The Trail of Lights is another one of the reasons I LOVE Austin! Our city is so cool! I hope you had the chance to see the beautiful display of lights this year in Zilker Park and if not... pencil it in your calendar for 2009, It's a MUST SEE!

In case you are wondering when this great Austin tradition began, read below!

History:

The festival, originally known as Yule Fest, began in 1965 by Mrs. Alden Mabel Davis and former Parks and Recreation Director Beverly Sheffield as a holiday gift from the Parks and Recreation Department to the citizens of Austin and its visitors. The first display, "The Twelve Days of Christmas", was initially set up in Zilker Park and still holds a prominent location on the Trail every year.

The first festival lasted four days and consisted of a candlelight path, dance performances, a live nativity scene, and the Yule log. In 1967 the Zilker Tree, the "World's Largest Man-made Tree", made its first appearance at the festival.

Through the years the festival continues to grow and long lasting traditions, such as the trail of lighted displays, a 5K run, the Zilker Tree lighting, an Opening Night Parade sustain the holiday memories of thousands of families. In 1992, the festival was renamed the Trail of Lights.