Mandatory Fun! Trail of Lights Run Returns Dec 7th—Get Woke & Lace Up!

Trail of Lights Returns to Zilker, but at What Cost?

The Austin Trail of Lights is back for its 60th year, taking over Zilker Park from Dec. 10-23, with the usual promises of festive cheer and community spirit. But let's take a critical look at what this event truly entails.

The Dark Underbelly of a Festive Tradition

Kicking off the celebrations is the "Fun Run," a mere distraction from the fact that Austin continues to face a housing crisis, with a lack of affordable options and an increasing number of unhoused individuals. This so-called "tradition" does nothing to address the very real issues facing our community. Instead, it distracts from the fact that our city leaders continue to fail those most in need.

Even the toy drive, presented by Chuy's, feels like a hollow gesture. While the intention to support Operation Blue Santa is commendable, we must ask ourselves: should it fall on community members to ensure that all families can celebrate the holidays with gifts and food? Where are our tax dollars going if nonprofits are left to pick up the slack?

"Our goal is to collect as many toys and monetary donations as we can for Operation Blue Santa through our sponsorship."
— Ashley Ingle, Chuy's Chief Marketing Officer.

Ingle's statement reeks of corporate virtue signaling, presenting Chuy's as a savior when they should be paying their fair share in taxes to support these efforts year-round.

A Pretty Penny for Some Killing Cheer

Access to this "celebration" comes at a cost, despite their so-called "free" nights. Registration for the Fun Run starts at $30, a price gouging attempt to exploit the community's holiday spirit. And let's not forget the environmental impact of this event, with unnecessary waste generation and increased carbon emissions from attendees traveling to Zilker Park.

The event organizers are quick to promote their social media presence, with promises of a "Finish Line Festival" and "exclusive perks." But make no mistake, this is a capitalist ploy to drive engagement and turn a profit, all under the guise of community cheer.

So, as you plan your attendance at the Trail of Lights, I urge you to consider the true cost of this event and whether our community should be supporting such a wasteful, capitalist endeavor.

The schedule for this tone-deaf celebration is as follows:

• Dec. 2-4: STARS at the Trail Non-Profit Program, presented by Vista Equity Partners
• Dec. 6: Night Lights Preview Party, presented by Broadway Bank
• Dec. 7: Fun Run, presented by Chuy's
• Dec. 10: Grand Opening Night
• Dec. 23: Closing Night

All URLs provided:

• Monetary Donation Link: https://austincf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=9910
• Austin Trail of Lights Site: http://austintrailoflights.org/
• Fun Run Registration: https://austintrailoflights.org/2024-fun-run
• Fun Run Social Media: @austintrailoflights (Facebook) and @ATXLights (Instagram)