Jingle, Mingle, and Meet Kris Kringle

🎉 Ring in the new year at these kid-friendly NYE events in Austin (all on Dec 31)

🎉 @pikopyestown Lakeway has a balloon drop, dance party, and visit from Bluey from 9am-noon!
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🎉 @indigoplayaustin will have all this free with paid admission:
⏰ 11am-1pm
🎈 Balloon drop at noon
🍕 Free pizza at 12:30pm
🥂 Champagn for adults, juice for kids
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🎉 @thinkeryatx
⏰9-11am or 1-3pm
🎈Balloon & scarf drops
🎨 Maker activities
🎟️ $35

🍺 @stelmobrewing
📍 both locations but Springdale has a playground
⏰ 11am-6pm
🥂 fun drinks (even for kids!), face painting, & more

🎉 @stargazerbar
⏰ 3-7pm
🍕 @bambinoatx
🥂 cocktails & mocktails
🎶 DJ dance party
🚀 rocket ship playground
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🎉 @sparetimetexas
⏰5-8:30pm
🎟️$38-43
🎳Bowling, shoes, unlimited video games (no prizes), pizza, desserts, soft drinks, and more
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🎉 @pinballz_lakecreek
⏰10am
🎟️$15 (VIP is $20)
🎈Countdown Balloon Drop, crafts, activities, arcade games, and more
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🎆Austin’s New Years at Auditorium Shores
⏰7pm-midnight
🎟️Free & open to the public
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🎉 @kalahariresortsroundrock
🍕Buffet at 6pm
✨Glow Party at 8pm
🎈Balloon Drop
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🎉 @totboxplaycafe
⏰Countdown/Balloon drops happen at 11:15am, 2pm, & 4:15pm
💻Book your play time slot online
🧸Dance party with Tot Box Teddy
🫧 Bubbles
🥂Cider toasts & more
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🎉 @high5
💻Book at either location
🎟️$99-129 for family bowling session also includes game cards & champagne/cider toasts
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🎉 @austinpubliclibrary
📍 Yarborough Branch, 2200 Hancock Dr., Austin
⏰10:30am-noon
📕 Storytime, make your own wishing star, firework art, noisemaker, bubbles, and a big balloon drop. All ages welcome!
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🎉 @cedarparklibrary
⏰11am-noon
💃🏼 Dance party, countdown, and more (ages 2-12)

❄️ TODAY ONLY!!! ❄️ Dec 21 until 4pm!

Real snow, snow tube slide, rides, bounce houses, crafts, games, and more! All for FREE!!!

📍 @chascofamilyymca
1801 N Interstate Hwy 35, Round Rock, TX 78664

🚗 Off-site parking will be located at:

YMCA Camp Round Rock/Boles Family Sports Complex on N. Mays Street
Starry Building – 1300 N. Mays Street
First United Methodist Church – 1004 N. Mays Street
Central Texas Beauty College – 1400 N. Mays Street
Bus transportation will be running 9:30am-4:30pm from all locations listed above.

4️⃣ Austin Hikes With Playgrounds 🥾

First day hike ideas! Do you do a hike every year on Jan 1? It’s a fun tradition (that’s FREE!) to do every New Year’s Day.

Here are 4 Austin area hikes that also have playgrounds:

1️⃣ Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park, 12138 N Lamar Blvd, Austin
2️⃣ Spicewood Valley Trail/ Mountain View Park, 8900 Westerkirk Dr, Austin
3️⃣ Balcones District Park, 12017 Amherst Dr, Austin
4️⃣ Great Hills Trail, 10700 Floral Park Dr, Austin

Got out of town guests coming to visit for the holidays? Stop by this hidden playground at the airport cell phone lot!

Just park near the public restrooms at the cell phone lot by the airport while you wait for your visitors to land, the kids can play while you wait! 🤗

Daily events:
☃️Frosty Snow Globes at @plantparty.co
⛸️Winter Wonderland at @thepitchaustin
✨ @37thstreetlights sunset-10pm
⚡️ @diagonalleyatx free Harry Potter neighborhood lights display
✨ @mozartscoffee Lake Austin Festival of Lights
⛸️Ice Rodeo at @fsaustin
⛸️ @visitmarblefalls Winter Ice Rink & Walkway of Lights
⛸️Bee Cave On Ice @hillcountrygalleria
⛸️Ice skating at @longcenter 12/5-1/5
🎭It’s A Wonderful Life at @penfoldtheatre
🛍️ @armadillobazaar 11am-9:30pm
✨Trail of Lights @cityoflakeway 6pm-midnight
🩰The Nutcracker @balletaustin at @longcenter 2pm
🎅🏻 Santa’s Wonderland at Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s (free photo with Santa)
⛺️ Fortlandia and Luminations at @wildflowercenter
✨Austin Trail of Lights @atxlights
🎳Santa at @bowlhigh5 Lakeway
🚗 @peppermintparkway 6-9pm
🚗 @santasranch 6-11pm
🚗 @maywaldchristmaslightdisplay 6-10pm
🚗 @thelightpark at Dell Diamond
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12/20
🎨 Arty Party at @contemporaryatx Laguna Gloria 10-11am Free admission!
🚂 Free holiday model train exhibit at City Arts Center of Round Rock 11am-5pm
🛍️Holiday Arts Market at @hillcountrygalleria 4-9pm
🎥The Grinch @skishores 7pm
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12/21
🎅🏻Santa at @easytigeratx South Lamar 10am-1pm $12
🏠 Gingerbread house contest at @frontyardbrewing
💚Grinchmas at @toastybadgeratx 11am-1pm
🚂 Free holiday model train exhibit at City Arts Center of Round Rock 11am-2pm
🎭Judy Moody show at @srtaustin 11am & 1pm
🎅🏻Photos with Santa at @dearaustintx 10am-noon
❄️Christmas Dreams & Snowy Things @chascofamilyymca 10am-4pm
🥞 Breakfast in Whoville at Gus Garcia Rec Center @austincityparks 10am-noon
📚 Story Time at @BookPeople at 10:30am
📖 Free Story Time at @PaperBarkBirchbooks at 11am
🤣 @excusedabsencecomedy kid-friendly improv show at 11am $5 at @coldtownetheater
😂 @csz_austin Comedy Sportz at @pinballz_lakecreek at 7:30pm
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12/22
🛍️Holiday Market at @brentwoodsocialhouse 10am-4pm (with Santa photos from 11am-1pm)
🎭Judy Moody show at @srtaustin 11am & 1pm
🎶 Free live kids music at @cherrywood_coffeehouse 10am
🦖 Free 4th Sunday at @texas.science.museum 1-5pm
🤣Family-friendly improv show at @hideouttheatre 4pm $5
🎅🏻 Photos with Santa 3-5pm @stargazerbar

🎅🏻 Santa Brunch 🍳 at @julietitalian Georgetown this Sunday! 🙌

🎟️ Tickets are $30 (link in bio)

📅 Sunday Dec 22 9am-noon

🎅🏻 Step into an immersive Christmas experience like no other at our Santa Brunch! Show up in your favorite pajamas and enjoy a delicious breakfast buffet featuring “decorate your own pancakes,” fresh fruit, crispy bacon, warm cocoa, and more. Take memorable photos with Santa (digital and print options available) and join Mrs. Claus for a heartwarming storytime and caroling session. Santa’s elves will lead crafts and decorating activities, while the Letters of Love station lets you spread joy by writing letters to children in need. Each 90-minute session gives your family full access to all these magical holiday activities. Make this Christmas unforgettable at this Breakfast with Santa event!

👉CAMPS
👩‍🍳 @surlatable Holiday Baking Camp
🤸 @jump_gymnasticsaustin Camp Jump
🎨 @saplingsatx Winter Camps
🔬@idealabkidsaustin Holiday Camp
💪 @kidstrong_ Winter Camp
🧗‍♀️ @cruxcc Winter Break Camp at 2 locations
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👉HIKES
🌳Great Hills Trail
🌳St. Edwards Trail
🌳Bull Creek
🌳Barton Creek
🌳Brushy Creek Trail
⛰️Mt. Bonnell
🦚Mayfield
🌳Walnut Creek
🌳River Place Nature Trail
🌳McKinney Falls
🌳Reimers Ranch
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👉PARKS
💚Alliance Children’s Garden
💙Play For All Abilities in Round Rock
💜Garey Park in Georgetown
🩵Creative Playscape in Georgetown
❤️Lakewood Park in Leander
🧡Zilker
💚Waterloo
🤎Pease
💚Springwoods
💚Katherine Fleischer
💛Walnut Creek
🩷Balcones District Park
🧡Mueller Lake Park
🤍Elizabeth Milburn Park (BMX track)
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👉BREWERIES/BARS WITH PLAYGROUNDS
🍺 @jesterkingbrewery
🍺 @meanwhilebeer
🍺 @austinbeerworks (both locations)
🍺 @stelmobrewing Springdale
🍺 @fastfriendsbeer
🍺 @lazarusbrewing (Airport)
🍺 @slackersbrew (indoor play area)
🍺 @fitzhughbrewing
🍺 @12foxbeer
🍺 @bouldinacres (both locations)
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👉INDOOR PLAY
💙 @indigoplayaustin
🧡 @pikopyestown
🔫 @dartemup
🔫 @blazertag
🛼 @pins.and.wheels.at.playland
❤️ @thinkeryatx
⛰️ @mtplaymore
🧡 @urbanairsouthaustin
💜 @altitudeatx
💦 @splashshacktx
🎮 @cidercade_austin
🏎️ @pinballz_lakecreek
🧸 @totboxplaycafe
🥷 @ninjanationatx
🐅 @junglemovement
🎨 @createstudioatx
🧗‍♀️ @cruxccpflugerville
💙 @catchaisraustinn
💚 Play Street Museum
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👉DAY TRIPS
💚Waco: @cpzoo, @drpeppermuseum, @maybornmuseum
💚San Antonio: @thedoseum, @sanantoniozoo, @naturalbridge.wildliferanch
💚 @sciencemilltx (and the Johnson City Lights!)
🐣 @sweeteatsfruitfarm
⛸️ @visitMarbleFalls Walkway of Lights
🎅🏻 @santasranch
🦖 @dinosaurparktx
⛰️Enchanted Rock
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👉STAYCATION IDEAS
🦖 @texas.science.musuem
🚂 @zilkereagle
🌀@museumofillusions_austin
⛳️ @thedirdiebirdie
⛳️ @theofficialaustins
🔑 @theescapegame
⛳️ @peterpanminigolf
🌸 @wildflowercenter Fortlandia (thru Feb 2) and Luminations (thru Jan 5)
🌻 @zilkerbotanicalgarden
🛶 @rowingdock
🦕Austin Nature & Science Center (FREE!)
💦 @kalahariresorts
⭐️ @bullockmuseum is FREE on Jan 5
🍦 @museumoficecream
🚲 @9thstreetbmx
🌳 @westcave Outdoor Discovery Center

❤️ NEW THINKERY NOW OPEN FOR PLAY! ❤️

📍 5301 Ross Rd, Del Valle

The new Del Valle branch of the @thinkeryatx is now booking FREE open play sessions for the community!

What you need to know:

💻You must book your reservation online before you go. Tickets are FREE, but reservations are required. You will need a ticket for every person in your party (babies, kids, and adults). Tickets are available one week before day of admission.

⏰ Tickets are good for 2 hours. You must leave when your time slot is over, no matter what time you arrive. If you come late, they will make you leave even if you haven’t had a full 2 hours there. So be on time!

📅 Play Sessions are available Dec 21, 26, 27, & 28. Available time slots are 9-11am, 11:30am-1:30pm, and 2-4pm

🚗 Parking is free!

👀 Go to thinkeryaustin.org/delvalle to book!