Don’t miss these fun Thanksgiving events in the Central Texas area.
Across the country, Thanksgiving kicks off the holiday season, and in Texas it’s no different. From Thursday to Sunday, Thanksgiving is full of activities across the Lone Star State. Texans gather together to celebrate Texas-style Thanksgiving traditions, from parades to jazzed up dishes. To get involved, check out these fun Thanksgiving events happening in Central Texas.
November 22, 2018
The Long Center – Austin, TX
Don’t miss the Turkey Trot benefitting Caritas of Austin. They have been the Trot’s beneficiary for the last 27 years, and they believe that when every person has a stable place to call home, they can realize their full potential and contribute to our community. Caritas builds well-being by making sure that people have a safe home, access to healthy groceries, jobs that provide a reliable living wage, and educational opportunities to learn life skills. Whether you walk or run the event, be sure to join in or cheer on the participants!
November 23 & 24, 2018
Main Street – Boerne, TX
It’s a celebration full of children’s activities, live performances, (including holiday favorite “Bah Humbug: A One Man Christmas Carol,”) horse-drawn carriages, food merchants and more. Held every Thanksgiving weekend, Dickens on Main transforms Boerne’s historic Hill Country Mile into a vintage winter wonderland complete with snow on Main Street, ice sculpture shows, photos with Santa, a 60-foot snow slide and of course holiday shopping. Don’t miss this fun holiday event!
Chuy’s Children Giving To Children Parade
November 24, 2018
Downtown – Austin, TX
The parade starts at the State Capitol at 11th and Congress, moves south on Congress all the way to Cesar Chavez, and ends just north of the Cesar Chavez bridge.
This is a fun family event that benefits Operation Blue Santa, so be sure to bring new unwrapped toys to donate! At a designated time during the parade procession, all units will stop to collect the donated toys and Santa’s Helpers will line the parade route to help collect your toy donations. All toys collected will be distributed by the Operation Blue Santa Program to children in need just in time for the holidays.
52nd Zilker Holiday Tree lighting
November 25th, 2018
Zilker Park – Austin, TX
Austin’s annual Zilker Holiday Tree Lighting kicks off the season of festivities in Zilker Park the Sunday after Thanksgiving, and its complimentary and open to anyone to enjoy! Now in its 52nd year, the Zilker Holiday Tree is the largest man-made holiday tree standing 155 feet tall, composed of over 3,000 lights and built upon one of Austin’s 17 historic moontowers. Access to the Zilker Tree is totally independent from Austin Trail of Lights admission, but we encourage you to come down to Zilker Park and enjoy both! Food vendors and other merchants will operate at the tree throughout the month of December. The Zilker Holiday Tree will be on display each night from 6:00 p.m. to midnight until the end of the year.
Find out more info here: https://austintexas.gov/zilkerholidaytree
Whole Foods Ice Skating on the Plaza
November 24, 2018 – January 15, 2019
Whole Foods-Austin, TX
A must-do for locals and visitors alike, Ice Skating on the Plaza at the flagship store (located in downtown) has become one of Austin’s most anticipated events of the holiday season! The ice rink is open daily from 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. and is a much-loved fun event! Be sure to check the Whole Foods website for scheduled closure dates and times and don’t miss out!
Whether you’re celebrating with family traditions or will be making new memories at one of these events, we wish you a happy and safe Thanksgiving.
