Christmas in the City Kick-Off

6-8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23
Downtown Austin

HOLIDAY PARADE WITH SANTA: Meet at First Avenue Northwest and Main Street, in front of Hastings Shoes. Children light the way as the Austinaires, Santa Claus, and a cast of holiday characters march from the corner to the Town Center stage to light the downtown Christmas displays. Free glow sticks will be distributed to children by Chamber Ambassadors. See Bruiser the Austin Bruins Mascot, Merry Elf and other holiday characters walking the streets throughout the night.

KICKOFF ACTIVITIES

Free Photos with Santa: by Mary Peck Photography; located in the Town Center Building. Candy cane treats for the kids.

Fresh Baked Cookies while people wait in line to see Santa; provided by the elves from the Cedars of Austin.

Live Entertainment: the Austinaires, Riverland Theater, Taylor Bliese and emcee; Paul Pruitt. Sound provided by Imagery Sound.

Horse-drawn Sleigh Rides.

Captain Kirby Train Rides.

Musical Entertainment in Town Center: Cedar River Strings, The North Star Brass Quartet and Ecumenical Bell Ensemble. Plus, the magic of Jim Jayes.

Free Hot Chocolate & Cheese samples: Donated by the Dairy Association and served by Mower County Dairy Princesses, in the Martial Arts building.

Free Face Painting: Matchbox Theatre located in the Martial Arts building.

Christmas at the Paramount, 7:30 p.m.: Jane Taylor Academy of Dance Christmas Show with scenes from the Nutcracker Suite.

Welcome Center open house: Come enjoy some light refreshments and entertainment. Meet staff and see renovated space.

Yoga Studio of Austin: Come for fun and games along with snacks for the entire family.

Tienda Y Taqueria Guerrero: Visit this unique store and enjoy some holiday candy.

Vacuum Doctor: Register for a free bagless canister vacuum to be given away. Ask about holiday specials.

Merry Elf: A magical, colorful personality will hand out treats to children and light up the downtown area from 6 to 8 p.m.

Donut Connection: Stop in for a free scoop of pumpkin ice cream. Coffee & Hot Chocolate.

B&J Bar & Grill: Free ooey-gooey smores served outside.

Twice is Nice: A spectacular Holiday open house. The store will be filled with decorating ideas for three floors of holiday splendor. (20 percent off all gifts Nov. 23 and 24 only) Vintage items, antiques & clothing.

Evenson’s Hallmark: Stop in for treats.

Bendixen Jewelry: Everyone is welcome to stop in for holiday treats and hot cider. Lay away that special Christmas gift for your special someone. (Your secret is safe with us!)

Coffee House on Main: Stop in and warm up with a cup of our coffee or hot chocolate. You can enjoy watching the festivities from the comfort of our store. Children can talk to Power 96 Radio at the Coffee House and record “Innocent Christmas Wishes” for Santa.

Piggy Blues BBQ: Free sample of Gelato (Italian ice cream) and register for prizes like $100 in chamber bucks, $100 Piggy Blues gift card or $100 certificate from Healing Palms Spa.

Novades Crystal: Come in and enjoy a cup of “Ponche.” Browse our store for many special items for Christmas.

Lou’s Forever Framing: Decorate a free photo mat for your picture with Santa.

Healing Palms Spa: Offering homemade fudge and hot apple cider, lots of in store deals with additional vendors such as Norwex, Namaste Crystals and others.

Belles & Beaus: Watch our “live” models enjoy free hot cider and donut holes from Donut Connection.

Ooh La La Handbags & Accessories: Open until 8:30 p.m. We will be giving away door prizes each hour. Santa’s helper will be out front with candy canes for all.

Innovision Eyecare: Stop in for cookies, cider and coffee.

Philomathian Religious Books & Gifts: Open House with 20 percent discount on all merchandise all night long.

Austin Fire Department: (Across from Rydjor) Fire Trucks will be there along with “Sparky;” also watch fire extinguisher safety demonstrations.

ViDeyo Arts: Open House. Visit us in our “New” location.

El Mariachi’s: Christmas treats for the kids.

Rydjor Bike: Help us kick off the Holiday Season; we will be serving hot apple cider and kids can come in and decorate their own sugar cookie. In store specials all season.

Hastings Shoe Store: Open House with refreshments. 10 percent savings on in stock boots & shoes.

Flippin Furniture: Open House; stop in for holiday treats and register for special prize drawings.

Bell Liquor: Sign up to win gift certificates. Stock up for the holidays — Mention this ad and receive 10 percent off purchase from 6 to 8 Nov. 23. Some exclusions apply.

Christmas in the NW

4:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 27
18th Avenue (Mall Area)

Usem Chevrolet: Make a holiday ornament.

AmericInn: Kids come fishing with the Bruins players. Santa to greet the kids. Dylan Kaercher will perform “Swinging Into Christmas.” Cookies, juice and special prizes.

Hy-Vee: Christmas cookie decorating.

Culver’s Restaurant: Come and see “Live” reindeer that came all the way from the North Pole, hoping some day to be able to pull Santa’s sleigh. Start your night here with dinner.

Double K Specialty: Christmas in the Barnyard.

Games People Play: Join us for holiday face painting & homemade donuts. Austin Bruins players along with “Bruiser” will be making an appearance. Storewide discounts all night long.

Dolan’s Landscape Center, Inc.: “Feed the Birds” Learn how to attract birds and make a pinecone bird feeder to take home and place in your yard. Purchase that “fresh” cut tree from us.

Community Bank: Captain Kirby train rides for all children, warm apple cider & holiday tattoos for the children.

Maurices: Christmas tattoos and candy canes for all the kids.

Walmart: Horse-drawn sleigh rides for the whole family.

Stadheim Jewelers: Kids come and make your very own Christmas bracelet while enjoying the warmth of our store.

Applebee’s: Get your picture taken with Santa.

Target Parking Lot: Fire Trucks will be there along with “Sparky;” learn about fire extinguisher safety.

Edward Jones: Refreshments. Register for Door Prizes

Austin Tobacco: Open House — Christmas treats and refreshments available to all!

Quiznos Sub: Free kids cookies, children under 12.

Great Clips: Bean bag toss and holiday treats.

Quick Care: Austin’s convenient care clinic, will offer Christmas craft making! Kids can make their very own craft.

Staples: Christmas Ornament Decorating.

Arby’s: Stop in and visit with “Bubbles the Clown” and make a special Christmas memory.

Wendy’s: Fix and mix your own frosty, fake tattoos, hot chocolate, candy canes. Decorate a sugar cookie and register to win a boys and girls bike.

Shopko: Apple cider, Christmas candy & cookies for the tummy. Fun little crafts for the children.

Sears Hometown Store: Enjoy flavored popcorn!

Willow Cove: (Oak Park Mall) Kids make a glass bead Christmas magnet while mom & dad check out our new store.

Oak Park Mall: “Swinging into Christmas” Christmas performance at center stage starting at 7:15 p.m.

Christmas in the SW

4-7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29
Sterling Shopping Center and surrounding area

Dairy Queen: Stop in to see Santa and enjoy holiday treats.

Sterling Drug Main Street: free picture with Santa from 4 to 7 p.m. All children will receive a free gift from Santa.

Cellular Connections: Stop in for warm drinks, cookies and giveaways (Austin Bruin tickets and a Verizon phone). Also, “Bruiser” the Bruins mascot will be visiting. Everyone can warm up while watching Christmas movies.

Cornerstone Church: Kids will have a blast jumping in the inflatable bounce house, having their face painted and doing a very special Christmas craft.

Bursch Travel, Inc: Stop in and get some fresh popcorn and the kids can play a game.

Moline Awards & Engraving: Come through the alley to decorate your own edible Christmas tree. Enter to win a childrens book. Also a Scentsy consultant will be on hand.

D&G Ace Hardware: Enjoy some cookies and apple cider while browsing our store. Drawings for kids.

Sterling State Bank: Horse drawn sleigh rides in the parking lot co-sponsored by Overby Orthodontics. Come in for some holiday treats and apple cider. Enjoy performances from Austin’s Big band, playing a variety of holiday music at 5:00 and the Just For Kix Dancers at 6 p.m. Kids crafts.

Sterling Café: Warm up with a bowl of chili for $2, hot dogs for $1, chili dogs for $2, pop and coffee $1.

Sterling Main Street Parking Lot: Fire trucks will be there along with “Sparky;” learn about fire extinguisher safety.

Sterling Beauty Salon: Warm up with us while enjoying cookies, cider and receiving a free gift bag.

Elrod, Green & Hyland, DDS: Children come by to enter our coloring contest for great prizes. We will be serving hot chocolate, cider, cookies and Santa will be giving away his very special toothbrushes.

Berg’s Nursery: Come at 5 p.m. and check out our barnyard friends at the petting zoo. Enjoy apple cider and cookies while shopping for that “fresh” cut Christmas tree.

Apollo Liquor: Come in for wine tasting.

Apollo Superette: Stop by for some Hawaiian shaved ice Tropical Snow samples.

Walgreen’s: Hunt for treasure throughout the store and get your picture taken with Santa.

McDonalds Restaurant: (on Oakland), Come enjoy free hot chocolate and Christmas decorating activities.

Essential Life Spa: Specials on tanning and spa packages, chair massages, home vendors on hand. Beverages, treats and drawings for all on this special night.

American Family Insurance Lindsay Harnack Agency: Come in and enjoy food, drinks, a drawing and giveaways.

Christmas in the County:

Dec. 7, Christmas in the County Pre-sale Bake Sale, 4 to 6 p.m. Mower County Historical Society, 1306 Sixth Ave. SW. Free admission, all ages welcome. Buy your Christmas baked goods the day before the Christmas in the County event. Cookies, lefse and other homemade treats. Donating to the event is Chef Jack (with his cookies) from The Cedars of Austin.

Dec. 8, 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday, at the Mower County Historical Society, 1306 Sixth Ave. SW. Free admission, all ages welcome. Take a ride on a horse-drawn sleigh or create a special holiday craft. Shop for holiday treats at our bake sale. Place a bid on silent auction items. Don’t forget to bring the kids to visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Austin Festival of Lights

Nov. 23 to Dec. 30

Thursday-Sunday evenings 5 to 10 p.m. at Beaver Trails Jellystone Park off Exit 187 of Interstate 90. Enjoy the second year of display of lights from the warmth of a vehicle. This community event will benefit non profit organizations in and around Mower County. Visit www.austinfestivaloflights.org for more information.

More holiday events galore

November to December: Holidaty show the Austin Area Art Center will be having their annual art and craft sale. Open Wednesday through Sunday Noon-4 p.m.

Nov. 21: Historic Paramount Theatre, 7:30 p.m. the Mower County Humane Society presents “Comedy Night.”

Nov. 17: Berg’s Nursery, Annual Open House. Free cookies and cider; storewide holiday specials.

Nov. 23: Community National Bank, 12 to 5 p.m.

Enjoy Holiday treats and warm cider at our main street office.

Nov. 23-25: Dolan’s Landscape Center, Holiday Open House.Find a great selection of fresh cut trees, wreaths, roping and other holiday items. Refreshments will be served.

Nov. 24: Berg’s Nursery, 2 p.m. Holiday wreath decorating seminar; register through the Community Education Office. Call 507-460-1704 to register.

Nov. 24-25: Historic Paramount Theatre, Forever Christmas Tour XXII, Celebrate the charitable and timeless traditions of Christmas as we treat you to the warm and elegant theatre experience Forever Christmas.

Nov. 26: Santa’s Mailbox launches at 12 p.m. through Dec. 21. Kids, drop off your letter to Santa at the HHH in Santa’s Mailbox. Listen to Power 96 for “Innocent Christmas Wishes” interviews in December.

Nov. 26-Dec. 21: The Cedars of Austin, Schedule a tour of the Cedars and get a free pie the day of the tour. Call 437-3246 to schedule yours today!

Nov. 28: Golden Tress Salon and Day Spa will host a holiday open house and wine tasting from 5 to 8 p.m.

Nov. 29: Berg’s Nursery will host a petting zoo for the kids and a “dips and drink” sampling for the adults from 5 to 7 p.m.

Nov. 24-30: Holiday Technology Celebration at Simplified Technology Solutions. Join us for computer and tablet specials for the techy in your life, and get some real hands-on training. Holiday treats and refreshments for all!

Nov. 30, Dec. 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9: Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas,” Frank W. Bridges Theatre, Riverland Community College Theatre will kick off the holiday season with this beloved musical based on the classic Hollywood film! Call 433-0595 for tickets and show times.

Dec. 1: Austin’s “Merry Tuba Christmas” 2012. Tuba Christmas celebrates its 39th anniversary. Players of the tuba, sousaphone, baritone and euphoniums will perform great Christmas carols to kickoff the holiday season. The concert will be at 2 p.m. on Oak Park Mall’s center court. The concert is free. Registartion is $5 for players.

Dec. 4: First Farmers & Merchants State Bank Holiday open house, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Coffee, hot apple cider, and other holiday goodies.

Dec. 7: US Bank Open House, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Come and enjoy coffee, hot cider, and other holiday goodies.

Dec. 7: Ooh La La! Handbags & Accessories, man night/beer tasting at 6:30 p.m. Easy shopping for the women in your life. Lots of food plus beer tasting from Apollo Liquor. Sales & discounts as well as door prizes all night long.

Dec. 8: Historic Paramount Theatre, 7 p.m. Red Cross fundraiser. “Swinging Into Christmas” featuring Dylan Kaercher, Teiler Miller, Austinaires, The Swing Sisters and much more. Advanced tickets available at the box office.

Dec. 9: Historic Paramount Theatre, 4 p.m. “Home Free Holiday” A cappella. Technically it’s what they do. But they’re not your bow-tie barbershop quartet.

Dec. 11: Home Federal Savings Bank open house, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Join us and enjoy good conversation, hot apple cider, coffee and holiday cookies.

Dec. 13: Historic Paramount Theatre, 7:30 p.m. SimpleGifts featuring Billy McLaughlin.

Dec. 14: Accentra CU, Open House, 1 to 5p.m. Stop in and enjoy a variety of decorated holiday trees. We also will be serving specialty ice cream.

Dec. 15: Historic Paramount Theatre, 7:30 p.m. DC Music presents “Elvis Christmas” featuring Joe Sir.