[Zilker Tree Lighting Ceremony (Spanish)]
[00:00:08]
GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY.AND WELCOME TO THE 54TH ANNUAL LOOK OR HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING PRESENTED BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN TO THE 54TH ANNUAL ZILKER HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING.
NOW THIS ISN'T JUST ONE OF THE TALLEST HOLIDAY TREES IN THE WORLD.
IT'S A SYMBOL THAT WE ARE UNIQUELY AUSTIN.
THE TREE LIGHTING UNITES OUR COMMUNITY EVERY YEAR AND THIS EVENING.
SO WE CAN START THE HOLIDAY SEASON TOGETHER.
WE'RE BRINGING IT DIRECTLY TO YOU.
UNDENIABLY HITS A BIT DIFFERENT THIS YEAR, BUT FORTUNATELY THE ONLY TRAFFIC TO FACES FROM FAMILY AND PETS IN YOUR LIVING ROOM.
SO YOU ARE IN FOR A GREAT SHOW.
SO JUST GRAB THAT LAST PIECE OF LEFTOVER PIE OR SOME HOT CHOCOLATE OR EGGNOG, AND SIT BACK IN YOUR FAVORITE CHAIR TO IN AUSTIN, THERE'S HISTORY DOWN EVERY STREET AND AROUND EVERY CORNER TO FIND SOME OF THE MOST INTERESTING PARTS OF OUR CITY.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LOOK UP.
OUR FRIENDS AT AUSTIN ENERGY ARE CELEBRATING 125 YEARS OF SERVICE TO AUSTINITES.
CONGRATULATIONS ON THE ANNIVERSARY AND THANK YOU FOR MAINTAINING OUR ICONIC WOUND TOWERS.
AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY AT ONE TIME WAS RURAL AND IT'S ALL DUE TO GROW THAT IT WAS BENEFICIAL FOR AUSTIN TO CREATE ITS OWN ELECTRIC UTILITY.
SO THAT WAS SORT OF THE BEGINNING IN THE CENTRAL TEXAS AREA.
YOU'RE SO SURROUNDED BY ELECTRIC LIGHTS ALL THE TIME.
PEOPLE HAVE NO CONCEPTION OF HOW DARK IT WAS JUST EVERY NIGHT.
IT SEEMS LIKE AUSTIN, IF YOU GO BACK 125 YEARS, LIFE WAS DIFFICULT.
IT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A PIONEER OR A FRONTIER TOWN.
EVERYTHING WAS DONE BY HAND, BUT ALL THESE MANUAL CHORES, YOU HAD TO WALK TO WORK OR MAYBE RIDE A HORSE IF YOU HAVE ONE.
AND SO THE OPPORTUNITY OF ELECTRICITY WAS THAT I COULD DO SOME OF THESE CHORES FOR US.
IT COULD PUMP THE WATER FORCE.
IT COULD LIGHT THE CITY'S FARM SO THAT WE COULD STAY OUT AFTER DARK.
SO THEY WANTED TO PROVIDE ELECTRIC STREET LIGHTING, THE FAMOUS MOONLIGHT TOWERS, ERECTED AROUND THE CITY AND THEY SPREAD THE LIGHT OVER A WIDE AREA AND THEN THEIR STREET LIGHTS AND THESE BIG TOWERS.
THE VERY TALL, PROBABLY THREE TIMES AS TALL AS A REGULAR STREET LIGHT THAT YOU MAY SEE EVEN ON THE ROAD, THEY HAVE A HALO EFFECT BECAUSE YOU WANT IT TO LIGHT, TO BE DISTRIBUTED AND HELPING TO PROVIDE SOME SAFETY FOR INDIVIDUAL WHO WANTS TO WALK AT NIGHT AND THEY WON'T FALL BECAUSE THEY GOT STURDY ON THEY, THEY UP THERE FOR A VERY LONG TIME FOR HIM AND EVEN THE WINDS AND KNOCK ON, KNOCK THEM DOWN, ANYTHING ELSE? SO, SO THEY'RE VERY SECURE TOO.
AND THEY WOULD COME ON OR ROUGHLY AT DUSK AND DAWN, THEY WOULD GO OFF AUSTIN STUCK WITH THE TOWER LIGHTS LONG ENOUGH THAT THEY BECAME A NOSTALGIC OBJECTIVE GETTING INTO AGE, THE AGE THAT CAUGHT UP WITH THEM.
AND WE ACTUALLY PUT ONE OF OUR MANAGERS IN CHARGE OF THAT PROJECT TO GET IT COMPLETED, TO PUT THOSE BACK THE WAY THEY WERE ORIGINALLY BUILT.
THAT PROCESS TOOK YEARS FIVE, SIX, SEVEN YEARS TO COMPLETE.
AND THEY ARE STILL LIT UP TO THIS DAY, HOPEFULLY IN BETTER SHAPE THAN WHEN THEY WERE ORIGINALLY BUILT.
YOU KNOW, OVER THE YEARS WE STARTED OUT WITH 31 TOWERS DOWN TO 17.
THEY'RE REGISTERED AS A TEXAS HISTORICAL LANDMARK.
SO ALEX IS ACTUALLY A HISTORICAL PIECE.
THESE LIGHT BULBS WERE NOT UNIQUE TO AUSTIN.
THEY WERE USED IN CITIES LIKE DETROIT AND FORT WAYNE, INDIANA AND OTHER PLACES.
SO IT WAS A COMMON THING FOR CITIES TO HAVE THESE MOON TOWERS.
AS OTHER CITIES GOT TO BETTER TECHNOLOGIES, THEY REPLACED THE MOON TOWERS WITH THE NEWER TECHNOLOGY.
AND AUSTIN DIDN'T REALLY QUITE GET AROUND TO THAT FOR QUITE A WHILE.
AND THEN BY THEN WE GOT USED TO THE NEW TOWERS AND KIND OF LIKED THEM.
SO NOW THEY'RE ONE OF OUR FEATURES AND SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE.
SO WE'VE ADOPTED THAT AS A PART OF OUR KEY BOSS.
IN THE MAKING, AS WE SPEAK, INTRODUCING OUR CITY MANAGER, SPENCER CRONK, IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU HERE THIS EVENING.
THIS YEAR HAS BROUGHT ITS SHARE OF ADVERSITY THAT I HAVE BEEN AWESTRUCK
[00:05:01]
BY THE STRENGTH AND ABILITY OF OUR COMMUNITY.I HAVE BEEN INSPIRED BY THE UNWAVERING COMMITMENTS OF CITY EMPLOYEES WHO PROVIDE CRUCIAL SERVICES DURING CHALLENGING TIMES.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO OUR COMMUNITY.
I HAVE ALSO SEEN YOU RISE TO THE OCCASION, IDENTIFYING OBSTACLES AND CHALLENGES THAT HAVE BEEN PERSISTENT FOR FAR TOO LONG, PATIENCE, EMPATHY, AND TIME, ALONG WITH STRONG COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AND ADVOCACY, A LOT OF VOICES TO BE HEARD AND COMMUNITIES TO BECOME STRONGER.
MY FAMILY AND I ARE PROUD TO BE A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THIS TRAIN SHINING AND OUR BEAUTIFUL PARK.
I WISH EACH OF YOU A SAFE, PEACEFUL, AND BRIGHT HOLIDAY TO TELL US ABOUT THE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN AUSTIN'S PARKS CAN MCNEILLY WITH THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENTS.
AS THINGS CHANGED AROUND THE WORLD, AUSTIN'S PARKS HAVE BECOME A REFUGE FROM TRAILS TO POCKET PARKS, BIKE WAYS TO WATERWAYS.
AUSTIN'S 300 PARKS HAVE BEEN GETTING SOME USE.
THE PARKS AND RECREATION TEAM HAS WORKED TO KEEP OUR CULTURAL SPACES AND NATURAL PLACES OPENED AND MAINTAINED SO THAT WE ARE ALL ABLE TO ENJOY OUR CITY WITHIN A PARK.
WE DID NOT AND COULD NOT HAVE DONE THIS ALONE.
OUR NONPROFIT PARTNERS ALONG WITH FELLOW CITY DEPARTMENTS HAVE OFFERED TREMENDOUS SUPPORT.
WHEN PARK SPACES ARE IN USE SOMETHING SPECIAL HAPPENS.
KIDS PLAY INDIVIDUALS ARE NO LONGER STRANGERS AND COMMUNITY IS CREATED.
THIS IS HOW OUR WORK IS INSPIRED.
NOW LOOKING FORWARD AND LOOKING UP, WE SEE EXCITEMENT FOR THE NEW YEAR.
THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT IS HONORED TO STEWARD PARKLAND AND CONTINUE OUR ZILKER HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING.
NOW LET'S HEAR FROM OUR PARTNERS AT THE TRAIL OF LIGHTS FOUNDATION.
MY NAME IS RACHEL GREEN AND I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE TRAIL OF LIGHTS FOUNDATION.
I'M HERE TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE AUSTIN TRAIL OF LIGHTS IS ON THE FOUNDATION IS THRILLED TO HOST THIS 56 YEAR TRADITION.
AUSTIN'S LONGEST RUNNING HOLIDAY EVENT.
AGAIN, WE ARE THROWING A BACK A FEW DECADES AND HOSTING A DRIVE-THROUGH EVENT.
OUR FOCUS IS ON KEEPING AUSTIN SAFE WHILE BRINGING HOLIDAY CHEER IN A YEAR.
IF YOU HAVE VISITED US BEFORE, YOU WILL SEE DECEMBER IN A WHOLE NEW WAY WITH SEVERAL DISPLAYS, WE IMAGINE IN A DRIVE THROUGH ENVIRONMENT, BUT DON'T WORRY.
SANTA WILL BE THERE UNTIL CHRISTMAS.
THE TRAIL OF LIGHTS WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC STARTING TONIGHT, NOVEMBER 29TH THROUGH JANUARY 3RD.
THANKS TO OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
WE WILL HAVE 30 NIGHTS TO ENJOY OVER 2 MILLION LIGHTS AND TUNNELS GALORE TIME AND DAY SPECIFIC TICKETS ARE REQUIRED IN ORDER TO ENSURE A SMOOTH RUNNING EVENT AND ARE AVAILABLE@AUSTINTROLLOFLIGHTS.ORG.
PLEASE JOIN US IN THE HEART OF AUSTIN AT ZILKER PARK.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THERE.
SPEAKING OF LIGHTS, LET'S HEAR FROM OUR FRIENDS AT AUSTIN ENERGY.
I'M JACKIE SERGEANT AUSTIN ENERGY, GENERAL MANAGER, AUSTIN ENERGY HAS BEEN POWERING THE COMMUNITY FOR 125 YEARS.
WHEN WE STARTED GENERATING ELECTRICITY TO LIGHT UP THE MOON TOWERS, WE ARE PROUD OF OUR LEGACY OF SAFELY DELIVERING CLEAN, AFFORDABLE, RELIABLE ENERGY, AND EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE.
AUSTIN ENERGY IS CUSTOMER DRIVEN AND COMMUNITY FOCUSED, SUPPORTING EVENTS LIKE THIS DEMONSTRATES OUR COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY, BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE THE START OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON BY LIGHTING.
THE ZILKER TREE HAS BEEN A TRADITION FOR 54 YEARS.
SO WE ARE EXCITED TO BE TOGETHER.
ALTHOUGH VIRTUALLY THIS YEAR, IF WE ALL CLOSE OUR EYES, WE CAN PROBABLY IMAGINE THAT WE'RE SPINNING UNDER THE TREE TOGETHER TOGETHER.
THAT'S WHAT THIS EVENT HIGHLIGHTS, HOW AUSTINITES POWER THROUGH CHALLENGES AND OBSTACLES AND COME TOGETHER STRONGER THAN EVER.
THIS EVENT IS ALSO A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE OUR DEDICATED EMPLOYEES WHO KEEP THE ENERGY FLOWING.
EVEN DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC.
ELECTRICITY IS AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE AND AUSTIN ENERGY IS HERE FOR YOU.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING YOU IN THE NEXT 125 YEARS.
AUSTIN BE STRONG, BE SAFE AND BE WELL BE THERE FOR EACH OTHER.
EVEN IF IT LOOKS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THIS YEAR AND ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAY SEASON BACK TO YOU.
QUITA FOSTER NIGHTS, AREN'T SHY ABOUT HARD WORK AND WE NOTICE AND APPRECIATE IT.
NOW, SPEAKING OF HARD WORK, I KNOW HOW LONG IT TAKES ME TO PUT UP MY CHRISTMAS TREE.
[00:10:02]
FEET TALL WITH 3,300 LIGHT BULBS.WELL, SOME PEOPLE CLAIM BEING THE FIRST ON THE BLOCK TO DECORATE AS A BADGE OF HONOR, BUT DID YOU KNOW AUSTIN ENERGY STARTS SETTING UP THE TREE IN A TOBAR? WELL, HERE'S A BEHIND THE SCENES LOOK AND WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
THE WAY I REALLY BECAME AWARE OF AUSTIN ENERGY AS A CHILD WAS A FRUIT AND THE SOCCER CHRISTMAS TREE.
THIS TREE IS A MOON TOWER LIT UP WITH ALL SORTS OF LIGHTS.
AND YOU CAN SEE THIS FROM MILES AWAY, CAUSE IT WOULD JUST SORT OF DOMINATE OVER THE LANDSCAPE.
YOU HAVE LIKE THE TOWER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN, THE CAPITOL BUILDING, AND THEN THE ZILKER TREE WAS THE OTHER TALL THING.
SO IT'S NO SMALL FEAT TO INSTALL THE WHITES IN THE WOODS STARTS MONTHS IN ADVANCE AND THEY'RE 3,300 LIGHTS.
THE GENIUS WAS THE MAN AND FAILURE TO HAVE CHAIN SPACE FISHING, THE YELLOW MOMS.
AND LET US TAKE THE CHRISTMAS.
AND MAYBE EVEN NEW YEAR, I THINK WE WOULD TAKE IT DOWN.
WE WOULD HAVE A CELEBRATION BY PEOPLE TO COME WITH, PICK SOMEONE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, PLUGGED THE LIGHTS IN AND THEN IT'S ALL LIGHT.
SO IT GIVES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUR CUSTOMERS.
PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE, THE ONES WHO PAY THE BILLS TO COME AND CELEBRATE.
SO LET'S KICK OFF THE CHRISTMAS SEASON, THE HOLIDAY SEASON AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
AND LET'S LIGHT UP ZILKER PARK.
WE'LL FIND OUT IN JUST A MOMENT.
BUT FIRST LET'S HEAR FROM AUSTIN'S MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
WE'RE EXPERIENCING THE ZILKER HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING IN A NEW WAY IN A DIFFERENT WORLD.
AND WE ARE HAPPY TO SEE THIS CELEBRATION CONTINUE.
WE'RE NOT SPINNING UNDER THE TREE TOGETHER, BUT WE ARE STILL SHARING MEMORIES WITH THOSE CLOSEST TO US.
LET'S ALL REMEMBER THAT ISOLATION AND LONELINESS ARE A REALITY FOR MANY THIS TIME OF YEAR.
SO MAKE A POINT TO REACH OUT TO YOUR NEIGHBOR, SHOW SOME COMPASSION, CONTINUE TO BE THE COMMUNITY THAT, THAT YOU WANT TO SEE CONNECTING WITH EACH OTHER IS IMPORTANT DURING THESE TIMES.
AND THESE CONNECTIONS ARE WHAT MAKE AUSTIN STRONG.
WE ARE THANKFUL FOR THE INDIVIDUALS, CITY STAFF, THAT HEALTH AND ESSENTIAL WORKERS WHO HAVE WORKED TIRELESSLY TO KEEP OUR CITY HEALTHY AND MOVING.
THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE WHO HAVE SACRIFICED FOR THE SAFETY AND WELLBEING OF THE REST OF US.
THANK YOU ALSO TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF AUSTIN WHO HAVE TAKEN IT ON RE-IMAGINING OF SCHOOL AND, AND CHANGES TO THEIR DAILY LIFE WITH SUCH EARNESTNESS AND TRUE GRACE, WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE FUTURE THAT YOU ARE GOING TO USHER INTO OUR GREAT CITY.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAD TOLD ME LAST YEAR, THE CHALLENGES WE WOULD BE FACING THIS YEAR, I DON'T KNOW THAT I WOULD HAVE BELIEVED YOU, BUT SITTING WHERE I AM NOW I CAN REFLECT BACK ON THE PAST YEAR AND I CAN FIND COMFORT IN SEEING SOMETHING FAMILIAR AND BRIGHT.
SO EMBRACE THE ONES YOU LOVE AND THE ONES THAT ARE NEAR, WHAT THAT, WHATEVER THE HOLIDAY MEANS TO YOU.
HOWEVER, YOU MAY CELEBRATE THIS SEASON.
LET'S SEE OUR, OUR BEAUTIFUL TREE SHINY AS A SYMBOL OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON, LEADING US INTO A BRAND NEW YEAR.
AND NOW I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL TO OFFER A HOLIDAY MESSAGE.
THIS HOLIDAY SEASON BE A PART OF IMPROVING THE LIVES OF OTHERS.
SO TOGETHER WE CONTINUE TO BECOME STRONGER THAN EVER FOR ONE ANOTHER.
USE YOUR VOICE TO BRING ABOUT POSITIVE CHANGE, CREATE TIME TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF, LEARN TO MORE FULLY APPRECIATE OUR UNIQUE QUALITIES.
MAKE MEMORIES WITH FAMILIES, FRIENDS, AND NEIGHBORS, BE COURAGEOUS AND REACH BEYOND WHAT IS FAMILIAR, MEANING TO NEXT YEAR FOR YOUR GOALS AND ADVENTURES.
WE WILL DO THIS TOGETHER FROM MY FAMILY, VIEWERS.
[00:15:01]
THANK YOU AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS.AUSTIN IS FILLED WITH ART, THANKS TO INSPIRATIONAL
[00:20:01]
LOCAL TALENT.AND THOSE THAT TEACH WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY EACH YEAR, THE WINNERS OF THE ANNUAL CITY-WIDE ZILKER HOLIDAY TREE CONTEST EARN THE PRIVILEGE OF LIGHTING THE TREE.
AND I'M PROUD TO INTRODUCE SIX YOUNG ARTISTS WHO ARE ABOUT TO MAKE A LITTLE BRIGHTER AND I'M 10 YEARS OLD.
MY FAVORITE THING ABOUT THE SILICA TREE IS THAT IT BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAY.
HI, MY NAME IS AVA AND WE'RE 11 YEARS OLD.
MY FAVORITE THING ABOUT THIS TREE IS SPINNING ON WITH THE LIGHTS.
MY FAVORITE THING ABOUT TREE IT'S SHINY.
HI, MY NAME IS ANNA KATARINA AND I'M SEVEN AND A HALF YEARS OLD.
MY FAVORITE THING ABOUT THE ZILKER TREE IS THAT IT HAS A LOT OF LIGHTS AND UM, IT'S VERY DECORATED AND YOU CAN SEE IT FROM A LOT OF PLACES.
AUSTIN'S 2020 HOLIDAY SEASON AND LIGHT BED.
OH, ARE WE READY? ARE YOU READY?
MORE ABOUT YOU AND THE SUPER HOLIDAY TREE AT AUSTIN, TEXAS.GOV/HOLIDAY TREE HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN WITH GENEROUS SUPPORT BY THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, AUSTIN ENERGY ATX N AND THE TRAIL OF LIGHTS FOUNDATION.
THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN FILMED ON FOLLOWING CURRENT
AS YOU EXPLORE WHAT'S AUSTIN HAS TO OFFER THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.
WE ASKED HIM TO BE CONSIDERATE TO EACH OTHER, OUR FAMILY, TO YOURS, HAPPY HOLIDAY