Christmas 2012 has gone down in history; I hope yours was wonderful, with family and friends.

Are you making any New Year’s resolutions for 2013? I just read that instead of listing several “I would like to be…” type resolutions, you could have far better results from choosing just your three top resolutions. Instead of some elusive resolution like: “I want to lose weight” or “I will read more,” you’ll have more success by resolving to “clean the hall closet this week,” “lose five pouds by March 1” or “plan to read one new book each month” so that your goals are measurable.

If your resolutions are more specific, you have a better chance of following through.

Make sure that one of your New Year’s resolutions includes planning to take in more local activities and to promote Austin and the surrounding area more often.

Here are some events you can participate in this winter.

•Monday (New Year’s Eve): New Year’s Eve Extravaganza at the Paramount Theatre.

This show features a host of local talent including championship fiddlers, a hula hooper, drum expedition, juggling, yodeler, and musicians playing blues, rock and roll, reggae and country. Each patron will also receive a New Year’s party favor to bring in 2013 right. For more information visit paramounttheatre.org. Advance tickets are $14 for adults and $5 for students. Tickets are $2 more at the door.

•Jan. 5: Listen to the hits of Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and more as Denny Charnecki & Friends bring Dance Party to the Paramount Theatre. Visit paramounttheatre.org for online ticketing.

•Jan. 8: The Chamber Business After Hours will be hosted by The Hormel Institute, Austin Bruins and the Austin CVB. We will be highlighting all events planned for the second annual Paint the Town Pink fundraiser scheduled for Feb. 1-10. Join us there.

•Jan. 12: Sign up for the Dammen Nordic Cross Country Ski Race at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center. The event includes the 8 K classical, 13 K freestyle and one mile beginners/kids race. Go to www.hormelnaturecenterskirace.info for more information.

•Jan. 12-March 10: Uncle Sam’s New Deal traveling exhibit will be on display at the Austin Public Library, from the Minnesota Historical Society and hosted by the library and Mower County Historical Society. Check out www.mower

countyhistory.org.

•Jan. 18-19: Lyle Area Cancer Auction at the Lyle American Legion. Proceeds to benefit The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota and Mayo Clinic. Check out www.lyleareacancer.org.

•Jan. 26-27: The Northwestern Singers present their winter show “Hooked on Country” at 7 p.m. on Saturday and 3 p.m. on Sunday at the Historic Paramount Theatre.

•Jan. 27: The Hormel Historic Home will host the 2013 Wedding Showcase, with Belles & Beaus and ViDeyo Arts, starting at noon. Players from the Austin Bruins will be modeling. Get details at www.hormelhistoric

home.org.

As we move into January, please consider participating in the Pink Decorating Contest. You can find registration forms on our website at www.austincvb.com. This contest is free to enter and is currently open with three categories: Home, Business and Non-profit. You must be entered to win.

Winners in each category will get tickets to the Austin Bruins annual Paint the Rink Pink on Feb. 2 where they will be announced publicly. They will also be our guests at the Pink Pancake Breakfast at St. Olaf Church on Feb. 3.

You can also participate in the fundraising aspect of Pink Week by contacting our office. Already, we have restaurants and merchants offering special discounts during the 10 days of Pink. Several businesses are offering special deals, schools and churches are taking up special donation offerings, some workplaces are asking their staff to pay $1 to wear pink. All of this will be donated to The Hormel Institute. The Austin CVB is acting as the clearing house for the event, and all proceeds go to breast cancer research and awareness at The Hormel Institute. Every family has been touched by cancer in some way. Mine certainly has.

If you want to help and plan to participate, but are not sure of how to get involved, call or stop by our office. We have developed a business packet full of ideas on how to get involved.

The sooner you let us know, the more free advertising you will gain via all of our promotions, facebook pages, radio shows, newspaper columns, weekly email blasts and more.

Lastly, if you are a Facebook user, find and “like” our page at Paint the Town Pink. There, you’ll be updated on all the latest news and special deals around town.

Our goal is to raise more than $100,000 for cancer research this time and we know it can be done because Austinites always rise to help a good cause. Thank you so much in advance.

For the full listing of all winter activities in and around Austin, please check out our Calendar of Events on our website at: www.austincvb.com. You can call us at the Austin CVB office for events and information at 507-437-4563. We can give you the details about the events you are interested in. Let us know what is happening with your group or organization, so we can help promote it to our visitors. Make the most of all Austin has to offer this season. Happy 2013 from all of us at the Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau.