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Events

70s Party

Now in its 19th year, this party means it's appropriate to get out the platform shoes and leisure suit for an evening of disco, debauchery, and disastrous duds. 9pm. Free.

Molotov Lounge, 719 W. Sixth, 633-2564

www.70sparty.com

A Sami Show: Jingle Bell Bazaar

This uniting of art, home decor, photography, vintage crafts, and a slew of gift ideas returns to Austin after spending a few years in Round Rock. 9am-5pm. $6 (kids, free).

Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Rd., 441-7133

www.samishow.com

All About Trees

There's all these damn trees in town, but who can tell them apart? You can, after you take this short course. 10am. $2.

Zilker Botanical Garden, 2220 Barton Springs Rd., 970-3405

www.zilkergarden.org

Alternative Christmas Market

There will be baked goods and live music like any normal holiday bazaar, but instead of vendors there will be nonprofits who need your help to make a difference in the community. It's like a gift to the world. Sat., Dec. 1, 11am-4pm; Sun., Dec. 2, noon-3pm. Free.

St. John's United Methodist Church, 2140 Allandale, 452-5737

www.stjohnsaustin.org

Art From the Streets Show & Sale

This 20th annual show brings gallery-worthy works from more than 50 artists who participate in this community program. Sat.-Sun., Dec. 1-2, 11am-4pm. $4 suggested donation.

St. David’s Trinity Center, 304 E. Seventh

www.artfromthestreets.com

Blue Genie Art Bazaar

Need something Austin-y (art, jewelry, prints, clothing, etc., whatnot, and then some) for a loved one this year? More than 125 artists and artisans will help you with your gifting conundrums. Special events occur throughout the month of December, so shop early and often. Through Dec. 24, 10am-10pm, everyday. Free.

The Marchesa Hall & Theatre, 6406 N I-35, 454-2000

www.bluegenieartbazaar.com

BudaFest

Get a jump on the holiday with a weekend full of parades, live music and entertainment, a carnival, visits with Santa, and more than 125 artisans selling their wares. Sat.-Sun., Dec. 1-2, 10am-dusk. Free.

Buda City Park, Downtown Buda, 512/422-7863

www.budafest.org

Chef du Cinema Culinary & Cinematic Trip to Paris

Chef Ron Deutsch presents a four-course Parisian bistro menu to complement the charming French film, Amélie. Reserve by phone. 6:30pm. $50.

Central Market North Cooking School, 4001 N. Lamar, 512/206-1014

www.centralmarket.com

Children Giving to Children Parade

Don't get distracted by Santa or his entourage of floats, marching bands, and inflatables and forget to bring a toy to donate to Operation Blue Santa. Get a good spot along the parade has route down Congress from the Capitol to Cesar Chavez. 11am. Free.

www.chuysparade.com

Christmas at the Capitol

The A Cappella Texas Chorus sings your holiday favorites and gets the crowd in on the harmonizing. noon-1pm. Free.

Texas State Capitol, 1100 Congress, 512/305-8400

www.acappellatexas.org

Disaster Preparedness Exercise

Urban Shield needs 1,000 adult volunteers to portray victims in a disaster preparedness exercise for hospital personnel, law enforcement, and EMS technicians from Travis, Hays, and Williamson counties. Volunteers will have fake injuries, be faux decontaminated, and receive lunch and a T-shirt for their help. Register online.

Travis County Expo Center, 7311 Decker, 974-0450

www.texsar.org/urbanshield

Femmes for SIMS: Night of the Chanteuse

Enjoy an homage to local women in music benefitting mental health services for Austin-area musicians. 8-11pm. $50.

Scottish Rite Theater, 207 W. 18th, 472-1008

www.simsfoundation.org/femmes.html

For the City Christmas Market

Browse the art, jewelry, clothing, purses/bags, toys, cosmetics, coffee, paper goods, housewares, photo prints, and more while resting easy that they goods were made with a social conscious. 10am-7pm.

For the City Center, 500 E. St. Johns, 512/961-5587

www.forthecity.org/market

Fossil Fest

What's under the dirt in your back yard? Find out and enjoy door prizes, displays, a fossil dig pit, and fossil vendors from around the world. Sat.-Sun., Dec. 1-2, 9am-5pm. $3 ($2, students; kids under 6, free).

Old Settlers Park, 3300 E. Palm Valley Blvd., 512/218-5540

www.austinpaleo.org/fest

German Christmas Market

Handcrafted and hand-blown ornaments and decorations in the German tradition on sale and tax free. 10am-4pm. Free.

German Free School, 507 E. 10th, 482-0927

www.germantexans.org

Gifts That Give

Shop without guilt with fair trade and socially conscious jewelry, journals, shoes, clutches, T-shirts, backpacks, and more. Dec. 1-8, 11am-7pm. Free.

Pine Street Station, 1101 E. Fifth, 217-1384

www.the-good-collaborative.com

Holiday Lights Helicopter Tours

Tired of seeing our city all lit up for the holidays from the ground. Well, these short tours grants you a bird's eye view. Fridays & Saturdays through December. $125, 15-minute tour; $255, 30-minute tour.

Bud Dryden Airport, 10301 FM 969

www.austinhelicoptertours.com

Holiday Sing-Along & Downtown Stroll

The Downtown Austin Alliance and KUT host this evening of seasonal spirit starting with carols on the South Steps of the state Capitol at 6pm. The Capitol tree is lit at 7pm followed by an invitation to take a walk down Congress Avenue where stores and museums will be open late and lousy with specials and all manner of holiday cheer. 6-9pm. Free.

469-1766

Institutionalized Racism Conversation

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission Center for Elimination of Disproportionality and Disparities aims to help attendees understand the history of racism and the impact of institutionalized racism in our state. Joyce James moderates. 9-11:30am. Free.

St. James' Episcopal Church, 1941 Webberville Rd., 926-6339

Santa's Ranch

Santa's tired of waiting for global warming to catch up at the North Pole. He's spending most of his pre-Christmastime among the 1.5 million lights of Santa's Ranch. Why not join him? Through Dec. 30, 6-10pm. $24 per car.

9561 N. I-35, New Braunfels (two miles south of Tanger Outlet Mall)

www.santasranch.net

Texas Land Conservancy Gala

Celebrate 30 years with food, drinks, music, and more. 4-8pm. $100 ($75, advance).

Vitruvian Domain, 7400 Coldwater Canyon Dr.

www.texaslandconservancy.org/gala

Urban Farm Bicycle Tour

Eat Drink Local Week and the Bicycle Sport Shop invite families to jump on their bikes and take rider-friendly routes to farms and community gardens all over town. Tour stops include children’s hands-on gardening activities, henhouse tours, farm tours, and samplings. Tours leave from two spots: SFC Farmers' Market, Fourth & Guadalupe, 10am; and Triangle Farmers' Market, 46th and Lamar, 9am. Tickets can be purchased online. 9am. $30.

www.urbanfarmbicycletour.eventbrite.com

Whole Foods Market Ice Rink

It isn't easy getting into a Winter Wonderland mood in Texas. This little frozen oasis can help you forget about climate change for a little while. $10.

Whole Foods Market, 525 N. Lamar, 542-2225

www.wholefoods.com

Wild Ideas Shopping Event

A dozen local artists and artisans hawk their creations for your gifting convenience. Fri.-Sat., Nov. 30-Dec. 1, 9am-5pm; Sun., Dec. 2, noon-5pm. Free.

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, 4801 La Crosse, 232-0100

www.wildflower.org/holiday

Women & Fair Trade Festival

Tan Cerca de la Frontera brings women from around the world to sell their creations and tell their stories of overcoming adversity and what it means to buy fair trade goods. Come out on Sunday from 2-4pm for a trans-cultural poetry reading. Sat.-Sun., Dec. 1-2, 10am-6pm. Free.

The Old School, 1604 E. 11th, 474-2399

www.womenandfairtrade.weebly.com

ONGOING

Austin Farmers' Market

features fresh organic produce, meats, and cheeses straight from surrounding Texas farms, plus live music every week. Saturdays, 9am-1pm. Free.

Republic Square Park, 422 Guadalupe, 512/974-6700

www.austinfarmersmarket.org

Barton Creek Farmers Market

Expect local farm-fresh produce that belies its placement in a parking lot. Saturdays, 9am-1pm. Free.

Barton Creek Square, 2901 Capital of TX Hwy. S., 280-1976

www.bartoncreekfarmersmarket.org

Barton Springs Audio Tour

Take a self-guided tour of Austin's favorite swimming hole. All you have to do is download the audio files and map from the Save Our Springs Alliance website, and off you go.

Barton Springs Pool, 2101 Barton Springs Rd., 512/867-3080

www.sosalliance.org

Central Market Cooking School

Whether you need to brush up your knife skills or throw together a romantic Thai dinner for two, these guys have you covered year round with an eclectic array of classes spanning all skill levels.

Central Market North, 4001 N. Lamar, 512/206-1000

www.centralmarket.com/Cooking-School.aspx

Downtown Ghost Tours

offer nooks-and-crannies walking tours that spotlight the dead to bring Austin's history and geography to life. Fri.-Sat., 8pm.

853-9826

www.austinghosttours.com

Emancipet Free Days

This mobile spay/neuter clinic might be in your neighborhood today. Check www.emancipet.org to find out. Fri.-Sat., check-in begins 8am (first come, first served). Free.

587-SPAY

Helping Hands Center

needs strong, dependable males to help load/unload groceries twice monthly.

Helping Hands Center, 1151 San Bernard St., 472-2298