The Austin Civic Wind Ensemble celebrates the Christmas concert we've always wanted to play

An evening of holiday music worth the wait

Spooky Christmas music in October! This concert immediately follows Covenant's Trunk or Treat.

Why wait until December?

The holidays are almost here, and the Austin Civic Wind Ensemble is celebrating with concerts packed with festive favorites, a few surprises, and music for every age.

We open with Leroy Anderson's A Christmas Festival, a medley of favorite carols he arranged for the Boston Pops in 1950. Anderson returns later with Sleigh Ride, which he began writing during a July heat wave in 1946. Mel Tormé and Bob Wells did something similar the summer before: they wrote The Christmas Song ("Chestnuts roasting on an open fire...") on a hot summer day to help them think cool thoughts.

The Austin Civic Wind Ensemble is proud to kick off the holiday season at the 2026 Zilker Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony. We'll play festive pre-event music while Austin gathers for one of its best-loved traditions.

Austin has lit the Zilker Holiday Tree since 1967. The "tree" is built from 3,309 LED lights strung from one of Austin's historic moonlight towers. The tower is one of 15 still standing in the city, and Austin is the only U.S. city that still uses these towers. The finished tree stands 155 feet tall and has a double star on top. Stand inside it, look up, and spin: it's an Austin rite of passage.

Bring a blanket, your family, and your holiday spirit, and come early to enjoy the music before the lights come on!

Join the Austin Civic Wind Ensemble for a holiday concert at Bethany United Methodist Church. Spend a Sunday afternoon with festive favorites, a few surprises, and music for the whole family. It's a lovely way to slow down and enjoy the season with friends and neighbors.

Sunday, December 13, 2026 · 4:00 pm
Bethany United Methodist Church
10010 Anderson Mill Road, Austin, TX 78750