The annual Christmas in the City celebration will be held today in Downtown Austin.

Meet at First Avenue and Main Street at 5:30 p.m. and walk with Santa Claus, the Austinaires and other holiday characters to the stage to light the downtown Christmas displays.

Festivities include photos with Santa, live entertainment, free face painting by Matchbox Children’s Theatre and a fire engine on Main Street from the Austin Fire Department.

Businesses holding in-store activities are Austin ArtWorks Center, B&J Bar and Grill, Bendixen Jewelry, Bridget’s Dance Conservatory, Coffee House on Main, George’s Pizza, Hastings Shoes, Home Country Connections Electronics, InnoVision Eyecare, Life Safety 4-U and Poet’s Heart (Town Center Lobby), Lou’s Forever Framing, Piggy Blues BBQ, Real Deals, Rydjor Bike Shop, Salvation Army Kettle Kick-Off (On Track building), Sew Chic Alterations, Spam Museum, Sweet Reads, The Bakery Lounge, The Style Lounge, Twice is Nice, and Zonta Organization (On Track building).

Visitors can cap off the evening by attending the Jane Taylor Academy of Dance Christmas Show at 7:30 p.m. at the Historic Paramount Theatre.

Dancers will be performing scenes from “The Nutcracker” and other holiday dances. A free will donation will be accepted at the door.

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Don’t miss these other upcoming Christmas events:

• Nov. 27 – Christmas in the Northwest, 4-7 p.m. on 18th Avenue Northwest and the surrounding area. Participating businesses include Applebee’s, Arby’s, Asa Auto Plaza of Austin, Austin Holiday Inn, Culvers, Games People Play, Hardee’s, Perkins Restaurant, Pizza Hut, Pizza Ranch, Shopko, Stadheim Jewelry, and Super Fresh Bakery and Produce.

• Nov. 29 – Christmas in the Southwest, 4-7 p.m. at Sterling Shopping Center and the surrounding area. Participating businesses include Apollo Liquor, Apollo Superette, Berg’s Nursery (Petting Zoo), Bursch Travel, Cornerstone Church, D&G Ace Hardware, Faith Church, Family Video, H&R Block, Habitat Re-Store, Japan Panda, McDonald’s (Oakland Avenue location), Re/Max Results, Sterling Drug Main Street, Sterling State Bank, and Wellness 1st Chiropractic Clinic.

• Dec. 4 – Christmas in the East, 4-7 p.m. at Jim’s MarketPlace and the surrounding area. Participating businesses include the Austin Eagles Club, Emerge Fitness, Hoot & Ole’s Tavern, Huffman Flooring Design Center, Jim’s MarketPlace Foods, and Star Liquor. Other participating east locations include the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center, CCI Granite, Hardy Geranium and Kwik Trip (10th Place Northeast location).

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Schedule of Events

Friday

• Nativity House Tours, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 606 Oakland Place NE, Austin. Take a walk through this private home and discover over 950 different Nativity Sets collected from across the world. Small donation requested, which goes to the Salvation Army. For groups of 10 or more, please call 507-437-4563; for individual visitors, call 507-433-2643.

• Second Floor Art Gallery Open House – Annual All Members Show, 5-7 p.m. at the Austin ArtWorks Center. Second Floor Art Gallery Open House celebrating the artwork of the Austin ArtWorks Center members. Exhibit will run from Nov. 16 to Jan. 5, 2019. Free and open to the public. Refreshments served. For more information, go to www.austinareaarts.org or call 507-434-0934.

• Austin Bruins vs. Chippewa Steel, 7 p.m. at Riverside Arena. Go Bruins! For more information, call 507-434-4978.

Saturday

• Nativity House Tours, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 606 Oakland Place NE, Austin. Take a walk through this private home and discover over 950 different Nativity Sets collected from across the world. Small donation requested, which goes to the Salvation Army. For groups of 10 or more, please call 507-437-4563; for individual visitors, call 507-433-2643.

• Book Art for All Ages – Origami, 10:30-11:30 a.m. at the Austin Public Library. Free monthly activity. For more information, call 507-433-2391.

• Small Business Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Sweet Reads. Celebrate and enjoy local small businesses. Sweet Reads will be featuring in-store specials and samples. For more information, call 507-396-8660.

• Post Black Friday Stress Reliever, at the Austin Eagles Club. Spend the afternoon playing Bingo or Horse racing and enjoy a cocktail. Stay to listen to “Milo Savage” from 7:30-11:30 p.m.

Sunday

• Nativity House Tours, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 606 Oakland Place NE, Austin. Take a walk through this private home and discover over 950 different Nativity Sets collected from across the world. Small donation requested, which goes to the Salvation Army. For groups of 10 or more, please call 507-437-4563; for individual visitors, call 507-433-2643.