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Events Family Fun Kyle

Holiday Events in Kyle

The Christmas season is truly a magical time of year in Kyle, TX. The city is known to go all out with 25 days of celebration from December 1 all the way through Christmas Day, and this year is no different.

 

From sightings of the jolly elf in red to twinkling holiday lights and live musical performances, here’s everything you need to know about 25 Days of Christmas in Kyle.

 

December 1 Kickoff

 

Go ahead and get out your December calendar because you’re definitely going to want to make note of everything that’s happening throughout the month. The merry fun begins on Thursday, December 1st when the city hosts a welcome party for St. Nick at Mary Kyle Hartson Park (101 S. Burleson Street). 

 

Santa Clause has been visiting Kyle here during Christmas time since 1999 and will make a return this year on Thursday, December 1st from 4 to 9 PM. During the celebration, children will have a chance to take a photo with the man himself and share any special items they may have on their wish list. 

 

The event will also include a tree lighting ceremony at 5:45 and there will be food, drinks, and holiday craft vendors. Throughout the event, area elementary school choirs will perform a medley of Christmas songs to keep the festive mood going. The event concludes when Santa makes his return to the North Pole (for a few days) at around 9 PM, but as we mentioned, Christmas cheer does not end there.

 

Weekly Holiday Events You Won’t Want to Miss

 

Families can enjoy a free photo with Santa on the first two Mondays (December 5th and 12th) from 5 to 9 PM, and the city will be collecting toys for children in need on the first three Tuesdays of the month. Both events will take place at Mary Kyle Hartson Park (101 S Burleson St.).

 

If you can’t make it to the park for a photo with Santa, don’t worry, Santa will come to you! On December 13-15 (Tuesday to Thursday) from 6 to 9 PM Santa will be riding through the streets of Kyle. While Santa won’t be able to ride down every street in the city—he does have to get back to work at his toy shop at some point—families will have the opportunity to wave to him along a designated route. You can even track where he’ll be via the Santa tracker. 

 

A holiday market will also be open each day at Mary Kyle Park so residents will have plenty of opportunities to shop for a special gift from local vendors. Each Saturday prior to Christmas Eve, there will also be live holiday music performances happening in the park to spread a little extra seasonal cheer. You can view more details of each day’s festivities on the City of Kyle’s website. 

 

The Christmas season is one of the best times of the year in Kyle and the 25 Days of Christmas celebration is just one of the many fun events happening in the city throughout the year. If you’d like to find a home near all the fun in Kyle, contact the Crosswinds team today!

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Events Kyle Texas

Veterans Day in Kyle, TX

This Friday is Veterans Day, a day of remembrance and honor for those who have served in the military during war or peace. This is a national opportunity to say thank you to all those who served in the military, both living and those who have passed. 

 

A History of Veterans Day

 

The earliest beginnings of Veterans Day go back more than 100 years. When World War I officially ended with the Treaty of Versailles on June 28, 1919, it was a sigh of relief for the entire world. The fighting that claimed 20 million lives had ended seven months earlier when an armistice went into effect on “the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.” 

 

A year later, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson made November 11 Armistice Day, declaring it a national opportunity for the country to “be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service…”

 

The day would take on even greater importance following the tragic loss of life and displays of heroism in World War II and the Korean War. Following the end of the Korean War in 1953, President Dwight D. Eisenhower changed Armistice Day to Veterans Day to acknowledge the sacrifice made by veterans of all U.S. wars. 

 

Celebrate Veterans Day in Kyle

 

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are over 2,800 veterans who call Kyle home, and this Veterans Day is a particularly special one. It’s the city’s first Veterans Day to celebrate Heroes Memorial Park. The park has been open since its official ribbon cutting on September 11th and it’s a truly beautiful place for residents to come together and reflect upon the sacrifices made by veterans, first responders, and other heroes in the community. The park features a Heroes Walk, Memorial Garden, Activity Lawn, Arrival Portal, and other elements for learning more about our heroes. 

 

Just as parades were a part of those first celebrations of Armistice Day, the tradition of the Veterans Day Parade continues this year in Kyle. The parade will happen on November 12 this year at Gregg-Clarke Park and travel along Center Street, before coming to a conclusion at Front Street on the City Square. The parade itself will begin at noon, but there will be lots of festivities happening earlier in the day. 

 

Residents are invited to come out to Mary Kyle Hartson Park before the parade to enjoy live music and family-friendly activities from 9 AM until 2 PM.

 

The Veterans Day Parade is one of the many community events that make Kyle such a wonderful place to call home. If you’re looking for a place to raise your family or find the perfect balance of peace and convenience, Crosswinds is a great place to settle down. Crosswinds is a master-planned community in Kyle that offers residents a variety of family-friendly amenities and beautiful homes from the area’s top builders. To learn more about finding your home here, reach out to the Crosswinds team.

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Events Family Fun

Kyle’s Pie in the Sky Day Celebration

What’s that up in the sky? It’s a bird? It’s a plane? It’s a… nope, not Superman. It’s a fleet of hot air balloons! 

 

It’s time for the Kyle Pie in the Sky Hot Air Balloon Festival. Whether you come out to see the hot air balloons or your main focus is eating as much pie as possible, this is one end-of-the-summer event that you’re not going to want to miss!

 

Pie in the Sky 101

If you’re new in town or have simply never heard of this pie-themed hot air balloon festival, allow us to fill you in. The festival has only been around a few years, but since the first festival in 2017, it’s proven to be popular with residents as it gives folks a chance to see more than a dozen hot air balloons inflate and take to the skies, as well as enjoy a variety of pies from the savory to the sweet. 

 

When and Where?

All the pie-eating and balloon action happens on Saturday, September 3 from 12 to 8 PM. While in previous years the event has taken place at Lake Kyle, this year’s festival has been moved to Gregg-Clarke Park (1231 W Center Street) due to construction at Lake Kyle.

 

Entry to the event is completely FREE, and while there is a limited amount of free parking, there will be on-site paid parking available. Free shuttles will also be running to take attendees from nearby St. Anthony’s Church to the event. 

 

An even better alternative may be to leave the car at home and take advantage of UberKyle. The program is available through the City of Kyle phone app and includes a voucher for just $3.14 that allows for a trip anywhere within the Kyle city limits. 

 

Balloons, Pie, and so Much More

A sky full of colorful hot air balloons may be the big draw, but they’re hardly the only reason to mark this event on your calendar. A vendor market will be set up where guests can peruse and purchase local crafts as well as food and drink. And speaking of food, pie is on the menu in a big way at this festival. 

 

Dozens of pies will be available to try and there will even be a pie-baking contest for home bakers who think they might have a blue ribbon-worthy recipe. Previous festivals have included some irresistible pies with names like Rainbow Balloon Pumpkin Pie, Dark Side Chocolate Fudge Pie, and Chinese New Year Pineapple Pie. 

 

There will also be pie-eating contests, live music, and a play area for the kiddos to run around and burn off some energy. For guests who want to get a view of the action from up above, tethered hot air balloon rides will be available. Who knows, maybe you can even have your pie in the sky. 

 

The Pie in the Sky Festival is just one of the many aspects that makes Kyle such a great place to live. If you’re interested in finding a home here, connect with the Crosswinds team today. 

 

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Area Attractions Events Family Fun Lifestyle

Volunteer opportunities in and around Kyle

Volunteering is one of the most rewarding ways a person can put their free time to good use. Volunteers are the glue that holds so many organizations together and it’s the service of volunteers that enriches a city like Kyle as a community and helps to make it such an enjoyable place to live. 

 

Check out these opportunities in Kyle and the surrounding area if you’d like to give back. Who knows, you might just make a few new friends in the process!

 

Austin Disaster Relief Network: Loving people and coming to their aid when they need it most is a spiritual calling for members of ADRN. Composed of members from over 200 area churches, the nonprofit’s mission is to “mobilize the body of Christ in times of disaster.” This entails providing families and individuals with food, clothing, emergency housing, and transportation, as well as emotional support in times of disaster. Volunteer opportunities range from providing a cleanup response to helping with deployment coordination and social media ambassadors. 

 

Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center: Since 1978, HCWC has been dedicated to helping women escape abusive situations and rebuild their lives. To create an environment where there’s no room for abuse in the community, the nonprofit provides crisis intervention services for victims of violence and child abuse. Volunteers are key to HCWC changing lives for the better and both direct and non-direct opportunities with clients are available with the organization. 

 

PAWS:  Perhaps you’re looking to volunteer and make a new friend of the four-legged variety. Founded right here in Kyle in 1986, PAWS is a no-kill shelter dedicated to providing quality care to homeless animals in the area with the ultimate goal of finding them a forever home. This includes rescuing animals from overcrowded municipal shelters, providing spay and neuter services, and pet education. The number of animals saved would be drastically reduced without PAWS volunteers, and volunteer opportunities include office work, dog walking, kennel cleaning, fundraising, animal foster care, and many more. 

 

Southside Community Center: Through the United Methodist Church, SSCC is a nonprofit that is committed to putting Christ’s love into action by giving back to the underprivileged and needy in Hays County. With a mission of “meeting the needs of families,” the organization provides housing support for low-income and elderly residents, as well as neighborhood housing improvement services, emergency assistance, and food support. 

 

Hays County Food Bank: The Hays County Food Bank receives hundreds of requests regularly for food assistance from area residents and has seen that need skyrocket in the last two years. The local nonprofit is “passionately committed to improving lives through food assistance programs, nutrition education, and advocacy.” Opportunities to volunteer through the food bank and help Hays County residents include food sorting and stocking, food distribution, assisting with the mobile pantry, and special events coordination. 

 

This is merely a sampling of opportunities to volunteer and make a difference for the greater good in the Kyle area. Other organizations in need of volunteers include:

 

  • Alzheimer’s Association of Central Texas
  • Kyle Public Library
  • Habitat for Humanity
  • Kyle Historic Train Depot
  • Meals on Wheels
  • Women of Unity
  • Kyle Parks and Recreation

It’s the wonderful people that make Kyle such a special place to live. If you’d like to find a home here, reach out to the Crosswinds team to learn more.

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Events Family Fun

Kyle Summer Camp & Field Trips

Kyle Texas Summer Camp and Field Trips

Ask your kid (or even better, your kid’s teacher) and they’ll probably be able to tell you down to the hour when summer vacation begins. Summer in Texas is so much fun. Yes, it’s hot, but there’s an endless array of things going on and it’s the ideal time for many families to take a vacation. What about those weeks before and after the big family vacay though? 

 

The kiddos are going to need something to keep them occupied and the city of Kyle offers a day camp program aimed at engaging kids in a “healthy and active lifestyle; rather than sitting on the couch and playing video games all summer.” Let’s face it, by the second week stuck at home, everyone is probably going to have a bit of cabin fever and the city’s day camp program not only offers daily activities but two field trips a week, all at an affordable price. 

 

Why Kyle Summer Camp is the Best Deal in Town

Overnight summer camps can be a lot of fun, but they also come with their fair share of drawbacks. For starters, they can be pretty expensive and they’re only becoming more costly with experts in the camp industry predicting the cost of a week at summer camp to be 15% more expensive this year. 

 

Not every kid does well at a week-long overnight summer camp. Younger children, in particular, can be more prone to homesickness, and if you’re having to drive a couple of hours by day 3 to pick up a child who’s not having a great time, well, consider yourself in for a dose of the summertime blues.  

 

With Kyle’s Summer Camp program, campers begin arriving each day at 7 A.M. and can stay at the camp as late as 6 P.M. This means mom and dad don’t have to worry about leaving the kids home during the week or packing a week’s worth of stuff for an overnight camp stay. Campers will have the opportunity to participate in daily arts and crafts, games, and sports such as archery, fishing, and swimming. One of the most fun aspects of Kyle’s Summer Camp program is that each week brings something different with two field trips a week to area attractions such as McKinney Falls State Park, Urban Air trampoline park, and Dart’em Up Austin. 

 

Summer Camp Details

Kyle’s camp program is spread out over eight weeks and runs from June 6th through July 29th. The camp program is designed for elementary through middle school-aged children and is broken up into two camps: 

 

Voyagers: children entering 2nd through 5th grade.

Adventurers: children entering 6th through 9th grade. 

 

The camp runs Monday through Friday from 7 in the morning until 6 in the evening at Wallace Middle School. The program does not supply breakfast or lunch, so children will need to eat before they arrive and pack a lunch with them each day as well as a water bottle. Camp is $150 each week per camper. This cost covers all daily activities including field trips as well as two daily snacks and two camp t-shirts. 

 

Parents can learn more about the summer camp program and sign up on the City of Kyle website. 

 

If you’re interested in finding a home in Kyle, reach out to learn more about available homes at Crosswinds. Crosswinds offers a variety of amenities, new homes from the area’s top builders, and an ideal location for families of all lifestyles. 

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Area Attractions Events

Austin’s New Live Entertainment Venue: Moody Center

Moody Center Austin

Kyle residents have another exciting venue to add to their list of places to go for events in Austin! This new venue will host amazing concert experiences as well as the University of Texas at Austin’s basketball games. Located on the University of Texas campus at 2001 Robert Dedman Drive Austin, TX 78712, Moody Center is slated to open in April. 

About Moody Center

Austin is called the Live Music Capital of the World for a reason. And Moody Center will help reinforce that with its immersive seating, luxurious amenities, and communal layouts. The venue has been privately financed by Oak View Group, Live National Entertainment / C3 Presents (the company behind the Austin City Limits music festival), the University of Texas at Austin, Dell, and actor Matthew McConaughey. 

The center is 530,000 square feet and seats 15,000 people. It features 44 suites, four club spaces, and 2,000 club seats. As part of his role as Minister of Culture at UT, McConaughey is personally overseeing the project. The center has been designed to easily host basketball games and live music concerts. It will have an indoor and outdoor layout that’s influenced by the flow and communal culture of Austin. 

Two options are available with the premium suites, one of which is the Porch Suites. They’re located on the baselines and corners of the venue for basketball and look directly onto the stage for concerts. Porch Suite seating comes out 10 feet into the arena to help attendees feel more connected to the live event.

The other is the Sideline Suites. These suites are a private, enclosed area located closest to the mid-court for the University of Texas basketball games and closest to the stage for live concerts.

Another luxurious amenity the Moody Center will offer is the Annual Concert Memberships. This gives members priority access to purchase lower-level tickets for all concerts and shows at the center. Members will gain inclusive access to private clubs along with culinary offerings and private bars.

The arena is named after the Moody Foundation, which provided a grant to UT. It promises to provide state-of-the-art amenities and top-notch hospitality for everyone.

Upcoming Events


The venue already has an impressive list of popular entertainers on their lineup. One of the first bands set to play at the Moody Center is Bon Jovi. They plan to stop in Austin on April 23. Other April performers include John Mayer, Justin Bieber, and George Strait.

The iHeartCountry Festival, the Who, Eagles, and Dave Matthews Band will be playing in May, Jimmy Buffet will appear at Moody in June, and Swedish House Mafia will play in August. Talk about a lineup!

To be the first to know about upcoming events and show announcements, sign up for the Moody Center newsletter or follow them on social media.

To stay on top of great resources from Kyle and nearby, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Looking for a new home that’s close to all the action? Meet the Kyle home builders or contact our Crosswinds team. 

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Events Family Fun

Should I Upsize or Downsize on a New Home?

New home upsize or downsize

If you’re seeking a home in Kyle, you’re probably trying to decide how much space you want. Do you want to upsize or downsize your new home? How do you figure out what is the right size home for you in Kyle?

The best way to determine the right-sized home is by answering these questions.

  1. How do you use the space in your current home?

Do you or your family members get frustrated because you feel like you’ve outgrown your place? Or do you have too much space and rooms you never use? Do you need an office or a second home office for remote working?

Think about how you move around the living space and what rooms are and aren’t used. You’ll find subtle clues when you pay attention.

  1. What do you want in a back or front yard?

Do you want a big backyard for the kids and pets to play around in? Do you love to garden? Or do you hate taking care of the lawn and would rather have a small yard? Don’t forget some communities have wonderful parks and playgrounds that might be more than enough for you.

  1. What does the future look like?

Are you newly partnered or married? Do you have small kids? Want to have kids in the future? Or maybe the kids are grown up. Will you have a lot of guests staying at your place? Or will you travel a lot? Do you love to host parties? If yes, how big are they? This could also impact how much yard you want as you may want your attendees to enjoy the outdoors.

  1. How much home can you afford?

A real estate agent can provide you with the resources to figure out how much home you can afford. Remember, you’ll need to leave breathing room as there is maintenance, insurance, property taxes, and deductibles. Of course, you have to buy food as well as pay for utilities and the internet. If you have kids, what activities are they involved in? These require different amounts of investments especially those who are about to go off to college.

In short, the decision to upsize or downsize depends on your lifestyle and how you use your home. If you want a new home but don’t want to have to pay for the upkeep of backyard amenities such as a pool, looking into an amenity-rich master-planned community has its benefits. At Crosswinds, we offer an expansive pool, playgrounds, dog parks, and a Lifestyle Program for resident events, which are all included in your HOA dues. Learn more about life at Crosswinds on our website.

To stay on top of great resources from Kyle and nearby, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Looking to move? Meet the Kyle home builders or contact our Crosswinds team. 

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Area Attractions Events Family Fun

Celebrate 25 Days of Christmas in Kyle, Texas

The City of Kyle Parks and Recreation invites you to join them for their first 25 Days of Christmas at the newly renovated Mary Kyle Hartson Park (101 S. Burleson St., Kyle, TX). For the entire month of December, you can stroll the breathtaking holiday lights while listening to live music.

It all started on December 1 with Santa’s arrival in time for Mary Kyle Hartson’s ribbon-cutting ceremony! Here’s what’s happening.

What’s in Store for 25 Days of Christmas?

Every single day in December will be filled with holiday lights for your enjoyment. Wednesdays are “Winter Wonderland” and food trucks day. What’s Winter Wonderland? Only a few people know. Keep an eye out for details.

The air will be filled with live music on Fridays to entertain you while you browse the vendor booths. The vendors will also be available on Saturdays. You have many opportunities to get Santa photos, with Bailey Christian Photography, as he generously made time to be available every day except on Mondays and Tuesdays. He has a lot of work to do back home in his workshop.

Do you love Taco Tuesday? Every single Tuesday through December 21 is Taco Tuesday. There will be food vendors on that day too. And Sundays are Social Media Sundays. “To take part in the festivities, stop by the park, take pictures of you and your loved one and share it with the hashtag #KyleParksandRecreation.”

Inspired Minds Holiday Bazaar in Buda

Can’t get enough of the holiday season? Perhaps, you’ll want to wander through the gallery in nearby Buda’s Inspired Minds Holiday Bazaar (121 N. Main St., Buda, TX 78610). Come support the local artists who will have booths set up with their artwork.

This event takes place from now until December 23. Admission is free but some events may have a fee. For example, you can pain ornaments on Saturdays for $10. December 18 features a gingerbread house competition. Note the Bazaar closes on Sundays. It will be open from 1 to 6 PM Monday through Friday and from noon to 5 PM on Saturday.

More Things to Do in Kyle

To stay on top of great resources from Kyle and nearby, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Looking to move? Meet the Kyle builders or contact our Crosswinds team.

 

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Area Attractions Events Family Fun

Budafest Returns!

Budafest is back for the 41st year and bigger than ever. Here’s your chance to check out the brand new Buda Amphitheater. Bring your family and friends to Downtown Buda for one, two, or three days of holiday cheer and live music on December 3-5. Buda is only about 10 minutes from Crosswinds in Kyle.

What Is Budafest?

Eileen Conley ran the festival for 15 years with help from Bert Bronaugh and Elaine Purvis in later years. Then, the City of Buda adopted Budafest. It has come a long way from the days as a small festival that showcased local artists and craft vendors to one that now has more than 75 vendors.

Budafest is a lot of things. It’s entertainment, it’s a craft and art market, it’s a dazzling night with a parade followed by fireworks on Main Street. Here’s the Budafest schedule and the Budafest Facebook page with more information.

What’s in Store for Budafest 2021?

Friday starts with a tree lighting ceremony and a small ornament market. The event will be in full swing by Saturday.

The nighttime parade takes place on Saturday evening. The parade and its many lights will travel from Main Street starting at Buda Mill and Grain Co. and work its way to Buda City Park. The parade ends with fireworks and Santa Claus doing a countdown to the holidays.

You’ll have the opportunity to explore craft vendors’ merchandise and hand-made items to find the perfect gift for others or yourself! You can also catch demonstrations to see how things are made in the artisan workshops. You’ll want to come back on Sunday for the Reindog Parade where our four-legged friends will trot down the street in their best holiday costumes and outfits.

There will be a small carnival with games and rides. Book worms rejoice! You’ll want to check out the Friends of the Buda Library’s Annual Book Sale. You’ll have a variety of gently used books at super low prices. The book sale is at the Municipal Complex at 405 E. Loop St.

Hope to see y’all there with bells on … and Santa hats and festive wear!

To stay on top of great resources from Kyle and nearby, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Looking to move? Explore the new home builders in Kyle or contact our Crosswinds team.

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Area Attractions Events Family Fun

Show Your Appreciation on Veterans Day in Kyle, Texas

The City of Kyle is partnering with VFW Post 12058 and AMVETS to host the Veterans Day Parade to commemorate the day and honor local veterans. The parade begins at noon on Saturday, November 13.

About Kyle’s Veterans Day Parade

The parade route starts at VFW Post 12058 at 103 S Front St, Kyle, TX 78640 and travels west on Center Street. The parade ends at Gregg-Clarke Park. The city invites everyone to the commemoration event and festivities after the parade.

There will be a warbird flyover, market vendors, activities for the entire family, and it’ll end with a big bang as there will be fireworks. For the best views, go on either side of Center Street between VFW Post 12058 and Gregg-Clarke Park.

Here’s the schedule:

  • 12 p.m. — Parade begins
  • 1 to 6 p.m. — Post parade activities at Gregg-Clarke Park
  • 6 p.m. — Fireworks

Can’t attend the parade? Great news. The Veterans Day Parade will be live-streamed on the City’s YouTube Channel and Facebook page.

Check out the San Marcos Veterans Day Parade

You have another option for the Veterans Day parade with the San Marcos Veterans Day Parade happening this weekend on November 6. At 10 a.m. It’s sponsored by the City of San Marcos with assistance from the Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee and local veterans’ organizations.

This parade makes its way through historic downtown San Marcos. Pre-parade events start at 9 a.m. in front of the County Courthouse. Everyone ages five and older can show their support by participating in the Kiwanis Club Kids Bicycle Brigade. This is where the kids decorate their bikes, don their helmets, and ride them at the Courthouse lawn. The event takes place before the parade from 9 to 10 a.m. Kids can spruce their bikes with flags, signs, and streamers.

To all the Veterans, thank you for your service.

More Things to Do in Kyle

To stay on top of great resources from Kyle and nearby, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Looking to move? Meet the Kyle builders or contact our Crosswinds team.

 

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