Where to see Christmas lights in Austin and Central Texas in 2022
Twinkle twinkle, y'all. It's the season for lights.
Austin and Central Texas love a holiday light display, from the iconic Trail of Lights in Zilker Park to Christmas shine in places like Johnson City. Halloween is out of the way, turkey is here and there are pine needles in the air. Let's take a tour of light displays.
Did we miss your fave? Email features@statesman.com.
Bright fight: Should you go to Austin Trail of Lights or Peppermint Parkway?
Map: Christmas lights around Austin and Central Texas
Austin Trail of Lights
Stretch your calves and dig out your jingle bells. Austin Trail of Lights, the city’s annual holiday light path in Zilker Park, will return to its traditional format for 2022, organizers revealed earlier this year. When the coronavirus pandemic began, the event transitioned to a modified drive-thru version to allow for social distancing. (No carnival rides, no eating a funnel cake under the watchful eyes of 2 million little lights.)
For the 58th annual edition, running Dec. 8-23, Austin Trail of Lights will welcome visitors for the more familiar walkthrough experience. Admission will be free on seven out of the 14 nights that Trail of Lights runs. Children younger than 12 will be able to enter free for the entirety of the event. Prices run from $5 for general admission to $90 for a platinum pass with valet parking.
More information: austintrailoflights.org
More:Tickets on sale for Austin Trail of Lights, which is back on foot for 2022
Zilker Holiday Tree
Not a tree technically, but a moontower made to look like one with hundreds of lights. Generations have been spinning under the 155-foot-tall structure during the holiday seasons and can again this year. The tree lights up at 6 p.m. nightly starting Nov. 27, and park curfew is at 10 p.m. Drive-up access to the nearby parking lots will be available only on nights when the Trail of Lights is closed, however: Nov. 28-30, Dec. 1, 2, 4-7, 19, and 24 and Jan. 1, the last night the tree will glow.
More information: austintexas.gov/department/zilker-holiday-tree
Peppermint Parkway
Peppermint Parkway at Circuit of the Americas is a mile-long drive-thru full of lights, with music and food onsite. It opens Nov. 25 and runs through Dec 30. Tickets start at $40.
This year, for the first time, Peppermint Parkway has added a tree lot called Wonder Woods. Guests will be able to purchase their Christmas tree to take home. A holiday market will also be available to shop for those holiday gifts. Other holiday fun includes roller-skating snowflakes and dancing gingerbread men, a mistletoe kissing booth, rides and food trucks. Circuit of the Americas also will open up its track for attendees to take their own cars for a "parade lap." The track's observation tower will be open for attendees to visit.
More information: peppermintparkway.com
Mozart’s Christmas Lights Show
The hourly show at Mozart's Coffee Roasters (3825 Lake Austin Blvd.) is one of the city's most popular holiday light displays. Each year, the lakefront coffeeshop decks its expansive patio with hundreds of thousands of colored lights to create a festive display that twinkles in time to Austin-centric holiday music. The shows kicked off on Nov. 10 and runs through Jan. 6. Shows happen every day but Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Advance tickets are required for table seating in the café. Four-person tables are $40 and six-person tables are $60. If you don't need a seat, it's free to view the display from the Bavarian marketplace on the upper deck, but capacity is limited and registration is required to attend. You can also book a spot on a boat to watch from the water.
More information: mozartscoffee.com/pages/annual-christmas-light-show
37th Street
An eclectic showcase of Austin pride and holiday cheer, neighbors and supporters of the tradition unite every year to string multi-colored lights and bold decorations from almost every tree, roof and fence on this residential strip of 37th Street. Walk through this decades-old local tradition starting at Guadalupe and 37th streets. The big kickoff will be on Dec. 9, and the lights will stay on from sunset to 10 p.m. nightly until New Year's Day. The neighborhood-run event is accepting donations of lights and money.
More information: facebook.com/37thstreetlights
Downtown Austin Holiday Stroll and Tree Lighting
Downtown Austin Alliance rings in the season Dec. 3 with the lighting of the Capitol Christmas tree. Along with local NPR affiliates KUT/KUTX, they also will help present the 28th annual stroll and singalong from 5 to 10 p.m.
More information: downtownholidaystroll.com
Domain Northside Holiday Display
You'll already be shopping, right? The Domain Northside's tannenbaum will be lit on Nov. 19, and you can catch the light show every hour, on the hour, from 5 to 9 a.m. Monday-Friday, noon to 9 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, as well as Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Find the tree across from the Apple Store.
More information: domainnorthside.com/events/domain-northside-holiday-tree-light-show
Holiday Arts Market at Hill Country Galleria
Speaking of Christmas shopping, head to Bee Cave for another festively decorated destination. Take in the Hill Country Galleria's lights while also shopping from local vendors. The market runs Nov. 25 and 26 and Dec. 2 and 3, 9 and 10, 16 and 17, and 23 and 24.
More information: hillcountrygalleria.com/events
Holiday Window Walk in the 2nd Street District
If a decor stroll is more your speed, the 2nd Street District downtown is the place to live out your Hallmark movie fantasy. Beginning Nov. 25, storefronts like Bonobos, Drybar, Luxe Apothetique and Sneaker Politics will transform their windows into holiday scenes.
More information: 2ndstreetdistrict.com
Mueller tower lights
The Mueller neighborhood, once home to Austin's old airport, will light the former air traffic control tower on Nov. 29. The celebration begins at 5:30 p.m.; you can drive by at night throughout the holidays to see the lights. This will be the 17th anniversary of the modern tower lighting. The word "NOEL" has appeared on top of the tower seasonally since 1961, according to a news release.
More information: facebook.com/events/424410639883166
Starlit Austin
At the Park at Indeed Tower, 200 W. Sixth St., find this free, family-friendly outdoor event from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 1 to support Dell Children’s Medical Center. The Kilroy Star, a 20-foot light art installation, will shine and display an LED light show synched to live music. There also will be treats, a toy drive and a Santa meet-and-greet.
More information: eventbrite.com/e/starlit-austin-tickets-468877363817
Bastrop River of Lights
Lighted displays will be featured at this free attraction at Fisherman's Park in Bastrop. The River of Lights opens Nov. 25 and runs from dusk to 10 p.m. nightly until Jan. 2. The city will light its Christmas tree at 6 p.m. on Nov. 26, also in the park.
More information: visitbastrop.com/event/bastrop-river-of-lights/4/
Buda Trail of Lights
Stroll Historic Stagecoach Park for holiday light displays just south on Interstate 35. Shuttles will leave from Cabela's. There will be a senior night from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 8; the Buda Trail of Lights is open to all from 6 to 10 p.m. on Dec. 9-11 and 16-21.
More information: budatx.gov/525/Trail-of-Lights
Christmas on Mercer in Dripping Springs
The wedding capital of Texas (well, who else would it be?) celebrates Christmas with a dusk tree lighting on Dec. 2 in downtown Dripping Springs, with a holiday festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. the next day.
More information: cityofdrippingsprings.com/christmasonmercer
Georgetown's Lighting of the Square
Help Williamson County ring in the holidays with the annual lighting of the downtown square and courthouse. The flip will be switched on Nov. 25, with festivities beginning at 5:30 p.m. The lights will shine through the season.
More information: facebook.com/events/445370774314303
Lights Spectacular in Johnson City
This town is only about a 50-minute drive from Austin and pulls off a holiday celebration worthy of its name, with a showcase of lights as big as Texas. Walk under a web of more than 1 million lights, seen from the International Space Station in years past, according to the city, and then go for a carriage ride through the small town streets. Free to attend the event, which runs Nov. 25 to Jan. 8.
More information: johnsoncitytexas.info/lights-spectacular.html
Lakeway Trail of Lights
For the Zilker-averse, or those who want all the trails and lights they can get, here's another self-guided lights walk. The Lakeway Trail of Lights opens Dec. 2 and runs through Jan. 2. It will be open from 6 p.m. to midnight nightly. It's free, too.
More information: lakeway-tx.gov/721/Trail-of-Lights
The Walkway of Lights in Marble Falls
For the 32nd year, Marble Falls hosts its version of a Christmas light bonanza. This year's event (with 2 million lights and 350 lighted sculptures!) is open from 6 to 10 p.m. nightly from Nov. 18 through Dec. 31. It's free to attend.
More information: visitmarblefalls.org
Downtown Holiday Lighting in New Braunfels
Thousands of twinkling lights will be turned on Nov. 18 at this holiday season kickoff event in Main Plaza. Santa Claus will make an appearance in a vintage fire truck. The festivities start at 6 p.m. in downtown New Braunfels. A photo with Santa will cost $10.
More information: nbtexas.org
Santa’s Ranch in New Braunfels
Santa’s Ranch, now open for the season, is a self-guided driving tour of holiday lights and displays. It's open from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday through Jan. 1. Tickets are $35 per vehicle or $70 for a season pass. The ranch is at 9561 Interstate 35 North in New Braunfels. (Just look for the 50-foot Christmas tree, they urge.)
More information: santasranch.net
Pfestival of Lights in Pflugerville
Pfancy a little parade? Pflugerville's annual holiday kickoff returns at 4 p.m. on Dec. 3 in the downtown area. The parade begins at 5 p.m., and Santa shows up to light the tree around 6 p.m.
More information: pflugervilletx.gov/for-visitors/events-and-pfestivals/holiday-pfestivities
Round Rock's Light up the Lake
Two nights of comfort and joy in Austin's neighbor to the north. From 6 to 9:30 p.m. on Dec. 2 and 3, find a light show, giant balloons, live music, holiday displays, a yule log and more at Bright Lake at Old Settler's Park (3300 Palm Valley Blvd.).
More information: roundrockrecreation.com
Sights and Sounds of Christmas in San Marcos
Visitors can enjoy a carnival, petting zoo, food, Santa's Gift Shop and more at the annual event in Bobcat country. This year's Sights and Sounds runs 5:30 to 11 p.m. on Dec. 1-3 and 8-10. Nightly admission to the event, which is at 401 East Hopkins St. in San Marcos, is $5 or you can get a six-day pass for $15. Children 12 and under get in free.
More information: sights-n-sounds.org
Staff writer Deborah Sengupta Stith contributed to this story. Former staff writer Aisling Ayers contributed to an earlier version of this list published in 2021.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Where to see Christmas lights in Austin and Central Texas in 2022
