This is the third year in a row the Texas capital has been recognized for its holiday lighting.
AUSTIN, Texas — The holiday season is officially upon us! While many cities offer festivities like tree lightings and ice skating, one particular place in the U.S. seems to do it best.
According to home services app and website Thumbtack, Austin was ranked the most festive city in the country for a third year in a row.
Following Austin was Dallas in second place, Seattle in third, Houston in fourth and San Francisco ranked number five. When it comes to Texas cities, San Antonio also made the list in tenth place, moving five spots compared to last year.
The lowest-ranked cities on the list of 20 places were Kansas City, Missouri, Washington, D.C., Chicago, West Palm Beach, Florida, and Los Angeles, respectively.
How are the rankings chosen?
Thumbtack compares cities in all 50 states based on their holiday light displays from 2023 to 2024 while taking into account the amount of residents in a given area.
Here in Texas, some popular holiday activities include the Austin Trail of Lights, 37th Street Lights and Mozart’s Austin Festival of Lights.
Cities also set up different light displays based on their geographic location. For example, Thumbtack said Midwesterners often fill their home entries and stairways with decorations. In warmer places like Texas, it’s more common to see bright LED lights and decor featuring plants such as cacti and succulents.
The website said overall, the most popular spots for residents to set up lights this year are on the roofs of their homes, on the first floor, in the front yard, on the second floor and covering trees, in that order.
Hiring a lighting professional can cost roughly $168-$300, according to the site, but creating at-home decorations can offer a less expensive alternative that allows you to feel the holiday spirit without such a large financial impact.
