Austin, TX

Want to take a day trip? Check out holiday events in these Texas cities

Published

1 year ago

December 11, 2024

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Want to take a day trip? Check out holiday events in these Texas cities

Wanting to start a new holiday tradition this year?

Consider taking a day trip to a nearby city to check out winter events.

The Caller-Times suggests visiting one of these events in Austin, McAllen and Victoria.

Trail of Lights in Austin

Austin is a popular destination as the capital of Texas, but it also is known for its annual Trail of Lights — an event that features more than 2 million lights, 90 lighted holiday trees and more than 70 holiday displays in Zilker Park.

The event opened Tuesday and will run through Monday, Dec. 23.

Tickets may be purchased at austintrailoflights.org.

The Trail of Lights originally started in 1965 and was known as the Yule Fest. It involved the lighting of a yule log and included performances by carolers from local choirs. Over the years, the one-day event evolved into a four-day festival and then to one that lasts for nearly all of December.

Aside from lights, the festival also includes vendors, food, drinks and live performances. This year, several entertainers will perform through Dec. 23.

South Pole Illuminated Festival in McAllen

South Pole Illuminated Festival is an immersive holiday experience with the tallest RGB Christmas tree in the United States, spanning more than 10 stories tall.

RGB lights are color-controllable LED strings that can be animated with unique effects that may be synchronized to music.

Guests can experience a walking journey through millions of lights at the McAllen Convention Center featuring photos with Santa, train rides, gingerbread house building, live music, a s’mores station, a holiday food court, a NASA photo exhibit, a market, fireworks, a carnival and more.

The festival opened in November and will run until Dec. 29. Tickets may be purchased at southpoleoftexas.com.

Christmas Nights in Victoria

Grab your little ones and make a short drive to The Texas Zoo in Victoria for the annual Christmas Nights event, where attendees can stroll through light displays.

The event is held from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 20, Dec. 22, Dec. 23 and Dec. 24.

Tickets are $5 and can be purchased on site.

For more information about the zoo, visit texaszoo.org.

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John Oliva covers entertainment and community news in South Texas. Contact him at john.oliva@caller.com or Twitter @johnpoliva.

Consider supporting local journalism with a subscription to the Caller-Times.

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Austin, TX

Southwest Airlines establishing new crew base in Austin

Published

5 hours ago

December 12, 2025

Press Room

Southwest Airlines establishing new crew base in Austin

AUSTIN, Texas (KVIA) — Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that Southwest Airlines will establish a new pilot and flight attendant crew base in Austin.

Abbott joined the Austin mayor at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to make the announcement today.

The expansion to Austin will lay the groundwork for future operational growth in Texas. It is expected to generate 2,000 jobs in Austin by mid-2027. In addition to the pilots and flight attendants, Austin will now also be home to managerial and support staff. The new crew base will have an average salary of $180,000 a year, the Governor’s Office says.

The state is extending a $14 million Texas Enterprise Fund to the airline, as well as a $375,000 Veteran Created Job Bonus.

“Southwest Airlines was born and raised in Texas and has been a core element of the economic growth we have seen in our state,” said Governor Abbott. “We are excited to announce that today Southwest Airlines will add over 2,000 high paying jobs right here in Texas. We are the home of economic opportunity for our fellow Texans more than any other state in the United States, and we know a key reason for that is because of everything Southwest Airlines provides. We are proud to partner with everybody connected with Southwest as well as the City of Austin on such a huge announcement for our state.”

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Austin, TX

Fire destroys abandoned E Austin auto shop

Published

17 hours ago

December 12, 2025

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Fire destroys abandoned E Austin auto shop

AUSTIN, Texas — Austin firefighters battled their second major fire Thursday afternoon, responding to an abandoned East Austin auto shop engulfed in flames.

Crews responded to 3100 Manor Road around 4 p.m., AFD said.

No injuries were reported and no one was inside the building.

ALSO | 40+ residents displaced in North Austin third-alarm apartment fire, no injuries reported

The incident was called in as a first alarm. The building is a total loss, according to officials.

CBS Austin has a crew on the way to the scene.

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Earlier in the afternoon, firefighters extinguished a three-alarm fire in north Austin.

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Austin, TX

Austin road rage suspect identified, charged with criminal mischief: affidavit

Published

1 day ago

December 11, 2025

Press Room

Austin road rage suspect identified, charged with criminal mischief: affidavit

AUSTIN, Texas – The suspect in a violent road rage incident on the Capital of Texas Highway has been identified and charged, according to court paperwork.

The altercation was caught on camera.

What we know:

34-year-old Ian Kevin Brinkmeyer has been charged with criminal mischief, a Class B misdemeanor, in connection with the Dec. 5 incident.

At around 2 p.m. that day, officers responded to a call for service on Capital of Texas Highway, where they spoke with Brinkmeyer and another man.

The affidavit says Brinkmeyer “engaged in a road rage” with the other man while traveling north on Capital of Texas Highway. Brinkmeyer drove around the other man, changed lanes in front of him and cut him off before stopping his car.

Brinkmeyer then allegedly got out of his vehicle holding a “steel knife sharpening rod”, walked over to the other man’s car and struck the driver’s side door window with the rod, shattering the entire window.

The affidavit says Brinkmeyer then quickly walked back to his car and drove off.

The entire incident was caught on video by other drivers and posted on social media.

The affidavit says that the repairs to the shattered window cost about $480, making this a case of criminal mischief with a value between $100 and $750.

What’s next:

A warrant has been issued for Brinkmeyer’s arrest. As of 12 p.m. Dec. 11, he is not in custody.

The Source: Information in this report comes from court paperwork and previous reporting.

Crime and Public SafetyAustin

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