EVENT: The Downtown Austin Alliance, KUT 90.5, Austin’s NPR station, and KUTX 98.9, The Austin Music Experience, invite the community to start the holidays downtown on Saturday, Dec. 3, at the annual Holiday Sing-Along and Downtown Stroll! All events are free and open to the public.
The festivities begin at 6 p.m. when crowds gather on the south steps of the Capitol to sing songs of the season, led by KUTX 98.9 music hosts John Aielli and Elizabeth McQueen. Attendees will receive a commemorative songbook (while supplies last).
As the clock strikes 7 p.m., the countdown to the lighting of the Capitol tree begins. Once lit, the tree features a programmed light show at the top and bottom of every hour set to holiday songs of local Austin musicians.
From 7 to 9 p.m., Congress Ave. will be abuzz with holiday cheer during the Downtown Stroll. Enjoy live music from the Invincible Czars, Huck Johnson and the Jackknives, and AISD choirs. Other fun activities include a special holiday farmers’ market by the Sustainable Food Center, photos with Santa in an airstream trailer, a performance of Circus Chickendog’s The Mutt-Cracker (SWEET!) and more! Shops, restaurants, galleries and museums will be open late and will feature special activities and offers.
Attendees are encouraged to support the fight against hunger in our community by bringing non-perishable food or cash donations for the Central Texas Food Bank. Last year’s Holiday Sing-Along and Downtown Stroll raised more than 1,400 meals for Central Texans facing hunger; over the last five years, it’s raised more than 9,800 meals.
The Central Texas Food Bank is accepting non-perishable food donations at each event entrance, as well as monetary donations at the staffed Food Bank tent, located near 1005 Congress.
WHEN:
- Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016
- 6 – 6:55 p.m.: Holiday Sing-Along with John Aielli
- 6:55 – 7 p.m.: Lighting of the Capitol Christmas Tree
- 7 – 9 p.m.: Downtown Stroll
WHERE: The Sing-Along takes place on the south steps of the Texas State Capitol (11th Street and Congress Ave.). The tree is stationed at the south gates of the Capitol lawn. The Stroll will take place along Congress Ave. from 11th St. to 9th St.
INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES: Representatives from the Downtown Austin Alliance, KUT and KUTX, and the Central Texas Food Bank are available for interviews before, during and after the event.
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Note to editors: Photos from previous year's events are available on the Downtown Austin Alliance Flickr site and KUT’s Flicker pages: 2015 Sing-Along photos, 2014 Sing-Along photos, 2013 Sing-Along photos and 2012 Sing-Along photos.
