Austin Trail Of Lights

Austin Trail Of Lights Overview :

Hosted by the Trail of Lights Foundation, the annual event in Zilker Park celebrates the unique spirit and people that make Austin the place we love to call home. The 56th annual Austin Trail of Lights returned to the city's iconic Zilker Park as a drive-thru only event in 2020. The most beloved, and longest running holiday tradition of its kind in Texas’ capital city, Austin Trail of Lights powered by H-E-B, welcomes hundreds of thousands of guests from Central Texas and around the world each year for its jubilant displays of lights. The Trail now features more than 2 million lights illuminating the park, 90 lighted holiday trees and more than 70 other holiday displays and lighted tunnels. As is tradition, the Trail hosts private nights allowing limited free entry through the STARS at the Trail program for over 30 non-profit partners in the community, as well as provide thousands of vehicle passes to eligible families throughout the Austin Independent School District. What began as a small gathering in 1965 known as the "Yule Fest," a gift to the city of Austin from Austin Parks and Recreation Department, has now grown to be a community-wide celebration of the unique spirit and people that make Austin the place they love to call home. In the 55 years since the first Yule Log was lit, the Trail now features more than 2 million lights illuminating the park, 90 lighted holiday trees and more than 70 other holiday displays and lighted tunnels. Today, it is one of the three largest events in Austin and receives national accolades while remaining a deeply cherished local tradition.

An Austin Community Celebration:

The Trail of Lights Foundation is an independent nonprofit corporation dedicated to the production of the Austin Trail of Lights as an authentically Austin community celebration. The organization raises the funds from donations by individuals and the business community to produce and ensure the long-term sustainability of Austin’s largest community celebration. It is curated in close conjunction with its long-time partner, Forefront, who provides turn-key production and programming, marketing and promotional services, along with management of public/private corporate partnerships. The Austin Trail of Lights has remained in the top three largest Austin events since the Trail of Lights Foundation adopted the event in 2012.  

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