Chug It, Ride It, Hoof It: Three Fresh Holiday Events in Austin

Let's see...holiday events. Trail of Lights? Done it. Thirty-Seventh? Seen it. Whole Foods ice-skating? Survived it. The holidays are filled with old and new, tradition and novelty. This Christmas, why not give your holiday events in Austin a breath of fresh air?

Travel Back in Time

It's your chance to escape twenty-first century Austin. What could be better than to take a holiday ride on a romantic steam train as it chugs through the Hill Country? Bring your little ones on the North Pole Flyer and watch their faces as Santa and Mrs. Claus appear on the train to give them a holiday gift. The event includes hot cocoa, story time and Christmas caroling. The train departs from Cedar Park, just north of Austin.

The most popular train ride event for Austin, however, is the Hill Country Flyer to Main Street Bethlehem. It, too, leaves from Cedar Park in the afternoon and then travels through the beautiful Hill Country to historic Burnet. Take a holiday stroll through ancient Bethlehem to see a snippet of Christmas as it was over 2,000 years ago. Event tickets range from about twenty dollars to forty-three dollars, depending on which car you choose. All aboard!

Roll in Style

There's no better way to see the tree in front of the Capitol or the Governor's Mansion this holiday than by carriage. A ride through downtown Austin also offers some gorgeous Victorian homes and the romantic Colorado River. Make a reservation ahead of time for this event to secure a spot.

Tip for this Austin holiday event: know what you want to see along the tour. There are several packages and prices to choose from, as well as different ride lengths. Carriages usually operate from dusk to eleven pm.

Join the Revelry

It's a holiday event like no other. First Night Austin takes place this year on Thursday, December 31 when you are cordially invited by local artists to take part in transforming Austin. This year's theme is "Illumination:Celebrating Austin's Best" and will kick off with a Grand Procession down Congress Avenue. Artists and performers will use famous Austin locations as their canvas and stage. The event doesn't end there. Stick around for the midnight fireworks display for the New Year.

This is a free, family-friendly and non-alcoholic holiday event in downtown Austin. What more could you ask for this holiday? Well, comfortable shoes, maybe. Be prepared to walk, as First Night Austin covers a large portion of downtown. You'll want to pick up a program guide and map ahead of time, as it's a huge event and impossible to take in all the sites.

So step out in style this holiday and experience Austin with these three fresh events. Who knows? Maybe you'll start a new tradition.