The Trail of Lights is on and better than ever! The 50th year of this Austin holiday tradition includes amazing light displays and so much more. With new features such as a Candy Land room with treat-making demos, Santa’s Workshop with kids crafts and photo booths, and a super fun ferris wheel, this is an event that Austinites won’t want to miss.

— Best Best for Avoiding Crowds:
This year, one of the best ways to beat the crowds is to purchase a ZiP Pass that allows you to enter early at 6:15 p.m. (instead of 7 p.m.). Or if you arrive later, you get to skip ahead to the front of the line. Lucky for you, we’ve got a family 4-pack of ZiP passes to give away! (Enter at the bottom of this page.)

You might also have better luck avoiding crowds if you go during the week instead of a weekend evening. The Trail is open Monday – Thursday at 7 p.m. for free and might be slightly less crowded than weekends. (Keep in mind, if you go on Friday-Sunday nights, there is a $3 fee per person ages 12 and up.)

 — Getting There:

• Shuttles: Shuttles depart Republic Square Park and Burger Center to drop you off at the Zilker Tree for a quick walk to the front gate. Round trip shuttle tickets are $4 during the week and $5 on the weekend. Weekend shuttle tickets also give you weekend gate access. Just park and ride! Lots open and start selling tickets at 5pm. First shuttle departs shuttle stops at 5:30 pm . Last shuttle departs shuttle stops at 8:30 pm. Return shuttles from Zilker will run until 10:30 pm. There is a limited capacity per night and each lot will stop selling tickets when capacity is reached or at 8:30 — whichever occurs first.
• Parking: Want to park near the Trail? You can purchase a pre-paid parking pass online to park in Zilker Park for $15. There is limited inventory! ADA parking is also available for purchase.
• Cap Metro Bus: CapMetro can get you close. Take the #3, #4, #30 or #338 bus lines to drop you a short walk to the park.
• Bike: Bike checks are located on Barton Springs at the entrance.

— Tips for Taking the Kids:
Of course, the kids are going to LOVE going to the Trail! But here’s a few suggestions to help make the outing smooth and meltdown-free.

• Wear comfy shoes. There’s lots of walking — especially for little feet.
• Wear layers or bring jackets incase the weather feels colder as the night goes on.
• If possible, put the little ones in a baby carrier instead of a stroller because they can be harder to navigate among crowds.
• Keep your budget in mind before you go. The ferris wheel costs $6 per person to ride, and there are TONS of delicious snacks for sale. You may also wish to bring your own glow sticks to avoid the temptation to purchase similar items there.

For more Insider Tips and FAQ, visit the Trail of Lights website.

— Giveaway:
Want to win a family 4-pack of ZiP Passes? Yes, you do! Enter our giveaway below.

 

This giveaway is now closed. Congrats to our winner and thanks to everyone who entered!