News flash: Austinites spend the holidays with their families.
The mad fall rush to socialize in public with strangers, acquaintances and friends subsides in December, when private family affairs appear more seemly.
There are bright exceptions. The LBJ Library and Museum serves a 1960s-style State Dinner to help toast its new 21st-century main exhibition (Dec.1).
Two other worthy events are slated for the same night as the State Dinner: Rags to Wags Gala for the Austin Humane Society (Dec. 1, Four Seasons Hotel) and Femmes for SIMS: Night of the Chanteuse to help Austin musicians with mental health and substance abuse problems (Dec. 1, Scottish Rite Theater).
The next night, the Center for Child Protection stages the unmissable Dancing with the Stars Austin (Dec. 2, Hilton Austin). For our amusement, local celebrities kick up their heels in partnership with pro dancers.
Two funky holiday sales are worth checking out this month: Blue Genie Art Bazaar (Nov. 27-Dec. 24, Marchesa Hall & Theater), and Armadillo Christmas Bazaar (Dec. 12-24, Palmer Events Center). You might pick up the singular work of an artist or artisan for a relative bargain as you run into all your neighbors on the prowl for gift ideas.
A pair of holiday arts events always draw socializing crowds: Ballet Austin’s “The Nutcracker” (Dec. 8-23, Long Center) and Austin Symphony Orchestra’s take on Handel’s “Messiah” (Dec. 5, Riverbend Centre).
Terrific family news: The Trail of Lights (Dec. 16-23, Zilker Park) returns at full strength, turning our own version of Central Park into a winter wonderland, no matter the actual temperature outdoors.
If you don’t want to hit the clubs, hotels, restaurants or private parties on the final day of December, ring out the old year at Austin’s New Year (Dec. 31, Auditorium Shores), an alcohol-free event with art, film and live music.