Austin Newcomers Club President’s Letter
December 2025
Dear Members,
The holiday season is upon us! So many festive times this month-
- Lucia’s Day: Celebrated on December 13 with festivals of light.
- Bodhi Day: A Buddhist holiday celebrating Buddha’s enlightenment on December 8.
- Hanukkah: Starts on December 14 and lasts for eight days.
- Christmas Eve: Celebrated on December 24.
- Christmas: Celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ on December 25.
- Kwanzaa: Begins on December 26.
- Boxing Day: Celebrated on December 26, particularly in the UK and Canada.
- New Year’s Eve : a time for parties, fireworks, and merry-making December 31
Pick your favorite and celebrate with family and friends.
The weather is predicted to be warmer than usual, but if you’ve been here a while, you know that anything below 70 degrees is chilly. Get out your sweaters and socks. We’ll probably have some normal rain fall, but snow and ice are unlikely. It’s still great weather to get outside and enjoy the sunshine and fresh air.
There will be lots of celebrating with Austin Newcomers Club this month. Take a lovely walk in Georgetown with Happy Trails. Join one of our very popular Happy Hours at the Historic Driscoll Hotel in downtown Austin. Enjoy the Members Holiday Luncheon at Balcones Country Club while being entertained by Shine the Mentalist. If you love to celebrate with bubble wine, check out Wines of the World. The Yellow Rose and Blue Bonnet Book Groups will join forces for a holiday lunch with a speaker. All these great, fun events and more are on the Calendar. Sign up early online so you won’t miss out.
December 2025 in Austin features a wide range of holiday events, including the Austin Trail of Lights Fun Run and the Trail of Lights itself. Other major events include the Blue Genie Art Bazaar and Miracle on 5th Street pop-up bar, which run throughout much of the month, as well as multiple concerts at venues like ACL Live and the Peppermint Parkway experience at Circuit of the Americas. Armadillo Christmas Bazaar: A holiday market with local artisans, live music, and gifts.
Ballet Austin’s “The Nutcracker”: A classic holiday performance at The Long Center
As always, I want to thank all our wonderful volunteers for the gift of their time and talents. Volunteers are the lifeblood of our Club. Club volunteer opportunities abound! Start a new Interest Group, join the Board or a committee, or just help out by offering your service and talent to something already in existence. It’s a great way to get to know other members, welcome new residents to the Austin area and help our Club thrive!
So, enjoy the holidays and festivities and Happy Everything!
Bev the Prez
Beverly Tallinger, Austin Newcomers Club President 2025-2026