Trail of Lights opens after 2 years off

AUSTIN (KXAN) - An Austin tradition is back. The Trail of Lights at Zilker Park opened Sunday night after being on hold for two years.

The Austin tradition goes back to 1965. After being in the dark the past couple of years, people were eager to get through the gates. People started lining up for the opening ceremonies early in the evening in anticipation of the 6:00 kick off.

 "When they started it up I was going to make sure I was the first in the gate to see it this year," said Karen Miller, who was one of the first in line.

The tunnel of glowing lights--red and blue and green--lit the way,leading thousands of people into the Trail of Lights.

"It just reminds me of my childhood because every year we've been here," said Lilliana Chavez, who was with her family for the opening night.

The trail wraps around Zilker Park. Nearly one million lights illuminAte the way, Music and entertainment filled the air. Contestant on NBC's "The Voice," Jonathas Ojeda, sang Christmas carols as people waited to head into the trail.

"I love Austin," said Ojeda, "I've been in Austin the last 8 to 9 Christmases. I love it out here."

KXAN's own Leslie Rhode and Robert Hadlock helped kicked of the grand opening ceremony. It's the beginning of  eight nights of celebrations. The Trail of Lights brings families together and brings out the spirit of the holidays in all of us.

"Everybody's got a little kid in them this time of the year," says Paula Murphy, who was at the Trail of Lights for the first time, "It brings the family together, and theres such a sense of community all around Austin."

Planners of the trail of lights say they wanted to bring back what people missed, but they also added some new things this year, too. Some of Austin's most popular food trucks are along the trail.

Until December 23, gates to the Trail of Lights open at 6:30 each night and close at 10:00. Admission is free.