Zilker Tree and the Trail of Lights in Austin Texas 2009! Event Schedule for 2009 tree lighting ceremony.

The Zilker Tree lighting ceremony is always a big event with tons of people young and old. Every year I go to the tree lighting ceremony with a group of friends. This is a long standing tradition for each of us. We make hot chocolate for the ride there, as it may take an hour just to get there due to traffic caused by its popularity. Then it can take even longer try to find some place to park. Thankfully the kids no longer require strollers or ask to be carried! Here is a little slice of old Austin for you newbies that have just relocated to Austin Texas.

Here is the history of the Zilker Tree and Trail of Lights in a nutshell. It all began in 1965 when they brought a Yule Log to Zilker Park, and it was called Yule Fest. Then in 1967 they debuted the "Zilker Tree of Lights". The tree is crafted from hundreds of old fashioned big lights strung in a spiraling pattern from one of Austin's old "Moon Towers". This is about the time the tradition of spinning in a circle under the Zilker Tree started. It is amazing to see and can make even the sober folks feel a little tipsy as it is very disorienting! Kids love to spin under the tree and will sleep well after spending the evening running around on the trail of lights and spinning under the Zilker tree!

They began adding lighted displays in 1968. Many people have worked long and hard to pull together the displays with thousands of lights. The employees of the Austin Parks and Recreation Department are the ones who create this magical event each year. While there are local sponsors like: HEB, Terra Toys, Rudy's BBQ, Lorenz & Lorenz L.L.P. and Dell that help defray the cost of putting together this event, it is ultimately the City of Austin that carries the bulk of the cost.

Ten things to know before you go!

• There is a $10 fee to park your car (if you can find a spot!) Walk or bike if you can.
• There is NO Fee to enter the Trail of Lights.
• Tree is lit on December 6th and will remain lit through Dec. 31, 2009.
• December 12th is the Zilker Tree Fun Run.
• December 13-21 is the Zilker Holiday Festival-Crafts for sale, Live Music, Santa's House opens,Yule Log, Food,  Beverages.
• December 21 from 7:00-10:00 Zilker Hillside Theater presents a FREE concert in the park. "Asleep At The Wheel" and "Friends Holiday" performs this year.
• Street closures: Barton Springs Road from Robert E. Lee to Rollingwood Drive, Stratford Drive (AKA entrance to Barton Springs Pool) from Vale to Barton Springs Road. These two streets will be closed from 5-11pm nightly from Dec. 13-21.
• Capitol Metro is available, use route 30 to access Zilker Park.
• In past years The Trail was on the north side of Barton Springs Road, but this year it has moved to the south side close to Barton Springs Pool.
• This year the Trail of Lights is a little shorter. It is only a half mile walk that starts and ends at the Zilker Tree. You will pass by the Barton Springs pool and end up close to the stage where "Asleep At The Wheel" will be playing music!