AUSTIN, Texas — The burning of Austin’s big Yule Log – a tradition started in 1965 – marked the most familiar symbol of the earliest years of a citywide holiday celebration at Zilker Park that eventually became known as the Trail of Lights.
For several years in the early 1990s, it was possible to drive vehicles through the Trail of Lights. The slow parade of cars and pickup trucks became a traffic nightmare and quickly became a trail of taillights. Vehicles were eventually banned and now the colorful spectacle is only accessed on foot.
Considering its popularity over the years, it seems odd in retrospect that the Trail of Lights once was in danger of going dark permanently. City of Austin financial cutbacks in 2009 led to a scaled back version that year. Then, the trail was canceled by the city and remained dark in 2010 and 2011.
But in 2012, the lights came back on, thanks to business sponsorships and private donations. With around 450,00 visitors each year, it’s become Austin’s most popular public celebration of the holidays.