About Austin's Zilker Park

Austin is nothing if not unique. We love music, we love celebrations and we love having a good time. This extends to the way we celebrate the holidays. The annual Zilker Tree Lighting ceremony in Austin is our way of kicking off the holiday season. What's unique about this "tree", however, is that its branches are comprised of streamers and utility poles. We do like 'em big in Texas as well. The Zilker tree stands 155 feet tall, is 380 feet in circumference and 120 feet in diameter.

This year, the tree lighting ceremony will take place at 6pm on December 4, 2011. Guest conductor Micheele Valles will lead the Austin Civic Wind Ensemble this year in their performance of traditional holiday music. Austin winter nights get pretty chilly, so make sure to wear layered clothing and proper footwear to stay warm. Concession stands will be on hand providing food and various novelty items for sale. So, make sure to bring some cash with you as well. If you can't make it to the initial tree lighting, don't worry. The lights will be on full display in all their sparkling glory from 6pm to midnight every evening until December 31st.

Why stop at just one night of celebrating, though? HolidayFest is back (sort of). Last year, HolidayFest (formerly known as the Trail of Lights) was canceled due to budgetary concerns. The tough economy hasn't made it much easier this year. HolidayFest is heavily dependent upon sponsorships from local Austin businesses to help fund the event. Many businesses have found it difficult to donate. Fortunately, H-E-B has been able to help with their sponsorship so a toned down version of HolidayFest will be available to Austin citizens. In addition to the concession stands and twinkling lights of the Zilker tree itself, a Santa House will be on-site during the HolidayFest celebration (6pm to 10pm December 5th through December 11th).

Enjoy one of Austin's holiday traditions (since 1965) by attending the Zilker Tree Lighting ceremony on Sunday, December 4, 2011 at 6pm. It's a great experience for the entire family. And what a fun, unique, totally Austin way to kick off the holiday season! Happy holidays, everybody.

Shay Hargus, your Austin real estate specialist

In three days, the Austin City Limits Music Festival descends on Zilker Park southwest of downtown Austin. Because of recent wildfires and drought conditions in Central Texas, the city of Austin is attempting to enforce a ban on smoking in Zilker Park this weekend.

The Austin Police Department and park rangers, will be on hand to ask smokers to quit, or not begin smoking at all. Local television KXAN has an informative story on the

'No smoking' signs at ACL this year: kxan.com

Austin City Limits Festival tickets are still available for Sunday, September 18, 2011. Three day passes have been sold out for quite some time. But tickets are still available for the finale, starring such artists as Album Of The Year Band Arcade Fire, Jack Ingram, Social Disortion, and Empire of The Sun. One Day tickets are $90. 

Visit the ACL obtain ticket information and schedules for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

The much anticipated Austin City Limits Festival is right around the corner. ACL begins September 16th and  Motown legend Stevie Wonder closes the festival this year. The event, which takes place in Austin's iconic Zilker Park, will also see album of the year performers Arcade Fire, and the ubiquitous Kanye West. Coldplay returns, along with Alison Kraus, Texas favorite Asleep At The Wheel, Big Boi of Outkast, and dozens of others.

ACL will take place on September 16-18, 2011. The festival celebrate it's tenth year anniversary, poised to be bigger and better than ever.

In addition to a diverse group of headliners, the middle tier artists also come from a wide range of the musical spectrum.

The complete lineup includes:

It's almost time for the 2011 Austin City Limits Festival. Beginning September 16th and continuing through to September 18th at Zilker Park (2100 Barton Springs Rd), the 2011 Austin City Limits Festival is a three day treat for the entire family. There will be lots of food, art, activities for the kids and, of course, amazing live music. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the festival.

While there are plenty of other things to do, the live music is what drives people to both this annual festival and even Austin in general. We do love our music! This year's amazing lineup includes: Stevie Wonder, Coldplay, Kanye West, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Arcade Fire, Ray LaMontagne and Cee Lo. And those are just some of the main headliners. For a complete list of who is playing and when, please visit the Austin City Limits' website.

Zilker Park is comprised of 46 acres and the 2011 Austin City Limits Festival covers it all. When you need a break from the music, grab a bite to eat. There's more than the usual festival junk food here, though. You wouldn't expect anything less from an event held in Austin, would you? There's something to tickle the tastebud of even the most fickle foodies. Enjoy everything from pizza to TexMex to creole cooking to the best of southwest flavors and more. These are just some of the Austin restaurants represented at the festival:

• Aquarelle Restaurant & Wine Bar
• Austin's Pizza
• Bess Bistro on Pecan
• Freebirds World Burrito
• Garrido's
• Lonesome Dove Western Bistro
• Tim Love's Love Shack
• Mandola's Italian Market
• Mangia Pizza
• Maudie's
• Odd Duck Farm to Trailer
• Olivia
• P Terry's Burger Stand
• Pureheart
• The Salt Lick
• Stubb's BBQ
• The Mighty Cone
• The Best Wurst
• Torchy's Tacos
• Wahoo's Fish Taco

There are plenty of other refreshments to cool you down as well. Fresh lemonade, homemade ice cream, ice cream sandwiches and that southern staple...sweet tea. Your tastebuds won't know what hit them.

The Dell Lounge offers festival goers the chance to see what's happening all over the festival from the live You Tube feed on their video wall and gamers can charge their handheld devices in air conditioned comfort. Take a photo at the photo booth and post it online right away as well as any videos you take at the event so everyone can see what's happening. The Honda Zone offers the chance to win a 2012 Civic Si Coupe. Take advantage of the American Airlines' bag and chair check to stow your stuff when you don't need it (like sunscreen, portable chairs, etc). That way, you don't have to lug it around with you all day.

The kids aren't left out, though. Austin Kiddie Limits offers live entertainment as well as fun arts and crafts activities to enjoy. Kids 10 and under get in absolutely free when they are accompanied by an adult. There's a Hip Hop workshop, color puzzle, School of Rock workshop, sandy fun at Zilker Beach, DrumZone, action painting and much, much more. Healthy snacks and yummy lemonade are available to keep the kids' tummies full, too.

The 2011 Austin City Limits Festival highlights the very best that Austin real estate has to offer. Great food, amazing music and good family fun is what living here in Austin is all about. Come and see for yourself!

Shay Hargus, your Austin real estate specialist