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for Fri., Dec. 15
  • Graham Reynolds Ruins the Holidays

    Don't miss composer and bandleader Graham Reynolds as he burns down the house with his raucous, minor key versions of your holiday favorites along with several special guests! Tickets on sale now.
    Dec. 8-9  
    Rollins Studio Theatre at the Long Center
  • KUT/KUTX & Downtown Austin Alliance Present the Sing-Along & Holiday Stroll

    Join KUT, KUTX & the Downtown Austin Alliance for their 29th Annual Tree Lighting, Sing-Along and Stroll. Let’s ring in the holidays together. This free family-friendly event is on Congress Avenue between 9th and 11th streets and features artisan vendors, food trucks, photos with Santa and more. The Holiday Stroll is the perfect way to kick of your holiday season!
    Sat. Dec. 2, 5pm-9pm  
    Downtown Austin
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  • Arts

    Theatre

    A Christmas Carol

    Zach Theatre’s adaptation of the Dickens classic is a musical sleigh ride through rhythm and time, infusing the traditional Victorian story with a score that spans all genres and eras. "Celebrate the season with the loving Cratchit family and three soulful ghosts as they take Ebenezer Scrooge on a joyride to rediscover his heart and love for human kindness."
    Through Dec. 31. $25 and up.  
  • Arts

    Theatre

    An Enemy of the People

    Austin Shakespeare presents this staged reading of Henrik Ibsen's classic, adapted by Richard Nelson and starring Mark Pellegrino (of TV's Supernatural) as Dr. Tomas Stockman, "a scientist who becomes a standard bearer for the truth and eventually confronts his entire town."
    Dec. 14-17. Thu.-Sat., 7:30pm; Sun., 3pm. $40.  
  • Community

    Events

    Armadillo Christmas Bazaar

    This vibrant and immersive fine art and music festival has stood the test of time as Austin’s premier destination for high-quality art, live music, and artisan gifts for the holiday season, now in its 48th year. Three dozen musical artists are scheduled to perform, and almost 200 artists will have goods on display.
    Dec. 15-23, 11am-9:30pm  
  • Community

    Events

    Austin Trail of Lights

    Austin's beloved tradition returns for its 59th year, featuring more than 2 million lights illuminating the park, 90 lighted holiday trees, and more than 70 other holiday displays and lighted tunnels.
    Dec. 8-23  
  • Community

    Events

    Blue Genie Art Bazaar

    Austin's fave shopping destination for the holidays is the place to find unique jewelry, art, home goods, and gifts with oodles of Austin flair.
    Nov. 17-Dec. 24. Free entry.  
  • Arts

    Theatre

    Cards Against Humanity: The Christmas Carol

    "Imagine you're at an outdoor café, complete with a stage decked out with holiday cheer, while in-house waitstaff serve you festive festive food and drinks. And soon, you’ll be watching a free performance of The Christmas Carol. But this is no ordinary Christmas Carol: it’s one that gets derailed by a deck of Cards Against Humanity! And if you've ever played Cards Against Humanity, you know the zany possibilities are endless." Note: For a small donation, you may even have the chance to derail the show yourself by playing a card.
    Thu.-Sun., Dec. 7-17, 6:30pm. Donations accepted.  
  • Arts

    Visual Arts

    GrayDUCK Gallery: The Dog Show

    U.S.-based Japanese artist Hiromi Stringer reveals the colorful drawings of of Umeyama – "a mediocre scholar who time-travels (from Japan 170 years ago) to various times and places, vividly documenting the quotidian objects and scenes he encounters." In this case, especially? Doggos, and plenty of those heckin' good boys.
    Opening reception: Sat., Dec. 2, 7-10pm  
  • Arts

    Visual Arts

    ICOSA: Upwelling

    Curated by ICOSA's Madeline Irvine, this show is a group exhibition that features art by more than 30 artists whose work explores the environment, nature, and climate change.
    Opening reception: Fri., Dec. 15, 7-10pm
  • Arts

    Theatre

    Jack & Aiden

    "When Aiden first meets Jack, it’s through the transactional world of gay male hookup apps – Aiden’s first exploration since transitioning. But as the two spend more time together, things get complicated - they must navigate their grief, recovery, and trauma, and find out if they can hold one another’s human messiness." This is the world premiere of a new musical, commissioned by Ground Floor Theatre, with book by Lane Michael Stanley, music and lyrics by Tova Katz, and starring Justin P. Lopez and Laura Leo Kelly. Directed by Trace Turner, with musical direction by Trey Shonkwiler. Age recommendation: 18 and older, due to brief nudity, depictions of sex, and the subjects of addiction and recovery.
    Through Dec. 16. Thu.-Sat., 8pm. $30.  
  • Community

    Events

    Maywald Family Lights Display

    See a stunning light display and bring a donation for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, for which the Maywalds raised over $80,000 last year. New this year: a gift shop offering hot chocolate, mugs, shirts, Christmas ornaments, and more.
    Nov. 23-Dec. 28, 6-10pm. Donations for Make-a-Wish encouraged.  
    10505 Twilight Vista
  • Arts

    Theatre

    Murder on the Links

    Murder's afoot – and it's wearing those funny golfers' socks! Yes, Austin Playhouse presents the regional premiere of Murder on the Links, from the Agatha Christie novel, written and directed by Steven Dietz. Bonus: An all-star cast! We mean, Ben Wolfe (as Hercule Poirot, no less), Lara Toner Haddock, Huck Huckaby, Tonie Knight, Chase Brewer, and Sarah Chong Dickey.
    Dec. 1-30. Thu.-Sat., 8pm. Sun., Dec, 3 & 24, 2pm; Dec. 10 & 17, 5pm. $21-42.  
  • Arts

    Theatre

    Stargaze Theater Festival

    The Star Bandits present a showcase of six original short plays by Austin playwrights: Hang Man by Marcus Delzell; Treachery by Sarah Waddle; Do They Know We're Suffering? by Dalton Anderson; Attachment Theory by Juneid Mosaheb; Robin Hood vs. Dracula by Robbie Bland; and One Man Play by Max Freed.
    Fri.-Sat., Dec. 15-16, 7:30pm. $15.  
  • Arts

    Visual Arts

    The Blanton: Weird Winter

    Artist and musician Steve Parker brings a new installation to the Blanton that’ll make even the grinchiest grin, complete with brass instruments, musical snowglobes, marionette-animated trees, and carols like you’ve never heard them before.
    Dec. 9-Jan. 7. $20.  
  • Arts

    Theatre

    The Mutt-Cracker (Sweet!)

    This year’s cavalcade of canine capers stars brilliant and talented rescue dogs, including the show's newest stars, Dragonfly and Firefly. Darren Peterson brings his masterful juggling and unicycling, along with a talented cast that includes acro-artists Balyssa Ball and James Kent. The extraordinary holiday entertainmentfrom Circus Chickendog, now in its 12th year of pleasing crowds of all ages, is directed by Melissa McKnight.
    Dec. 15-30. Wed.-Sun., 4:30 & 6:30pm. $15-37.  
  • Arts

    Dance

    The Nutcracker

    From the twinkling lights, whirling snowflakes, and sparkling beauty of the exquisite sets and costumes comes this classic, heartwarming story. Bringing the magic of the holiday season, the 61st annual production of The Nutcracker remains Austin’s longest-running live production, presented here by Ballet Austin, with concept and choreography by Stephen Mills, music by Tchaikovsky, and live accompaniment by the Austin Symphony Orchestra. See our feature on the show right here.
    Dec. 2-23. $15-125.  
  • Arts

    Dance

    The Watchmaker's Song

    Ventana Ballet and Red Nightfall Dance Theatre present an immersive, culturally inclusive, and whimsical twist on the holiday classic, The Nutcracker, showcasing classical ballet, Spanish Flamenco, Egyptian bellydance, traditional Chinese dance, and drag performance.
    Dec. 7-16. Thu.-Fri., 7:30pm; Sat., 6:30 & 8:30pm. $40-60.  
  • Arts

    Visual Arts

    Wally Workman Gallery: Nocturnes and Promises

    Sylvia Benitez captures ethereal landscapes in oils on canvas, bringing fields of color to haunt the more urbanized sectors of your mind with a memory of the forests and meadows and riverine tableaux you've encountered in dreams.
    Opening reception: Sat., Dec. 2, 5-7pm
  • Arts

    Visual Arts

    WCC: RE/FRESH

    West Chelsea Contemporary brings together collections from more than a dozen contemporary artists in this new exhibition, featuring works by Hunt Slonem, Ash Almonte, Bob Schneider, Cody Hooper, Tyler Guinn, Juan Mejía, and more.
    Opening reception: Sat., Dec. 2, 2-4pm
  • Arts

    Visual Arts

    Women & Their Work: Techstalgia

    Yuni Lee creates dimensional paintings richly imbued with nostalgia, blending references to her birthplace of Seoul, South Korea, and American culture. In this solo show, she constructs large, abstract paintings using layers of texture and pattern, collaging traditional Korean fabrics and other materials to create dynamic forms that reference and fuse nature and technology.
    Opening reception: Sat., Dec. 9, 7-9pm
  • Arts

    Visual Arts

    Yard Dog: Suit Yourself

    Here's a new show by Austin's own Krissy Teegerstrom of Featherweight Studio. What's on display is nothing less than an expression of freedom and imagination as seen through wearable soft sculpture, featuring capes made from fine fabricssuch as velvets, brocades, satins, and tulle, fabulously enhanced by glimmering sequins, beads, and rhinestones.
    Opening reception: Sat., Dec. 2, 7-9pm
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