place on December 6^th also features handmade crafts and decorations, as well as German Christmas music and food. For shopping closer to home, the stores of the 2^ND Street District will feature holiday displays and sales throughout the upcoming month, just down the street from The Austonian. So whether you would like to get out and explore or enjoy the holidays close to home, The Austonian has a prime location for the experiencing the best of the city’s holiday festivities.

Photo courtesy Austin-AmericanStatesman