Where to See the Best Christmas Lights in Austin

We wouldn’t have you layer up, pack the family into the car, and drive for miles only to show up to a busted assemblage of randomly scattered bulbs on sad trees with music by Alvin and the Chipmunks, circa 2002.

Some Austin things, no matter who you are, are just undeniably cool.

Willie Nelson? Cool.

Highland Mall, back in the day? Cool.

The annual Barton Springs Polar Bear Splash? Okay, not cool.

But Christmas lights? No matter what kind of Austinite you claim to be, you’re down every year for a good Christmas light display.

soulciti can help steer you to at least one brilliant holiday light show you may not be aware of, and remind you there are several tried-and-true, very cool spectacles worth getting around town to view.

FEATURED LIGHT SHOW
Mozart’s Coffee Roasters | 3825 Lake Austin Blvd.
Free 15-minute show at the top of every hour, from 6 – 11 pm
Nightly, through January 2nd, 2017
*Very popular, expect to wait for parking

If you’ve not ever been to Mozart’s on Lake Austin Blvd. near downtown Austin, make this holiday season the occasion to make an appearance. The cozy coffee house sits on the lake and offers a wide array of coffees, teas, light lunch entrees, and baked goods. And every Christmas season, there’s an eye-popping show with synchronized lights and music.

Katrine Formby, part owner of Mozart’s, started the coffee house Christmas light show to help her cope through the holiday season with the difficulty of not having children.

“I started decorating our house with tons of Christmas lights; that kept my mind occupied with something festive and fun,” Formby said. “I didn’t want the lavish decorations to go to waste, so we moved the decorations to Mozart’s. Seven years ago I noticed that decorated houses started synchronizing music and lights, so I became a copycat. Each year since then, I choose songs and design light sets to accompany the music. My belief is that there is no such thing as too many Christmas lights.”

NEIGHBORHOOD LIGHTS PICK
Split Oak Cove | Pflugerville 78660
Saxony Neighborhood

There are plenty of neighborhoods in and around the Austin area that have highly respectable Christmas lights display, but one decked-out abode in particular caught our eye on the Facebook feed. If you live far north, you could load up the family and take a drive through the Saxony/Warner Heights/Katymead neighborhoods of Pflugerville to enjoy a healthy, visual display of holiday lights. Be sure to stop at the cul de sac on Split Oak Cove to view a pretty impressive display (sponsored by Laser Gift Creations) replete with Santa Claus, his reindeer, and music.

TRADITION
Austin Trail of Lights | Zilker Park | 100 Barton Springs Rd.
Through December 23, 2016

The Trail of Lights is easily Austin’s most popular holiday lights and music show with more than 40 displays, 2 million lights, and holiday activities. Click here for more information.

HOLIDAY LIGHTS, PLUS
The Domain | 11410 Century Oaks Terrace and Hill Country Galleria | 12700 Hill Country Blvd.

Both The Domain in North Austin and the Hill Country Galleria in Bee Cave offer a safe, family-friendly smorgasbord of holiday delights, from Christmas shopping and festive food to Santa sightings and light shows. Click here for a list of events, including a gingerbread workshop, at the Galleria. And click here for information about when Santa is available to take photos with the kids at the Domain.

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