The 51st annual
Trail of Lights event will return to Austin on Dec. 8 with new attractions and fees.
The walkable trail is one of the three most attended events in Austin with more than 400,000 guests each year, said Mario Espinoza, chair of the trail's foundation and Deputy Executive Director of the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, during an Oct. 21 press event.
"It continues to be exciting for me and the Trail of Lights foundation board to produce this authentically Austin event,"Espinoza said. "And while we hold true to our favorite editions we also try to add new activities and programs each year to keep the Trail of Lights exciting and fresh."
Last year was the first time admission was charged to Trail of Lights guests, a $3 fee for attendees age 12 and older during weekends. Espinoza announced admission will be free from Dec. 8 to 15, and attendees will pay to attend from Dec. 16 to 22. However, guests who pay to ride the shuttle to the event will have their entry fee waived, he said.
The gate fee will likely generate $150,000 of revenue at most, while it costs $2 million to produce the Trail of Lights, Espinoza said. Tickets will go on sale Nov. 4.
New attractions this year include Groovy Grove, where guests are invited to dance with holiday trees, a carousel ride and a Pennybacker Bridge replica. The ferris wheel, which was introduced last year was ridden by 30,000, will return but has been relocated to the North Pole section of the event.
The Trail of Lights Foundation also added two new board members in advance of this year's event. AJ Bingham, a government affairs consultant, and Leah Davies, associate director of Texas Office for Prevention of Developmental Disabilities, were introduced during the Oct. 21 announcement regarding new attractions and fees. Executive Director James Russell, Austin Community College Board Trustee Mark Williams and Espinoza are the other board members.
The grand opening of the trail typically follows the lighting of Zilker Holiday Tree; however, this year the opening is slightly delayed, Espinoza said. The opening will take place at 7 p.m. Dec. 8. The Zilker Holiday Tree will be lit at 6 p.m. Nov. 29 and will be illuminated from 6 p.m.-12 a.m. each night through Dec. 31.