If you’re looking for some winter fun to brighten your spirits, the greater Austin area has plenty to offer. Caliterra is minutes from the Greater Austin area and close to plenty of holiday events and fun for the whole family!
Lace Up Your Skates
Eisbahn (German for “ice rink” ) at the Heritage School (at Marketplatz -126 W. Main Street) will be open to the public from November 19 through January 1. The skating rink’s hours vary depending on the day, but typically it’s open for either an afternoon 4-hour skate session or an all-day 12-hour skate session. The skating rink is about an hour away from Dripping Springs in Fredricksburg and a $15 admission includes your skates. Stop by on Tuesdays though, and skating is just $10!
Chaparral Ice (2525 W Anderson Ln., Austin, TX 78757)
in North Austin is another great option to get your ice skating fix—and the ideal place for serious skaters who are looking to hone their figure skating moves. While Chaparral Ice does offer a range of skating lessons, if you’re simply interested in gliding around the ice, standard admission for public skating is $12 with an additional charge of $6 if you need to rent skates. We suggest checking the public skate times on their calendar for the day you’d like to go.
See the Lights
If you’ve never checked out the Austin Trail of Lights, then stop what you’re doing and jump in the car, because this is one light show you don’t want to miss! It’s been going on for 58 years and features more than 2 million twinkling Christmas lights wrapped around dozens of trees, tunnels, and figurines on this walkable trail. Located about 35 miles from Dripping Springs in Zilker Park (2100 Barton Springs Rd.), admission ranges from free to $5 depending on the night you attend. If you have small children or just don’t want to wait in line, you can also purchase a $25 Zip Pass to skip ahead of the crowds and get to the lights.
About 47 miles north of Dripping Springs you’ll discover the Walkway of Lights at Lakeside Park in Marble Falls (305 Buena Vista Dr). This lighted walkway is open from 6 – 10 every night (weather permitting) and features dozens of light displays. Best of all, it’s free and you can even bring your dog along for the holiday stroll.
If cruising in your car is your preferred way to see some Christmas lights, then be sure to check out the Peppermint Parkway at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas racetrack (9201 Circuit of The Americas Blvd). A $40 admission gets your car on the racetrack as you make your way through a mile of twinkling lights, dancing characters, and holiday magic.
Catch a Show
Two holiday classics are returning to the stage this December that you’re going to want to see before the final curtain falls. The Broadway version of How The Grinch Stole Christmas will be playing in Austin’s Bass Concert Hall from December 6 – 11 with one show on Thursday and Friday, three shows on Saturday, and two shows on Sunday. Tickets to this Tony Award-winning musical start at $30.
The Austin Ballet will also be presenting its 60th annual production of The Nutcracker December 3 -23. The Austin Symphony Orchestra will be providing music for this iconic Tchaikovsky ballet that’s a must-see for young and old alike. Tickets start at $15.
There’s plenty to love about living in the Austin area. And as a resident of Dripping Springs, you can be close to all the holiday festivities in the big city and come home to a peaceful Hill Country community. To find a new home in Caliterra, the Gateway to the Hill Country, contact our team.
