Entertainment
This year’s calendar is jam packed – there is something happening every night at the trail, creating an opportunity for the entire community to enjoy everything that makes Austin unique.
We begin the month of December with the Austin Trail of Lights annual Fun Run, presented by St. David’s HealthCare on Saturday, December 2 – a fun way for us to help “keep Austin active” during the holiday season. The run begins at the Zilker Tree and continues through the Trail of Lights ending in a Finish Line Festival and fitness expo – one of our own newer traditions. But this year we’ve added a VIP registrations to this family-fun event. VIP guests will have an upgraded experience at the Fun Run with access to the new VIP Lounge, comfort, food, drinks and more. Register for the 2017 AustinTrail of Lights Fun Run Today!
We will continue the season with an other tradition – the annual Night Lights preview party, presented by Lyft on Friday, December 8– an exclusive evening kicking off the season in style. This evening’s guest will experience a sneak peek at the 2017 Trail of Lights and a night out complete with all local music acts, food tastings from Austin’s favorite restaurants, complementary bar, liquor tastings, Maker’s Market curated by Edible Austin, classic car show and more! Tickets will go on sale Wednesday, November 8 and can be purchased here.
The official Austin Trail of Lights Grand Opening on Saturday, December 9 will feature a special opening ceremony by H-E-B and a special performance by Austin-based bluesman Alan Haynes. If you’re a fan of Texas blues, and let’s face it… who isn’t? – this guy played with legendary blues musicians such as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Johnny Winter, Albert Collins and Jimmie Vaughan to name a few. Calendars for ticket availability and online ticket purchases will be available November 8th.
We are especially excited this year’s lineup full of local Austin musicians—from youth groups to amateur, emerging and headline artists. Head over to our event calendar for the full list. Local Austin entertainment will continue throughout the Trail of Lights with nightly acts by community and professional performers such as Mother Falcon String Trio, Whiskey Shivers, and DJ Mel at the Night Lights Preview Party on Friday, December 8; Alan Haynes at the Grand Opening on Saturday, December 9, The University of Texas Longhorn musicians and entertainers, Wood & Wire, Trube, Farrell & Snizz, Jomo & The Possum Posse, Datura, Tiarra Girls, and many others. The full entertainment schedule will be available here.
We are continuing Storytime at the Trail by celebrity readers that we started last year. Each night at 7:30 pm, we will feature readers from throughout Austin—we will release names on our website regularly. Don’t forget about Movie Night at the Trail happening Tuesday, December 19 where we’ll be showing 2 family-friendly holiday classics which we will announce very soon!
Check out the full Events Calendar to plan your trip to the Trail this year!