Season
Admission
Hours
Address
Austin, TX 78704
Checked Nov 8, 2026 source how we check
Zilker Park's walking trail of lights, Dec 10–23, 2026. Free on Dec 10–11 and 13–17; up to $8 on the other nights. Kids 11 and under always free.
The Trail of Lights is Austin's big holiday night out: a walking route of light displays through Zilker Park, with food trucks, a Ferris wheel and carousel, and free photos with Santa. The trail itself is about 1.25 miles, but the city says most visitors end up walking around 2.5 miles once you count the walk from parking, so bring a stroller for small children.
In 2026 the trail is open every night from December 10 to 23. General admission is free on December 10–11 and 13–17. On the other nights (December 12 and 18–23) it costs up to $8, and children 11 and under are always free with a ticketed adult. A ZIP pass ($20–25) gets you in at 6 pm instead of 7, through a separate entrance, with a lounge serving cookies and cocoa near the start of the trail.
Parking is the part to plan. Close-in parking at Zilker is only sold online in advance ($25–35 a car) and never at the gate, and the organizers ask you to follow the directions on your pass rather than your GPS. On December 12 and 18–23 a shuttle runs from the Toney Burger Center in south Austin, where parking is free; the $10 shuttle pass includes general admission. CapMetro buses 3, 30 and 803 also stop nearby.
The organizers' own advice for the smallest crowds is a weeknight in the week of December 10, which is also when entry is free.
What you'll find
- Free admission
- Food on site
- Restrooms
- Wheelchair accessible
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