Nothing puts you in the holiday spirit more than experiencing spectacular Christmas lights displays while drinking a warm hot chocolate in the cold and crisp December weather. With Austin having so many Christmas light displays, it’s no surprise that Austin ranks among the best for holiday displays in the country, according to CNN. So, check out our list of the most popular places for Christmas lights in Austin and enjoy a magical night full of bright lights and holiday spirit!
Best Christmas Lights in Austin:
- Anna Court Christmas Lights
- Austin Trail of Lights
- Bastrop River of Lights
- Chinati Court Christmas Lights
- Christmas on Mercer Street
- Donn’s Depot Holiday Display
- Georgetown Christmas Stroll
- Harlien Family Christmas Lights
- Heritage Park Neighborhood Christmas Lights
- Holiday Stroll
- Lakeway Trail of Lights
- Lake Austin’s Boat Trail of Lights
- Lala’s Little Nugget Christmas Bar
- Lights of Tejas
- Lights Spectacular
- Lost Pines Christmas
- Luminations at the Wildflower Center
- Mozart’s Christmas Light Show
- Pfestival of Lights
- Rhodes Family Christmas Lights
- Round Rock Christmas Towne
- Santa’s Ranch
- Shady Oaks Christmas Lights Display
- Sights and Sounds of Christmas
- The Capital Holiday Stroll
- The Domain Holiday Display
- The Driskill Hotel Christmas Tree
- Toungate Klub Kringle
- Walkway of Lights
- Willis Littlefield’s House
Anna Court Christmas Lights
Anna Ct, Cedar Park, TX 78613
Anna Court boasts a display greater than 175,000 Christmas lights and the street Christmas tree alone has 7,200+ lights. While touring the lights, they play a list of 54 songs that lasts up to 2 hours! Anna Court cul-de-sac also collects toy and cash donations for SafePlace; a local Austin shelter for women/families. They also collect donations for Blue Santa. This is a neighborhood you must visit this holiday season!
Austin Trail of Lights
2100 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704
An Austin tradition since 1965, the Trail of Lights provides miles or walking amongst thousands of lights and scenes. The Zilker Tree, another holiday favorite, stands 155 feet tall in the middle of Zilker Park and boasts 39 multi-colored streamers, 3,309 lights and bulbs, and a very bright star with 150 lights on the top. With so many lights, it’s hard to miss amongst the Downtown Austin Skyline during the holidays!
Bastrop River of Lights
1200 Willow St, Bastrop, TX 78602
Take in the River of Lights, numerous lighted displays in a variety of seasonal themes lining Bastrop’s scenic June Hill Pape River Walk! To access this one-half mile promenade, come down the stairs west of the intersection of Main and Pine Streets or select the fully accessible entrance at Fishermans Park on Farm Street.
Chinati Court Christmas Lights
Chinati Ct, Cedar Park, TX 78613
Celebrate the holidays with your family and friends by going to the Chinati Court cul-de-sac! All the homes in the cul-de-sac light up each night and they collect cash and toy donations for Brown Santa; a program that provides assistance to underprivileged children and their families in Travis County and senior residents of local retirement centers in Travis County.
Christmas on Mercer Street
Downtown Dripping Springs, Dripping Springs, TX
The sights and sounds of Dripping Springs’ 15th Annual Christmas on Mercer Street will come alive on Saturday, December 7, from 10 am to 5 pm! The downtown area will transform into a hometown holiday festival featuring holiday shopping, arts and crafts booths, live entertainment, a petting zoo, trackless train, pony rides, children’s activities, and more. Hosted by the Dripping Springs Lions Club and the City of Dripping Springs, the festival admission is free to the public. Santa Claus will make a grand appearance at 10 am, and there will be opportunities for parents to take photos of their children with him until 2 pm at Santa’s Workshop on Mercer Street. The annual Lighting of the Tree will be held at the Triangle (also known as Veterans Memorial Park at E. Mercer Street, Ranch Road 12, and Hwy 290) at 6:15 p.m.
Donn’s Depot Holiday Display
1600 W 5th St, Austin, TX 78703
Donn’s Depot is a piano bar on West 5th street and provides interior Christmas lights throughout the entire year! Deck the halls with your family and friends, enjoy their legendary seasonal (limited time) drink menu, listen to world-class musicians singing your holiday favorites and get all warm and fuzzy for the holidays! This keeps the public in the holiday mood, no matter what time of the year it is! So get ready for hundreds of snowflakes, thousands of lights and seasonal cocktails galore and let Donn’s Depot make all your Christmas dreams come true!
Georgetown Christmas Stroll
Downtown Georgetown, Georgetown, TX
Head out to “the most beautiful town square in Texas” to start off the holidays! Be sure and come early and bring your chairs. There will be floats, bands, clowns, and Santa will make his debut! Plus this year, Blue Santa Elves will be collecting new unwrapped toys along the Parade Route! The parade begins at the corner of E 2nd Street and S Church Street. The parade will travel South on S Church Street, then West on 10th Street, North on Austin Avenue and East on 5th Street. After the parade, be sure to stick around for other fun stuff like Bethlehem Village and Whoo-Village, enjoy Live Entertainment, sample tempting treats in the food court, and browse arts and crafts booths!
Harlien Family Christmas Lights
400 Liscio Cove, Georgetown, TX 78628
The Harlien Family has decorated their home during the holidays for the neighborhood kids and families for 26 years! The Harlien family, Santa, and their team of supporters are raising money for Make-A-Wish Central and South Texas. With your help, they have raised $150,000 over the past five holiday seasons enabling them to sponsor the wish trips of 18 children from their local area! The Harlien Family is hopeful you will partner with them again in achieving their goal to raise $20,000, sending four more children on a trip of a lifetime in 2020!
Heritage Park Neighborhood Christmas Lights
875 Quest Pkwy, Cedar Park, TX 78613
The Tree Lighting and Santa’s Workshop will feature a snow hill, snow playing areas, live music performances, games and prizes, yule fire, inflatables, photos with Santa (bring your own camera), and arts & crafts projects. Food concessions will also be available. The Cedar Park Police Department will be accepting new and unwrapped gifts for Blue Santa. Admission is free!
Holiday Stroll
Downtown Seguin, Seguin, TX
This year’s Holiday Stroll festivities kick off December 5th with the Holiday Stroll Parade! The parade will also include food vendors, pictures with Santa, and entertainment from the Seguin High School Band. Stroll through downtown tasting over a dozen varieties of homemade hot chocolate. On December 6th, Seguin’s downtown businesses will keep their doors open late for some shopping and sipping on hot chocolate. Other activities will include live entertainment from the Seguin High School Star Steppers, horse-drawn wagon rides, photos with Santa, a wiggle waggle train ride, and food vendors. North Pole Stroll will be held on December 7th and promises to be a family-friendly affair. Nonprofit organizations will be hosting activities for children in Central Park, including pictures with Santa, cookie decorating, letters to Santa, and much more!
Lakeway Trail of Lights
105 Cross Creek, Lakeway, TX 78734
One of Lakeway’s most cherished traditions is the Trail of Lights! Come out and see thousands of twinkling lights with your friends and family! See amusing tableaus, all accompanied by delightful seasonal music! Please be aware that skateboards, scooters, bicycles, and motorized vehicles are not permitted (neither are pets).
Lake Austin’s Boat Trail of Lights
5300 N Capital of Texas Hwy, Austin, TX 78730
Welcome to Lake Austin’s favorite holiday tradition! Join the holiday parade (boats large and small) illuminated to your family’s delight and travel down Lake Austin for this unforgettable holiday experience. Parade starts under the 360 Bridge and ends by Mozart’s on the Lake for a spectacular gathering of Christmas lit boats! Party Barge boarding will begin at 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM at Walsh Boat Landing by Hula Hut-Austin. Final boarding end at 5:00 PM sharp (we don’t want to leave you behind)! Parking is limited. Rideshare is strongly encouraged. Are you Bringing Your Own Boat (BYOB) this year?! Party Barge attendees will vote to pick the best boats that make a splash at the 3nd Annual Lights on Lake Austin Holiday Boat Parade. Prizes will be awarded in the following categories: Best in Show, Best Pontoon Boat and Most Creative!
Lala’s Little Nugget Christmas Bar
2207 Justin Ln, Austin, TX 78757
Lala’s Little Nugget has long been one of the divining and endearing bars of Austin for decades. Lala’s Little Nugget keeps Christmas lights, Santa and his reindeer up year-round in their bar; which creates a cheery atmosphere, perfect for sipping a delicious drink and enjoying the season! Lalas is a North Pole oasis in Central Texas. They throw a Christmas party in December every year that has a white elephant gift exchange!
Lights of Tejas
1038 PR 2191, Giddings, TX 78942
You’re invited to come to Tejas for Christmas! Each year during the holidays, Tejas is a flurry of Christmas festivities as we transform their campus into one of the best light festivals in all of Texas! Lights of Tejas is a Christmas light festival you won’t want to miss that boasts over one million Christmas lights, offers many family-friendly activities, and multiple accommodation options for you and your group to stay in overnight. Centrally located among Austin, Houston, College Station, and San Antonio, Lights of Tejas takes place in Giddings, Texas, so be sure to put Lights of Tejas on your Christmas list this holiday season!
Lights Spectacular
101 W Pecan Dr, Johnson City, TX 78636
Since the late 70s, Johnson City has been offering a lights display worthy of the Texas Hill Country with 100,000 lights twinkling on the Blanco County Courthouse and Memorial Park on Main Street! In fact, it is the largest lights display in Texas! This holiday celebration is family and pet-friendly with no admission and lasts until January 5th. There will also be ornaments and holiday crafts to purchase!
Lost Pines Christmas
1311 Chestnut St, Bastrop, TX 78602
Join the City of Bastrop in Bastrop, Texas, for their annual Lost Pines Christmas celebration on December 14 with numerous holiday events, small-town tradition, and fun for the entire family. Expect holiday shopping, games, a festival, and an evening lighted parade with over 100 lighted floats and Santa!
Luminations at the Wildflower Center
4801 La Crosse Ave, Austin, TX 78739
Experience the Wildflower Center embellished with lights as thousands of luminarias glow along the paths and gardens. Stroll through a natural wonderland with delightful displays, live music, festive foods, and more! This year’s event features newly lit trails and an exclusive performance of Blue Lapis Light’s “Oneness of Being,” aerial dance choreography inspired by the Wildflower Center.
Mozart’s Christmas Light Show
3825 Lake Austin Blvd, Austin, TX 78703
Visitors to Mozart’s annual Christmas light extravaganza! This year their light show has a new immersive, interactive experience surrounded by more than one million LED lights! Come with eager eyes and ears (there will be music, too). Thousands of dazzling lights have been sculpted into giant iconic objects; which evoke Austin’s culture and the Christmas season. Plus, there will be an audio-activated wall of lights. The light show will be placed on Mozart’s lakeside deck. Mozart’s acclaimed coffee and hot chocolate can be purchased at the coffee house and kiosks outdoors. Special holiday goodies from Mozart’s bakery will also be available. The best part is that the light show is free!
Pfestival of Lights
Downtown Pflugerville, Pflugerville, TX
Join the City of Pflugerville on Main St. in Downtown Pflugerville as they kick off the pfestive season. The parade begins at 4 pm and ends with the tree lighting and photos with Santa (make sure to bring your own camera)! Enjoy pfestive activities in Downtown Pflugerville including pfree cookies and hot chocolate, musical performances, and a yule log fire! Knights of Columbus Council 10373 is presenting the Christmas parade.
Rhodes Family Christmas Lights
2410 Sharon Dr, Cedar Park, TX 78613
Come out with family and friends and enjoy the Christmas spirit with the Rhodes Family! This home was featured on ABC’s Great Christmas Light Fight; which means their extensive Christmas lights display will not disappoint! They also collect perishable food items for the Cedar Park Area Food Bank.
Round Rock Christmas Towne
Downtown Round Rock, Round Rock, TX
Round Rock’s annual holiday festival is back to its original home on Main Street! During Christmas Family Night, Main Street is decorated with small wooden houses that host various games and activities. The event kicks off with a welcome from Mayor Craig Morgan, followed by the illumination of all NEW Hometown Holiday lights. Then Santa makes his grand entrance! This free event includes activities for the entire family, including live music, dancers, candle making, game booths, Frosty the Snowman, Santa Claus, and more! Children should bring their “wish lists” for Santa Claus, and parents are encouraged to bring their own cameras for pictures with Santa. Plus, enjoy free hot dogs, popcorn, hot chocolate, and other refreshments, activities, and snacks!
Santa’s Ranch
9561 IH 35 North, New Braunfels, TX 78130
This holiday season take a trip through the winding country road and take in the beautiful Christmas displays like the lit up gingerbread houses, nativity scenes, depictions of the North Pole, and more! Bring your friends and family and enjoy one of the best holiday light exhibits in the state! You’ll take a drive through over a mile of winding country roads while taking in the beautiful lights, animated Christmas displays, and enjoying homemade hot cocoa, kettle corn, and snacks. You’ll be awestruck by over 1.5 million lights!
Shady Oaks Christmas Lights Display
107 Shady Oak Drive, Georgetown, TX 78628
This featured home in Shady Oaks, Georgetown has been putting on Christmas light shows since 2011 and are known to put on a spectacular holiday display! So, come out and take your family and friends for a light show that will not disappoint!
Sights and Sounds of Christmas
401 E Hopkins St, San Marcos, TX 78666
The City of San Marcos is excited to welcome you to one of the most anticipated holiday events, The Sights & Sounds of Christmas! Every year this family-friendly Christmas festival brings the holiday spirit to San Martians and visitors from across Texas and beyond. You’ll find popular carnival rides for all ages, a variety of delicious festival food, live performances, and even a visit from Santa Claus. All events take place amidst a sea of beautiful Christmas lights spread throughout the park. Sights & Sounds has something for everyone to help celebrate the holiday season!
The Capital Holiday Stroll
1100 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701
Kickstart your holiday season at the Downtown Austin Alliance’s Holiday Stroll on December 7th along Congress Avenue between 9th and 11th streets! Join the City of Austin for a night of holiday cheer in downtown, including the annual KUT Austin and KUTX 98.9 Holiday Sing-Along and the lighting of the downtown tree. A free, family-friendly event, Holiday Stroll has something for everyone, including photos with Santa, a petting zoo, live ice sculpture, holiday arts & crafts, a live mural painting, local food trucks, artisan vendors, and more!
The Domain Holiday Display
11410 Century Oaks Terrace, Austin, TX 78758
Each year the Domain, an upscale, mixed-use outdoor shopping center, showcases a Christmas lighting tree show and provides a live musical accompaniment and Santa Claus. The 40-foot tree boasts over 200,000 lights, 400 ornaments, and a 5-foot tall star on the top of the tree, take a ride in a horse-drawn carriage, and dance in synchronization to holiday music! And of course, we can’t forget about shopping for the holidays!
The Driskill Hotel Christmas Tree
604 Brazos St, Austin, TX 78701
Austin’s most historic downtown hotel will be hosting their annual lighting of The Driskill tree followed by a performance of holiday carols. Additionally, the Driskill Hotel puts on Christmas events throughout the holiday season, including holiday music in the evenings, photos and cookies with Santa Claus for the children, and a Christmas dinner on the 25th!
Toungate Klub Kringle
13500 Farm to Market 2769, Austin, TX 78726
This year, Toungate Klub Kringle is back for their 8th annual light show! Klub Kringle has an amazing Christmas light display with over 25,000 red, white and blue LED lights. There will be an 18ft tall Christmas tree with 2000 LED lights that change up to 2 million different colors with pictures, words, and designs on it! All which is synchronized to music. A tribute song to the troops overseas is played as well!
Walkway of Lights
305 Buena Vista Dr, Marble Falls, TX 78654
The time has come, Walkway is upon us! Beginning November 22nd, and going through January 1st, Walkway of Lights will be open nightly from 6 pm-10 pm, weather permitting. Join the City of Marble Falls in Lakeside Park as they celebrate the holidays with over two million lights, photos with Santa, and so much more! Make the Walkway of Lights your new family tradition, and experience the magic year after year! Admission is always free, yet donations are much appreciated! Don’t forget, concessions and Santa photos are fundraisers for local non-profit organizations!
Willis Littlefield’s House
W 12th Austin, TX 78703
Since 1998, Willis Littlefield has decorated his home in Clarksville with a dazzling light show that has amazed everyone every year. His home turns into a fount of a winter wonderland due to his mix of decorations and year-round vintage shops and homes. Not only does he set up and break down decorations every day, but he stands in the street and hands out candy canes to all his visitors! Willis’s light display is incredible and worth a stop!
Map of The Best Christmas Lights in Austin
