Hot chocolate, Christmas lights and a walk with your favorite people. Some holiday plans really can be that simple.
The EmilyAnn Trail of Lights brings all of that together right here in Wimberley, with illuminated displays spread across roughly eight acres of EmilyAnn Theatre & Gardens. Add entertainment, Santa visits on select evenings and a little time away from the holiday to-do list, and you have a lovely reason to gather the family.
The 2026 Trail of Lights runs November 28 through December 26 at 1101 FM 2325. Here’s how we’d plan an evening around it.
A Christmas outing with a community purpose
Admission is free, with a suggested donation of $20 per family. The trail is EmilyAnn’s largest fundraiser, so that donation supports the place behind the lights, gardens and performances.
Most evenings include entertainment and complimentary hot chocolate and marshmallows. Leave some room to wander, enjoy the displays and let the kids point out their favorites. This is a good outing to give a little breathing room.
Pick a night that fits your family
The walking trail opens at 6 p.m., with opening-night ceremonies beginning at 5 p.m. on November 28. Closing times and activities vary, so the nightly schedule is worth a look when you’re choosing your evening.
If Santa is the main attraction for your little ones, choose a night with a Santa visit on the program. The same goes for the train or a particular performance. It’s much easier to pick the right night than explain an absent Santa to a child who’s been rehearsing a Christmas list all day.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are lights-only evenings, from 6–9 p.m. The trail is open for walking, but the other services aren’t operating. Those dates suit a plan built around the lights themselves.
Where to park
Head for the designated parking at Wimberley High School and Danforth Middle School, next door to EmilyAnn. Most visitors park there, and a lighted concrete walkway connects the high school to the grounds.
For a closer passenger drop-off or parking with a government-issued disability parking permit, pull into EmilyAnn’s lighted driveway and follow the volunteer’s directions. After a drop-off, the driver can return to the school parking.
Bringing a stroller, wheelchair or walker? EmilyAnn can help you work out the best route through the grounds at 512-847-6969. The paved approach from the school doesn’t mean every part of the light trail has the same surface.
Dinner and a little spending money
You can make concessions part of the evening, with options listed such as hot dogs, Frito pie, bottled water and sweet treats. Train tickets and light-up toys are separate extras, so decide how much room you want to leave for those before the kids spot the glowing goodies.
Cash works at the activities, concessions and store. Cards are accepted at concessions and the store; the front store tent also handles card payments for train tickets and donations.
If you need to bring particular snacks or a meal, call EmilyAnn first—the published information doesn’t spell out the outside-food and nonalcoholic-drink rules. Alcohol isn’t allowed on the grounds.
What we’d bring
Comfortable walking shoes and a warm layer are the starting point. Add mosquito spray if it’s a mild evening, and charge your phone for pictures and finding the rest of your group.
We’d keep the rest of the bag light. Between walking, holding a cup of cocoa and keeping up with children, you’ll appreciate having less to carry.
Pets need to stay home; service animals are welcome.
Keep an eye on the weather
A little rain doesn’t always turn off the lights, but it can change the evening. Santa visits, entertainment and concessions may be limited, and the train doesn’t run in rain. Heavy rain or dangerous conditions can affect operations, too.
If a train ride is the part your child is most excited about, aim for a dry night. EmilyAnn posts weather updates here.
Leave time to enjoy it
Our vote is to let the Trail of Lights be the evening’s main event. Have dinner beforehand or eat at the trail, meet up with friends and enjoy being together. The holiday calendar fills up quickly enough without racing from one celebration to the next.
For more Christmas outings and hometown traditions, keep the Wimberley Buzz Events Calendar and our annual-events guide handy.
Details checked October 28, 2026. Check EmilyAnn’s nightly schedule for current hours, activities and weather updates.
