Posted: Thu, 24 Dec 2015 09:50 AM - 17,495 Readers

By: Melanie Torre

Central Texans are soaking up the unusually warm holiday weather. For businesses who rely on good weather and people venturing outdoors, today was like an early Christmas gift.

"It's like people are cooped up at home waiting for a day like today," says Alvin Cantu, Texas Rowing Center General Manager.

If a perfect day on the water is what Austin canoers, paddle-boarders and fishermen were after-- they got it and on Christmas Eve no less!

"I think this is why people visit Austin. It's why people live here," Cantu says.

It was well worth it for the Texas Rowing Center to stay open Christmas Eve day. Cantu says it's the busiest Christmas Eve he's seen in 20 years.

"We had a feeling it was going to be a big day and it turned out to be out best day this month, easily," Cantu adds.

However, not all the action happened on the water. Trails were full of people biking and running while others played pickup football games in front of the cityscape. Few people longed for colder weather.

"I'll take the heat over the cold any day. That's why I'm here in Texas," says Brandon Hernandez who spent a couple of hours on Christmas Eve kayaking.

"We're actually all from San Diego originally so this is kind of what we're used to for Christmas," says Zac Zlatic who went canoeing with friends and family that were visiting Austin.

If a chilly Christmas feel is what you're hoping to find, then go no farther than Whole Foods on 6th Street and Lamar Boulevard.

"It's the only ice skating ring in downtown Austin," says Jason Lowery, a Whole Foods store team leader. The warm weather brought record attendance to the rink this week. The rink re-opens the day after Christmas and stays open until January 9th.

If you haven't taken full advantage of the warmer weather yet, there are still some free, fun holiday events happening through the new year:

Austin's New Year concert and fireworks show is December 31 from 4-10 p.m. at Auditorium Shores.

Mozart's Annual Light Show goes through January 3 at 3825 Lake Austin Blvd.

For more events, including those outside of Austin, click here.

*  Story Contributed by: Melanie Torre