Trail of Lights opens at EmilyAnn

The Christmas season in Wimberley starts with Santa arriving on a fire truck, but this year there was something more. Anna and Elsa arrived with him to the delight of the children of all ages, and the lights, lights and more lights are just a sight to behold.

This is the Trail’s twentieth anniversary and each year is better than the last. I know that is an old cliché, but in this case it’s not. Having been a visitor to the trail for most of those years, it is a joy each year to attend, especially on “opening night.” Santa is transported to the top of the hill at sunset and this year the weather was more than agreeable. It was a perfect autumn night and the lights throughout the Theatre and Gardens were magical. Going up the hill for the lighting of flagpole tree and then descending to all of the 110 exhibits lit up is not only fun, but also impressive. The quality of each one was a treat for the eyes. “The judges of the exhibits had a very hard task in deciding who would win and they did a very good job,” Ann Rolling, EmilyAnn’s Executive Director said. The winners were: Best in Show – Mima’s Tacos to go Most Creative – Wild Birds Unlimited of Dripping Springs Rookie – Messina Inn Special Merit – Rollins Family Founder- St. Stephens Episcopal Church Business- Rough Country Furniture Church – Unity Church Organization – Delta Gamma Kappa Elementary – Cub Pack 127 Junior High – Fancy Feathers High School – Wimberley 4-H Health – Robert White, DDS Restaurant – The Leaning Pear Bank – Ozona Bank Realtor – Tracy Tyson Real Estate Family – Willingham and Stoian Families EmilyAnn Trail of Lights November 24 to December 28. 6:00-9:00 p.m. (Sunday-Thursday); 6:00-10:00 p.m. (Friday & Saturday). Santa is there on most weekend nights, with entertainment nightly. It really does get better each year. Each one of the nights has some event or activity, please check the website for further information, www.emilyann.org.