Hosted by the Trail of Lights Foundation, the annual event in Zilker Park celebrates the unique spirit and people that make Austin the place we love to call home. The Austin Trail of Lights will be celebrating 60 years December 2024.
As the most cherished and longest-running holiday tradition in Texas’ capital city, the Austin Trail of Lights, powered by H-E-B, attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors from Central Texas and around the globe each year. Continuing its tradition, the Trail hosts private nights offering free entry through the STARS at the Trail program to over 40 non-profit partners and distributes thousands of passes to eligible families within the Austin Independent School District.
The History
What began as a small gathering in 1965 known as the "Yule Fest," a gift to the city of Austin from Austin Parks and Recreation Department, has now grown to be a community-wide celebration of the unique spirit and people that make Austin the place we love to call home. In the 60 years since the first Yule Log was lit, the Trail now features more than 2 million lights illuminating the park, 90 lighted holiday trees and more than 70 other holiday displays and lighted tunnels. Today, the Austin Trail of Lights is one of the three largest events in Austin and receives national accolades while remaining a deeply cherished local tradition.
