Council highlights Beautifest, holiday lights and Shop Small events for December

City staff and Parks & Recreation briefed council on multiple December events in downtown Buda.

Celeste Gonzalez described the 44th annual Beautifest schedule: a kickoff night with tree lighting, the ornament market and the Coco Jingle; a Saturday parade with up to 50 floats and a lighted nighttime parade with fireworks; and a Sunday with a family day and a 2 p.m. "rain dog" parade. Gonzalez said the event expects more than 70 craft vendors, about 23 food vendors and a combined vendor footprint of over 100 participants. She directed residents to beautifest.org for vendor and participation details.

Tony, the Parks & Recreation director, gave logistics for the Buda Holiday Lights (Dec. 11–14 and Dec. 18–21), noting senior night (Dec. 11, beginning at 5 p.m.), a sensory‑friendly hour (Dec. 18, 5–6 p.m.), ADA bus/shuttle plans, and that the display will include tens of thousands of lights. He said shuttles will run from Cabela’s and that parking, detour routes, tow‑away zones and staging maps will be posted to guide attendees.

Sinead Whiteside of Inspired Minds Art Center and Jennifer Storm discussed Artist Sunday (Dec. 1) and Small Business Saturday (Nov. 30). Storm said roughly 50 businesses are participating in Shop Small activities and that a trolley will circulate Main Street to aid shopping and parking.

Council members praised staff and organizers and asked follow‑up questions about barricade timing, parade detours and whether 967/Main Street would be kept open except for the short parade closure. Staff said the closure window would be limited and police would assist with traffic operations.

The city will publish event pages (including discoverbuda.com/art) and logistical maps and will run shuttles and ADA services during peak times.