The 10 Best Things to do in Austin this Holiday Season

Written by: Becca Youngers

While we might not get the typical “winter” weather, we sure make up for it with themed pop-ups and events throughout December. We’ve compiled our list of the 10 best things to check out this month in Austin, both classic and new. Check it out!

 

1. Austin Trail of Lights @ Zilker Park

Celebrating its 60th year anniversary, the Austin Trail of Lights is a holiday staple of many for good reason. The trail has more than 2 million lights, 90 lighted holiday trees, and more than 70 other holiday displays and tunnels, according to their website. It officially starts on Tuesday, Dec. 10 this year. They are also offering a two-mile “Fun Run” on Saturday, Dec. 7. If you’re wanting to save some money but still want to visit, head out on a weeknight (most are free admission!) and enjoy stunning views of the Austin skyline from Zilker park. 

 

Runs From: Tuesday, Dec. 10 – Monday, Dec. 23

Buy Tickets Here

2. Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience

Calling all Harry Potter lovers! The Harry Potter franchise, specifically the early books/movies, has become synonymous with the holiday season. New this year to Austin, Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience is located about 30 minutes from downtown. This experience transports you to the wizarding world and includes fan-favorite scenes, characters and interactive light displays. 

 

Runs From: Now – Sunday, Jan. 5

Buy Tickets Here

 

3. Ice Skating at the Long Center

Who wouldn’t want to skate with one of the best views of the Austin skyline? The Long Center’s iconic skating rink opens on Thursday, Dec. 5 and is open to the public for an entire month! They’ve also got hot cocoa, hotty toddys, and other snacks to get you into the holiday spirit!

 

Runs From: Thursday, Dec. 5 – Sunday, Jan. 5

Buy Tickets Here

 

4. Peppermint Parkway & Plaza at Circuit of the Americas

Remember F1 in October at Circuit of the Americas? Well now that it’s the holiday season, the course has been transformed into a mile-long winter wonderland full of lights! Peppermint Parkway is back this year for its fourth year! It started in 2020 as a way to bring that holiday spirit back amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, and it has stuck ever since. After driving through, you can head to Peppermint Plaza and explore the vendors and amusement rides! Tickets are sold by car for Peppermint Parkway, so grab all your friends and head out to COTA!

 

Runs From: Now – Sunday, Dec. 29

Buy Tickets Here

5. Mozart’s Festival of Lights

The iconic Mozart’s Festival of Lights is back and better than ever this year! Mozart’s has been an essential spot for studying, enjoying jazz, and getting into the holiday spirit for over 30 years. This year they’ve made some upgrades to their Festival of Lights. You can now rent out an “Immersive Igloo” to enjoy with up to 10 guests. They are also offering boat cruises on Lake Austin for groups. If you would rather just keep it classic, they are still offering their standard admission. This year, they’ve also expanded the time blocks for tables to 2 ½ hours instead of 1 hour. 

 

Runs From: Now – Saturday, Jan. 4

Buy Tickets Here

 

6. 37th Street Lights

Can you believe an entire residential street puts on one of the best light displays in Austin? The lights on 37th Street in the Hyde Park neighborhood are a must-see during the holiday season for many locals. The street began this tradition in the 80s, and they’ve been keeping it weird ever since. They shut down the entire street to car traffic and host local bands throughout the weeks leading up to Christmas and New Years. 

 

Runs From: Friday, Dec. 13 – New Years

Instagram Here

7. Markets for Makers @ Palmer Events Center

Already planning out your gifting for the holiday season? Make sure to add in the Markets for Makers onto your shopping itinerary! This organization hosts markets in major cities throughout the United States featuring local vendors and small businesses. They have over 120 vendors planning to attend the Austin market. If you’re looking for something fun to do the first weekend of December, check them out!

 

Runs From: Saturday, Dec. 7 – Sunday, Dec. 8 

11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Buy Tickets Here

 

8. Check out a Holiday Movie Party @ Alamo Drafthouse

Alamo Drafthouse has been a beloved place to catch a movie and enjoy great food in Austin since its first location opened on Colorado Street in 1997. As time has gone on, Alamo has added new and fun experiences to their typical movie screenings, including movie parties. Your ticket for the movie party includes props and a guaranteed fun time. This year, they are offering parties for holiday favorites: ELF, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, The Polar Express and Gremlins. 

 

Runs From: Now – Monday, Dec. 23

Buy Tickets Here

9. Check out a Holiday Pop-up Bar

If there’s one thing we’re not short of in Austin during the holidays, it’s a pop-up bar. Local favorite bars transform into winter wonderlands full of exclusive drinks and incandescent lights for all of December. Treat yourself to happy hour or a weekend with friends any time this December and check out some of our favorite pop-ups below!

Some of our favorites Here

10. See The Nutcracker at the Long Center

When you think about classic holiday traditions, seeing The Nutcracker is one that is a staple for many people. Ballet Austin is back at the Long Center for their rendition of the classic ballet. We recommend dressing up, grabbing dinner near the Long Center, and enjoying the show!

Buy Tickets Here

 

Conclusion

These are just a few of our favorite holiday things going on in Austin this season. Austin has been voted the most festive city in the U.S. for the third year in a row, so grab your friends and enjoy everything the city has to offer right now. Happy holidays to you and yours from Urbanspace!

 

 

How to Have the Best Thanksgiving in Austin

Written by: Becca Youngers

October in Austin was full of ACL Fest, F1, UT football games, and Halloween celebrations! Even with all these events, it’s hard to believe November is already here! While most are wondering when the appropriate time is to pull out holiday decorations from storage, Thanksgiving is just around the corner!

Maybe it’s your first Thanksgiving in Austin, your family members are coming to visit, or you’re spending it alone and want to make the most of the holiday! Whatever the case, we’ve compiled our guide to having the best Thanksgiving Day in Austin. Take a look!

 

ThunderCloud Subs Turkey Trot

Yes, we understand the Turkey Trot can be a controversial Thanksgiving tradition. We often categorize ourselves into Turkey Trot families and non-Turkey Trot families. But the ThunderCloud Subs Annual Turkey Trot is a little bit different. Held just south of downtown at the Long Center, they offer a 5-mile run as well as a 1-mile run/walk, so no worries if you’re not a runner!

It’s been a tradition since the 90s in Austin, and according to their website, it’s the largest 5-mile run held in Texas! To give thanks and give back to the community, they donate 100% of the proceeds made to Caritas of Austin, helping the homeless in Austin. 

Check out the history of the race here

Sign up for the race here

 

Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Once you’ve finished trotting, or walking (we don’t judge!), head back home and turn on the iconic, classic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The massive balloons, amazing musical performances, the Radio City Rockettes, and so much more make the parade an essential part of many Thanksgiving celebrations around the country. 

One of the marching bands performing is the Flower Mound High School Marching Band, so it’ll be awesome to see some Texas representation at the parade. You can tune into the parade on NBC from 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., or if you have Peacock, NBC’s streaming service, you can watch it any time on there!

Check out the lineup here

 

Check out To-go Offerings at Tómalo Grill

Love Thanksgiving but don’t want to plan out an elaborate meal yourself?  No worries! Tómalo Grill is currently taking to-go orders for Thanksgiving offerings until Sunday, Nov. 17. The offering will feature Thanksgiving favorites with a modern Mexican twist. There are also options for a pastry add-on or a wine add-on depending on your preferences. Order ahead now and pick up on Wednesday, Nov. 27!

Check it out here

 

Catch a Football Game at Crown and Anchor

Known for being open every day of the year, Crown and Anchor is a great place to catch one of the NFL games on Thanksgiving day. They’ve also done a free potluck in past years, so keep your day of eating going strong at this legendary pub!

The lineup for this year (in local Austin time):

• Chicago Bears vs Detroit Lions (11:30 a.m.)
• Dallas Cowboys vs New York Giants (3:30 p.m.)
• Dolphins vs Packers (7:20 p.m.)

Crown and Anchor website here

 

Tell Your People You’re Thankful for Them!

Whether or not you can be with friends, family, or loved ones on Thanksgiving, take the time during the holiday to let them know you’re thankful for them. Call them or text them, and tell them that you’re thinking of them. Thanksgiving can be a very stressful time of the year, but it

is also a great holiday to take a step back to reflect on all of the amazing people and things in our lives.

 

Conclusion

Here at Urbanspace, we’re so thankful for the family we’ve created within our company and the family we’ve created in the Austin area and beyond. We hope this time of year will be an opportunity for gratitude and thankfulness. Happy November!

 

 

Urbanspace’s Guide to ACL 2024

Festival heads & music lovers, this one’s for you!

Written by: Becca Youngers

With its inaugural year in 2002, the Austin City Limits Music Festival (ACL Fest) has certainly added to Austin’s title of “Live Music Capital of the World.” The two-weekend festival kicks off the fall season each October. The festival is set for Oct. 4-6 and 11-13 this year and is expected to bring in large crowds of locals and new visitors to check out all Austin has to offer. 

Whether you’ve attended since 2002, are a first time attendee or aren’t a festival person but love live music, we’ve curated our guide to two fantastic weekends celebrating music in Austin. Check it out!

 

Artists We’re Looking Forward To

Chappell Roan: The sky is truly the limit for this Midwest princess. After going viral from her 2024 Coachella performance, Chappell Roan has consistently sold out venues and drawn in massive festival crowds at Gov Ball and Lollapalooza this summer. She also recently was awarded Best New Artist at the 2024 VMAs. Expect audience engagement, lots of pink cowboy hats, and the “HOT TO GO!” dance (even if you don’t know it before, you will be doing it on a loop after!). 

Dua Lipa: Another big pop name making their way to ACL Fest, Dua Lipa is known for her big production value on stage including choreography and costuming. She’s stopping at ACL Fest on her Radical Optimism Tour and will be closing out both Saturdays on the American Express stage.  

Jungle: With “Back on 74” going completely viral on social media this past year, Jungle was a great grab for the festival. They’re a dance/electronic group from the UK that’s been making music for over 10 years together. They’ll bring a fun energy to both Saturday evenings playing on the Miller Lite stage. We’d recommend grabbing dinner in the food area and checking them out!

Leon Bridges: Raised in Fort Worth, Leon Bridges is returning to ACL Fest to begin his tour, “The Leon Tour.” Bridges is an R&B artist with music inspired by the soul music of the 50s and 60s. Bridges is a Texan through and through, and we’re excited to hear hits like “Texas Sun” and “Coming Home” on the American Express stage both Fridays of the festival.

Full schedule for both weekends: here

Support Smaller Artists!

While the headliners draw the majority of crowds each year, the entire artist pool is extremely diverse and everyone is worth checking out. If you have a free set between artists, we recommend checking out a smaller artist. Your support means so much to them, and who knows, if they become a huge artist one day, you can definitely call yourself a real fan of theirs!

Full Festival Guide from ACL: here

 

Eats & Drinks

Nervous Charlie’s: Arguably some of the best bagels in Austin, Nervous Charlie’s is a vendor at ACL Fest again this year! Nothing can really cure the itch for a good bagel besides the real thing, so check them out in the food area. 

Bambino: A new favorite in Austin after opening their doors in March 2024, Bambino, will be serving its pizza in the Big Tent this year. The Big Tent will also feature craft beer and cocktail options for attendees.  

Juiceland: Want a refreshing drink that’s not water or alcohol? Juiceland has you covered. They always bring out fun drinks for ACL that are extremely refreshing in between seeing artists. In the past they’ve had cherry limeade, blue raspberry lemonade, cucumber mojito agua frescas and many more!

Veracruz All Natural: Known for their incredible tacos, Veracruz All Natural will be back at ACL Fest this year. Started by two sisters, Reyna and Maritza Vazquez, with a dream of owning their own restaurant, they have become a favorite for many Austinies. 

Full list of 2024 food vendors: here

 

Tips & Tricks

Festival Shuttles: Don’t want to pay a bunch for transport? ACL Fest offers free shuttles to and from Republic Square Park downtown. The best part? They drop you off at a lower traffic entrance for a great start to each day at the festival. 

Hydration: Hydration is key at any festival or big event. While outside food and drink is prohibited, the festival has a good amount of water fill stations spread throughout the grounds. We’d even recommend a water backpack (these are allowed!) to avoid having to fill up frequently.

ACL Mobile App: ACL Fest offers a mobile app that allows you to create your own schedule for artists you want to see during the festival. You simply press the heart for each artist you want to see, and the app will notify you when to head to their set based on your preferences. You can also reserve lockers through the app for storage!  

 

Festivals aren’t your thing but you still love music?

ACL Fest Nights: If there’s just one or two artists you wanted to see in the lineup at ACL Fest, we definitely recommend seeing if they are part of ACL Fest Nights. They start on Wednesday Oct. 2 and continue until Oct. 11. Great artists like Still Woozy, Foster the People and Remi Wolf are all performing. It’s a great way to support these artists without paying the amount of a festival pass.

Hulu Streaming: Maybe you couldn’t justify paying for a pass to ACL Fest or crowds aren’t your thing, but you still love the lineup for this year? Hulu is streaming the first weekend of ACL Fest for all of its subscribers. This way you can tune in to your favorite artists from the comfort of your home!

Boiler Room Austin: For those into EDM and house music, Boiler Room is coming to Austin for two nights on Oct. 5-6. Based in the UK, Boiler Room has gained popularity and are coming to Austin, Dallas and El Paso for their BR World Tour. 

 

Conclusion

While ACL can be seen as a crazy, stressful time for a lot of people, the entire month of October is a great time to experience and try new things in Austin. Go see an artist your friend has always been talking about, try a new restaurant you overheard a local mentioning, or even switch up your coffee order with a fall special! The possibilities are truly endless. Happy October!

 

 

Top Five Places to Watch Texas Football this Fall

It’s football season and we got you covered!

Written by: Byrn Peters

As the excitement of Texas football season approaches, fans across Austin are gearing up to cheer on the Longhorns. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just love the game day atmosphere, finding the perfect spot to watch the game can make all the difference. Austin is home to a variety of sports bars and venues that offer unique experiences for football enthusiasts. From historic hangouts to lively patios, there’s something for everyone. Here are our top five favorite spots to grab a drink with friends and enjoy some Texas Longhorn football this fall.

1. The Tavern

Established in 1916, The Tavern has been Austin’s go-to spot for football fans for over a century. Known for its welcoming atmosphere and delicious sports bar fare—like bacon-wrapped wings, queso, and hearty burgers—The Tavern is a favorite among locals. With 46 HD surround TVs spread across its two levels. It’s a prime spot to catch both local and NFL games. If you’re seeking a historic and vibrant place to watch football, The Tavern is the perfect choice.

2. Skinny’s Off Track Bar

Skinny’s Off Track Bar is a 1970s-inspired sports bar perfect for football fans. With personal TVs in indoor booths and a spacious outdoor patio, it offers both cozy and lively atmospheres. Enjoy beer, wine, specialty cocktails, and bites from their on-site food truck. Don’t miss out on beer buckets and $5 Smashburgers—perfect for game day with friends!

3. Scholz Garten

Scholz Garten is one of the oldest bars in Texas, and has been an Austin favorite for over a century. Located near UT, this German beer garden is a prime tailgating destination. With authentic German food and the city’s largest selection of German beers on draft, it’s the perfect spot to enjoy a game in a historic setting.

4. Parlor and Yard

Located on West 6th Street, Parlor and Yard is a lively spot perfect for football fans. Known for its casual, laid-back vibe, this bar offers a mix of indoor and outdoor seating, complete with yard games to keep the energy up during halftime. With plenty of big screens, a solid drink menu, and a fun atmosphere, Parlor and Yard is a great choice for catching the game with friends on West 6th.

5. Victory Lap

Victory Lap, close to the UT Austin campus, is an elevated sports bar designed for Longhorn fans. Opening early for tailgaters and staying late for post-game celebrations, it’s a vibrant space filled with Texas Longhorn pride. The outdoor patio, set up as a turf field, has ample seating along with misters and fans to keep you cool on warm days. With a massive screen and multiple TVs, Victory Lap provides a top-notch game day experience.

 

Conclusion

Whether you’re looking for a historic venue steeped in tradition or a modern spot with a vibrant atmosphere, Austin has plenty of options for watching Texas football this fall. Each of these top five spots offers something unique! Hook ‘em, Horns!

 

 

 

Summer Activities To Do in Austin

Need some summer time fun?

Summer in Austin is a season filled with endless opportunities for fun and adventure. Whether you’re a local or just visiting, there are plenty of activities to help you make the most of the sunny Texas days. Here are some of our top recommendations to make your summer in Austin one for the books!

Cool Off at Barton Springs & Deep Eddy Pool: a natural spring-fed swimming hole located in Zilker Park, is an iconic Austin destination. The pool maintains a refreshing 68-70 degrees year-round, making it the perfect spot to escape the Texas heat. Just a short drive away, Deep Eddy Pool is another historic swimming spot with a laid-back vibe and a rich history dating back to 1915. Both locations offer a refreshing retreat and a quintessential Austin experience.

Hiking at Mount Bonnell: for those who enjoy outdoor adventures, a hike up Mount Bonnell is a must. As one of the highest points in Austin, Mount Bonnell offers breathtaking views of the city skyline and the Colorado River. The hike is relatively short but steep, making it suitable for most fitness levels. Once you reach the top, you’ll be rewarded with beautiful panoramic views.

Savor TX BBQ from Terry Black’s: no trip to Austin is complete without indulging in some Texas BBQ. Terry Black’s BBQ is renowned for its mouthwatering smoked meats and classic sides. Located in the heart of the city, this family-owned establishment serves up some of the best brisket, ribs, and sausage in town. Grab a plate, find a shady spot, and savor the flavors of authentic Texas barbecue.

Paddle board on Lady Bird Lake: situated in the heart of Austin, is a popular spot for water sports. Rent a paddle board and explore the serene waters while taking in views of the downtown skyline and lush greenery. Paddle boarding is a fun and relaxing way to enjoy the outdoors and get a bit of exercise at the same time. Don’t forget to bring your camera to capture the scenic beauty of the lake.

Enjoy Live Music at the Continental Club & the Elephant Room: Austin is known as the Live Music Capital of the World, and for good reason. The city boasts a vibrant music scene with numerous venues offering live performances. The Continental Club is a legendary spot that hosts a variety of genres, from rock to country. For a more intimate setting, head to the Elephant Room, a cozy jazz club in downtown Austin. Both venues provide an authentic taste of Austin’s rich musical heritage.

 

Pickleball at Bouldin Acres : is a prime spot for enjoying this fast-paced, fun sport. This outdoor venue combines great food, drinks, and pickleball courts, making it an excellent place to spend an afternoon or evening. Whether you’re a seasoned player or new to the game, you’ll find courts and communities welcoming to all skill levels. It’s a great way to stay active and enjoy the vibrant energy of Austin.