HANDMADE GIFTS FOR THE HOLIDAYS

By: Risha Myadala and Dhanush Mittapalli

Vista Ridge DECA interns

Come join us at our annual Old Town Christmas Festival for a fun and festive time! While you’re there, check out some of our amazing vendors to find the perfect gifts for your loved ones just in time for the holiday season! These vendors specialize in beautiful handmade creations which are all locally crafted and sold.

MICHELLE EAST ART

Gift your loved ones Michelle East’s beautiful handmade pottery pieces! All her pottery is either thrown on the wheel or hand-built. Items include functional ware like mugs, bowls, platters, berry bowls, etc. as well as garden markers and some jewelry. Michelle’s husband Matt creates handcrafted leather goods (belts, wallets, key fabs, etc.) which are available in their booth as well.

MichelleEastArt.com: HANDMADE GIFTS FOR THE HOLIDAYS

TIPSY SISTERS CANDLES

Shop high-quality hand poured all natural soy candles, dried floral wreaths and arrangements at Tipsy Sisters Candles!

http://www.instagram.com/tipsysisterscandles: HANDMADE GIFTS FOR THE HOLIDAYS

SHINING STONE DESIGNS

Find stunning stone jewelry pieces all handmade with rare and exotic stones from all over the world. Specializing in Turquoise jewelry such as necklaces, pendants, earrings and custom rings, these gorgeous cut and polished pieces make the perfect gifts for anyone!

http://shiningstonedesigns.com: HANDMADE GIFTS FOR THE HOLIDAYS

DaleBCraft

Shop breathtaking wire-wrapped jewelry and original artwork at DaleBCraft!

http://www.fb.com/WireandIceJewelry: HANDMADE GIFTS FOR THE HOLIDAYS

PEACOCK CREATIONS

Gift your loved ones handmade accessories like jewelry purses shoes and clothing found at Peacock Creations!

https://www.facebook.com/Ravioli2525: HANDMADE GIFTS FOR THE HOLIDAYS

CHELLY CREATIONS BOUTIQUE

This local artist creates beautiful, one of a kind, hand made, glittered stainless steel tumblers and koozies! Not only will you be supporting a mom’s dream of owning her own boutique but you will also be supporting fellow Texas business owners from where she purchases her supplies!!

http://facebook.com/chellycreation: HANDMADE GIFTS FOR THE HOLIDAYS

MINDY’S MOSAICS

Shop hand-made mosaic items including fine art pieces, decorative hooks, coasters, mosaic jewelry, wine stoppers, bird houses and other home decor, and garden items such as stepping stones and flower pots at Mindy’s Mosaics!

https://www.facebook.com/MindysMosaics: HANDMADE GIFTS FOR THE HOLIDAYS

FINCH & ARMOR

Find beautiful wood and leather jewelry, laser-cut and engraved woodcraft, and soy candles at Finch & Armor!

https://www.facebook.com/finchandarmor/: HANDMADE GIFTS FOR THE HOLIDAYS

WHAT

OLD TOWN CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL

WheN

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3RD @ 11 AM

WHERE

100 N BRUSHY LEANDER, TX

WHO

EVERYONE! BRING YOUR FAMILY! (YES, IT’S KID FRIENDLY )

The Magic of Christmas in Old Town

Come see the magic of the season as Old Town comes alive! Start with the parade and stay for the shopping! There will be rides and food and merriment for the whole family! And don’t forget the most magical moment of all, the Christmas Tree Lighting by this year’s contest winner, Weston.

We can’t wait to see everyone rocking this year’s theme:

How the GRINCH Stole Christmas!

When:

This Saturday, December 4 starting at 11 a.m., following the 5K!

5k:

The 5K will run through Old Town. The 5K will begin at 9 a.m and is completely sold out.

Parade:

The parade will start at 11 a.m this year! Be sure to check out our Parade Page so you can find the perfect viewing location!

Schedule:

Check out our FULL SCHEDULE for all times and events! You won’t want to miss a thing!

Frequently Asked Questions Page:

We know you want to be prepared, so we’ve gathered all the most commonly asked questions and put them in one location. Be sure to look it over to know what fun is in store for you this Saturday! Visit our FAQ Page for all the details.

Texas Pumpkin Fest returns to Leander

Leander is extremely excited to have another family fun Pumpkin Patch for the 2021 Fall season.

Sept 24th – Nov 7th

Sept 24th- Nov 7th 2021 Texas Pumpkin Fest will host their annual Pumpkin Patch, a yearly tradition that has become an Austin area favorite with families seeking a more kid-friendly approach to fall festivals. The Texas Pumpkin Fest family has been producing pumpkin patches for over 30 years. Texas Pumpkin Fest will again be held at 10930 E. Crystal Falls Pkwy in Leander, Texas, the location of Texas Humane Heroes, an incredible no-kill, nonprofit 501 (C)(3) organization that rescues dogs and cats from overcrowded shelters. To date, Texas Humane Heroes has treated and saved tens of thousands of sick and displaced animals. TPF has partnered this year with Texas Humane Heroes in an effort to help drive greater awareness and donations for their services, while also providing festival-goers with a much larger and more accommodating venue for kids to run freely and have fun. 

Location:

10930 E. Crystal Falls Pkwy
Leander, TX 78641

Hours:

10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
7 days a week
Closed when it rains

Outdoor Theater Show, Drinks and Food – The Perfect Post-Pandemic Trip

Way Off Broadway Community Players presents A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Smooth Village at 203 W. Broade St., Leander, TX beginning July 9 and will be happening for two weekends on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night.

Enjoy the lively atmosphere of Leander’s own Smooth Village, the perfect outdoor venue for Way Off Broadway’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, William Shakespeare’s iconic comedy. Smooth Village’s BuzzBar will be open for refreshments and local food trucks will be onsite. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit Way Off Broadway’s website here. Tickets are $10 per person and seating will begin one hour prior to showtime.

You can also visit Smooth Village’s website for more information and to find out about other great events here!

Event Schedule:

  • Friday, July 9 @ 7:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, July 10 @ 7:30 p.m.
  • Sunday, July 11 @ 6:00 p.m.
  • Friday, July 16 @ 7:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, July 17 @ 7:30 p.m.
  • Sunday, July 18 @ 6:00 p.m.

Leander Mural Adds to Austin Area Insta-Worthy Destinations

What trip doesn’t include memorable photos? They may be one of the best souvenirs you can get on your travels! The hilarious outtakes you and your best friends capture trying to get the one perfect instagram ready picture may actually end up being your favorite!

Adding to the many memorable Austin area Instagram worthy locations is the recently finished Leander Mural located at the corner of Crystal Falls Pkwy and Leander Drive. This community beautification project was sponsored by local businesses and individuals and completed by renowned local artist Libby Bratt and has turned into the local selfie hotspot!

Get the perfect Selfie

Ready to take your trip and capture the perfect selfie? Check out these tips for getting it just right!

  • Pick the Right Time of Day!
    • The sun can be brutal on the eyes and make awkward shadows, aim for early morning, or try hitting the golden hour. The golden hour usually hits one hour before sunset and adds that dreamy, romantic feel to your pictures! Bonus, catching the golden hour for selfies is the perfect time for pre-dinner pictures! Check out this dining guide to see where to head after your pictures to satisfy those hunger cravings!
    • For an even more ethereal quality, trying getting there during the blue hour, though “hour” here is a misnomer. The blue hour is the 15-20 minutes before sunrise or after sunset! Using this delicate lighting can add mystery to your photos! Looking for something fun to do after your sunset photos? Check out local hot spots, like Leanderthal Distillery. A full list of fun places can be found here!
  • Bring Your Sense of Humor!
    • Stiff, uncomfortable poses and forced smiles don’t make the best pictures. Try getting into weird positions on purpose and let the laughter make the photo!
    • Try bringing a prop or pet! It can be easier to relax when you have something to hold or a pet to calm you!
  • Try it Horizontal, we think you’ll like it!
    • You don’t need fancy equipment to get a great photo, your phone camera will work great, but your natural instinct might be to hold your phone the same way for pictures that you do for talking on it. In this case, that might not be the best way to go! Try switching to horizontal instead of vertical!
  • Pick Your Spot
    • The mural is very long, you don’t have to get the whole thing in your photo! Pick your favorite area and zoom in on your gorgeous faces!

We are so excited to be one of the sponsors of such an amazing project! We can’t wait to see your photos! Be sure to tag us when you post them!

Old Town 5K – June 5

Runners – Ready to add some hardware to your medal rack? This year’s annual Old Town Street Festival 5K presented by Cedar Park Regional Medical Center kicks off a real after-party that goes until 11 p.m.! This notoriously fast race runs through the historic and scenic Leander Old Town and ends winding through the festival streets filled with cheering fans and festival goers! Ready to sign up? Click the button below to reserve your spot!

Leander Hill Country Trail Trip

Ready for a relaxing adventure through the scenic Hill Country where the journey is just as important as the destination? Then grab your favorite road trip companions and get ready to tour the historic Hill Country Trail!

No matter where you plan to start your trip, you will want to begin with your Texas Hill Country Trail Passport! You can pick one up at any of the passport destinations or have one mailed to you to begin the excitement of planning your trip here!

At each of the 34 destinations you will find history, beauty and community! Visit each one and receive a unique stamp in your passport! Keep your filled passport as a great moment of a fantastic trip, or mail it in after you collect at least 24 destination stamps before December 31, 2021 to receive great Hill Country prizes!

Mail completed passport to:

Texas Hill Country Trail Passport
PO Box 93041
Austin, TX 78709

If you are already planning a trip to Leander, what better time than during their fantastic Old Town Street Festival! Happening Saturday, June 5 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. in the famed Old Town District of Leander, the Old Town Street Festival draws in thousands of locals and visitors looking for fun, shopping and, of course, delicious food! Read more about the festival and the live music line-up here!

Looking for more historical sites to complete your Leander Hill Country Trip?

And be sure to come by to see us here at the Leander Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center! We can’t wait to meet you and stamp you passport! Who knows, we might even have some goodies to give you!

Leander Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center
100 N. Brushy Street
Leander, TX 78641

Don’t forget to tag us in your posts! Use #txhillcountrypassport and #visitleandertx