Looking for the best Christmas events in Dallas for your family to visit this year? There is an abundance of holiday events in the North Texas area to choose from. My family and I have attended many of these events and can vouch for how awesome they are. Some were graciously hosted while others we paid for the experience. As always, I give my honest opinion. And, while you are planning your holiday events, be sure to plan your holiday shopping with this free Christmas Shopping Planner. It will keep your budget in line and keep you on the ‘nice’ list.
25 of the Very Best Christmas Events in Dallas
To help you determine which special events are the best fit for your family, I’ve rounded up the top Dallas/Fort Worth holiday events. Spread holiday cheer and share this list with a friend! (Events not listed in particular order)
Find Facebook calendar event listings in one place here.
Gaylord Texan ICE! – Grapevine
November 15 – January 5
This year the Gaylord Texan Ice is featuring “Charlie Brown” along with a Lone Star Christmas. ICE! features about 2 million holiday lights, a 12 Lane Snow Tubing Hill, Ice skating, Gingerbread decorating and more. Get 50% Off Gaylord Texan Ice discount using the promo code: MODERNMOM at GaylordTexanTickets.com (Restrictions Apply)
Home for the Holidays… A McKinney Christmas – McKinney
November 29 – December 1
Home for the Holidays…A McKinney Christmas happens the day after Thanksgiving in Downtown McKinney. This FREE event features non-stop family activities, entertainment, food galore, a chance to finish your Christmas shopping early.
Christmas at the Anatole – Dallas
Select dates: November 29 – December 22
The legendary hotel will transform into a winter wonderland complete with festive décor, kids activities and games, train rides and more. Check out Christmas at the Anatole and learn more about our family’s experience with the Hilton Anatole Dallas here.
Parade of Lights – Fort Worth
November 24
The annual GM Financial Parade of Lights is a fun and fabulous spectacle, featuring more than 100 floats and marching units gliding through Downtown Fort Worth. Santa makes his grand entrance into Fort Worth at the end of the Parade of Lights on a beautifully decorated float.
Dallas Zoo Lights – Dallas
Select Dates: November 17 – January 5
After the animals head in for the evening, the Dallas Zoo will transform into a winter wonderland with over one million twinkling lights illuminating ZooNorth throughout the holiday season. Discover realistic silk-covered lanterns in the shape of your favorite animals, plus even more light displays and festivities at Dallas Zoo Lights!
Westin Galleria Dallas Tea – Dallas
November 30th & December 7
Bring your family to celebrate the holidays with afternoon tea and pastries at The Westin Galleria Dallas in our fabulous private dining room, Privé. There will be a wide variety of teas, finger sandwiches, scones, desserts, and more for our guests to enjoy. Don’t miss out on a meet and greet with the skaters of the Galleria Dallas’ Holiday Skate Show.
Watters Creek Celebration of Lights – Allen
November 22
Join Watters Creek for a magical evening to kick off the holiday season and welcome Santa at the Celebration of Lights. Enjoy complimentary carriage rides, hot cocoa, caroling, face painting, and balloon artists. Guests can enjoy live entertainment and view lights synchronized to holiday music!
Prairie Lights – Grand Prairie
November 28 – December 31 – December 31
Feast your eyes on over 4 million lights set along a 2-mile path at Prairie Lights. Hundreds of displays in shapes of all kinds line and arch over the roads. Halfway through the drive get out of your car for a stop at Holiday Village where you will find food, gifts, Santa, the brand-new indoor Snow Maze, and the Holiday Magic Lighted Walk-Through Forest.
Christmas at The Star – Frisco
Select dates: November 22 – December 21
The Christmas Spectacular takes place every Friday and Saturday at 6 p.m. on Tostitos Championship Plaza starting Nov. 22. This free event is presented by Albertsons and Tom Thumb is a weekly holiday performance showcasing the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, Dallas Cowboys Rhythm and Blue Dancers and Drumline, appearances by Santa, and more.
Holiday at the Arboretum – Dallas
November 9 – December 31
Holiday at the Arboretum features a 30-foot tall tree at the center of the gardens, as well as the magnificent The 12 Days of Christmas outdoor exhibit with 25-foot-tall Victorian-style gazebos depicting scenes from the traditional carol. Each gazebo features movement to depict the different beloved characters such as the Three French Hens, Twelve Drummers Drumming and Seven Swans a Swimming, to name a few.
Texas Christkindl Market – Arlington
November 29 – December 22
The month-long holiday mainstay inspired by the German tradition of shopping, visiting with friends while sipping gluhwein (pronounced GLUE-VINE), comes to The Plaza at Texas Live! The largest Christkindl market of its kind in Texas with 25+ vendors, specialty musical entertainment and a NEW ICE RINK, a fresh 30 ft. tree, and much more.
North Pole Express – Grapevine
November 29 – December 23
North Pole Express in Grapevine sells out quickly. Chances are the popular time slots are already sold out. Experience the magic of riding the North Pole Express and arrive at Santa’s Workshop at the end. If you can’t go this year, definitely put it on your radar for next year and buy your tickets in September/October.
The Galleria Dallas Grand Tree Lighting Celebrations – Dallas
Select dates: November 29 – December 21
Christmas at The Galleria Dallas celebrates the holiday season with tree lightings and ice skating performances! Each free holiday show features Missile Toes, Galleria’s ice-skating, back-flipping, pyrotechnic Santa Claus, live performances from Olympic, World and National champions along with local children performing around the country’s tallest indoor Christmas tree.
Holiday experiences at The Shops at Willow Bend – Plano
Select dates: November 9 – January 5
There are a plethora of interactive holiday experiences happening at The Shops of Willow Bend. There are fun opportunities to see Santa, tasty holiday treats and multiple photo opportunities for family Christmas cards. They even offer the opportunity for pet parents to bring their fur-babies in for a photo opportunity with Santa!
Vitruvian Lights – Addison
November 29 – January 1
Vitruvian Park transforms into a magical holiday wonderland during Vitruvian Lights in Addison. Special events happening on November 29 & Dec. 7, 14.
Christmas in the Square – Frisco
November 29 – January 6th
Christmas in the Square draws over 750,000 visitors annually. Families, friends and holiday guests from all over come and enjoy the spectacular show. Guests can skate the square, enjoy a light show and go through a Christmas Tree Maze.
Gifts of Lights at Texas Motor Speedway – Fort Worth
Gifts of Lights at Texas Motor Speedway offers families the opportunity to drive through a Texas-sized Drive Thru light park. Guests can see a fantastic light show and travel to Santa’s Village at the Gift of Lights at Texas Motor Speedway.
Snowland at Great Wolf Lodge – Grapevine
November 30 – January 5
Snowland welcomes your family to the winter holiday in proper Northwoods style. During this holiday season, Great Wolf Lodge is transformed into a magical winter wonderland, complete with spectacular decorations, visits with Santa, North Pole University activities and a life-size gingerbread house guests can dine in.
The Trains at Northpark – Dallas
November 16 – January 5
For the past 32 years, the Trains at Northpark benefiting Ronald McDonald House of Dallas (RMHD), has delighted generations of Dallas families as one of our city’s premier holiday traditions. The display includes 1600 feet of track rolling from coast to coast on a whimsical rail journey across America.
Six Flags Over Texas Holiday the Park – Arlington
Select dates: November 23 – January 5
Six Flags Over Texas Holiday in the Park is back for select days at Six Flags Over Texas. It’s the most magical time of the year filled with enchanting experiences that will help create those special family fun outings again and again
Holiday Bricktacular – Grapevine
December 7 – December 24
Visit Legoland to write Santa letters and a meet and greet with Santa on the weekends. Test your building skills by helping the LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Master Model Builder construct a LEGO® Holiday Quilt. Design your own LEGO® mosaics to complete a giant holiday masterpiece all out of LEGO bricks!
Scuba Diving Santa – Grapevine
Scheduled dives occur at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesdays and Saturdays, December 7, 10, 14, 17 and 21.
Experience a dive show like no other with a jolly red-suited diver, beard and all, along with his elf as they take the plunge in a magical dive show amongst the fish, sharks, and stingrays in SEA LIFE Grapevine’s 160,000-gallon ocean tank. Pose for pictures with Scuba Diving Santa.
The Nutcracker – Bass Performance Hall – Fort Worth & Windspear Opera House – Dallas
Experience the most magical Christmas tradition of the season. Exquisite costumes and dazzling choreography will transport you to a world where dreams do come true. Get The Nutcracker tickets here for both locations.
Jack Frost – Casa Manana – Fort Worth
November 22 – December 23, 2019
Jack Frost is a live performance playing in the heart of Fort Worth. I remember going to Casa Manana as a child with my family and it was a memory I will never forget.
Klyde Warren Park Tree Lighting Celebration – Dallas
December 7, 2019
This free event features a festive day of activities and entertainment, including photos with Santa and story time with Mrs. Claus, face painting, crafts, games, and real snow! Don’t miss out on Klyde Warren Park’s annual tree lighting.
Learn more about Dallas Holiday Events
Get an inside look at many of these holiday festivities my Instagram stories and highlight named holidays! Which holiday events in DFW are you most excited to attend with your family? Did I miss your favorite event? Let me know in the comment section or find me on social.
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