I wonder: Where can I see Christmas lights around Austin?
December is here, and the countdown to Christmas is on. Here is a list of some of the holiday displays around town that will get you into the spirit of the season:
- 37th Street lights -- The homes on 37th Street at Guadalupe do their part every year to keep Austin weird. Grab the family and the camera and come marvel at a creative take on Christmas decorations. Fair warning -- The general consensus last year was that the displays are growing more and more lackluster as the years pass. Let me know if you go, and how things looked!
- Austin Trail of Lights -- Drum roll please....After a two-year absence, one of Austin's most beloved traditions returns Dec. 16 through Dec. 23 in Zilker Park. Welcome back the Trail from 6:30 to 10 p.m. each night. Click here to see a nightly schedule of performers. Admission is free. Parking is $10 per car and is cash only. Click here for more information.
- Barton Creek Holiday Lights & Ice -- Take a spin on Austin’s largest outdoor ice rink and see 200,000 twinkling lights at Holiday Lights & Ice at Barton Creek Resort & Spa. This is the resort’s third annual Holiday Lights & Ice event. It lasts through Sunday, January 6. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Make-A-Wish of Central & South Texas. For more information on Holiday Lights & Ice, call 1-512-329-4043 or visit bartoncreek.com.
- Cedar Park Acosta Christmas home -- For some holiday fun, families can head to 122 N. Saddle Ridge Dr. in Cedar Park for a light display over 63,000 lights strong! Santa Claus is planning to make a visit to the Acosta home before he spreads his cheer around the world. You can see him Dec. 23 from 5 to 8 p.m. The home also takes monetary donations for children with terminal and chronic diseases. Click here for more information.
- Cedar Park neighborhood -- The neighborhood on Anna Court, off Nelson Ranch Rd., boasts approximately 125,000 Christmas lights! Walking, not driving, the cul-de-sac is recommended. In addition to spreading Christmas cheer with their light display, the neighbors are collecting donations for Blue Santa. Click here for more information, or visit the Anna Court Facebook page here.
- Cedar Park tree lighting -- The Holiday Tree Lighting and Santa’s Workshop will be Saturday, Dec. 8 from 6: 30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Heritage Oak Park (875 Quest Parkway) in Cedar Park. More than 50,000 lights illuminate the largest live oak tree in Cedar Park. Santa's Workshop will kick off immediately following the tree lighting ceremony. Enjoy live music, carriage rides, games and prizes, inflatables, photos with Santa, and arts and crafts projects.
- The Domain -- Weave through The Domain’s shopping area in North Austin as you enjoy the lights and the large Macy's Christmas tree. There is also often live music and even opportunities to get photos with Santa himself! Click here for his schedule and more information.
- Georgetown light show – The Schmidt family’s home in Georgetown always gets a lot of attention during the holiday season. They have programmed their Christmas lights to a set of popular songs. Catch the show each night at 5:30 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. The spectacular display will continue through the first weekend of January. Click here for more information. The family also takes donations for a local charity. Learn more about it here.
- Georgetown light show 2 - 22,000 LED lights, five dancing trees, one "mega spiral tree," three inflatable’s hooked up to 32 channels of Light O Rama, and a partridge in a pear tree (not really) are what you'll find at 2441 Candle Ridge Trail, Georgetown, Texas 78626. Tune your car radio to 88.5FM and enjoy the show!
- Leander LED Christmas tree -- The Toungate family in Leander has a yard display that is not only timed to music, but includes an 18-foot LED custom Christmas tree that will change up to two million colors! Tune to radio station 88.3 and visit the display at 2305 Arroyo Grande, Leander, 78641. If you can't make it out there, you can see part of their light show on the Toungate's Facebook page.
- Johnson City's Hill Country Christmas Lights -- For a "Texas-sized drive thru light display," head into the Hill Country for Hill Country Christmas Lights, now in its 10th year. You can even tour the over-600,000-lights specatacle on a hayride while enjoying a hot cup of cocoa! Dec. 7 and 8th, families can see a live nativity. Hill Country Christmas Lights is free and open to the public. Click here for more information.
- Mozart’s Coffee Roasters -- The local coffee shop is once again spreading Christmas cheer with its annual holiday lights and music show. In 2011, the local coffee shop doubled the length of the show to 10 minutes and added thousands of LED lights. Click here to see a video of the entire show from 2011. Click here for more information about Mozart's.
- Round Rock's Rock'N Lights Holiday Light Tour and Village -- The Rock'N Lights Holiday Light Tour and Rock'N Lights Village are officially lit. The drive-through light show in Old Settlers Park will bring Christmas cheer through Dec. 31. The show features two million lights on a one-and-a-half mile path.The festival is open from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and holidays. Click here for more information. Click here to see photos of the light tour.
- Zilker Park tree – The Christmas tree created out of thousands of lights and a replica moonlight tower will be lit on Dec. 2. It will remain lit for spinning contests, admiration, and general holiday cheer until Dec. 31 from 6 p.m. – midnight every night. Click here for more information.
Feel free to email KVUE.com online correspondent Rebekah Hood at rhood@kvue.com if you know of other city-wide, free, or large light displays.
