What began 32 years ago as a modest idea to light up the local courthouse for a fundraiser, has grown to drape an entire town with millions of lights that are visible from outer space. Johnson City truly deserves its name of The Twinkliest Town in the Texas Hill Country.
“We are proud of that title,” said Patty Terrell Chimene, Lights Spectacular Chair, who has helmed the annual event for the past three years. “And this event just gets bigger and bigger and bigger every year.”
Anyone who has driven through this community of 2,051 at the intersection of US Highways 290 and 281 during the holidays has no doubt about that. Trees and buildings throughout the town drip with up to 3 million individual lights–no one knows exactly how many. The tradition started in 1989 with a citizen’s group as a fundraiser for local clubs and organizations. The centerpiece was stringing garlands of 100,000 white lights from the Blanco Country Courthouse, smack in the middle of the town square. Today it seems the entire town is lit up from Thanksgiving through New Year’s day as businesses and homeowners added to the decorations.
Technically visitors to Johnson City will see two concurrent lighting displays. Pedernales Electric Coop lights up the grounds and trees around its headquarters, while Lights Spectacular decorates the Blanco County Courthouse and Memorial Park. The result is that no matter where visitors look, they are immersed in a light show of spectacular proportions.
“Our pride is in the courthouse,” Chimene said. “It is gorgeous when it’s lit. If we are not the largest lighting show in Texas, per capita we definitely have the best Christmas lights!”
People from around the world agree. Estimates are that 8000 people–four times the town’s population–gathered for previous opening festivities around the square. While this season’s turnout cannot be predicted, Chimene and her crew of volunteers want to make the event a special one for Hill Country families.
“This year our focus is #ourtownlights,” she said, noting the hashtag used on social media. “We know people are going to come from far and wide, literally from all over the country. We welcome them, but we also want to involve more locals like it used to be.”
Lights Spectacular is about more than pretty lights. This year’s scheduled activities include:
Friday, Nov. 26 – “Flip the Switch” and Fireworks, Lighting of the Blanco County Courthouse and Memorial Park in Johnson City
Saturday, Nov. 27 – Lighted Hooves and Wheels Parade
November 26 & 27
Vendor booths (Frosty’s Market)
Non-Profit Food booths (Santa’s Cafe)
Beer and Wine booths (Rudolph’s Cantina)
Plus Santa Claus, Horse drawn carriages, live music, and Hay Rides
Special holiday events are planned for every weekend in December, including a visit from The Grinch to Whoville. Check website for updated schedule – www.lightsspectacular.com.
After having to downscale the event in 2020 due to COVID, organizers plan to keep it a safe environment this year, keeping events outdoors with social distancing encouraged.
Board member Laura Smith describes the event as having a “small-town, Hallmark sort of feel.”
“Everybody is welcoming; everybody is friendly,” Smith said. “Visitors are overwhelmed by the hospitality–there is not a lot of that anymore. It’s a lovely time for families to come out and embrace the holidays. This is what we all think Christmas should be.”
And as spectacular as the lights are, Chimene reminds visitors there are reasons to return to Johnson City all year round. Long recognized for being the boyhood home of former President Lyndon B. Johnson, it now also serves as the center of the Texas Hill Country wine trail, with over 100 vineyards and wineries, 20 breweries, 50 distilleries, and countless Bed & Breakfast accommodations within a one-hour drive. Visitors will also discover a surprising number of quality restaurants, galleries, and shops, along with the highly-acclaimed Science Mill children’s museum.
“We truly have something for everybody,” Chimene said. “We want you to bring your families, and make this a tradition to come back to every year, any time of year.”
