If nothing gets you in a festive mood more than twinkling lights on a starry night, hot chocolate and Christmas trees, then we have two must-see activities for you. We’re lucky because we have two Trails of Lights — one in downtown Austin at Zilker Park and a smaller version of fun in Lakeway behind City Hall.
Thousands and thousands of twinkling lights await!
TRAIL OF LIGHTS, AUSTIN
The final countdown to the famous Trail of Lights in Zilker Park has begun and this year the festivities include a fun run, themed nights like Heroes’ Night and UT Night, food and drinks, entertainment, interactive activities for kiddos, more displays and .. uhm … tickets. Okay, okay, most of us probably remember the good old days when the Trail of Lights was free and totally fantastic, but hey, things change. We lost the Trail of Lights completely for a year or two and then it reappeared as a paired down version of itself. So, in the spirit of the holidays, let’s just be thankful we have this holiday tradition back. It’s one of the do-not-miss events of the year.
The Preview Party is Thursday night, December 5, the Grand Opening Night is December 7 and the Trail of Lights will remain open until Sunday, December 21. The 5k Fun Run offers a sneak peek of the trail on December 6, which is extra-special since it’s an evening run with plenty of reasons to wear Light It Up GLOW accessories. Plus, a Fun Run ticket includes a free ride on the show-stopping Ferris wheel where you can view the skyline from a an incredible 90′ perch near the historic Zilker Tree.
TRAIL OF LIGHTS, LAKEWAY
If you’re looking for a local holiday event with plenty of bling, check out the Trail of Lights in Lakeway, which kicks off with Lights On! on Friday night, December 5. At the corner of Sailmaster Street and Lohmans Crossing, you can join Santa, Mrs. Claus and Rudolph as they “plug in” the lights. Hot chocolate will be available for purchase from IceCream2U and there will also be a complimentary marshmallow roast provided by the Parks and Recreation Department. You can support LT by bringing non-perishable food items that will be donated to benefit Lake Travis Crisis Ministries. The Trail of Lights in Lakeway continues nightly through January 4, 2015.
