keeping your holidays bright

37th Street's lights: An Austin holiday tradition ebbs and flows, but keeps itssparkle

An Austin family gets into the spirit as they celebrate the holidays on 37thStreet.
Photo by Charlie L. Harper III
Throngs of people visit the 37th Street Lights on a recent evening. Theneighborhood's popularity stays strong every year, in spite of the ebb and flowof willing tenants - and the subsequent inconsistency of the lights display. Afew dedicated participants, however, make all the difference and it remains afavorite Austin holiday tradition.
Photo by Charlie L. Harper III
A romantic moment in front of one of the more colorful houses on 37th Street.
Photo by Charlie L. Harper III
Luke Tinius and Ben Leo fix the wings on the big dragon at the "Dude Compound,"while the band Moneywell Spunt plays some classics on the front lawn beneaththem. The house near the corner of 37th and Guadalupe ushers in the visitorswith some giant foil sculptures that, in the words of one visitor who texted hisreview to CultureMap, "are the coolest on the block, fo sho."
Photo by Charlie L. Harper III
A unique look at the Christmas lights on 37th Street.
Photo by Charlie L. Harper III
Apple cider and a zen-like chillax vibe greeted visitors at one home on thecorner of 35th and Home, which also featured a peaceful and beautifully litcourtyard.
Photo by Charlie L. Harper III
"The baby Jesus has been turned into Baby Bling!" exclaimed one 12-year-old girlas she pointed joyously at the appropriately weird Austin-like interpretation ofthe manger scene - which shared the lawn with a giant inflated snowman and aJungle Gym-style structure adorned with a bicycle and a disco ball. You reallyhave to see it to understand it ...
Photo by Charlie L. Harper III
A bit of Thai luck adorns the fence on the corner of 35th and Home Street, justone of the dozens of festive details that can only be enjoyed if you get out ofthat car and stroll through the displays.
Photo by Charlie L. Harper III
A bit of Thai luck adorns the fence on the corner of 35th and Home Street, justone of the dozens of festive details that can only be enjoyed if you get out ofthat car and stroll through the displays.
Photo by Charlie L. Harper III
At Christmastime, it's all about the elves - unless you talk to these guys, ahandful of trolls on 37th Street who have decided to speak out about inequalityand discrimination against their under-the-bridge culture during the holidayseason.
Photo by Charlie L. Harper III
At Christmastime, it's all about the elves - unless you talk to these guys, ahandful of trolls on 37th Street who have decided to speak out about inequalityand discrimination against their under-the-bridge culture during the holidayseason.
Photo by Charlie L. Harper III
Looking through the fence from the corner of 37th and Home, a brightly litlittle corner of 35th Street continues the neighborhood tradition of holidaycheer. While 37th Street is the heart of the operation, the rest of theneighborhood gets into the spirit, too.
Photo by Charlie L. Harper III
Michael Vasquez hangs out near the apple cider in the 37th Street neighborhood,partying with his friends as visitors come and go. He's lived in theneighborhood for five years and wishes that 37th Street, in particular, weren'tso heavily rental - only because actual owners would be more committed to thelights display each year. As it is, renters sometimes participate and sometimesdon't. "I remember coming to it on the first Christmas they did it and I wasreally amazed at how it was set up."
Photo by Charlie L. Harper III
This would make a nice Christmas card. Friends pose for the camera in front of alights display on 37th Street.
Photo by Charlie L. Harper III

It would be easy to be cynical and complain that on top of Austin losing its iconic Trail of Lights, the 20-year neighborhood fallback in Hyde Park doesn't shine as bright anymore either.

But you're not going to catch me getting all Bah-Humbug about any effort to make Austin more festive for the holiday season.

On the contrary, while the 37th Street Christmas Lights display has seen better years (lots of dark houses this time around), it still has the sparkle and charm that make a 20-minute stroll through this mini Christmas Wonderland well worth the time and parking effort.

The display is known as one of the best lit blocks in Texas, with quirky details and artistic touches that shift from year to year and fall under no set guidelines or rules.

The short block between Guadalupe and Home streets is a mix of renters and homeowners, and the landlords clearly don't have it written in the leases that tenants are required to keep up this festive tradition of draping thousands of lights over rooftops and on trees and across powerlines that crisscross the street. I suppose it's hard to force holiday cheer on someone.

Then again, one short trip down 37th Street after dark, and it's hard to imagine a way to escape the Christmas spirit.

So put away the Grinch, stop complaining, and give some love to the folks who do their best to keep up the waxing and waning tradition each year. For free. At great time and expense to themselves. Stop by 37th Street, take your picture with the disco ball and the blinged-out Baby Jesus, and finish your trek with a hot cup of apple cider — and a belly full of holiday fun.

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keeping your holidays bright

37th Street's lights: An Austin holiday tradition ebbs and flows, but keeps itssparkle

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