’T

is the season to bundle up in a coat and spend hours lounging in the warmth of a fireplace.

But for those that do happen to leave their cozy abodes, there are a few places in the Austin area to enjoy the holiday season.

The Trail of Lights and the Zilker Park Christmas tree are common favorites. However, they are not the only places to spend time with your family this season.

For people that don’t celebrate Christmas but still want to do something this winter you can always attend the Whole Foods ice skating rink. 

Sophomore Hanah Rivera recently visited the Whole Foods ice rink.

“The rink was really great and it had a nice view. But I wish I hadn’t been falling down every few seconds,” Rivera said.

For those that do celebrate Christmas, there is a plethora of options available for places to go this season. You can go to the 37th Street light show, Project X-Mas, or even the Elgin Christmas tree farm.

People who want to focus on keeping their children busy this season can always take them to the Austin Children’s Museum Gingerbread House Workshops going on from Dec 14-15 and 21-24.

The gingerbread houses are $20 each and tickets are $8 per person. However there is no limit to how many gingerbread houses people can purchase as long as they purchase tickets for all participants.

Another thing that people can do this winter is go and see the Nutcracker on Dec 19-22.

“I went to see the Nutcracker when I was younger and it was an incredible experience,” junior Bailey Irwin said. “I’d jump at the chance to go again. The cast was very skilled and graceful.”

Junior Rosaura Hernandez said that her favorite part happens when Clara, of the nutcracker, wakes up.

“My favorite part is when she wakes up and sees the mice and nutcracker fighting,” Hernandez said. “I really get lost in the moment.”

For those who are not partial to the Nutcracker but  would like to see Christmas classics brought to life in the theater the public can attend  “A Christmas Story,” a play based on the classic holiday film featuring Ralphie and his quest for the Red Ryder B.B Gun.

The play runs all the way through December 29 and takes place at the Zachary Scott Theatre.

Also taking place at the Zachary Scott Theatre until the Dec. 29  is “This Wonderful Life,” a play based off of the Christmas mainstay, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Martin Burke plays all 37 characters from the film in this lively adaption.

For those that don’t mind fighting crowds, but want to keep their holiday outings simple, the Zilker Park Christmas tree and Trail of Lights offer a chance to take in the holiday spirit.

Sophomore Noah Cheatham said he was impressed with the scale of the event.

“The tree was so big,” Cheatham said. “There were concession stands in the middle of the tree with funnel cakes and kettle corn. It was hard to resist standing in the middle of the tree and spinning around until you got dizzy.”

Senior Dayana Sanchez’s family has a tradition they perform after going to the Trail of Lights.

“We always go to Hopdoddy’s after we see the trail of lights,” Sanchez said.

Hopdoddy’s is a Burger bar with two locations in downtown Austin.

People who want to do some Christmas shopping can always go to the mall but for those that want to support local artists the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar will be taking place from Dec. 17 – Dec. 24.

The Bazaar offers live local music and has art from over 160 local artists available for purchase.