Walkway of Lights' biggest year yet

MARBLE FALLS, Texas (KXAN) - How about a little Christmas competition? As Austin scales back on its Trail of Lights, places like Marble Falls are hoping to capitalize on what's cancelled.

This Friday, Marble Falls' annual Walkway of Lights kicks off, running through early next year. Already 45-thousand strong after last year's turnout, organizers are bracing for an even bigger season.

Frank Machado checked every bulb carefully in this gateway tunnel.

“I guess there's 144,000 lights here in this tunnel,” Machado said.

He's been supervising the construction of the Walkway of Lights for the past 14 years.

"It takes a little over two weeks to put everything together from beginning to end,” he added.

A million twinklers spread out over 130 displays.

"I guess I'm so involved in it, I can't stand it not working right."

The possibility of having those who once enjoyed Austin's holiday trail come to his own scaled down version puts on the pressure.

"Certainly, parking becomes an issue when we get that many people,” said Christian Fletcher with the Marble Falls-Lake LBJ Chamber of Commerce.

If the city can handle the crowd, this event stands to make a lot of money. It took about $20,000 in donations to put it up.

"If we do get more donations this year,” said Fletcher, “we can make Walkway bigger and better next year."

So, in Machado's mind, things have to be perfect. Until the gate opens for good, he'll be here checking every detail down to the last light.

"I hope people from Austin come by and look at this. If you got children, this is the place to be."