Thanks to the annual Lights Spectacular, it’s no surprise Johnson City is called the “Twinkliest Town in Texas.” And this year the lights show turns 30!
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We’re pleased to have Science Mill sponsor this November 2019 story about the annual Lights Spectacular Hill Country Style event. The Johnson City museum is hosting its own birthday with a Nov. 16 benefit called Night of 5s. (See the following story for special holiday updates, too.)
Story by Pamela Price
For Pamela Humphrey’s family, a trip to Johnson City to see the annual lights display is a cherished Christmas activity.
“We first went when my boys were pretty little,” she recalls. “We’d drive out so that they could talk to Santa and see the lights. It was always a treat. Often, we’d buy an ornament from inside the courthouse.”
Although her three boys are almost all grown, they returned last year as a family for a walk down memory lane.
“Some things had changed, and I think the carriages were a new addition. But Santa was still there with Mrs. Claus.”
A beloved Hill Country tradition
2019 marks the thirtieth year that Johnson City has welcomed families at the holiday season with a remarkable lights display. This year the light season begins on Thanksgiving weekend with a street dance, parade, rides and a holiday market. The lights will then be visible to everyone, for free, every evening through January 5, 2020.
“Lights Spectacular was originally started by the Garden Club in 1989,” says Chrystal Tamillo, who currently co-chairs the Lights Spectacular Hill Country Style. “It was boosted by the amazing cooperation and support of Pedernales Electric Coop [PEC] who jumped in with both associate support and the annual lighting of their headquarters.”
At the time the lights started going up annually in the late ‘80s, Johnson City was a sleepy little community. Back then, the community’s goal was simply to spread a little holiday cheer.
Today managed by a full-fledged non-profit organization, the Lights Spectacular benefits several other area non-profits through concession sales. Local churches get into the fun with special programming, as does the National Park Service [NPS] which oversees the LBJ National Historical Park (including the National Park Visitor Center and LBJ’s Boyhood Home in downtown Johnson City as well as the nearby Johnson Settlement and the LBJ Ranch).
A chat with Santa’s still free, however. And the event, although bigger and better than ever, remains very much a matter of small town pride.
Community support
Work on the light show takes the better part of the year, with the board and volunteers (Tamillo calls them “elves”) taking off only a few weeks in early spring.
“These men and women help us complete the tasks of planning, organizing restorations of the park’s vignettes and lights, courthouse lighting maintenance, and adding new events each year to grow the event,” says Tamillo. “They help us lead the charge. Then it takes about another dozen volunteers to assist PEC in the hanging of the courthouse lights, and 2-3 dozen volunteers to officially complete the park.”
Sponsorships cover the lights, the electricity and maintenance costs.
“Our local business community and neighbors have answered the call every year to make sure the lights are burning bright for all to see,” Tamillo says. “Of course we have our wonderful partner, PEC, who dazzles us with their annual lighting of their Johnson City headquarters. But they also provide unsurpassed volunteers [who] help us with projects each year including hanging many of our lights. This year, the PEC team helped us restring new panels from scratch for our beautiful Blanco County courthouse . . . and it was completed in one day by thirty volunteers.”
“Thirty-plus years of dedication, hard work and community effort has kept Lights Spectacular a genuine hometown Christmas event that the entire family can enjoy,” notes Frances Ann Giron, Johnson City VC/Chamber of Commerce’s executive director. “PEC has been such an important part of the Texas Hill Country and they are continuing their contribution to make the Holidays special for all.”
A sparkling tribute
Given the significant role that LBJ played in bringing electricity to the Hill Country, it’s fitting that the NPS provides free events and rangers on busy holiday weekends.
“I think, if I remember correctly from what I have read, LBJ mentioned that his work with the [PEC] and bringing rural electricity to the area was one of the most satisfying things he would ever do or had done at the time,” says Tamillo. “It’s a beautiful legacy that he has left for us to share, and a story buried deep in our Johnson City roots that Lights Spectacular can help shine a little remembrance on and the history we stand on daily. We are certainly proud to be recognized as ‘The Twinkliest Town in Texas’ and look forward to continuing to be great partners with [NPS] as they share our rich history.”
Agrarian roots
One of the remarkable things about Johnson City is how the past mingles so elegantly, effortlessly with the present. That’s evident in everything from the local art galleries tucked into old buildings to the repurposed mill that now houses a world-class family museum.
“The Science Mill is housed in the historic grist mill built in the 1880s by LBJ’s great uncle, James Polk Johnson,” says Portia Marchman, Science Mill’s director of operations. “The museum brings new life into this historic site and serves as a gathering place for the community and a forum for science exploration and innovation. It’s the perfect place to make life-long memories with family and friends during a visit to Johnson City and the beautiful Hill Country.”
In conjunction with the Lights Spectacular’s thirtieth annual kick-off weekend, the museum’s doors will be open to visitors every day Thanksgiving week (except Thanksgiving Day), with extended hours (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) on Friday and Saturday.*
A little romance, too?
Sure, Johnson City and its Lights Spectacular represent nostalgic, family-friendly, small town fun. But can it hold up as a destination for young couples and empty nesters looking to kindle a romantic flame? Is it fit for a little old-fashioned “sparkin’”?
Humphrey thinks so. In fact, the romance writer is such a fan of the light show that she recently wrote it into one of her own stories.
“For children, the lights are magical. As an adult, I found them very romantic. For a story I wrote about a single dad with little girls, it was the perfect place to have him meet up with his love interest.”
Someone call Santa! Or maybe The Hallmark Channel? Because now a family-friendly Christmas movie set in the heart of “The Twinkliest Town in Texas” is officially on our 2019 holiday wish list.
Explore More
* Note that our story sponsor Science Mill will also be open over winter break Dec. 18 – 23 (regular hours), Dec. 26, 27 and 28 (until 5 p.m.), and Dec. 29 – 30 (regular hours). And on Jan. 18, 2020 they’re hosting their popular annual Snow Day.
Additional Johnson City dates of note in November 2019 include:
- Saturday, Nov. 2: Night Skies over the LBJ Ranch – A 50th anniversary commemoration of Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park, this free evening includes an astronomy program in the hangar visitor center followed by skywatching on the historic airstrip with the Hill Country Astronomers. [NOTE: Because of significant interest in this particular event, note that the entrance gate will close at 6 p.m. Plan accordingly.]
- Saturday, Nov. 30: Christmas at LBJ’s Boyhood Home – Another 50th anniversary commemoration event, visitors are welcome to take lamplight tours of the late president’s home, decorated for a 1920s-style Christmas.
