In Bee Cave, Hill Country Galleria lights its plaza tree at 5:45 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 28. That evening is free and run by the shopping center. Westlake starts eight days later, and the people running it are local organizations, not a property manager.
On Sunday, Dec. 6, the Westlake Chamber of Commerce holds Westlake Wonderfest from 1 to 4 p.m. Ninety minutes after it ends, the Rollingwood Women's Club lights the Rollingwood community tree from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Different groups plan the two events, and they take place in two different cities. They still fit into one afternoon and evening, and the free stretch in the middle is what decides how the day goes.
One o'clock: Wonderfest moves to Camp Craft Road
This year Wonderfest is at Westlake High School, 523 Camp Craft Road, in the Chaparral Stadium parking lot off Camp Craft Road. In 2025, Community Impact's holiday events roundup listed it at 4100 Westbank Drive. If you already know where to go from last year, check the new address before you leave.
The Chamber's 2026 Wonderfest page calls the festival "our community's favorite way to kick off the holiday season." It also lists the program:
"Join us as Santa makes his grand entrance on the Westlake fire truck, enjoy live performances from our talented Westlake students, and explore booths hosted by Westlake's local businesses and community groups."
That page also lists food from neighborhood businesses, pony rides, hands-on activities such as robotics demos, and photos with Santa. Admission is free. Local businesses fill the booths. On the booth registration page, game and activity booths cost Chamber members $100. Food vendor booths are free, and holiday market vendors apply before they pay.
The festival runs three hours, from 1 to 4 p.m.
Four o'clock to five-thirty: the 90 minutes that set the evening
Wonderfest ends at 4 p.m. and the Rollingwood tree lighting starts at 5:30 p.m. That leaves enough time for an early dinner, a stop at home, or both. You don't have time for a slow restaurant meal followed by an unhurried walk over. A few restaurants close to Camp Craft Road, The Village at Westlake and Bee Cave Road keep Sunday hours that suit this window. These are the hours each restaurant posts on its own site:
| Restaurant | Address | Posted hours | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sway | 3437 Bee Caves Road | 4 to 9 p.m., Sunday through Thursday | Reservations recommended, online for parties up to nine |
| Flower Child | 3300 Bee Cave Road, Suite 150 | 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily | Online ordering |
| Postino Westlake | 701 S. Capital of Texas Hwy., Suite J | 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. as the current day's hours, so call ahead for Sunday | Reservation link on its site |
| The Grove Wine Bar & Kitchen | 6317 Bee Cave Road, Suite 380 | 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday and Sunday | Reservation link on its site |
| County Line on the Hill | 6500 W. Bee Cave Road | 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday through Thursday | Reservations through Resy |
On Sunday, Sway opens at 4 p.m., the same time Wonderfest ends. If you want a seated dinner between the two events, a 4 p.m. reservation there gets you the first table of the night. Flower Child serves all day and offers online ordering, so you can order from the stadium lot and pick up on the way home. Postino is the newest name on the list. It opened its third Austin café at The Village at Westlake on Sept. 13, as Community Impact reported.
The Grove posts Sunday hours until 10 p.m., and County Line posts Sunday hours until 9 p.m. Either one works if you'd rather eat after the tree lighting than before it.
Five-thirty: Rollingwood lights its tree
The second event is smaller, and its organizers ask you to RSVP. The Rollingwood Women's Club lists the tree lighting at the Upper Playground & Field House in Rollingwood. The program includes hot cocoa, cookies, a performance and sing-along with the Madrigals Choir, and activities for children. The event page describes it as set "against the backdrop of our beautifully illuminated park" and encourages festive attire. You can RSVP through the event listing.
The tree lighting runs one hour, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Families that go to both events will have the full day covered between 1 and 6:30 p.m., with dinner in the middle or right after.
Two days later, the club hosts its Rollingwood Holiday Party on Tuesday, Dec. 8, from 7 to 9 p.m. The club's listing says all adult Rollingwood residents are welcome, membership isn't required, and the evening includes food, seasonal cocktails and music. The Sunday tree lighting is the family event, and the Tuesday party is for adults.
The dates around the Sunday
A few earlier deadlines and events also belong on the calendar before Dec. 6.
Tuesday, Dec. 1: Angel Tree gifts due at Mahj House. Mahj House, a mahjong club at 3316 Bee Cave Road, Unit D, started a Salvation Army Angel Tree on Nov. 9. Gifts are due back by Dec. 1, according to Community Impact. The deadline comes five days before Wonderfest. If you plan to take a tag, make your shopping trip before the Wonderfest weekend.
Friday, Dec. 4: First Friday Walk and Talk at Wild Basin. Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve, at 805 North Capital of Texas Highway, holds a staff-led nature walk of 1.5 to 2 hours on Dec. 4. The booking page lists the price as $15. The walk falls on a Friday, two days before the Sunday events.
Monday, Dec. 14: Wild Basin guided hike. St. Edward's University lists the next guided hike for Monday, Dec. 14, from 9 to 11 a.m. Hikes start on the deck of the Wild Basin Creative Research Center and are capped at 15 people. Wear closed-toe shoes and bring a refillable water bottle. The reservation page lists fees of $12 for adults and $10 for ages 5 to 17, and children 4 and under are free. The fee includes the vehicle parking pass. Compare that with a self-guided weekend or holiday visit, which costs $5 for adults and $3 for ages 6 to 17, according to Wild Basin's visit page. Weekend and holiday visits also require a vehicle reservation pass. The guided hike's higher price pays for a naturalist and a group of 15 or fewer on the preserve's nearly three miles of trails.
Wild Basin is also planning an Artist in Residence opening reception for early December. Its events page will post the date and time.
The same plan as a schedule
- By Dec. 1: Drop off Angel Tree gifts at Mahj House, 3316 Bee Cave Road.
- Dec. 4: Wild Basin First Friday Walk and Talk, $15.
- Dec. 6, 1 p.m.: Wonderfest opens in the Chaparral Stadium parking lot off Camp Craft Road. Admission is free.
- Dec. 6, 4 p.m.: Wonderfest ends, and Sway opens for Sunday dinner.
- Dec. 6, 5:30 p.m.: Rollingwood Community Tree Lighting at the Upper Playground & Field House. RSVP through the Rollingwood Women's Club.
- Dec. 8, 7 p.m.: Rollingwood Holiday Party, open to adult Rollingwood residents.
- Dec. 14, 9 a.m.: Wild Basin guided hike, $12 for adults, limited to 15 people.
In Bee Cave, the Galleria opened Bee Cave on Ice on Nov. 13 and runs it through Jan. 18, and it lights its plaza tree on Nov. 28. Westlake's season starts on Dec. 6, and community organizations run it, one event at a time. Leave room for the 90 minutes between Wonderfest and the tree lighting.
The seasonal calendar comes up often in Scott's conversations with clients, especially when they're comparing Westlake with Rollingwood or moving within 78746. If you'd like to talk through how these neighborhoods differ day to day, Scott Pate is glad to help. Schedule a private consultation, and he'll make time around your December plans.
