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37th Street Lights returns this weekend

Don’t miss the annual DIY light display, which has brought joy to the weird in Austin since the 1980s.

December 10, 2024 • 
Morgan O’Neal
A house and a red car are decorated with numerous strands of multicolored string lights, including blue, green, red, and yellow bulbs. The lights cover the exterior walls of the house, the car's roof, and the surrounding area, creating a bright display. A figure of Santa Claus sits in the backseat of the car. Additional lights hang from overhead wires, and the dark sky contrasts with the illuminated decorations. Bicycles and other objects are partially visible in the background.

“Old Austin” is alive and well on West 37th Street during the holiday season.

Photo by ATXtoday

Joy to the weird — 37th Street Lights is back Friday, Dec. 13-Wednesday, Jan. 1.

The DIY neighborhood light display has dazzled pedestrians since the 1980s and is known for keeping the spirit of “Old Austin” alive. Homes on the strip are decked with out-of-the-ordinary holiday decorations and light displays that Clark Griswold could only aspire to achieve.

A nighttime scene shows a house decorated with multicolored and white string lights. A figure representing Taylor Swift wears a flowing yellow robe and a long blond wig stands on a stone porch, holding an acoustic guitar. Swift's face is covered with a mask. Above her, a banner with round purple and white letters reads "CHURCH OF MOTHER." Circular ornaments hang from the string lights. The background features walls with posters and photos, illuminated by the surrounding lights. In the foreground, a table with a blue cloth holds candles and papers. Tree leaves are partially visible in the lower-left corner of the frame. The entire display is set against a dark night sky.
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Photo by ATXtoday

A tent covered in tinsel reads "Rodeo Disc" in mismatched letters. Cow print drapes are visible inside the tent, which is filled with people walking through.
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Photo by ATXtoday

A colorful light display reads "Joy to the Weird" in loopy letters surrounded by green, pink, orange, and blue lights.
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Photo by ATXtoday

A home in Austin during the holiday season has a massive display of Taylor Swift's studio albums. Each record is represented by a piece of art, which hang on a string suspended by two trees.
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Photo by ATXtoday

A home in Austin decked out in holiday lights, with a scarecrow with a jack-o-lantern face holding a sign that reads "Halloween Town." in the background, more holiday decoration include Whos from The Grinch and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
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Photo by ATXtoday

Attendees can also look forward to live music performances and quirky activities like hula hooping + a stuffed animal petting zoo. Here’s everything you need to know before ooing and ahhing your way through the annual activation.

  • The neighborhood will light up from sunset until 10 p.m. each night through New Years Day, though some homes will keep their lights on later at night and into 2025.
  • West 37th Street is a living street, meaning no car traffic is allowed during the event. Organizers recommend entering 507 W. 37th St. into your GPS and finding street parking nearby, calling a rideshare, or using public transportation.
  • 37th Street Lights is free to attend, but you can help keep the local tradition alive by bringing old holiday lights to donate or sending a Venmo to @thirtyseventhstreetlights.
  • Follow @37thstreetlights on Instagram for the most up-to-date programming, including a performance by Los Fandangueros de Austin at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14.
  • Neighboring streets also join in on the fun — don’t skip what organizers dubbed “the best house” on the corner of 35th and Cedar streets.
  • Pets on a leash are welcome to join — the “mayor” of 37th Street is actually a cat named Zapp.
  • Pro tip: City Editor Morgan likes bringing a to-go cup of hot cocoa to sip while she strolls, but you can also stop by one of these nearby restaurants and bars to whet your appetite.