‘Tis the season to aimlessly look at glistening Christmas light displays.

While the Trail of Lights at Zilker Park in Austin, Texas, offers residents and visitors the chance to partake in a 60-year-old tradition starting Dec. 10, the crowds and snail-like pace of fellow attendees often kill the holiday spirit — leaving one feeling more like Ebenezer Scrooge than Buddy the Elf.

Checking out holiday lights shouldn’t be stressful. Not only that, but some would argue it shouldn’t cost a dime to do (aside from a small donation).

Luckily, there are plenty of lights to see for free in Austin this holiday season.

4 free Christmas light displays in Austin, Texas

Those looking to beat the crowds while taking in a sea of glistening lights can check out these four Christmas displays in the greater Austin area:

37th Street Lights

When: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. from Dec. 13 to Jan. 1, 2025.
Where: 507 W. 37th St., Austin.
What: A longstanding park-and-walk excursion on 37th Street (between Guadalupe and Home Lane) featuring houses decked out in eclectic lights and holiday decor that screams, “Keep Austin weird.”

Maywald Christmas Display

When: Dec. 11-Dec. 27. Visiting hours are 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Where: 10505 Twilight Vista, Austin.
What: A dazzling display featuring more than 350,000 lights, Texas-sized Santas and larger-than-life displays spanning 4.5 acres. Donations to Make-A-Wish are accepted upon arrival.

Christmas Lights at Chinati Court

When: Nightly through Dec. 31 starting around sunset until roughly 11 p.m.
Where: Chinati Court, Cedar Park.
What: A brightly decorated cul-de-sac with various photo ops. You can drive by most nights or take in the magic on foot. Santa visits the street every Friday and Saturday from 7 p.m. until at least 9 p.m. (except for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day).

Photos with Santa are free. There will also be a Brown Santa drop-off at this display, and those visiting are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate.

The Domain’s Holiday Tree Light Show

When: Nightly through Dec. 25. The free light show occurs every hour during the following times: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Friday; Noon to 9 p.m. Saturday; Noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. Hours for Dec. 24-25 will be noon to 6 p.m.
Where: 11821 Rock Rose Ave., Austin.
What: A dazzling holiday tree light show that occurs every hour on the hour (weather permitting). The tree is located across the street from the Apple Store.

AUSTIN, Texas – The City of Austin has activated its cold weather shelters for Tuesday night.

The city says temperatures are forecast to dip into the mid-30s overnight on Tuesday (Dec. 10) into Wednesday morning (Dec. 11), so the shelters are being activated for those needing overnight shelter.

Individuals can get information about access and activation by calling the Cold Weather Shelter Hotline at 512-972-5055.

How to access a Cold Weather Shelter

Registration for shelter will occur between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. at One Texas Center (OTC), 505 Barton Springs Road, which will act as the central embarkation point for individuals seeking an overnight shelter.  

CapMetro bus routes to OTC are lines: 1, 7, 10, 20, 30, 105, 142, 801. Anyone seeking cold weather shelter and does not have the means to pay the fare will still be given a ride.

An after-hours embarkation service will also be available for those seeking transportation to a shelter outside the embarkation period. 

What to know about Cold Weather Shelters

• Guests can bring their belongings as long as they can transport them to the OTC and onto a CapMetro Bus.
• Pets are allowed if they are not aggressive, can be around others, on a leash, and can sleep with their owners. If a pet needs a crate for the evening at the shelter, guests should inform staff at the OTC when registering.
• Meals will be provided.
• Women and couples can be in the same shelter but in a separate area, as capacity allows.
• Hotel vouchers will be provided for families with children and unaccompanied minors seeking shelter during activation periods.

How is it determined when to activate Cold Weather Shelters?

The City’s Homeless Strategy Office determines when to activate cold weather shelters in Austin no later than 9 a.m. each day.

The office uses National Weather Service projections for Camp Mabry. and will activate shelters if the forecast predicts:

• 32 degrees or colder overnight, or
• 35 degrees or colder overnight with precipitation, or
• 35 degrees or colder with a wind chill of 32 or colder

The City has communicated with community partners that work directly with Austin’s homeless population, as well as directly with homeless individuals registered with the City’s text alert system.

Residents are encouraged to follow austintexas.gov/alerts for emergency information updated in multiple languages.

Texas Longhorns defensive lineman Aaron Bryant is entering the NCAA transfer portal, On3 reported on Monday.

Bryant is the fourth player to enter the portal for Texas so far, following the announcements of edge Tausili Akana, wide receiver Johntay Cook, and fellow defensive lineman Jaray Bledsoe.

The 6-foot-2, 305-pound third-year lineman tallied 13 games played, including the Big 12 Championship against Oklahoma State in 2023.

Bryant was part of the 2022 recruiting class, as a state and region All-Star in Mississippi and ranked No. 8 overall in the state. He was selected to participate in the 2021 Mississippi/Alabama All-Star Game by the Mississippi Association of Coaches and the Mississippi High School Activities Association, as well as the 2021 Bernard Blackwell Classic All-Star Football Game by the Mississippi Association of Coaches. Bryant was ranked No. 290 in the country.

Still in high school, the four star recruit was part of a Southaven High School defense that only allowed 17.8 points per game, including two seven-point games.

Though he played in the season opener against ULM and got some more minutes against UTSA, Bryant ultimately redshirted his freshman year with no statistics recorded.

As a redshirt freshman, Bryant saw the field seven times and recorded his first career tackle against Baylor in Waco.

This season, Bryant played in four games, but only recorded statistics in one — a single assisted tackle against Florida. He also played against Colorado State, Oklahoma, and the regular season matchup against Georgia.

Bryant will finish his time at Texas with two tackles.

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