Are you looking for a unique way to celebrate the holiday season in Austin, Texas? From free light shows to interactive displays, there are plenty of options for families and individuals alike. Children under 12 years old can enter for free, and many of the activities are fully funded by donations. Here is a guide to some of the best lighting displays in Austin and their associated costs. The Walkway of Lights, organized by the Marble Falls Chamber of Commerce, returns for its thirty-second year with the exhibition of 2 million lights in Lakeside Park and more than 350 illuminated sculptures.
It's FREE to the public and is fully funded by donations. Enjoy the lights reflecting off Lake Marble Falls for 44 nights this year and make it a family tradition. Courtesy of Austin Trail of Lights, Deck the Trees is held in the center of the city, on Avenida Plaza, until January 2.The exhibition consists of eight unique Christmas-themed villages. Seeing the lights is free, but associated activities, such as ice skating and taking pictures with Santa Claus, are priced accordingly. Until early January, this winter wonderland spreads Christmas cheer throughout the city center. The zoo's grounds are filled with seasonal lights and include open animal exhibits, such as the butterfly garden and the polar bear exhibit.
This year there is the option of booking tables for the light show, buying general tickets for the festivities of the Bavarian Market or its silent nightclub, or even booking a boat cruise with a captain to watch the light show from the water. While the symbolic tree lighting ceremony in Zilker Park has become a tradition in its own right, the festive ceremony is intended to be an introduction to the Trail of Lights. Currently, the trail is organized by the Trail of Lights Foundation, an independent nonprofit corporation dedicated to producing the Austin Trail of Lights as an authentic community celebration of Austin. This neighborhood boasts some of the city's rarest Christmas displays. In recent years, they have included a zoo of stuffed animals and a manger with sock-shaped monkeys.
As a 40-year tradition, homeowners in this neighborhood compete every holiday season for the best light display. The Trail of Lights Foundation organizes the annual celebration at Zilker Park to honor the distinctive character and people that make Austin the adorable city it is today. With the Ford Fiesta de Luminarias, 2,000 luminaires will light up Paseo del Rio during the first three weekends of December. This interactive light display guides guests through the garden to the rhythm of classic Christmas songs. Every year, hundreds of thousands of visitors from Central Texas and around the world attend this free event. In addition to its attractions and games available throughout the year, Six Flags over Texas celebrates the holiday season with a candy cane rink, a light show and a marshmallow pit.
Prices vary depending on which activities you choose. Visit other iconic locations in Austin such as Texas State Capitol, Lady Bird Lake, Austin Convention Center, 6th Street entertainment district, Moonlight Towers and much more. Field of Light is an impressive display of 28,000 spheres with stems that subtly illuminate 16 acres of Texas Arboretum at Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Until November 1st, visitors can enjoy this free light show. Finally, Houston Zoo Light Pavilion is open until January 8th and offers visitors a unique experience with multiple attractions such as animal exhibits and interactive games. Prices vary depending on which activities you choose.
