Photo courtesy Aaron VazquezBecause of an increased number of visitors, the Trail of Lights will now charge a $3 weekend entry fee for those age 12 and older.
The reason for the new charge is to make up for the cost of increased security during the weekend, a representative of the trail told Austin City Council at its Aug. 7 meeting. The fee is also meant to encourage more trailgoers to attend during the week.
"By implementing a weekend gate fee on the most highly attended nights, we expect to better disperse the crowds to ensure everyone is able to experience and enjoy the Trail of Lights in a comfortable and safe way," said James Russell, executive director of the Trail of Lights Foundation, in a news release.
The Trail of Lights will open Dec. 7 and close Dec. 21. Entry on opening night will be free, as will eight of the 15 nights the trail is open. Currently, the fee is only set to be in place for the 2014 season and will be re-evaluated for future seasons on an as-needed basis, according to the Trail of Lights news release.
