Your guide to the tree lighting, rooftop trains, ugly sweaters and all the merry madness

The holidays are officially clocking in at Fairmont Austin and the hotel is going full North Pole meets Texas big energy. This place does not just hang a wreath and dim the lobby lights. They build full train cars on the rooftop, deck twenty foot nutcrackers in custom ugly sweaters and hand Santa enough cookies to power a small village.

If you need an easy way to feel festive without wrestling a string of lights at home, this is the move. Fairmont Austin stacked the calendar with family moments, skyline viewed mischief, over the top sweets, live entertainment and a ton of ways to feel charitable without even trying. Here is everything worth knowing so you can stroll into the season with zero stress and maximum cocoa.

Annual Tree Lighting and Photos with Santa

Saturday December 6 from 5 to 8 pm
Free admission

Fairmont Austin kicks things off with the annual tree lighting hosted by Trevor Scott from CBS Austin. Expect a warm crowd, complimentary cookies and a rooftop Santa photo setup that actually looks good on camera. Bring a new unwrapped toy to help Dell Children’s Holiday Village and you will officially earn your spot on the nice list.

Dell Children’s Holiday Village Toy Drive

November 20 – December 15

Drop new unwrapped toys in the lobby donation boxes to brighten the season for Dell Children’s patients and families. It takes about twenty seconds and you get instant good karma.

The Fairmont Express Holiday Train Car

Tables are $100 up to four people
Opens November 28

Fairmont Austin built a vintage inspired holiday train car on the seventh floor rooftop and it is pure magic. Grab a booth, sip something warm and build your own hot cocoa with toppings that should come with a parental advisory. There is also a seasonal menu of sweets and snacks. Group buyouts are available if you want your own private train moment.

Hours
Tuesday through Friday from 5 pm to 11 pm
Saturday from 11 am to 11 pm
Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm

Fireside S’mores

$25 per person

Settle in at the rooftop firepits with handcrafted s’mores kits and seasonal cocktails. Each firepit seats up to six and the city views make it a perfect nighttime hang before or after dinner.

Hours mirror The Fairmont Express schedule.

The Ugly Sweater Pop Up Holiday Bar at Rules and Regs

Tuesday – Saturday from 5 pm – 11 pm
November 28 – December 30

Rules and Regs gets a full holiday transformation complete with themed drinks, over the top decorations and skyline views. Happy hour runs from 5 to 6 pm. The lobby greets you with two twelve foot nutcrackers wearing Austin’s largest handmade sweaters. More than two thousand yards of yarn went into these things and each sweater is more than four feet wide. Very Texas energy.

Beauty and the Beast at Bass Concert Hall and Fairmont Austin Experiences

Beauty and the Beast arrives at Bass Concert Hall from December 2 to 14 and Fairmont Austin is leaning all the way into the theme. Guests can check out lobby displays of costumes from the show, sip themed cocktails and mocktails, and taste the Enchanted Apple Tart that looks like it came straight out of a storybook. The Fairmont Spa is also offering the VENN Gold Renewal Facial featuring a 24K nanogold mask.

Proceeds from select themed offerings benefit Texas Performing Arts Broadway Experiences for Youth which helps students experience Broadway productions.

Jolly Dolly Holiday Drag Brunch

Sunday December 21
Seatings start at noon and performances start at 1 pm

This crowd favorite drag brunch returns to The Ugly Sweater with big personalities, bigger wigs and holiday energy that could power a small light show. Great food, great entertainment and always a quick sellout.

Kids’ Brunch Buffet with Santa

Sunday December 14
Saturday December 20
From 10 am to Noon

Kids can decorate cookies with Executive Pastry Chef Christophe Frigara and enjoy pumpkin pancakes, brioche French toast and other favorites. Santa will read Twas The Night Before Christmas and children can bring toy donations to support Dell Children’s on the fourteenth or pick a wish from the Make A Wish tree on the twentieth.

Adults – $80
Children ages 6 – 12 – $35
Children five and under are free
Self parking included

New Year’s Eve at Fairmont Austin

Garrison New Year’s Eve Chef’s Tasting Dinner

Wednesday December 31, 6 pm
$150 per person

Executive Chef Jakub Czyszczon celebrates his return with a deluxe tasting menu and optional wine pairing. A refined way to start the final night of the year before the party continues upstairs.

Midnight Rhinestone Rodeo New Year’s Eve Bash

Wednesday December 31
Doors open at 9 pm
$125 per person
Adults 21 and up

The seventh floor turns into a full scale New Year’s Eve party with live music, skyline views, disco touches and cowboy chic energy. Guests enjoy gourmet bites, dessert, a welcome drink and a midnight champagne toast. Expect a raw bar, grill station, DJ sets and plenty of dancing.

Holiday Stay Specials

Fairmont Austin Black Friday Flash Offer
From November 21 – December 3 guests can book thirty percent off the best available room rate with prices starting at 159 dollars per night for stays through May 31. A perfect excuse for a December staycation or an easy holiday gift for someone who needs a night away from their inbox.

For the full lineup of holiday offerings visit Fairmont Austin Holidays and follow along on Facebook and Instagram for seasonal updates. Enjoy the festivities and treat yourself to something merry this year.