Home for the Holidays - Austin, Texas

Tis the season… the season of spending hours in the kitchen cooking elaborate meals that will be eaten in twenty minutes, the season of spending time with obnoxious uncle Joe, the season to find your pocket book on empty and a mass of gifts under the tree that will find their way into the trash or the back of the closet before the new year is over.

This year, don't let the stress of the holiday season wear you down. Step out and let Austin bring some of its quirky and eclectic holiday celebrations. These unique Austin events are guaranteed to chase away the annual holiday stress and fill you with holiday spirit.

Whether it is spinning like a kid under the enormous Christmas tree made entirely of lights at the annual Trail of Lights, ice skating on Austin's only outdoor ice rink or walking through the famous eclectic lights of the 37th Street neighborhood, there is something to please everyone. Sit back, relax and let me fill you in on some fun and creative ways to celebrate the holidays without breaking the bank or increasing your stress level.

Trail of Lights

This eccentric holiday celebration began in 1965 as the annual Yule Fest sponsored by the Austin Parks and Recreation Department. Celebrating its 41st year, the Trail of Lights is a delight to all who walk through the twinkling gates. Even Ebenezer Scrooge couldn't resist the twinkling trees that just drip with lights, the merry sounds of carolers singing to the crowds and the smell of delicious hot apple cider.

The trail consists of a mile-long walk through Zilker Park along a trail of animated and stationary, lighted holiday scenes. From the Twelve Days of Christmas to Santa's Workshop, visitors will be delighted in the whimsical displays. Kids can even visit Santa and mail their Christmas wish list directly to the North Pole.

No trip to the Trail of Lights would be complete without taking a spin, literally, under the 3500 spiraling lights that make up the Zilker Park Christmas Tree. Grab a friend or two, stand under the tree made entirely of lights, look up and spin until you fall down. When you're finished, get a cup of hot chocolate and warm up by the Yule log.

The Trail of Lights runs from December 10th through December 23rd from 7-10 pm. The Zilker Tree will be lit in a tree lighting ceremony on December 6th. Parking is available for $7 per car. Shuttle service is available from the parking garage at 14th & Trinity. Shuttle fees are $2 for adults and $1 for children. Entrance into the Trail of Lights is free.

37th Street Light Display

One quirky neighborhood in Austin's Hyde Park neighborhood has become the epitome of Jonesing. One man began a quest to decorate the outside of his house for the holidays and soon neighbor after neighbor joined in to create the eccentric yet tradition of the 37th Street light display.
These aren't your ordinary lights. Lights are made from every conceivable material and strings of lights are slung haphazardly through trees, around utility poles and over porches. Houses glitter with hundreds upon hundreds of light strings. And lighting displays include anything from the unusual to the bizarre.

If you want to get out of the house and take a walk, drive down to this ultra cool neighborhood and stroll along from Guadalupe Street to Home Lane taking in the "Clark Griswold" style decorations. You and your relatives will not regret finding this gem of a Christmas tradition.

Ice Skate in Shorts

Austin may be the only place in Texas where you can ice skate outside, close to Christmas, in shorts. Austin has notoriously fickle winter weather ranging from high 70's to the low 20's. Pick the right day to visit Whole Food's Market's landmark store on 5th and Lamar and you could strap on a pair of ice skates and try your hand at ice skating on Austin's only outdoor ice skating rink in your shorts!

In 2005, Whole Foods, based in Austin, was looking for a spectacular way to celebrate opening their new flag ship store and home office complex. They came up with an outdoor ice rink on the second story balcony. The rink is small but lively, framed in evergreen trees. Skaters enjoy a delightful arrangement of holiday music. If the day turns cold, you can purchase a steaming cup of hot chocolate from the vendor beside the rink.

The rink will be open December 1st - December 31st from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm. Skate fees include skate rental. Fees are $5 per person before 3:00 pm Monday - Thursday. After 3:00 pm and on weekends, the fees are $9.50 for adults and $7.50 for children under 12. Every Tuesday, Whole Foods will donate 5% of the rink's profits to the Austin Children's Shelter.