Best Austin Holiday Lights Guide 2018

AUSTIN, TEXAS — You did Thanksgiving, braved the crowds for Black Friday and furiously moved your fingers across the keyboard for Cyber Monday. It's now time to get into the Christmas spirit.

And you're in luck. Holiday lights, decorated trees, music and joy abound in Austin this time of year. Basically, what we're saying here, is that if the events below don't get you in the spirit, then nothing will and you may have to legally change your surname to Scrooge.

But before you do, take a gander at some of the details outlined below. And them, get out there and enjoy what is, arguably, the most wonderful time of the year what with the kids jingle belling and everyone telling you be of good cheer. It's the most wonderful time of the year! But for those who prefer their Christmas a little twisted, there's an event for you too.

37th Street Light Premier

37th Street lights up each holiday season in a tradition dating to the 1980s when a couple of neighbors began bridging the street with Christmas lights left by others neighbors and found at nearby fraternity and sorority houses near the UT-Austin campus. Read more about the eccentric history of this display by clicking here.

HOLIDAY STROLL

Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018

The Downtown Austin Alliance; KUT 90.5, Austin’s NPR station; and KUTX 98.9, The Austin Music Experience, invite the community to start the holidays downtown at the 24th annual Holiday Stroll. All events are free and open to the public.

"Beginning at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 1, Congress Ave. will be abuzz with holiday cheer during the Holiday Stroll — which includes the annual Sing-Along and downtown tree lighting," organizers wrote in a press advisory. "Enjoy free performances throughout the evening by The Polyphonic Spree, Superfonicos, Shy Beast, DJ Girlfriend and the Austin Children’s Choir. This year, there is an extra hour of holiday fun, with the event extending to 10 p.m.!"

At 6 p.m., guests will gather at the south steps of the Capitol to sing songs of the season, led by KUTX 98.9 music hosts John Aielli and Elizabeth McQueen. Complimentary commemorative songbooks will be available to attendees while supplies last.

Ending the Sing-Along at 7 p.m. will be a countdown to the lighting of the downtown Christmas tree at 11th St. and Congress Ave. The 45’ tree, sponsored this year by Spectrum News, features 137,000 LED lights and rotates through a programmed light show. The tree will stay up throughout the month of December and plays holiday songs at the top and bottom of every hour featuring some of Austin’s favorite musicians, including Willie Nelson, Asleep at the Wheel, Dale Watson, Vallejo and others.

Stroll, attendees can participate in a variety of fun activities, such as a local artisan market, live interactive art performances by SprATX, Nunamaana, Ascent Aerialists and more. Kids can write letters to Santa and play in magic snow in the Spectrum News Kids Zone. "Santa and Mrs. Claus will also be at the Holiday Stroll to take Christmas wish lists and sit for photos from Santa’s Austin-thentic Volkswagen bus!" organizers added with palpable excitement.

Sponsors for this year’s Holiday Stroll include: Downtown Austin Alliance, KUT and KUTX, Spectrum News, Dell Children’s Medical Center, Texas Children’s Hospital, and Carvana.

WHERE: The Stroll will take place along Congress Ave. from 11th Street to 9th Street. The Sing-Along takes place at the south steps of the Texas State Capitol. The tree is located at the south gates of the Capitol lawn on Congress Avenue (11th Street and Congress Avenue).

WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018, 5-10 p.m.

§ Events and music begin at 5 p.m.

§ Sing-Along begins at 6 p.m.

§ Tree lighting at 7 p.m.

§ Holiday Stroll lasts until 10 p.m.

Road closures:

• Congress Avenue between 9th and 11th streets.
• 10th and 11th streets between Brazos and Colorado streets.

AUSTIN TRAIL OF LIGHTS

Dec. 10 to Dec. 23, 2018

Organized by the Trail of Lights Foundation, an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to continually bringing the spirit of the holidays to the Austin and central Texas community every year. The Trail of Lights Foundation is focused on keeping this annual event an authentically Austin event for years to come by focusing on community engagement and support for the long-term sustainability of Austin’s largest community celebration. To get tickets and more information, click here.

Tickets start at $15-$20 for a ZIP pass to the pricier "Platinum Pass" from $80 for an individual pass, $150 for a 2-pack and $260 for a 4-pack. However, general admission is FREE for 7 out of the 14 nights thanks to the Austin Trail of Lights Foundation. Refer to the calendar to see which nights offer free entry and which nights carry a $3 entry fee for attendees 12 and over.

• General Admission hours are 7-10pm, nightly, December 10th-23rd.
• Purchase a GA ticket online, in advance to skip the long gate admission lines at the Trail.
• Advance GA ticket purchasers can access the Trail thru a separate, expedited “Prepaid” Entrance.
• Plan Your Trip Today!

If you go, bear in mind that parking is something of a headache for this event. If you plan to drive to the Trail of Lights, organizers offer close-in, lot parking at Zilker Park available only with a pre-paid parking pass. There are a limited number of spots available each night. All parking passes must be purchased in advance, online, and will not be sold onsite.

• Parking passes available for $15 per vehicle.
• Parking lots open at 5:30pm nightly.

"Parking typically sells out in advance, so purchase yours early!" organizers advise.

Road closures:

• Stratford Drive between Robert E Lee and Mopac.
• Barton Springs Road between Robert E Lee and Columbus Drive.
• Stratford Drive between Barton Springs Road and MoPac Boulevard.
• Barton Springs Road between Azie Morton and Columbus Drive.

SCREAM HOLLOW TWISTED CHRISTMAS

Dec. 1-23, 2018

The folks who brought you Hollow Wicked Halloween Park, one of the top Halloween attractions in the country with four haunts on 20-acres of dense forest in Bastrop, return with more family fun in the form of their Twisted Christmas open from Dec. 1–23rd.

Scream Hollow will transform into a Winter Wonderland decorated with over 30,000 LED Christmas lights with fun-filled activities for the whole family, including a live reindeer exhibit (Dec 2, 9, 15 and 22, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.) and festive holiday food and drink. Activities include making Christmas cookies, appearances by Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus, a Christmas light walk through maze, petting zoo, 25-foot-tall double racing slide, an outdoor movie screen playing beloved Christmas classics, a CandyLand bounce house, live Christmas music,holiday vendors and a real snow hill for sledding. Many favorite holiday characters, including a live elf on a shelf, will be at Twisted Christmas to take photos with the family and bring delight to kids of all ages.

On Friday and Saturday nights at 8 p.m., the Winter Wonderland turns wicked as only Scream Hollow can! Krampus takes over the Mansion of Terror and the Slaughterhouse turns chaotic with evil elves on a rampage at the toy factory.

"As always, Scream Hollow encourages patrons to come out and make a night of it, enjoying a glass of wine or beer at the Rabid Bat Vampire Bar, warm treats like hot cocoa, hot cider, funnel cake and turkey waffle sandwiches at the Cackling Witch Cafe and Bakery, or roasting s’mores by the crackling fire and live music," organizers beckon in a press advisory. "Families can also browse the oddities and merchandise for sale at Madame Tinker’s Magic Emporium and an assortment of holiday vendors and craftsmen on site."

Family Friendly hours are from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday & Sunday in December and the Christmas Haunts are open Friday & Saturday in December starting at 8 p.m. Prices start at $14.95 for adults and $7.95 for kids. For more information and to buy tickets, click here. Scream Hollow Twisted Christmas is partnering this holiday season with CASA of Bastrop to make a difference in children’s lives.

This event is a little bit off the beaten path, taking place at 149 Split Rail Lane in Smithville, Texas. From Austin, take Highway 71 East to Bastrop. Before you get into Bastrop, turn right onto Highway 304 South. For more information, call 512-710-8267..

ZILKER HOLIDAY TREE

Through Jan. 1, 2019

The bad news is you missed the 52nd annual Zilker Tree Lighting Ceremony because it happened on Sunday, Nov. 25. The good new is that the "tree" will be on display nightly from 6 p.m. through Jan. 1, 2019, at Zilker Metropolitan Park, 2100 Barton Springs Rd.

Previous story: Austin Tree Lighting Ceremony Tonight At Zilker Park

The reason we put the word "tree" in quotes (like we did just then too) is that the "tree" is actually one of the historic moon towers preserved by the city that is something of a makeshift scaffolding for thousands upon thousands of lights all along its 165-foot frame. It's not a real tree, but quite a spectacle to behold. The annual lighting of the "tree" is steeped in local history, with the first light-switching honors given to trailblazer Emma Long — the first woman ever to serve as mayor pro tem of Austin, serving from 1967-69.

HOTEL GRANDUCA AUSTIN TREE LIGHTING

Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018

Hotel Granduca Austin, 320 S Capital of Texas Hwy., will kick off the holiday season in elegant style with its second annual tree lighting ceremony and celebration. The free event will feature a visit from Santa and performance by the award-winning Westlake High School Madrigals choir group. Guests are invited to gather in the hotel courtyard to enjoy a night of cheer with complimentary treats, including Italian mulled wine, hot chocolate, cookies, and classic Italian appetizers. Those in attendance also will enjoy drinks specials, holiday-themed games from Austin Detours, and a raffle ($5-cash only) with gift card drawings for one-night stays in a Borgo Suite with proceeds benefiting Dell Children’s Hospital. Complimentary valet and self-parking will be provided. The Nov. 29 event takes pace from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. To RSVP, click here.

ABOUT GRANDUCA AUSTIN

Hotel Granduca Austin is the newest member of the Houston-­based hospitality group Granduca Hotels by Giorgio Borlenghi. A joint venture between The Interfin Companies, LP and Riverside Resources of Austin, the luxurious 9-story hotel sits atop a breathtaking hill on South Capital of Texas Highway near Bee Cave Road in Westlake, just a short drive from downtown. The Tuscan-inspired boutique hotel features 194 rooms and suites and 6,650 square feet of meetings and events space. Additionally, Hotel Granduca Austin offers a variety of amenities including original artwork curated from Europe, a billiard room, fitness center, pool, sauna, massage rooms, and chauffeur service. The hotel is a member of the prestigious organization, The Leading Hotels of the World, and is the only hotel in Austin with this distinction. For more information, call (512) 306-6400 or visit www.granducaaustin.com. Follow Hotel Granduca Austin on Instagram at @hotelgranducaaustin and like them on Facebook.

Photo of last year's Hotel Granduca Austin tree lighting ceremony courtesy of Giant Noise.

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>>> Uppermost image: Hotel Granduca Austin Tree Lighting 2017, courtesy of Giant Noise