Many things make the holiday season enjoyable. Whether you are in the city for a conference or to celebrate the season with friends or family, visiting one of Austin’s spectacular light displays must be on the agenda. Austin provides a large selection of places and ways to enjoy Christmas lights. From small, intimate community displays to ticketed events featuring stunning winter wonderlands, there’s something for every Central Texan.
Here are some of Austin’s best places to visit holiday lights this winter season.
58th Annual Austin Trail of Lights
2100 Barton Springs Rd
Austin, TX 78704
The most favorite, longest-running holiday tradition in Texas’ capital city, Austin Trail of Lights, run by H-E-B, welcomes large numbers of visitors from Central Texas and all over the world every year for its festive light exhibits. Trail of Lights features over 2 million lights, 90 Christmas trees, and more than 70 other holiday exhibits. The most favorite part by everyone is the lighted tunnels. As you delight in the Trail of Lights in the comfort of your vehicle, tune your car radio to holiday tunes to make the best use of your experience. austintrailoflights.org
The Downtown Holiday Stroll
Start your holiday season at the Downtown Austin Alliance’s Holiday Stroll. The free, family-friendly event has something for everybody, including photo-ops, holiday light exhibits, pop-up activations, and their traditional 45-foot holiday tree lighting up the evening! Go shopping with your Holiday Passport, a pocket-sized manual stuffed with great deals and activities for December. downtownholidaystroll.com
Mozart’s Christmas Light Show
3825 Lake Austin Blvd
Austin, TX 78703
Visit Mozart’s yearly Christmas light extravaganza! Thousands of stunning lights have been sculpted into massive renowned objects that evoke Austin’s culture and the Christmas season. The light show will be set on Mozart’s lakeside deck. Mozart’s acclaimed coffee and hot chocolate can be ordered at the coffee house and kiosks outside. Exclusive holiday treats from Mozart’s bakery will also be offered. The best part of the event is that the light show is free. mozartscoffee.com
Santa’s Ranch
9561 I-35
New Braunfels, TX 78130
Among Central Texas’s best Christmas shows, Santa’s Ranch in New Braunfels provides a mile-long drive-through trail composed of a hundred displays and animations. The light show winding through country roads features more than one million lights. Guests can also enjoy a 50-ft-tall Christmas tree, kettle corn, snacks, and homemade hot cocoa. santasranch.net
37th Street Lights
507 W 37th St
Austin, TX 78705
The residents of the section of 37th Street extending east from Guadalupe Street set up impressive lights displays commencing in early to mid-December. You can drive down the lane to appreciate the lights from your vehicle, but traffic is typically heavy at this popular attraction. Walking down the street is another good way to enjoy the shows. thirtyseventhstreetlights.github.io
The Domain Holiday Display
Every year the Domain, a high-end, mixed-use outdoor shopping center, showcases a Christmas lighting tree display and offers a live music accompaniment and Santa Claus. The 40-foot tree features more than 200,000 lights, 400 ornaments, and a 5-foot tall star on the top of the tree. You will also find Holiday lights and decorations throughout the outdoor mall, generating a scene that will get anybody in the holiday spirit while buying the perfect gift! domainnorthside.com/events/domain-northside-holiday-tree-light-show
Round Rock Light Up The Lake
3300 E Palm Valley Blvd
Round Rock, TX 78665
Join the Round Rock community for their 2-day Holiday celebration showcasing cold and hot air balloons flying over a luminous lake and many holiday shows. Delight in Holiday food, drinks, yule log, live music, and much more! roundrocktexas.gov/event/lightupthelake
Sights & Sounds of Christmas!
206 North CM Allen Pkwy
San Marcos, TX 78666
One of the most anticipated holiday events in San Marcos – The Sights & Sounds of Christmas is here! This family-friendly Christmas festival brings the holiday spirit to San Martians and guests from all over Texas and beyond each year. Enjoy a lot of activities for families with children of all ages. Don’t miss the meet and greet with Santa and take a photo with him. Kids can enjoy the carnival rides. You can eat, drink and be merry. There are community performances as well and a lot of family fun activities. sights-n-sounds.org
Bastrop River of Lights
1200 Willow St
Bastrop, TX 78602
Take in the River of Lights, many lighted shows in several seasonal themes paving Bastrop’s scenic June Hill Pape River Walk. To access this one-half-mile viewpoint, come down the steps west of the intersection of Main and Pine Streets or choose the fully available entrance at Fisherman’s Park on Farm Street. Watch out for the opening of this light show the day after Thanksgiving, and it carries on every evening until New Year’s Eve from 6 pm to 9 pm. visitbastrop.com
Lake Travis Lighted Boat Parade
Mark your calendars and get ready to enjoy the 2022 Lake Travis Lighted Holiday Boat Parade! On December 3, starting at 6 pm you can enjoy a free Christmas boat parade on Lake Travis and a post-party at Captian Pete’s. Unfortunately, Crosswater Yacht Club is a private, gated marina but there are a few places to watch the parade like the Lakeway Resort and Spa. If you would like to be in the parade you are in luck this event is free to participate in but unwrapped toy donations for Brown Santa are encouraged. Get more information on their official website. laketravis.com/events/2022-lake-travis-lighted-boat-parade/
