| |
Home |
Events |
Zilker Tree |
Zilker Tree Coloring Contest |
Opening Night |
Parking/Transportation |
Accessibility Depot |
Volunteers |
Entertainment |
Displays |
Display Artists |
Display Sponsors |
Inclement Weather |
Blue Santa |
5K Run |
Christmas Tree Recycling
The Zilker Tree
The Zilker Tree Stands 155 feet tall and is composed of 39 streamers, each holding 81 multicolored, 25 watt bulbs, totaling 3,309 lights. At the top of the tree, a double star measures 10 feet from point to point. The double star displays 150 frosted bulbs. This unique spiral pattern of lights was created by City of Austin electricians. At its circumference, the tree measures 380 feet. The diameter is 120 feet. The base of the tree is made up of 19 utility poles, each 14 feet tall, arranged in a circle around the Moonlight Tower.
Each year the Parks and Recreation Department and Austin Energy hold a lighting ceremony to officially light the tree. This year the ceremony will be at 6pm, Sunday, December 7th. The public is invited to attend the celebration and participate in the lighting ceremony. Parking is available in Zilker Park.
In addition to the ceremony, the department presents "Giving to Others" an opportunity for the citizens of Austin to donate toys and/or cash to Operation Blue Santa. Collection of any unwrapped toy appropriate for ages 12 and under will be located under the "Blue Santa" tent at the tree lighting ceremony. Blue Santa will be on site to visit with children and accept donations.
Operation Blue Santa has been a program of the Austin Police Department since 1972. This charitable outreach began when two patrol officers realized that some families on the patrol beat would not have gifts or food for their children at Christmas. What began with gift distributions to 20 families from the back of a patrol car has become a massive effort in partnership with the Austin Community, the Texas National Guard, the Austin Fire Department, and the Austin Parks and Recreation Department. Each year, Operation Blue Santa serves more than 4,000 families, with 12,000 children in those families receiving gifts.
More Information about the Tree:
Austin was one of the first American cities to employ the modern streetlighting innovation to create the Zilker Tree. Austin ran its new illumination system with power from its new City of Austin-owned electric utility. Most noted for their soft moonbeam effect, the tower lights were so effective that citizens were even able to read a wristwatch as far as 1,500 feet from the sturctures.
Today, 17 of Austin's original 31 Moonlight Towers remain standing as modern-day reminders of our city's first illumination system. Austin is the only city in the world where a tower lighting system can still be found. They are listed in the National Register of Historic Places, have been designated Historic Landmarks by the State of Texas, and have been zoned historic by the City of Austin.
Perhaps the most notable of these Austin structures is the replica Moonlight Tower which becomes the Zilker Tree. Moonlight Towers debuted in Austin over a centry ago. in 1894, Austinites chose a forward-thinking approach to large scale community lighting by hiring Fort Wayne Electric Company of Indiana to provide and install a downtown system of carbon arc lamps situated atop 150 feet wrought iron poles in clusters of six.
The Zilker Tree was initiated in 1965 by Mrs. Alden (Mabel)Davis, civic leader and chairperson for the City's Special Holiday Activities Committee. The tree was designed by City of Austin electricians Odie Bull, D.J. Kozlowski, Fred Scantlen and Merle Wheeler. On December 10, 1967, the first tree was lighted by Mayor Pro Tem Mrs. Emma Long. In subsequent years this honor has been awarded to the young winner of a city-wide tree coloring contest. The winner of the Junior Division (5-7 years old) will throw the switch to illuminate the tree on Sunday, December 7th at 6pm. The tree will illuminate Austin's skyline until New Year's Eve, December 31st.
|
| |
