Mayor Steve Adler discusses the magic of taking a photo from the bottom of the Zilker Tree and looking up.[/caption]
Updated Oct. 20, 9:33 a.m.
The Trail of Lights Foundation announced today the 52nd annual holiday event begins Dec. 10, featuring more than 40 light displays and offering residents of all ages and abilities the opportunity to celebrate the holiday season.
Trails of Lights runs Dec. 10-23 this year in Zilker Park and includes several special events, including honoring first responders and military personnel.
“We are one of the largest events in the city, and we expect about 400,000 attendees each year,” said Leah Davies, president of the Trail of Lights Foundation. “Beyond being big, I think we’re one of the best events because we’re different in that we create Trail of Lights for Austinites. It’s an event by us, for us and about us.”
Run by the Trail of Lights Foundation, the annual lights festival became privatized about five years ago and the foundation continues to operate the event through donations, sponsorships and partnerships with organizations such as H-E-B, Google Fiber, Vista Equity Partners and Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas.
“The list isn’t long of things that have been around in Austin as long as the Zilker Tree, so we’re really proud to sponsor the Zilker Tree again,” said Mark Strama, who heads Google Fiber in Austin is a former state representative for District 50.
At an Oct. 19 press conference, Leslie Sweet, H-E-B director of public affairs for Austin and Central Texas, discusses how the business will distribute 250,000 books to promote early literacy.[/caption]
H-E-B also will distribute more than 250,000 donated books during Trail of Lights.
“It’s a great opportunity for us to give the gift of great literacy,” said Leslie Sweet, public affairs director for Austin and Central Texas. “Our hope is to use H-E-B as a platform to remind our great parents and shoppers that this is the best gift they can give their child is learning how to read.”
Vista Equity Partners sponsors Stars Night, which launched in 2013. The program has expanded to three nights and allows 20 nonprofits to bring in residents who normally would not get to visit the Trail of Lights the opportunity for a special preview.
“We identify that as an event by and for Austin need to do a very good consistent job of making [Trail of Lights] accessible for all Austinites,” Davies said. “We thought the best way to do that would be to feature and highlight and give special access to those nonprofit groups.”
Trail of Lights will be free to attend from Dec. 10-16 and will cost $3 for attendees age 12 and older between Dec. 17 and 23. Tickets are available Nov. 9 and may be purchased online along with parking passes, which are $15.
Shuttles will run between Republic Square Park in downtown Austin and the Toney Burger Activity Center in Southwest Austin. Shuttle tickets are $5, which includes admission.
Visit www.austintrailoflights.org for more information.
Austin Trail of Lights returns Dec. 10 for its 52nd year of holiday light displays.[/caption]
Trail highlights
- 41 displays
- 1,100 volunteers
- 400,000 attendees
- 1 million miles walked by attendees
- 26,018 photos taken at Santa’s Workshop and House
- 6,000 runners in the Fun Run
- 40,432 riders on the Ferris Wheel
- 10 hours spent wrapping 1 tree
- 8,640 hours to build the trail
- 905 pounds of candy distributed at Candyland
- 15-plus marriage proposals
Austin Trail of Lights includes 40 lights display and other rides, including a Ferris wheel.[/caption]
Key dates
- Nov. 27-Dec. 31: Before the Trail of Lights begins, the 50th annual lighting of the Zilker Tree will be Nov. 27 at Zilker Park. The 155-foot-tall tree will be open to the public through Dec. 31.
- Dec. 3: The Trail of Lights 2.1-mile Fun Run is open to all ages and fitness levels and starts at the Zilker Tree and ends at the Trail of Lights. Registration is $25-$40, and the run starts at 6:30 and 8 p.m.
- Dec. 4-6: The Starts program returns and 20 nonprofits will bring children, teenagers, youth in foster and adoptive care, veterans, people will disabilities and those who are chronically ill to visit the trail. Participating nonprofits include AGE of Central Texas, the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Austin Area, Mobile Loaves & Fishes, Helping Hand Home for Children and LifeWorks.
- Dec. 9: Night Lights is a preview party for attendees to enjoy the lights, bites from Austin restaurants, a maker’s market, a classic car show, Ferris wheel, carousel rides and music by Shinyribs and Greyhounds. Tickets are $75, and proceeds benefit the Trail of Lights Foundation.
- Dec. 10: The grand opening of the Trail of Lights is free and open to the public. Title sponsor H-E-B will lead the countdown to turn on the lights.
- Dec. 11: The trail turns burnt orange to celebrate The University of Texas at Austin.
- Dec. 13: Heroes night honors active military personnel, veterans and first responders.
- Dec. 16: Sponsored by Alamo Drafthouse and the Austin Parks Foundation, Movies in the Park will come to Zilker.
This post has been updated to correct the sponsorship of Movies in the Park and the correct time of the Fun Run.
Mayor Steve Adler discusses the magic of taking a photo from the bottom of the Zilker Tree and looking up.[/caption]
Updated Oct. 20, 9:33 a.m.
The Trail of Lights Foundation announced today the 52nd annual holiday event begins Dec. 10, featuring more than 40 light displays and offering residents of all ages and abilities the opportunity to celebrate the holiday season.
Trails of Lights runs Dec. 10-23 this year in Zilker Park and includes several special events, including honoring first responders and military personnel.
“We are one of the largest events in the city, and we expect about 400,000 attendees each year,” said Leah Davies, president of the Trail of Lights Foundation. “Beyond being big, I think we’re one of the best events because we’re different in that we create Trail of Lights for Austinites. It’s an event by us, for us and about us.”
Run by the Trail of Lights Foundation, the annual lights festival became privatized about five years ago and the foundation continues to operate the event through donations, sponsorships and partnerships with organizations such as H-E-B, Google Fiber, Vista Equity Partners and Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas.
“The list isn’t long of things that have been around in Austin as long as the Zilker Tree, so we’re really proud to sponsor the Zilker Tree again,” said Mark Strama, who heads Google Fiber in Austin is a former state representative for District 50.
At an Oct. 19 press conference, Leslie Sweet, H-E-B director of public affairs for Austin and Central Texas, discusses how the business will distribute 250,000 books to promote early literacy.[/caption]
H-E-B also will distribute more than 250,000 donated books during Trail of Lights.
“It’s a great opportunity for us to give the gift of great literacy,” said Leslie Sweet, public affairs director for Austin and Central Texas. “Our hope is to use H-E-B as a platform to remind our great parents and shoppers that this is the best gift they can give their child is learning how to read.”
Vista Equity Partners sponsors Stars Night, which launched in 2013. The program has expanded to three nights and allows 20 nonprofits to bring in residents who normally would not get to visit the Trail of Lights the opportunity for a special preview.
“We identify that as an event by and for Austin need to do a very good consistent job of making [Trail of Lights] accessible for all Austinites,” Davies said. “We thought the best way to do that would be to feature and highlight and give special access to those nonprofit groups.”
Trail of Lights will be free to attend from Dec. 10-16 and will cost $3 for attendees age 12 and older between Dec. 17 and 23. Tickets are available Nov. 9 and may be purchased online along with parking passes, which are $15.
Shuttles will run between Republic Square Park in downtown Austin and the Toney Burger Activity Center in Southwest Austin. Shuttle tickets are $5, which includes admission.
Visit www.austintrailoflights.org for more information.
Austin Trail of Lights returns Dec. 10 for its 52nd year of holiday light displays.[/caption]
Trail highlights
Austin Trail of Lights includes 40 lights display and other rides, including a Ferris wheel.[/caption]
Key dates
