Posted in Austin
December 19, 2018
This Neighborhood In Austin Has The Brightest And Best Christmas Lights In The City
The city may be changing, but this time-honored tradition lives on. If you’re looking for a healthy dose of Christmas cheer, venture down to 37th Street near Guadalupe. This charming neighborhood has been decking the halls for decades, and it’s started to become a city-wide attraction. There’s no doubt about it. This neighborhood in Austin has the brightest and best Christmas lights in the city.
Neighbors didn't originally intend for this tradition to garner so much attention. It started as just a quirky art piece. Residents found leftover lights at the nearby sorority and fraternity houses and decided to string them across the street.
Neighbors kept adding to the displays every year. Eventually, it got so large people took notice.
City workers removed the lights over the streets due to hazard concerns. The next day, the neighbors protested by turning off all of their holiday displays. Their efforts worked, and the officers returned the next day to reinstall the lights.
As time continued on, the street's original residents moved away. University of Texas students started renting the properties, and the light show seemed to just be a memory from bygone era.
Robert Foster encouraged his neighbors to keep 37th Street weird, and they definitely listened.
Thousands of people come by to look at the whimsical lights. If you stroll through this season, you'll find a stuffed animal petting zoo and a kid-friendly outdoor disco. Amy's Ice Creams even set up a hot chocolate stand, so you can really get in the spirit.
If you want to see these lights, enter from Guadalupe side of the street. Please drive slowly and dim your lights. For more information, visit the 37th Street Light's Facebook event page.
This isn’t the only thing keeping Austin weird during the holidays. This one strange tradition is a complete mystery, but it’s awesome anyway.
