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For Central Texas families already looking ahead to the holiday season, one of Austin’s best-known December traditions is officially on the calendar.

Early Bird registration is now open for the 2026 Austin Trail of Lights Fun Run, sponsored by Raising Cane’s, which returns to Zilker Park on Saturday, Dec. 5. The annual event gives participants an opportunity to walk, jog or run through the illuminated park before settling in for an evening of food, music and holiday activities.

This year also brings a significant change for families and groups trying to work the event around dinner plans, young children or busy December schedules: rather than requiring everyone to begin at the same time, the Fun Run will offer a rolling start between 6 and 8 p.m.

For those who want to treat it more like a traditional run, a Runner’s Start option will allow participants to leave at the 6 p.m. countdown alongside VIP registrants.

Early Bird tickets are being offered for a limited time through Ticketbud, with organizers describing the current registration period as the lowest pricing of the season.

A Holiday Run Designed for More Than Runners

Despite its name, the Austin Trail of Lights Fun Run is not limited to serious runners.

The approximately two-mile, untimed course begins near the iconic Zilker Holiday Tree, continues along Barton Springs Road and takes participants into the Trail of Lights. The event is designed for people who want to run, jog, stroll or simply experience the holiday display together.

That approach has helped make the Fun Run as much a family holiday outing as a fitness event.

“The Trail of Lights Fun Run is such a joyful Austin tradition, and we're proud to make registration simple and flexible for everyone taking part,” Ticketbud CEO Kayhan Ahmadi said. “With more ticket options and the new rolling start, runners can shape the evening around their families, friends, and teams.”

Registration options include adult and youth General Admission, Runner’s Start and VIP tickets, along with team registration, parking passes and separate Finish Line Festival admission for friends or relatives who would rather meet participants after the course.

What Comes With 2026 Austin Trail of Lights Fun Run Registration

Every registered Fun Run participant will receive a commemorative long-sleeve Fun Run T-shirt and race bib, along with admission to the Finish Line Festival.

Participants can also receive a complimentary beer or hot cocoa after finishing the course.

Holiday activities included with registration feature free photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, courtesy of Raising Cane’s, along with visits to Santa’s Workshop, Letters to Santa and the H-E-B Read3 Train in the North Pole area.

The Finish Line Festival extends the evening beyond the run itself. Plans call for local food trucks, a health and fitness expo, activities presented by community partners, music, lights and room for participants to gather with friends and family.

Festival-only admission is also available for people who do not want to participate in the Fun Run.

The official event website notes that Ferris wheel and carousel rides are expected to be available as well, with ride tickets sold separately.

VIP and Team Options Offer Additional Perks

For those looking for an upgraded experience, the Austin Trail of Lights Fun Run VIP package, presented by Velocity Credit Union, includes a dedicated entry and access to a climate-controlled VIP Lounge.

The lounge is expected to include a private bar, complimentary food, hot cocoa and cookies. Adult VIP participants also receive an additional complimentary drink ticket.

Groups can make the evening a team event, too.

The official Fun Run information lists benefits for qualifying teams, including early packet pickup opportunities. Larger teams can receive additional personalization, including a team name on event bibs and shirts when registration requirements and deadlines are met.

That makes the holiday event an option not only for families and friends, but also for local companies, schools, clubs and community organizations planning end-of-year outings.

Part of a Long-Running Austin Holiday Tradition

The Fun Run is tied to a holiday event that has been part of Austin for generations.

What is now the Austin Trail of Lights began in 1965 as Yule Fest, an Austin Parks and Recreation Department gift to the community. The annual celebration has since grown to include more than 2 million lights, 90 illuminated holiday trees and more than 70 additional displays and lighted tunnels throughout Zilker Park, according to the Trail of Lights Foundation.

The nonprofit Trail of Lights Foundation produces the event as a community celebration and works with individual donors and the Austin business community to support its continued operation. The organization says the Trail has remained among Austin’s three largest events since the foundation took over its production in 2012.

For longtime Austin residents, that history is part of the appeal. Families who once visited the Trail as children now return with children of their own, while newcomers to Central Texas often encounter the event as one of their first major Austin holiday traditions.

The Fun Run adds another element by giving participants an early look at the lights while turning the experience into a night that can be as active — or as leisurely — as they want it to be.

What Austin Families Should Know Before Registering

The 2026 Austin Trail of Lights Fun Run takes place Saturday, Dec. 5, at Zilker Park, 2100 Barton Springs Road in Austin.

Early Bird registration is available for a limited time through Ticketbud. Organizers have not indicated in the announcement how long the discounted pricing will remain available, so families and groups hoping to secure the lower rate may want to make plans early.

Parking passes can also be purchased in advance. The Trail’s official FAQ notes that onsite parking is limited and typically sells out, making transportation planning another consideration for anyone attending the Fun Run at Zilker Park.

Packet pickup is scheduled for Dec. 3, Dec. 4 and the morning of Dec. 5, with an early pickup period available for VIP purchasers and qualifying large teams.

With a flexible start window, family-friendly activities and the chance to see the Austin Trail of Lights while getting a little movement in before the holidays, the 2026 Fun Run is shaping up as another way Central Texans can make the season their own.

Residents can find registration, parking, VIP, team and packet pickup information through the Austin Trail of Lights official website and Ticketbud.

Stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for more Austin and Central Texas holiday events, family activities and things to do throughout the 2026 season.

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.

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