🎨 Artsy displays • 🎄 Light-soaked streets • 📍Austin, TX
It’s one of the only walk-through displays in the city
Today I’m writing about one of Austin’s most beloved — and delightfully odd — holiday traditions: the 37th Street Lights. After all, Austin’s motto is Keep it Weird! Every December, the homes along West 37th Street transform into a glowing, whimsical corridor of creativity — part neighborhood art show, part Christmas fever dream, and entirely Austin charm.
📍 Where to Start
Most people enter around 507–519 W 37th Street, right off Guadalupe. This stretch is the heart of the display. Parking is usually found on nearby side streets like Cedar or 34th, since foot traffic fills 37th quickly.
⏰ When to Go
The lights typically begin around December 12 and continue nightly through early January. The sweet spot is after sunset until about 10 p.m. You can stroll later, but the liveliest atmosphere is in that early window.
🚶♀️ What to Expect
This is a walk-through experience, not a drive-by. Expect bright, quirky, DIY displays: glowing sculptures, themed house fronts, unexpected characters, and plenty of creative Austin weirdness. Some installations change nightly, making repeat visits fun.
🎟️ Tips
- Arrive early for parking
- Wear comfy shoes
- Bring a warm layer and a camera
- Be respectful — this is a neighborhood home display
It started as a student prank
The displays are famously “Austin weird.”
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