Austin, TX

Now that Thanksgiving is over it’s time to move on to the next holiday. For some, that holiday is Christmas and for kids that’s all about Santa Claus. Here are a few places you can take the kids to see the man in red:

Santa at Barton Creek Square
When: Daily 11/7/08 - 12/24/08
Where: Barton Creek Square, 2901 South Capital of Texas Highway
$$$: Free

Santa at Lakeline Mall
When: Daily 11/8/08 - 12/24/08
Where: Lakeline Mall, 11200 Lakeline Mall Drive, Cedar Park
$$$: Free

Santa at Highland Mall
When: Daily 11/22/08 - 12/24/08
Where: Highland Mall, 6001 Airport Boulevard, Austin
$$$: Free

Kids can visit with Santa in his village on the lower level near Men’s Dillard’s. Photo packages available for sale.

Kyle’s Santa Arrival & Tree Lighting
When: Wednesday, Dec. 3rd, 5pm
Where: City Square Park, Downtown Kyle
$$$: Free

Watch the lighting of the Christmas tree, listen to the local school choirs and see the arrival of Santa Claus!

Sights and Sounds of Christmas - San Marcos, Texas
When: Thu.-Sat., Dec. 4-6, 6-11pm
Where: San Marcos Plaza Park, 202 C.M. Allen Pkwy. N., San Marcos, 512/393-5900
$$$: Free

Lights, lights and more lights. About 600,000, in fact, will be lighting the bans of the San Marcos River. Visit Santa’s village and ride the carousel. Visit the live Nativity scene. Enjoy food and entertainment, Sock-skating, funnel cakes, Sahawe Indian Dancers, live mariachi music, grade-school choirs, drum lines, and Santa on a fire engine. Everything you could possibly want in a Christmas Festival and more!

Kinderfest
When: Saturday, Dec. 6th
Where: Pioneer Museum, 325 W. Main Street, Fredericksburg, TX 78624
$$$: Children $3, Adults $5

In a long-standing tradition that harks back to Germany, St. Nicholas will make a stop at the Pioneer Museum in Fredericksburg on Saturday, December 6 to fill the stockings of boys and girls at the annual Kinderfest. Children are invited to bring their Christmas stockings to the Kammlah House between 1:30 and 2:00 p.m. There, the stockings will be hung over the large kitchen hearth in anticipation of a visit from Saint Nick. Beginning promptly at 2:00 p.m., the children will walk to the social hall to make crafts and enjoy refreshments. Evelyn Weinheimer will read a children’s story, and Annabelle Wilkinson will play the accordion and lead the singing.

Weihnachts Fest Parade
When: Saturday, December 6th,
Where: Main Street Plaza Gazebo, Boerne, Tx. 6pm
$$$: Free

Annual celebration of Boerne’s German Heritage with an evening lighted parade through Historic Downtown Boerne, from River Road to Blanco Road. The parade will start at 6:00 p.m. on Main Street.

Santa’s Workshop
When: Saturday, December 13 2008, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Where: Heritage Oak Park, 875 Quest Parkway, Cedar Park, TX
$$$: Free

Santa’s Workshop, music, games, a yule fire, arts & crafts, hot cocoa and of course… Santa Claus. Bring the whole family for what promises to be a festive evening.

Cowboy Christmas at Enchanted Springs Ranch
When: 20 - 21 Dec 2008
Where: Enchanted Springs Ranch, 242 Hwy 46 W, Boerne, TX. 830-249-8222
$$$: $12 adults, $6 kids (ages 3-12), Kids under 3 are free

An active western town and movie set Shows, hayrides, caroling, petting zoo and a Cowboy Santa highlight this fun event!

If you know of any other Santa visits in the area or would like me to list your event, please leave me a message!