Austin, Dallas have most festive homes in the US, 2025 ranking says

Hundreds of Austin residents walk and twirl under the Zilker Holiday Tree at the 59th Zilker Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony at Zilker Park on Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025 in Austin.

Texas may not be accustomed to white Christmases, but that doesn’t stop its residents from going all out during the holiday season. Not one but two Texas cities were recently named the most festive in the country.

Where to see holiday lights in Austin: A guide to 2025's brightest displays

How did the tradition of outdoor Christmas decorations begin? See history of holiday light displays

Whether it’s strands of lights or huge inflatables, the tradition of decorating the exteriors of homes for Christmas traces back to the late 19th century. The idea was born out of a 1600s German tradition of putting candles on indoor Christmas trees, symbolizing hope and celebration. Then, the invention of the light bulb changed everything.

When Thomas Edison created the first light bulb in 1879, people began exploring safer options for decorative lighting. In 1882 Edward H. Johnson, a friend and colleague to Edison, famously displayed the first know electrically lit Christmas tree. Visible from outside his New York home, Johnson’s new decorations sparked ideas for outdoor Christmas displays, according to the Library of Congress. By the early 20th century, electric companies were encouraging holiday lighting in an effort to promote the adoption of electricity.

Community light displays emerged in the 1910s and 1920s, and it was these displays that convinced homeowners that such outdoor displays were safe. Smithsonian Magazine reports residential outdoor decorations flourished between the 1920s and 1950s alongside suburban growth, as mass-manufactured decorations and weatherproof light strings made the process more practical and affordable. In the 1960s and beyond, the practice was further spurred by large-scale displays, neighborhood competitions and synchronized light shows.

Congress Avenue features holiday lights in this image taken by American-Statesman photographer Neal Douglass on Jan. 1, 1947.

4 Texas cities among top 20 with the most festive homes, 2025

The Thumbtack Blog has released its annual ranking for the most festive cities in the U.S. Austin took the crown for the fourth consecutive year, with Dallas once again following close behind. A total of four Texas cities ranked in the top 20.

“From Texas to Florida, the South is setting the standard for holiday spirit, and in true Texas fashion, bigger is definitely brighter,” the blog’s 2025 ranking reads. “Mild winters and a strong sense of community keep the Lone Star State shining at the top.”

The Light Park in Austin is open seven days a week, including holidays, with hours from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

The numbers in parentheses indicate the city’s 2024 ranking.

1. Austin (No. 1)
2. Dallas (No. 2)
3. Seattle (No. 3)
4. Las Vegas [not included in 2024]
5. Sacramento (No. 7)
6. Houston (No. 4)
7. San Francisco (No. 5)
8. Charlotte, N.C. (No. 8)
9. San Antonio (No. 10)
10. Atlanta (No. 6)
11. Orlando, Fla. (No. 11)
12. Washington (No. 17)
13. Tampa, Fla. (No. 14)
14. Kansas City, Mo. (No. 16)
15. Raleigh, N.C. (No. 9)
16. West Palm Beach, Fla. (No. 19)
17. Phoenix (No. 12)
18. Portland, Ore. (No. 13)
19. Denver (No. 15)
20. Chicago (No. 18)

Dec 10, 2025