“A Kaleidoscope of Colors” is the theme for this year’s Windcrest Light Up event.

Each year, Windcrest residents illuminate and decorate their homes as part of a decades-old, annual tradition.

A ceremony was held at City Hall on Dec. 4 to kick off the 2021 Light Up, an evening festivity that typically sees hundreds of people driving through town to see the light displays, which stay on through Dec. 31.

Many of the residents of the city in the northeast San Antonio metropolitan area also participate in the Light Up contest, where contestants are judged in one of several categories.

City officials said visitors may pick up a free map of participating contestants’ homes before 4 p.m. daily at the fire department office, 8601 Midcrown Drive, or at one of the three Fill the Boot locations from 6-10 p.m. daily during Light Up. Those locations are on Crestway Drive at Midcrown Drive in front of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Eagle Crest Boulevard at Balfour Drive, and Fourwind Drive at Tradewind Drive in front of Skateland.

This year’s Light Up also includes the People’s Choice Award, for which viewers use a QR code on the map to nominate any home—whether they are a contestant or not. Voting for the People’s Choice Award continues through Dec. 31.

The city of Windcrest is also providing other ways to get everyone into the holiday spirit by offering a Christmas market from 6-9 p.m. Dec. 17-19 at the corner of Crestway and Jim Seal drives. City officials said the market will involve local vendors and artisans selling a variety of products.

According to the city, all market vendor spots are filled, and admission will be free for shoppers.