With Thanksgiving over, Austin turns to the winter holidays this weekend.
The Zilker Holiday Tree returns for the holiday season on Sunday. Celebrating its 47th lightning ceremony, the Holiday Tree will remain lit nightly, from 6 p.m. until midnight, until Dec. 31.
Taking place on Saturday is the annual Chuy’s Children Giving to Children Parade. The parade, benefiting Operation Blue Santa, begins at 11 a.m. in downtown Austin. That means street closures from 6 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday. (See a map below.)
San Jacinto Boulevard will be closed from E. 11th Street to E. 15th Street during that time. Other street closures begin at 9 a.m., and include Congress Avenue between 11th Street and the Ann Richards Bridge.
The City of Austin suggests some alternative routes for traffic:
- For North/South travel: Lamar Boulevard, Guadalupe Street, Lavaca Street
- East/West travel: Certain lanes of Cesar Chavez Street, Fifth and Sixth Street will be kept open until 10 am to allow for traffic; after that time, 15th Street is the best route to use if you need to pass through downtown.
Drivers are encouraged to be extra cautious due to the high pedestrian traffic around the parade. For more information visit the city Transportation Department’s website.
