Christmas in the City Kickoff

Downtown Austin, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Nov. 25

Join Santa and his elves for the holiday parade and lighting ceremony. Meet at corner of First Avenue Northwest and Main Street at 5:30 p.m. and walk with Santa, the Austinaires and a cast of holiday characters to the Town Center stage to light the downtown Christmas displays. See Merry Elf and other holiday characters walking the streets throughout the night.

Kickoff Activities

•Free Photos with Santa by Mary Landherr Photography, located in the Town Center Building. Candy cane treats for the kids.

•Live Entertainment on stage including the Austinaires, Taylor Bliese and our emcee, Dick McIntosh. Sound provided by Imagery Sound. Horse-drawn Sleigh Rides

•Kaptain Kirby Train Rides Musical Entertainment in Town Center hear the Ecumenical Bell Ensemble, Peter Jacobs Group, and Emma Anderson. Jim •Jayes Magic! Free Face Painting by Matchbox Theatre in the ArtWorks Center.

•Austin Fire Department will have a ladder truck on Main Street, across from Rydjor Bike. Stop by to see Sparky!

•Jane Taylor Academy of Dance Christmas Show at 7:30 p.m. at the Paramount Theatre. Scenes from “The Nutcracker” and other holiday dances will be presented. Cost is a $2 per person donation to the Historic Paramount Fund.

In-Store Activities

B&J Bar & Grill: Stop by for Christmas treats!

Belles and Beaus Bridal & Formal Wear: Watch our “live” models, enjoy free hot cider and goodies!

Bendixen Jewelry: Warm up with hot apple cider and Christmas treats. 20 percent off all in-stock merchandise.

Coffee House on Main: Stop in for a cup of coffee or hot chocolate. 

Evenson’s Hallmark: Holiday Open House, In-store specials and treats!

Flippin Furniture: Stop in for your Christmas décor and furniture needs. Enjoy in-store specials and holiday treats while you shop! 

George’s Pizza: Children stop in for your red or green glow necklace!

Hastings Shoes: Open House-10 percent discount storewide. Enjoy treats! 

Home Country Connections, LLC: Warm up with hot chocolate, apple cider and treats. Satellite Dish Heater Sale!

InnoVision Eyecare: Come warm up with cookies, apple cider, coffee.

Lou’s Forever Framing: Stop in for photo ops with “life size cutout elves” plus game for children 13 and under receive Christmas mug prize.

Novedades Cristal: Come in and enjoy a free cup of “Ponche.” Browse our store for those special Christmas items.

Piggy Blues BBQ: Holiday Gelato samples (egg nog, pumpkin pie, candy cane, mint oreo). Register for prizes. 

Poet’s Heart and Life Safety 4-U: Coloring pages, drawing for free CPR class, candy for kids. 

Rydjor Bike Shop: Decorate your own Christmas cookie. Be creative!

Salvation Army Canteen: Stop by for free hot chocolate. 

Spam Museum: Stop in for warm cookies and write your letter to Santa. Music in the Museum by “The Dylan Kaercher Christmas Show.”

Sweet Reads: Costumed Characters will be reading Christmas Classics! You can also make unique bookmarks-great for all ages!

The Bakery: Hot chocolate, cider & games for kids. Adult specials!

Twice is Nice: Step into three floors of “A Winter Wonderland” with lots of decorating ideas and in-store specials. 20 percent off all gifts.

VFW Club: Ventura Highway 8 p.m. to close. Great listening and dancing music. Fundraiser for VFW Hockey. 

Willow Cove: Browse for gift ideas and register to win a handmade sign.

Yoga Studio and Massage of Austin: Crafts for kids, snacks, 10 percent off “With Yogi Love” craft boutique. Register to win free month of yoga, free 1 hour massage, and a gift basket. 

Zonta Club of Austin: Let there be peace during the holidays and let it begin with us! (in former Philomathian Store). Spreading peace and goodwill. Stop in for an activity and treat!

Christmas in the Northwest

18th Ave NW and the surrounding area 4-7 p.m. Nov. 29

Applebee’s: Get your picture taken with Santa and register to win 1 of 2 $25 gift cards to be given away!

Arby’s: Stop by and make a Christmas craft and get a treat!

Dolan’s Landscape Center: “Feed the Birds” Make a Pine Cone bird feeder and enjoy cookies and cider. Register for prize drawing.

Double K Specialty: Christmas in the Barnyard. Special in-store discounts during promotion. Sign up for prize drawing.

Games People Play: Stop in for homemade donuts and face painting. 25 percent off entire store (some exclusions) along with coupons for savings during the Christmas season. Register for gift cards to be given away.

Great Clips: Come take your picture with our mascot Sudz! Enjoy punch and snacks afterwards. 

Holiday Inn and Austin Conference Center: Enjoy hot apple cider while writing letters to Santa and making reindeer food. Enter your name into a drawing for a $20 Torge’s gift certificate. 

Hy-Vee: Come in for cookie decorating in the Hy-Vee Kitchen.

Maurices: Take your picture at our selfie station with backdrop and photo props! Register for prize drawing.

Perkins Restaurant: Kids eat free (one child per adult) and kids can register to win 1 of 3 $25 gift cards to be given away.

Pizza Hut: Free 1-topping personal pan pizza to children 12 and under. Face painting and kids crafts. Register to win 1 of 5 Large 1-topping pizzas to be given away. Triple Treat Box special:

(2-Medium Pizzas, Breadstix, and Dessert) $19.99.

Pizza Ranch: All children 10 and under eat free with purchase of adult buffet (1 child per adult). Pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Drawing for Take Out and Buffet coupons!

Shopko: Serving hot cider, punch and cookies. Including a “Jingle All The Way” craft kit while watching a holiday movie.

Usems: Come in and make your own holiday ornament to celebrate the Season. 

Walmart: Enjoy horse drawn sleigh rides and refreshments.

Christmas in the Southwest

Sterling Shopping Center and surrounding area 4-7 p.m. Dec. 1

Apollo Liquor: Come in and enjoy wine tasting and meat tray!

Berg’s Nursery and Landscaping: Come at 5 p.m. and check out our barnyard friends and the petting zoo. Also, enjoy hot apple cider, treats and Christmas specials!

Bursch Travel: Stop in for some fresh popcorn and an activity for the kids.

Cornerstone Church: Come jump in our inflatables, make Christmas crafts and enjoy our balloon animals along with cookies and hot chocolate. Also, come meet the Bruins  Hockey players!

Cricket Wireless: Enjoy our hot chocolate bar and decorate your own Christmas mug!

DandG Ace Hardware: Stop in and enjoy cookies for all! Also, donate to the food shelf and receive $5 off your next purchase of any non-sale items!

HandR Block: Come in and make a craft!

Habitat ReStore: Join us for music and the first 200 guests can win a Christmas Ornament. There will also be a tree purpose silent auction.

Japan Panda: Stop by and check out our new restaurant and enjoy some food gifts!

Kenny’s Oak Grill: Come meet Santa and Mrs. Claus and enjoy candy canes and cookies!

McDonalds Restaurant: (Oakland Ave) Come enjoy holiday crafts and free sampling.

Moline Awards and Engraving/United Pack and Ship: Stop in and create your own reindeer hot cocoa mix to take home.

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

Sterling State Bank: Horse drawn wagon rides in the parking lot co-sponsored by Overby Orthodontics. Come in and enjoy some cookies and warm or cold apple cider.

Christmas in the East; 4-7 p.m. Dec 6

Jim’s MarketPlace Foods (11th St. NE) and the surrounding area

Horse-drawn Sleigh Rides in parking lot sponsored by Jim’s MarketPlace Foods, Thoroughbred Carpets and Flooring, and Tom’s Heating and Air Conditioning/Dick’s Plumbing

Austin Eagles Club: Come make a craft and have your picture taken with Santa. Enjoy hot chocolate, cider and cookies.

Hoot and Ole’s Tavern: Stop in to spin the wheel for prizes; have your picture taken with Santa, Mrs. Claus and elves.

Jim’s MarketPlace Foods: Come inside for Christmas treats! Power 96/KQAQ 970 AM: Enjoy Classic Country Christmas music while having your sleigh ride.

Star Liquor: Kids stop in for a snack; Adults can sample a Hot Tottie.

Thoroughbred Carpets and Flooring: Stop in for cookies and cider

10th Street NE/SE

Austin Tire: (415 10th St NE) Stop in for refreshments; custom ornaments for kids to decorate.

Bobee Jo’s: (435 10th St NE) Come in and make a craft; enter a coloring contest. Enjoy popcorn while listening to Christmas music.

Hiawatha: (433 10th St NE) Pop a balloon at the dart throw to win a prize.

Kwik Trip: (1509 10th Place NE) Stop in and warm up with cookies and hot chocolate. 

Trimble’s Cycle Center: (5-7) (900 10th Dr SE) Stop by for refreshments, see Santa and have a ride on a snowmobile (weather permitting).

Christmas in the County

Dec. 9-10 Mower County Historical Society

A pre-bake sale will be from 4 to 6 p.m. on Friday. From 3 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, festivities will include a bake sale, silent auction, raffle, wagon rides and the train engine.