Let Austin Arts Events Enrich Your Holidays
December 8, 2016 by Rebecca Johnson
The holidays are upon us, and Austin is alive with opportunities to enjoy cultural treats, from visual art, to music, to theater and dance. In the spirit of the season, we’ve rounded up ways to bring the arts into your plans—including some free events!
Celebrate with Visual Art
Blanton Museum of Art
Dec. 10, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Children 12 and under FREE
Celebrate the holidays at the Blanton. Explore Warhol By the Book while playing ANDY bingo in the galleries and collecting our seasonal Blanton Pin as your prize. In the WorkLAB studio, create festive cards and ornaments.
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center
Dec. 10, 6-9 p.m.
FREE
This holiday party features art activities for the family, plus Latin food and music.
Elizabet Ney Museum
Dec. 11, 6-8 p.m.
FREE
Enjoy drinks and desserts. Please bring gifts for Helping Hands children of need.
Celebrate with Music
Austin Symphony ‘Christmas in the Community’
December 6-23
Locations and times vary; see website
FREE
Various ensembles from the Austin Symphony will perform free holiday concerts around town, from the State Capitol, to city recreation centers, to the Trail of Lights, culminating with the Stardust Big Band show on December 23 at Symphony Square.
Klett Center for the Performing Arts (Georgetown)
December 8-10, 7 p.m.
Tickets $5
The Georgetown High School Show Choir presents a Broadway-style musical revue.
Paramount Theater
December 10, 3:30 and 7:30
Tickets $22-$37
Michelle Schumann, Utah Hmick and David Sierra of Austin Chamber Music Center perform Vince Guaraldi’s classic music from the TV special.
Faulk Central Library
December 11 and December 18, 2 p.m
FREE
The Austin Public Library presents the Central Concert Series, featuring classical guitarist Steve Kostelnik.
Blanton Museum of Art
December 15, 5:30pm
FREE
Sing-along led by Conspirare director Craig Hella Johnson and featuring the Conspirare Symphonic Choir and percussion ensemble Line upon Line. Following the Big Sing, enjoy a performance by Austin’s Panoramic Voices.
Celtic Christmas at the Cathedral
St. Mary’s Cathedral
December 16 & 17, 7:30 p.m.
Tickets $30
This annual event produced by the Celtic Cultural Center of Texas features Irish and Scottish traditional music.
Celebrate with Dance
The Long Center
December 3-23
Tickets $35 – $89
Ballet Austin performs the Christmas classic to the music of Tchaikovsky. Choreographed by Stephen Mills.
Of Mice & Music — A Jazz Tap Nutcracker
The Long Center
December 8-18
Tickets $11.50 – $29
Tapestry Dance Company performs their annual take on a holiday classic, with music by Great Austin Jazz Quartet.
Celebrate with Theater
The Zach Theater
Showtimes throughout December
Ticket prices vary
Enjoy the family musical “A Christmas Carol” adapted from the Charles Dickens story (Nov. 23-Dec. 31) or the hilarious “Santaland Diaries,” (Nov. 23-Dec. 25) adapted from David Sedaris’ autobiographical Holidays on Ice. The family program “Holiday Heroes” takes place Dec. 17.
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center
December 16, 8 p.m.
FREE
Alex Garza performs his Tex-Mex holiday classic about his family and beloved grandmother Rosita.
Events complied by Rebecca Johnson, editor of McDonald Observatory’s StarDate magazine and volunteer blogger for the Blanton.