Downtown Renovation

The stars at night are big and bright: Congress Avenue to receive year-roundmood lighting

Congress Avenue could be the next Champs-Elysees, oui?
Photo by: Jeremie Pitot
The current Congress Avenue Christmas display.
Photo by: jmtimages

You know that content feeling you get whenever you're driving north on Congress Avenue (and there's no traffic) during the winter holidays, and all of the trees along the street are lit up with strings of lights, and everything just feels alright with the world?

Starting this November, you'll be able to get that same warm fuzzy 365 nights out the year after the Downtown Austin Alliance (DAA) completes their Congress Avenue Lights project.

“This project will bring a new vitality to the Avenue and create a vibrant pedestrian experience unlike anything Austin has ever seen,” Pamela Power, DAA board chair, said in a press release on Monday.

It is the organization's mission to preserve the robustness and beauty of downtown, and a large part of that project is branding Congress Avenue the next memorable American street like Michigan Avenue in Chicago or Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles.

After more than a year of research and planning, the DAA chose light manufacturer Blachere Illumination's energy-efficient designs as the engineers of their passion. The world-renowned outdoor lighting design company includes among their credits the lighting design of the Eifel Tower and the Champs-Elysees in Paris.

Workers were already out this past Sunday setting up the preliminary cabling and support systems along the 136 trees between Cesar Chavez Street and Eleventh Street, but you'll have to wait until mid-November before the lights become active on a nightly basis.

The DAA will celebrate the project properly on December 1 at the Annual Holiday Sing-Along and Downtown Stroll, when the festive feelings are at their peak. And thanks to the Congress Avenue Lights, those feelings don't ever have to go away come January.

unspecified

Under the Mistletoe

Spectacular Austin Trail of Lights gets even more festive with weddings

Photo courtesy of Austin Trail of Lights

undefined

Locals who feel sentimental about the 60-year-old Austin Trail of Lights now have a shimmering new way to make it part of their personal stories. Surely many have proposed to partners at the Christmas installation, but now they can get married there, too.

A new wedding package at the Trail of Lights takes care of everything a wedding venue would need, and much more. The wedding lighting has never been better, with two million lights across the installation. The venue can accommodate 50-100 guests.

Along with the obvious aesthetic perks — including access to "various spaces" to keep things interesting — there are some additional accommodations that folks don't usually see on the trail. Guests can be protected from the weather in furnished and heated tents, or they can enjoy the outdoors at fire pits, where they can roast s’mores.

Marrying couples also won't need to book their own food, drinks, or entertainment if they let Trail of Lights handle it. That means passed hors d’oevres and family style or buffet dinners, plus dessert and bar options. Of course, cookies and cocoa have to be on the menu, and will be included. A champagne toast at Donner's Depot in Zilker Square turns up the excitement and the fanciness.

For entertainment, there are upgrades available to hire a DJ or live musicians, and play games. Carousel and ferris wheel rides will make the party even more memorable, as do group photos with Santa.

Less glitzy but perhaps even more exciting for betrothed folks who can't stand any more planning are a number of logistical quandaries taken off their hands. Those including parking and an optional shuttle service, dedicated staff, security, and signage.

All packages are customized, so planners can take or leave what suits them. Packages start at $16,000. Austin Trail of lights takes place from December 10-23 this year. Private parties can be booked at austintrailoflights.org.