Zilker Tree Lighting Ceremony

December 6, 2009 at 6pm

This year, Austin is going to scale back the normally spectacular Trail of Lights and concentrate more on family activities around the Zilker Tree. There will be two stages, Candy Land and King of Winter Stage (Zilker Hillside Park). Entertainers will take to both stages and provide holiday enjoyment. Dancers, musicians, storytellers, choirs, comedians, theatre troops, and more will fill the air with the festive sounds of Christmas.

Schedule

December 6th, 6pm – Zilker Tree Lighting Ceremony

~~~ Bring a New Unwrapped Toy for ages 12 and over for Blue Santa

December 6th – 31st, Beginning at dusk Zilker Tree Lit Nightly

December 12th, 6:30 pm – Zilker Tree Holiday Festival Fun Run

December 13th-21st, 6:00 pm – 10 pm, Zilker Tree Holiday Festival

Event Nights, featuring:

Going Green

GREEN MISSION

The Trail of Lights strives to provide a fun-filled family environment to celebrate the holidays while minimizing the environmental impact of our community event.

GREEN EFFORTS

Alternative Energy. More than 1 million lights and all vendor booths will be powered by Austin Energy using renewable energy.

Switch to LEDs. Thirty percent of the displays at the Trail of Lights will use LED light bulbs. LED bulbs use 80% to 90% less energy and will dramatically cut the event’s overall energy costs.

Single Stream Recycling. Single Stream Recycling services will be provided on-site. Recycling receptacles will be located next to trash receptacles and monitored by volunteer Environmental Ambassadors wearing brown smocks with glow in the dark recycling emblems.

Printed Materials. The Trail Guide is printed on recycled paper with soy based ink and distributed through the Austin American Statesman.

Green Vendors,. All vendors have agreed to use on-site recycling services to recycle all cardboard and grease waste. Vendors are also required to use products capable of being recycled through the Single Stream Recycling Program and eliminate plastic wrap packaging when selling items to patrons.

Coordinated Transportation Services. CAPMETRO offers round trip transportation from State Parking garages. Parking at the Trail of Lights is available, but discouraged. Generally, there is a 40 minute wait to get in and out of the Park and the parking fee to park on-site is $15 per vehicle as opposed to $3.00 per person for a round trip on the shuttle.

Special Needs Transportation. Electric golf carts will be available to transport all special needs patrons. Also, the kick-off parade will feature Santa’s sleigh drawn by horses.