There’s a new Halloween attraction at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in 2025! The Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail takes you through Halloween Town and Christmas Town with lots of opportunities for photos with your favorite characters. It is open through November 30, 2025.
Here’s everything you need to know about visiting the Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail this year!
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What is The Nightmare Before Christmas trail?
The Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail is a half-mile walking trail with light displays and statues themed from the movie. There are about a dozen statues of characters, lots of gravestones, and a few surprises like moving lights on the ground or in a tree. You’ll hear songs from the movie soundtrack playing as you walk through.
Since it runs from late September to the end of November (and includes both Halloween Town and Christmas Town), it could be a Halloween or a Christmas activity.
Is it interactive?
No, there aren’t really any interactive elements — you can take photos with all of the character statues but you can’t touch them. Most of the displays are static with no moving elements, though the Mayor’s face does change and there are lots of moving lights and fog.
What is there to do at TNBC light trail?
The main activities at the trail are looking at the displays and taking photos with them. Most of the character displays have a spot to stand for a photo. Depending on the crowds, you may have to wait in line for photos or to get a good look at each display.
While you’re at the light trail, you can also buy food and drink to enjoy while you walk around, and purchase fun The Nightmare Before Christmas merch — mugs, stuffed animals, shirts, etc.
Where is the light trail located?
You can find the Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in South Austin. It’s located in the Texas Arboretum area of the Wildflower Center, with the entrance at the cul-de-sac at the end of La Crosse Ave.
The Wildflower Center address is 4801 La Crosse Ave, Austin, TX 78739.
Where do I park for Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail?
There are two paid options for parking at The Nightmare Before Christmas trail. You can choose VIP parking at the Wildflower Center parking lot for $50 per vehicle. Alternatively, shuttle parking costs $25 per vehicle — you park in a parking lot on the opposite side of Mopac and a school bus drops you off at the trail and brings you back to your car.
There is some free parking on La Crosse Avenue near the Wildflower Center, but it may be a gamble to snag a spot. You cannot park in the residential neighborhoods near the Wildflower Center.
How much does The Nightmare Before Christmas lights trail cost?
The cost varies by day and time. On weekends and as it gets closer to Halloween, the prices go up. Flex tickets, which allow you to enter at any time during the evening, are more expensive than choosing a specific arrival time.
You can save money by going early in the season or in November, and choosing a time-specific ticket for a weekday.
Kids ages 2 to 12 have less expensive tickets, ranging from $31 to $54. Adult tickets range from $41 to $67. There are also some packages that might be cheaper (especially if you are going with a group of adults).
If you park with one of the options offered by the trail, that will add another $25-$50 per car.
Is the Nightmare Before Christmas trail worth it?
This is an expensive event, so it’s totally fair to wonder if it’s worth the high price. Full disclosure, we were invited to attend for free.
Obviously your idea of “worth it” depends on your budget and your family’s interests, so here’s some information to consider when making your decision.
Depends on the crowds
I think your experience may largely depend on the crowds when you go. I have heard from people that they loved it and had the best time. We enjoyed it, but it was pretty crowded when we went (the first Friday night after it opened on Thursday). We would’ve liked it more if we hadn’t had to wait so long to see everything, but it also would’ve made the experience shorter.
Every character is a photo op, and we had to wait in some long lines to be able to see the character statue and take a photo. You couldn’t really see some of the characters unless you waited in line or went around the side (and even then, you couldn’t get too close since you’d be in someone’s photo who had been waiting).
We got to the start of the trail at 7:45 on a Friday. By 8:45, the lines to see the characters were definitely shorter. So I’d either go on a weeknight and/or go early or late.
How long does it take to walk through?
From the start of the half-mile trail to the end, it took us just under an hour. But we had to wait in a lot of lines. Some were just a minute or two wait, but several were 5-10 minutes each.
Without long lines for each attraction, you’d likely finish the trail in 30-40 minutes.
If you’re looking for a total time for the whole experience, you should add in 20-30 minutes for parking and/or taking the shuttle.
The pros:
- Fun light displays throughout and some cool effects to see
- You can take some really good photos with the character statues
- Great for fans of the movie
- Kids and adults will enjoy it
The cons:
- Expensive
- Long lines when it’s crowded
- No interactive elements
My take: It’s not a must-do. If you or your kids love the movie and/or you’d like some good photos with the characters, you’ll likely enjoy it. If you’re reading this and already annoyed by the cost, you may want to skip it.
Is the Nightmare Before Christmas light trail good for kids?
Yes, this trail is designed to be good for all ages. Kids aged 2 to 12 get lower-price tickets.
Is it scary?
No, the light trail isn’t scary. There is no gore or jump scares. If your kid is scared of the movie, they might find it a little scary, but it’s way less creepy than the movie since all the characters are totally still.
There is a part where projectors create fairly realistic moving images of giant spiders and bugs on the ground (it cycles through a few different options). That might be creepy to some kids.
It’s also pretty dark out, so if your kid is afraid of the dark, they may find it a little scary.
Can I bring a stroller?
Yes, strollers are allowed and are a good idea for babies and toddlers. That way, their legs won’t get too tired and you’ll be able to keep track of them in the dark. If you take the parking shuttle, you will have to fold the stroller up and load it into the back of the bus through the back door.
Tips for visiting TNBC Light Trail
Are there bathrooms at the Nightmare Before Christmas Lights?
Yes, there are bathrooms available at the light trail. At the beginning of the light trail, there are two trailer bathrooms. There’s also a bathroom toward the end of the trail, just after Oogie Boogie.
Stay on the trail
You need to stay on the one-way path for safety reasons since it gets dark and there are extension cords around the displays. Even if you think you’re just bypassing a crowd quickly, you need to make sure you can see where you’re putting your feet if you step off the path.
What to wear
You will be walking more than a half mile (since you will also be walking to and from parking or the shuttles), so wear comfortable walking shoes that can get a little dusty on the dirt path.
We saw lots of themed clothes, and costumes are allowed, so have fun with it! Themed outfits will make your photos that much better!
Visit one of our family’s favorite fall traditions, Pumpkin Nights!