Austin, TX

Where can I see holiday lights in Central Texas?

Published

3 months ago

December 6, 2025

Where can I see holiday lights in Central Texas?

AUSTIN, Texas – The 2025 holiday season is here and with it comes lighting displays, parades and events.

FOX 7 Austin has gathered a list of where you can go to enjoy holiday lights and celebrate with your friends and family.

The list is arranged by county, then city.

Travis County

Austin

Austin Trail of Lights

When: Dec. 10-23 from 6-10 p.m. each night
Where: Zilker Park
What: Annual event hosted by the Trail of Lights Foundation, trail features more than 2 million lights, 90 lighted holiday trees and more than 70 other displays and lighted tunnels; event also features live music, local food trucks, holiday vendors, and an opportunity to meet Santa and Mrs Claus
Cost: General admission ranges from $0–$8 depending on the night. ZIP passes range from $20-$35 and include early access, an exclusive entrance and a special lounge area. Platinum passes range from $85-$480 and include valet parking, early access, a shuttle, a special lounge area and drink and ride tickets.
Website: https://austintrailoflights.org/

Zilker Holiday Tree

When: Nov. 30–Jan. 1 from 6-10 p.m. (Drive up visitation nights: Dec. 2-6, Dec. 8-9, Dec. 24-Jan. 1)
Where: Zilker Park
What: The Zilker Holiday Tree stands 155 feet tall and is composed of 39 streamers, each with 81 multi-colored lights, totaling about 3,309 lights. The lights are hung from the Zilker Moontower, one of 17 original Austin moontowers. It has been lit almost every year since 1967 (excluding 1973)
Website: Zilker Holiday Tree | AustinTexas.gov

Luminations

When: Dec. 5-Jan. 3, closed Dec. 24-25, Dec. 31 and Jan. 1
Where: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
What: Guests can enjoy a canopy of twinkling lights, glowing garden paths, nightly live music, festive photo moments, and hot chocolate and churros.
Cost: $30 for adults ($23 for members), $20 for kids age 3-12 ($13 for members), free for kids 2 and under
Website: www.wildflower.org/luminations

Del Valle

Peppermint Parkway at COTA

When: Now until Jan. 4, open Monday-Friday 5:30-10 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 3-10 p.m.
Where: Circuit of the Americas, 9201 Circuit of the Americas Blvd
What: Walk-thru trail with millions of twinkling lights, whimsical characters, and more, leading to a plaza filled with delicious seasonal treats, joyful rides, lively activities and more
Cost: Admission starts at $8 per person, kids 2 and under get in free; additional costs for other events, rides and amusements
Website: Peppermint Parkway

Lake Austin

Mozart’s 2025 Lake Austin Festival of Lights

When: Nov. 11-Dec. 11 with showtimes at 7, 8, 9, and 10 p.m.; Dec. 21-Jan. 3 with showtimes at 7, 8, 9, and 10 p.m. (closed Christmas Day); Triple feature experience from Dec. 12-20
Where: 3825 Lake Austin Blvd, Austin
What: This year’s festival is themed “Heaven and Nature Sing,” and includes new and spectacular additions like a fire dancer waterfront battle from “The Nutcracker” and a limited-run Broadway-style Christmas concert. The Christmas village is also returning with hot chocolate and sweet treats. Millions of lights will also glow in the ever-expanding Lake Austin Nautical Light Show.
Cost: General admission to the Holiday Village is $3; additional fees could apply for other parts of the event
Website: www.mozartscoffee.com/pages/festival-of-lights

Pflugerville

Pfestival of Lights & Parade

When: Saturday, Dec. 6 from 4-7:30 p.m.
Where: Downtown Pflugerville
What: Family friendly activities, hot cocoa, and festive performances behind City Hall; parade from Railroad Avenue to downtown starting at 5 p.m.; Santa arrives for tree lighting and photos at 6:30 p.m.

Menorah Lighting

When: Sunday, Dec. 14 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Where: Downtown Pflugerville
What: Third annual Menorah Lighting with Chabad of Round Rock/Pflugerville

Hays County

San Marcos

Lone Star Light Show

When: Now until Dec. 31, open Sunday-Thursday 6-10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 6-11 p.m.
Where: 6218 I-35 South frontage road, northeast of Old Bastrop Road
What: Interactive drive-thru light show with seven immersive tunnels, an entirely LED nativity, thousands of light strands, a 50-foot-high Christmas tree and more.
Cost: $25 general vehicle admission for weekdays; $30 general vehicle admission for weekends
Website: www.lonestarlightshow.com

Wimberley

EmilyAnn Theatre’s Trail of Lights

When: Now until Dec. 26, open Sunday-Thursday 6-9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 6-10 p.m. (except Dec 21-23, open from 6-10 p.m.)
Where: EmilyAnn Theatre, 1101 FM 2325, Wimberley
What: A walking trail through about 8 acres of lighted exhibits; live entertainment onstage near the yule log where guests can enjoy complimentary marshmallows and hot chocolate; several special event nights throughout the run of the trail; a concession stand and an entrance store
Cost: Free, but donations accepted as this is a fundraiser for the theatre
Website: www.emilyann.org/trailoflights.html

Bastrop County

Bastrop

Bastrop River of Lights

When: Now until Jan. 5, from dusk to 10 p.m. every night
Where: 601 Chestnut Street, Bastrop
What: Attendees can stroll the half-mile June Hill Pape Riverwalk and enjoy hundreds of sparkling displays in festive holiday themes

Lost Pines Lighted Christmas Parade

When: Saturday, Dec. 13 starting at 6 p.m.
Where: Downtown Bastrop
What: More than 150 dazzling entries of floats, fire trucks, unicycles, vintage cars and even Santa himself. Event will travel south down Main Street

Bexar County

San Antonio

Zoo Lights at the San Antonio Zoo

When: Now until Jan. 4
Where: 3903 N. St. Mary’s St., San Antonio
What: Multiple realms of twinkling lights, festive music and whimsical displays; daily activities like Pick-A-Present, S’mores Pits and photos with Santa; weekend activities and meet-and-greets with the zoo’s mascots;
Cost: Free for San Antonio Zoo members or with a standard admission ticket; day memberships start at $44.99; daily admissions start at $21.91; children under 3 get in free
Website: Zoo Lights at the San Antonio Zoo

Holiday Lights on the San Antonio River Walk

When: Now until Jan. 11, from sundown to sunrise
Where: San Antonio River Walk in Downtown San Antonio
What: About 200,000 lights draped across the bald cypress trees lining the downtown portion of the River Walk
Cost: Free
Website: Holiday Lights on the San Antonio River Walk

Blanco County

Johnson City

Lights Spectacular 2025

When: Now until Jan. 4, from dusk (about 5:45 p.m.) to midnight
Where: Located at various locations throughout downtown Johnson City; Memorial Park; Pedernales Electric Coop HQ
What: Laser show and fun lighted ornaments at courthouse; over 1 million lights on oak trees and colorful themed displays at Memorial Park and PEC HQ; interactive displays, carriage rides
Cost: Free
Website: www.lightsspectacular.com

Burnet County

Marble Falls

Walkway of Lights

When: Now until Jan. 3, from 6-10 p.m. (weather permitting)
Where: Lakeside Park & Beach, 205 Buena Vista Drive
What: Attendees can stroll past Christmas sculptures on Marble Falls Lake and enjoy many different events, like pictures with Santa, a boat parade, movies in the park and more. Concessions will also be available such as cookies, hot chocolate and coffee
Cost: $2 per person
Website: Walkway of Lights

Comal County

New Braunfels

Santa’s Ranch

When: Now through Jan. 4, open Sundays through Thursdays 6-10 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays 6-11 p.m.
Where: 9561 I-35 North in New Braunfels, just southwest of San Marcos
What: A drive-thru mile-long light display with over 3 million lights, a concession stand with hot chocolate, kettle corn, snacks, souvenirs and more
Cost: $37 plus tax for a single pass per vehicle; $74 plus tax for a season pass per vehicle
Website: www.santasranch.com

Gillespie County

Fredericksburg

Fredericksburg Christmas Nights of Lights

When: Now until Jan. 6, nightly beginning at 5 p.m. (closed on Dec. 5 and Dec. 31)
Where: Marktplatz in Fredericksburg
What: Each evening will feature holiday music starting at 5 p.m., followed by a 10-minute audio presentation on the history of Fredericksburg’s German heritage at 6 p.m., then a countdown to the lighting of Marktplatz. The music will end at 6:30 p.m. following the countdown.
Cost: Free
Website: Visit Fredericksburg

The Source: Information in this report comes from a variety of sources, including city and county websites and event pages for individual displays.

HolidaysTravis CountyWilliamson CountyLifestyleHays CountyBastrop CountyBexar CountyBell CountyBlanco CountyBurnet CountyCaldwell CountyComal CountyFayette CountyGillespie CountyLee CountyLlano CountyMilam County

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Austin, TX

Texas Primary: Breakdown of Texas races

Published

5 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Democrats tried to stop a mid-decade redistricting effort, but were unsuccessful. Now, we are starting to see some of the candidates emerging in those newly drawn districts. FOX 7 Austin’s Rudy Koski gives a full breakdown.

Posted March 3, 2026 10:32pm CST

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Austin, TX

Remembering Jorge Pederson: Minnesota MMA fighter killed in Austin, Texas, shooting

Published

17 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

Remembering Jorge Pederson: Minnesota MMA fighter killed in Austin, Texas, shooting

ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – A shooting on West Sixth Street in Austin, Texas, early Sunday morning, killed three people and injured more than a dozen others, according to the Austin Police Department. APD confirmed one of the victims was 30-year-old Jorge Pederson, a Minnesota man who worked as an MMA fighter for the Med City Fighting Championships.

“You meet tons of fighters and there are people that stand above the rest that you find you enjoy or find the most amusing,” MCFC Co-Owner Matthew Vogt said. “He was definitely one of them.”

According to Vogt, Pederson was also the owner of a Minnesota business called Metro Movers. Vogt said the MMA competitor touched everyone’s hearts since his first day of fighting professionally in Rochester.

“As soon as we met him when it was the weighing time, we just loved the guy already because he had a great mission or spirit about him,” Vogt said. “He was a funny guy and great fighter.”

Vogt told KTTC when he first saw the news that Pederson was killed, he could not believe what he saw.

“I was looking, like, ‘Wait a minute. Is this one of his shenanigans or did something actually happen there?’” Vogt said, recalling the moment he saw a social media post regarding the shooting in Austin. “I confirmed with a few people and I’m just like, sometimes, some things happen that you don’t even like, you don’t even know how to respond to it because it’s just so out of left field that you don’t immediately have a response to it.”

MCFC confirmed there is an online fundraiser dedicated to supporting Pederson’s family. As of Tuesday afternoon, more than $10,000 has been raised.

“He was someone that always could make anybody laugh,” Vogt said. “Support his family through the fundraiser and take a look at his Instagram especially to see how funny he was.”

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Austin, TX

Here are the major statewide and Austin-area races on the ballot Tuesday

Published

1 day ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

Here are the major statewide and Austin-area races on the ballot Tuesday

A voter heads into the Ben Hur Shrine polling place in Austin as early voting begins for the March primary elections in Texas, Feb. 17, 2026. Voters can cast their ballots to decide who represents Republicans and Democrats in the November midterm elections.

Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman

A rare mix of competitive races up and down the ballot has voters turning up to the polls in droves ahead of Tuesday’s primary election, which will set match-ups in the high-stakes midterms in November.

Voters will decide if U.S. Sen. John Cornyn gets to keep the seat he’s held for more than two decades and which candidates will likely take a slew of redrawn congressional seats meant to give Republicans an edge. The races could decide control of Congress.