Support Us Button Widget
Culture

“The Nightmare Before Christmas” will light up Austin this fall

The famous holiday film from Tim Burton will set up shop at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center for just over two months.

August 11, 2025 • 
Laura Figi
ATX_NightmareBeforeChristmasLightShow

Fans of the 30-year-old movie will be able to see the characters in a never-before-seen way.

Photo courtesy of “The Nightmare Before Christmas” Trail

What’s this, what’s this? “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is coming to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center this fall, so everybody scream.

Disney’s “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas” Light Trail will allow visitors to travel between Halloween Town and Christmas Town in a world unlike anything you’ve ever seen. The nighttime trail will be open dusk to 10:15 p.m., Wednesdays-Sundays, from Thursday, Sept. 25 to Sunday, Nov. 30.

ATX_NightmareBeforeChristmasTrailGif

Adventurelive, the company behind the trail, also produced Broadway’s “Hamilton.” | Photos courtesy “The Nightmare Before Christmas” Trail

Austin is one of only two cities in the US to host the event this year, next to New York City. Inside, the event features 8,300 sqft of light installations, interactive video projections, sculptures of the characters, and music from the 1993 film.

Tickets for the trail go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 15, starting at $41 for adults and $31 for children.

More from ATXtoday
ATX_book woman
Play
Read local: Books written by authors from Austin
Don’t forget to treat your shelf by picking up a new read — or two or three — that was written by your neighbor.
January 22, 2026
 · 
Laura Figi
Four colorful cocktails on a wooden table, including a dark purple drink in a tall glass with a pink straw, a clear gin and tonic garnished with lemon, rosemary, and juniper berries, a golden drink with a lemon slice, and a pink cocktail with a salted rim and watermelon garnish.
Food
Meet the 2026 James Beard Award semifinalists from Austin
The 2026 James Beard Award season is upon us, and Austin has nine restaurants + foodies vying for a trophy.
January 21, 2026
 · 
Laura Figi
A vibrant concert stage illuminated with neon blue, pink, and red lights, featuring a futuristic spaceship-inspired design. A large disco ball resembling a planet with rings hangs in the center, surrounded by a backdrop of glowing lines and space-themed visuals. Performers and musicians are on stage, dressed in colorful outfits, engaging with the crowd. Audience members can be seen in the foreground, capturing the moment with their phones. The atmosphere is lively and electrifying.
Play
70 upcoming concerts in Austin
From pop princesses to chart-topping bands, there’s no shortage of shows to see this year in the Live Music Capital of the World.
January 20, 2026
 · 
Laura Figi
A close-up of food at Citizen Eatery
Live
Guide to vegan restaurants in Austin
Dig into delicious and nutritious plant-based fare in every corner of the Capital City.
January 16, 2026
 · 
London Gibson
A rendering of a lattice bridge above Waller Creek, surrounded by trees.
City
5 Major developments we’re watching in 2026
We see ribbon cuttings in Austin’s future, because the next decade has major projects that will change the shape of the city in store.
January 15, 2026
 · 
Laura Figi
A plane flying over Austin-Bergstrom International Airport at dusk.
Travel and Outdoors
Fly away on one of these nonstop flights out of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
You’ll never have to deal with a layover again, because these are just a few of ABIA’s nonstop flights, which will take you to over 100 cities in the US and abroad.
January 14, 2026
 · 
Laura Figi
ATX_Matchbooks
Culture
Where to collect matchbooks in Austin
Dip your toes into “phillumeny,” aka the practice of collecting matchbooks, while you explore ATX and support local businesses at the same time.
January 13, 2026
 · 
Laura Figi
A group of eight people, including Mayor Kirk Watson, stands outdoors on a sunny day, holding an oversized ceremonial check for $8.4 million made out to “Austin’s Parks” from the Austin City Limits Music Festival and C3 Presents. The check is dated May 7, 2025. One person is dressed in a colorful hummingbird costume, and the group is posed on a paved path in a park-like setting with grass, trees, and utility poles in the background.
City
Austin Parks Foundation awards new round of ACL Festival grants
The slate of new grants goes toward projects including new bridge construction, shade structure creation, and trail repair.
January 12, 2026
 · 
Laura Figi
ATX_WatersParkHistoricalMarker
Culture
Flashback Friday: Learn about the hundreds of historical markers in Austin
Let’s take a deeper dive into some of Austin’s historical markers, the significance they hold, and how long they’ve been standing.
January 8, 2026
 · 
Laura Figi
A view of Austin's skyline
Culture
How Austin ranked in studies during 2025
Austin made waves on dozens of studies, lists, and rankings, so we gathered some of the highest points the Capital City hit in 2025.
January 8, 2026
 · 
Laura Figi