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Celebrate the holidays 1800s-style to experience the sights and sounds of holidays past. Three historic homesteads and the 1899 village will be decorated and filled with Christmas spirit, with historical crafts, ornament making, live music, and a horse-drawn wagon ride.

In a year that could use some sparkle, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is bringing back a beloved winter tradition. It's a strollable Hill Country experience where thousands of luminarias light the way. For the first time ever, Luminations will wind through the Texas Arboretum among glowing oaks and the light-splashed forts of Fortlandia, a collection of forts custom-designed and built by local architects, designers, and artists.

Snow close, yet snow far out! Austin Motel is decked out for the holidays with a neon rainbow, and they're serving up hot chocolate (with optional peppermint schnapps), a Sugar Plum cocktail, and La Colombe coffee. Snacks include Reindeer Chow and hot pretzels.

Austin's 56th annual holiday tradition returns to Zilker Park as a drive-through event this year and runs two additional weeks. As you drive through the trail illuminated by more than 2 million lights, tune in via your car radio for holiday music, highlights, and history. This year guests can choose a ticket type based on their preferred date and time, with prices ranging from $25-35 per vehicle for GA or a $60 per vehicle "Dash Pass" which includes early entry and festive refreshments.

The beloved Austin holiday shopping experience returns for its 20th year with four shopping options to ensure safety in the time of COVID-19. For in-store shopping, reserve free tickets online for a "no wait" entry. Walk-ins are also welcome, but guests may have to wait outside if it's at capacity. Online shoppers can either pick up items in-store or have them shipped anywhere in the U.S. Personal shoppers and virtual shopping will also be available through the BGAB website. BGAB is a family-friendly experience where you can find one-of-a-kind, handcrafted jewelry, artwork, home goods, and gifts for everyone on your shopping list.

This year, the hallmark event is more than just one evening; it's a month of free activities and holiday happenings. Visit the 45-foot-tall holiday tree by the Capitol, catch a movie at Paramount or the new Blue Starlite, and download or pick up a holiday passport to guide your way and collect stamps as you experience all that Downtown Austin has to offer.

The final Frida Friday of the year features 24 vendors offering jewelry, vintage goods, handmade artistry, homewares, unique artwork, and more. Grab shopping fuel of conchas y cafecitos or a complimentary bev by Bacardi and enjoy tunes by Chorizó Funk, Kay Cali, Zetroc, and KickIt. Bonus: Kind Clinic will be on hand offering free STD/HIV screenings.

If you're ready to make the commitment and have extra love to give this season, now's the perfect time to add a new furry friend to the family. For one week, Austin Humane Society is offering discounted adoption fees: only $20.

Sip a delicious hot bevvie and see the beautiful light show by the lake. Reservations required.

Clarksville Community Development Corporation, the Old West Austin Neighborhood Association, and nonprofit HealthCode invite the city to join together in singing "Silent Night," "Jingle Bells," and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" at the same time from wherever they are. The more carolers involved, the better, so invite all your friends and neighbors!

The stressors of the COVID-19 pandemic could make this winter and holiday season tougher than usual. Integral Care recently launched a Winter Well-Being Toolkit, a compilation of ideas to boost mental health, fight the winter blues, stay safely connected and celebrate the season in new ways. Topics include ideas to make gatherings special, tips for fighting Seasonal Affective Disorder, steps for improving happiness, ways to get moving and elevate your mood, and mindfulness activities. Plus, check out their YouTube channel for a winter mental health forum video.

Tso Chinese Delivery has partnered with seven local organizations with the goal to provide $100,000 in meals to Austinites in need. Make a direct donation online, or add a donation to any food order placed at Tso Chinese Delivery. For every $1 raised, #TsoGiving can donate $3 worth of meals.

Sadly, we can't visit the Armadillo Art Bazaar in person this year. The next best thing is Armadillo Art Concierge, an online, curated shopping guide pointing visitors to collections by content, process, medium, or artist location. Follow them on social media @armadillobazaar to see spotlighted art each day.

ACR is such a neat place, filled to the brim with donations of reusable items, but you don't even have to be there to take advantage of their Earth-friendly stock. Shop online for gifts, holiday wrapping, craft supplies and notions, and even fun mystery packs.

A holiday shopping party with beverages from Better Half and Hold Out Brewing, with all local, handmade items and vintage wares.

A spectacular winter light festival on the theme "Ocean of Bioluminescence," with augmented reality artworks, interactive light shows, and music. Glow-in-the-dark accessories to help attendees get in the spirit will be available for donations to the Bee Cave Arts Foundation.

Blood Over Texas' online holiday market is the spot to find all kinds of evil wares for fans of goth and horror. All the vendors are local, and include many of the sellers from past Horror for the Holidays events.

The holidays will be tougher for everyone this year. The food bank has put together a list of 10 ways to make a difference to someone in need, from an online matched donation to donating your change at participating stores. Check out the list online and help CTFB fight hunger.

Choose from a wide variety of art, Mexican and Latino clothing, shoes, handbags, arts & crafts such as masks, ceramics, and handcrafted jewelry. Receive a free sterling silver pendant with a purchase of $30 or more.

Double your holiday gifting by supporting a local nonprofit as you shop. Visit this unique online estate sale for electronics, collectibles, kitchenware, and lots more, and all proceeds benefit Travis County's Coming of Age program, which supports individuals age 50 and up. Shipping and local delivery are available.

Help support local businesses by making 2nd Street District your one-stop-shop. Enjoy seasonal sips, holiday creations, and the 10th annual Holiday Window Walk. Plus, check out their new passport activation in partnership with the Downtown Austin Alliance, wherein you collect stamps and earn prizes as you explore.

All month long, when you donate with We Are Blood, get a free honey butter chicken biscuit from Whataburger. Donors between Dec. 24 and 31 also get a free sweatshirt. Appointments are mandatory; schedule online or call 512/206-1266.

During its monthlong Platelet Step-Up campaign, We Are Blood is offering a branded baseball tee to donors who successfully donate platelets twice during December. Appointments are mandatory; schedule online or call 512/206-1266.

If you've been wanting to cross glass-blowing off your bucket list, here's your chance! Try a crash course to get a quick overview and make your own small souvenir. Private lessons, workshops, and multi-week courses also available.

Sip a festive holiday cocktail and snap a photo at the Gibson Sleigh, then tag #gibsonwonderland and @gibsonstreetbar for a chance at a prize.

Enjoy the lights and local flavor throughout the holiday season.

Find some last-minute gifts and enjoy live music from Jordan Matthew Young from 1-3pm.

Celebrate the holiday season at Urban Axes with add-ons like drink packages, catering from local partners, party decorations to make your celebration special, or an axe trophy for the tournament winner. You can even book the entire facility for your own private party.

Don your most hideous holiday sweater/mask combo for this one, folks, because ugliest outfit walks away with a prize!

An old-fashioned, two-stepping holiday dance featuring Western Express, held with social distancing and masks in the century-old Wessels dance hall. Sponsored by Ginger Ale.

A virtual fest incorporating the works of visionary artists from a variety of interdisciplinary backgrounds, on the themes of race, gender, dealing with trauma, and reclaiming social space.

Brought to you by Chabad of Austin, Judaism UnBoxed is hands-on Jewish discovery and growth, Jewish culinary lessons, and quality family time all in one. Receive holiday baking kit boxes for the Jewish holidays and/or challah baking boxes every month.

Gifting a tree through Treefolks is a fun way to surprise a friend or family member with a present that could last a lifetime, while beautifying and benefiting the community. Donors can opt for preset donation tiers of $30 (10 trees), $75 (25 trees), $150 (50 trees), or an amount of their choice.

Shop local vendors, find unique gifts, and even get them wrapped. There'll be live music and libations nightly.

There are plenty of holiday happenings in Bastrop, just a hop, skip, and a jump from Austin: Take in the sights at the River of Lights, head downtown to shop the Holiday Sidewalk Stroll, take in Elf! The Musical at Bastrop Opera House, or visit Krampus at Scream Hollow's Twisted Christmas.

Presented by Toyota of Cedar Park, this drive-through light show has a special bonus of a different holiday movie screening each night.

Visit anytime after dark to see the tree lit with thousands of twinkly lights and take photos with Santa's sleigh.

Support the Sun Radio Foundation by donating or bidding on an item in their virtual auction, which includes exclusive, unique, and local items like signed guitars from Lyle Lovett and Jade Bird, staycation retreats, jewelry, and more.

Every holiday season, Tomlinson’s Feed hosts Central Texas’ largest pet food drive in support of 30+ local animal rescues and shelters. When you gift a bag of food in-store or online, your donation will be doubled (pound for pound) by healthy pet food makers. In 2019, the drive raised 163,584 pounds of high-quality, donated pet food, and this year's goal is to raise 175,000.

Make your own plant-decorated Munny (a small art toy) with supplies and directions from Articulture.

Blood donations are especially needed right now, and it's easy to donate while you shop for the holidays. Look for the bus parked in the Cheesecake Factory parking lot at Barton Creek or the Macy's lot at Lakeline.

An event that partners local, women-owned health and wellness shops with local cosmic practitioners, hosted by Rituals Rising and Joy Organics.