Here is our list of the best holiday party venues & ideas in Austin, Texas.
Holiday party venues & ideas in Austin are locations and activities to help your team kick off the holiday season. Examples include hosting a party at the Waller Creek Boathouse or taking the team to Esther’s Follies. These activities aim to get your team in the holiday spirit and reward them for a year of hard work.
These locations are places to hold holiday team building events and corporate Christmas parties. These ideas are similar to event locations in Austin and Austin corporate events.
This list includes:
- small party venues in Austin
- company holiday party venues in Austin
- holiday party ideas in Austin for adults
- holiday party entertainment ideas in Austin
Let’s get to it!
List of holiday party venues in Austin
When you live in Austin, it is not hard to find an awesome location to host your holiday party. Whether you are looking for a historic venue or a fun and modern one, you will find no shortage of places to choose from in the city.
1. The Bullock Museum
The Bob Bullock Museum in downtown Austin is one of the best company holiday party venues in Austin. This unique museum gives guests a glimpse into Texas history and is a fantastic place to host a party. You can choose from multiple spaces for your event, including the grand rotunda, any of the lobbies, or one of the two theaters. The staff will work with you to organize catering, audiovisual coordination, and parking and ensure a memorable experience for the whole team.
Check out the Bullock Museum.
2. The Roosevelt Room
The Roosevelt Room in downtown Austin is a trendy bar and club that also offers cocktail classes. Treating your team to a unique course that teaches a delicious drink recipe is one of the greatest holiday party ideas in Austin for adults. The classes hold between eight and 100 attendees. Each event includes three different cocktails and heavy snacks. Along with a fun time, team members will learn how to create a new drink they can make at home to celebrate the holiday season.
Plan an event at The Roosevelt Room.
3. Waller Creek Boathouse
The Waller Creek Boathouse is an excellent choice for a holiday party venue in Austin. This quiet and serene oasis is in downtown Austin on Lady Bird Lake. This beautiful location has modern amenities with a gorgeous view. You cannot beat the atmosphere of the boathouse. Plus, a skilled team works with you from start to finish to plan your team’s unforgettable holiday party. Waller Creek Boathouse is quite famous, so book your date well in advance.
Check out Waller Creek Boathouse.
4. AT&T Hotel and Conference Center
You get the best Austin offers when you host your holiday party at the AT&T Hotel and Conference Center. This location conveniently sits in the heart of downtown Austin right next to The University of Texas. Rooms of all sizes, including ballrooms, are perfect for large and small groups. The dedicated staff has experience with various events, from weddings to conferences to parties, so they know how to manage your event, from planning to cleanup. This conference center is an excellent choice for hosting your next holiday party or private event.
Schedule your holiday party at the AT&T Hotel and Conference Center.
5. The Sunset Room
Located in the Historic Sixth Street District near the Convention Center, The Sunset Room is a truly unique and beautiful venue perfect for a holiday party. Guests can enjoy the exposed brick walls with original wood floors and rafters. The open space is ideal for mingling and conversation. Without furniture, the venue holds up to 450 guests. In a seated, banquet style, there is room for 150. If you need even more space, then you can utilize the open space outside and fit up to 300 more attendees. You can use the in-house food and beverage catering options or contract with an outside service.
Check out The Sunset Room.
6. The Vista on Seward Hill
The Vista on Seward Hill is a remarkable place to host a holiday party. The Vista is one of the best small party venues in Austin, though it can also accommodate larger gatherings. The friendly staff is well-equipped to take the burden off your shoulders by offering various services. With an in-house DJ and MC, audiovisual screen, and LED lighting, your holiday party will be one for the ages. Of course, you can always bring in your own vendors. The lavish professionally-installed decorations each December make The Vista the perfect holiday party location. The fireplace mantles are the perfect backsplash for photos with seasonal decor.
Host your event at The Vista on Seward Hill.
7. Daniel H. Caswell House
If you are looking for a historic house in a convenient location in downtown Austin, then the Daniel H. Caswell House is an excellent choice. The Caswell House is at the intersection of West Avenue and 15th Street, so you get the convenience of being downtown without dealing with the hassles of parking. The house offers two different floors for entertainment, along with two kitchens, an elevator, and multiple break-out rooms. Plus, The Caswell House only hosts one event at a time, so there will be no other partygoers around. You will have space for 150 guests or 80 in a seated set-up for a standing event.
Check out the Daniel H. Caswell House.
8. 800 Congress
800 Congress is a modern venue on historic Congress Avenue with a trendy warehouse design with exposed brick and walls. You cannot beat the views, like the Paramount Theatre, the State Theatre, and Capitol. An onsite venue manager helps you handle all the details, from A/V to tables to set-up. You will find an extensive catering and bar menu, as well.
Host your holiday party at 800 Congress.
9. Cidercade
Cidercade, located in Riverside, offers more than 150 modern and retro games. In addition, a variety of adult beverages, pizza, and wings help your team kick the holidays off with gusto. Typically, guests pay per person to play games, but you can reserve a table for up to ten. For larger groups, you can ask about a private room for up to 80, rent out the patio for up to 100, or reserve the entire venue for up to 300 guests.
Check out Cidercade.
10. Antone’s
Locals have long associated Antone’s with live music in Austin. The location’s rich history includes such storied names as B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Ray Charles, and Stevie Ray Vaughan. This nearly 6,000-square-foot venue can fit up to 400 standing attendees. Guests have access to four different cocktail stations and two draft beer towers. When you host your holiday party at Antone’s, your team can enjoy some live music and a fun atmosphere perfect for true Austinites.
Host your event at Antonie’s.
List of holiday party ideas in Austin
If you are looking for a place to take your team instead of a traditional office party, then consider one of these fun and exciting places. From outdoor Christmas lights to comedy shows, you will surely find a unique holiday party idea in this list.
1. Trail of Lights
The Trail of Lights has been a staple in Christmas festivities in Austin for almost 60 years. The trail winds through Zilker Park in South Austin and features just over two million twinkling lights. Visitors can check out 90 different lit trees along with over 70 other holiday displays and tunnels. If you are looking for holiday party entertainment ideas in Austin, then the Trail of Lights at Zilker is one of the best options. The Trail of Lights can host private parties, as well. You will find space for groups of all sizes. When you host an event at the park, your group will start and end the evening together with a chance to enjoy the lights in between.
Check out the Trail of Lights.
2. Zilker Tree Lighting
The Zilker Holiday Tree is a site to behold. This incredible tree stands 155 feet tall with 39 strings of light, each one with 81 multicolored bulbs. If you do the math, then that comes to 3,309 lights. A ten-foot star in a unique spiral pattern adorns the top of the tree. The tree is over 380 feet around. Taking the team to witness the tree lighting is a fun and exciting way to kick off the holiday season.
Be at the lighting of the Zilker Holiday Tree.
3. Peppermint Parkway
Peppermint Parkway is a unique holiday experience at The Circuit of the Americas. As you drive through the venue, you can check out Candy Cane Lane, Twinkle Tunnel, Gingerbread Alley, The Enchanted Forest, Frozen Land, Peppermint Plaza, and the North Pole. You can round out the evening on the holiday zipline or go-carting with the team. This incredible event takes place in December and is a great way to check out an awesome light display.
Head to Peppermint Parkway.
4. Esther’s Follies
If you are looking for a unique way to kick off the holiday season with your team, then look no further than Esther’s Follies. This fun comedy show is Austin’s answer to Saturday Night Live and has been a mainstay on 6th Street for years. When you host your event at Esther’s Follies, your team can experience the hilarious and entertaining vibe of the venue. In addition, your team will enjoy fine dining and the best show in town. Packages include various dinner and drink options, so be sure to reach out to the staff to organize the best evening for your team.
Be entertained at Esther’s Follies.
5. Austin Wine Tours
Holiday parties do not need to stay in one place. Austin Wine Tours will take your team to the best wineries in the area. A wine-tasting tour is one of the best holiday party ideas in Austin. You do not have to do any work for this event. Since you are on a bus, you do not have to set up, plan for food and drinks, or worry about decorations. You only need to organize a pick-up and drop-off location and choose the locations you wish to visit. Austin Wine Tours can take you to wineries in Austin, Dripping Springs, or even Fredericksburg. Because you are going to wineries, be sure all your guests are over 21. To make the event more festive, encourage the team to wear their ugliest Christmas sweater.
Book your excursion with Austin Wine Tours.
6. Pete’s Dueling Piano Bar
Pete’s Dueling Piano Bar is one of Austin’s most exciting places to host a holiday party. This unique venue has entertained locals for almost 30 years. At the shows, high-energy musicians serenade your team with current and classic favorite songs. You will quickly find the whole group singing the night away. Pete’s Dueling Piano Bar is perfect for a private event either at their location in Austin, or performers can travel to your space. If you are looking for an all-inclusive party location, then check out Pete’s Dueling Piano Bar.
Head down to Pete’s Dueling Piano Bar.
7. Santa’s Ranch
It turns out Santa has a ranch just south of Austin in New Braunfels. And lucky for Austin area locals, it is easy to bring your team to Santa’s Ranch to check out one of the best light displays in the entire state. Visitors can drive through more than a mile of winding roads in the country. Beautiful lights and Christmas displays entertain visitors while everyone snacks on kettle corn and warms up with homemade hot cocoa. You can rent a party bus for the evening so your group can comfortably enjoy the lights together.
Check out Santa’s Ranch.
8. Mozart’s Light Show
Mozart’s is an Austin favorite with an incredible location on the lake. Visitors have been flocking to Mozart’s for 30 years to enjoy coffee, tea, and cakes with the best view in the city. When the holiday season rolls around, Mozart’s transforms into a twinkling wonderland. More than one million lights wow visitors. To enjoy the lights, reserve a table for four or six people or choose the standing option. If you opt to reserve a table, you can pick several food and drink options, like pretzels, hot cocoa, kettle corn, or chocolate figurines.
Enjoy the Mozart’s Light Show along with coffee and snacks.
9. Downtown Christmas Stroll
If you have not been to the stroll around Christmas, you have not experienced downtown Austin in full holiday splendor. For the entire month of December, holiday-themed activities pop up around downtown. One of the coolest things about downtown Austin in December is the holiday passport. As you shop at the local stores, you can collect stamps to fill your book. Be sure to check the schedule as special events happen throughout the season, like movie showings, live music, and Bike Zoo Austin. If you have music lovers in the group, then join in on some caroling, as well.
Head to the Downtown Christmas Stroll.
10. 12 Bars of Christmas
Instead of the 12 Days of Christmas, celebrate the holiday season with the 12 Bars of Christmas. The goal of this festive event is to give the team a chance to celebrate the season before the team starts taking time off for the holidays. The more participants get into the spirit, the more fun it will be. You can encourage the whole team to come in their best ugly Christmas sweaters, holiday onesies, or Santa suits. As part of the admission, participants get a Bad Santa Mug, Christmas light-up necklace, and a Santa hat.
Check out the 12 Bars of Christmas.
Conclusion
Austin is a fantastic city with incredible restaurants, parks, and places to entertain the entire team come wintertime. Whether you want to fully embrace the holiday spirit and check out one of the many light displays or choose to host a formal Christmas dinner for your team, finding the perfect venue in the city is simple. You can even go for a wine tour and enjoy the fresh air and country views. Whatever you decide, you will have no trouble finding the best holiday party venues and ideas in Austin with this list.
Next, check out this guide to holiday party etiquette and list of corporate party event favors.
Grace He