BY REBECCA DARLING

One of Austin’s most beloved Holiday events is the Austin’s Trail of Lights and this year, it celebrates it’s 50th Anniversary with some new features and some re-vamped favorites. We had the opportunity to walk the trail last night and learn about some of the newer items coming to the trail this year.

10 Fun Things You Must See at Austin’s Trail of Lights

See the Austin Skyline from the Ferris Wheel – This year, there will be a 90 foot ferris wheel next to the Zilker Tree with big gondolas for your whole family to fit in. Rides are $6 per person.

Create a Flip Book on the Green Screen at Santa’s Workshop – In the North Pole on the trail, kids can play in Santa’s Workshop with a giant light bright, a green screen, a photo booth, snow machine and more!

Have a piece of homemade candy at Candyland – Local Austin confectioners will be making homemade candy (free)

Play with the Freescale Drive In movie in Tiny Town – Tiny Town is back with colored lights and fun additions. Local high school students helped design robotic cars and the Freescale Drive In movie theater. Let the kids select what they want to “watch”.

Walk through the Bat Cave – In honor of Austin’s Mexican free-tailed bat colony, the trail has a bat cave to walk through this year.

Take a Picture at the Iconic Trail of Lights entrance – All the lightbulbs are new and it sparkles so bright. It will have a big 50 on it for the 50th Anniversary.

Watch for Texas on the Globe – Another favorite brought back for the anniversary, watch the glob glow orange too.

Take a spin under the Zilker Tree – A trip to the Zilker tree is not complete without a spin under the tree. Yeah, it might make you dizzy, but its fun….

Meet Santa in the North Pole – What a fun place to meet with Santa!

Warm Yourself by the Yule Log – You must check out the giant yule log that will be burning each night. Grab a cup of hot cocoa and warm up by it.

Now many of you may be thinking it is too crowded or too cold to go to the Austin’s Trail of Lights, but there is a solution for the crowds. If you pay the $15 for a ZIP pass, you can get in a full hour before the general public and have access to hospitality tents with hot cocoa. You can also buy a parking pass, so basically there is a way around the crowds. Click here for more info on tickets & special event nights. Now the chilly weather? Just bundle up -it’s worth it!

Source: http://rwethereyetmom.com/2014/12/must-see-at-austins-trail-of-lights.html