Martha May Whovier would be proud.
We love the elaborate decorative lights that've cemented themselves as must-do traditions in town, like the Trail of Lights or Peppermint Parkway. Still, we want to shine a light on the crafty crews setting up displays around Austin. Letting Santa set up shop in their yards, these elves work hard to bring holiday cheer to the citizens of Austin in every corner of our city.
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North Austin
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PHOTO CREDIT: tacky light tour website
Round Rock (taking a hiatus this year, back for 2025!)
2405 Berwick Cove to be exact.
If you thought the only chance you had to see Elvis in Austin was going to see the biopic, think again. Back for another holiday season, Elfvis and the Kringles are back for their residency, performing the hits with special guests Olaf from Frozen and the Grinch! The kitsch levels are off the roof with this installation and are well worth going up to Round Rock.
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PHOTO CREDIT: 37th street facebook
37th Street between Guadalupe and Home Lane
When other cities do a Candy Cane Lane, you expect to see some Snowmen, reindeer, and maybe one very safe joke display. Austin, however, amps up the weird for the Holidays along 37th Street. A tradition of neighbors going all out for creative light displays, you'll never limit holiday decorations again. The best part of the walk is coming together with a city that happily embraces this weird with open arms and will actively criticize it, Saying it was better back in (insert your preferred year here). Displays are on every night from sunset to 10pm-ish until New Years!
Also, 35th street, just around the corner, keeps the party going.
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PHOTO CREDIT:christmas lights at chianti court yelp
Christmas Lights at Chinati Court
If you love seeing a street in the city come together to decorate, you'll love to know that a cul-de-sac in the suburbs has the same spirit. Taking over Chinati Court, the families in the cul-de-sac fully go holiday ham on decorations and utilize the concrete island as a coffee & hot cocoa station. Drive around, or get out and take a stroll in the circle for a bit of holiday magic out in Cedar Park.
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South Austin
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PHOTO CREDIT: DIAGON ALLEY FACEBOOK
Vintage Place (2024 will be the final year!)
Deep inside Circle C Ranch, you'll find a slice of the wizarding world hiding out amongst the not-so-little boxes made of ticky tacky on the hillside. The whole subdivision will chip in and create its own Hogsmeade, with the centerpiece being Diagon Alley Austin. They turn their home into a full-on model of Hogwarts Castle with lighting and decorations that capture the magic of the beloved series.
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10505 Twilight Vista
The Maywald Christmas lights would make Clark Griswold cry with envy. Taking over their lawn, Jordan Maywald started this Holiday tradition 14 years ago and keeps adding to it. With over 200,000 lights, they're using their holiday notoriety for a good cause by asking for donations to Make-a-Wish.
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Did we miss blindingly obvious choices?
