Although you may not always get loads of snow and freezing temperatures in Dallas, the Christmas season here is full of larger-than-life celebrations that make it well worth a visit for the holiday season. From parades to some of the best light shows in the country, there are more Christmas things to do in Dallas than you probably will have time for on a single journey. To help you plan the very best itinerary, whether you want some family-friendly entertainment or a lovely evening meal and drinks, we have organized a list of holiday hits that can’t be missed. These are the best things to do in Dallas if you want to celebrate Christmas here.
Holiday at the Arboretum
Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Garden
8525 Garland Rd,
Dallas, TX 75218
Christmas comes with an entire season of activities at the Dallas Arboretum, where visitors can stroll through fantastic winter landscapes and discover displays influenced by a classic holiday song. Make your way from a Partridge in a Pear Tree towards the 12 Drummers Drumming, each housed in a charming Victorian-style gazebo. These life-size shows of the 12 Days of Christmas are a Dallas Christmas hit, and many guests come each year to take the short yet enchanting stroll day or night.
Enjoy entertainment, food, drinks, shopping, and Santa Claus will be a part of the holiday fun. The gardens come to life every night with over a million beautiful lights and make sure to check out the new 50-foot Dazzling Musical Tree. The pathways are easily accessible for all visitors; day and evening tickets are available online until December 30th. dallasarboretum.org
North Pole at the Pauline and Austin Neuhoff Christmas Village
Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Garden
8525 Garland Rd.
Dallas, TX 75218
The fun of Holidays at the Arboretum does not end with the 12 Days of Christmas show. There is a Christmas Village with more than a dozen shops fashioned after a European Christmas Village. Each mini house has a unique concept, from a post office where the children can mail letters to Santa to a German bakery packed with freshly-made goodies. In the expanded village, you can also enjoy a chocolate shop and a classic Christmas pyramid, specially hand-carved by a team of German artisans. Santa Claus even has his own house with a sleigh for photos. The Christmas Village is open now until December 31, so get your tickets today. dallasarboretum.org
Holidays in Klyde Warren Park
Klyde Warren Park
1909 Woodall Rodgers Freeway Suite 403
Dallas, TX 75201
Throughout December, head on out to Klyde Warren Park for Holidays in Klyde Warren Park. On seven separate nights, Santa will be lighting the Christmas tree while carolers from the Booker T. Washington High School entertain your family. There will also be Movies in the Park night featuring Elf, and another night CBS 11, will be broadcasting from the park. Check out the full schedule online to enjoy this free event. klydewarrenpark.org
Dallas Holiday Parade
Downtown Dallas
1321 Commerce St
Dallas, TX, 75202
Dallas Holiday Parade is a long-running tradition in North Texas and is the largest one-day season celebration. Massive crowds gather to watch dancers, floats, and marching bands make their way through the roads of the downtown area. It begins at 10 am on December 4 and runs for 2 hours, but other activities will also be in full swing throughout the day. Visit Main Street Garden for food trucks offering traditional Texas fare, and of course, plenty of holiday goodies, and there are several family-friendly activities to have fun with before and after the main event. There will also be local vendors to get some Christmas shopping done. dallasholidayparade.com
Dallas Zoo Lights
Dallas Zoo
650 S. R. L. Thornton Freeway
Dallas, TX 75203
In terms of Christmas activities in Dallas, this one is a classic and one not to miss. The Dallas Zoo puts on a spectacular show of more than one million lights every year, and this year it will be a drive-thru event. From massive rainbow arches to life-sized light shows of some of the zoo’s most beloved wildlife, no area of the park will be left dim! Beyond the light shows, your family can stroll through Reliant Holiday Village and take pictures with Santa, enjoy musical performances, take photos in front of the 30ft lighted Christmas tree, and more. Advanced tickets are required for this event, so get your tickets before they sell out. Open select night until January 2 from 6pm – 9:30pm. dallaszoo.com
Enchant Christmas
Fair Park
3809 Grand Avenue
Dallas, TX 75210
Dallas/Fort Worth, get ready to be mesmerized by the holiday season as Enchant, the whimsical and heartfelt Christmas light maze and village, is back running now until January 2. Known for transporting guests to a world of joyful wonder, Enchant is very proud to present The Great Search, the first in a series of 5 fascinating journeys. Guests begin on a quest within the magical forest of millions of twinkling lights and a world of fantastic art set up as they travel to save Christmas. The adventure includes sliding down the Ice Skating Trail, sampling gourmet holiday treats from around the globe, visiting the artisan Christmas market, and meeting the Big Man himself – all before walking into the most magnificent Christmas light maze the world has ever seen. This year’s event will be held on the Esplanade at Fair Park in Dallas. Inside the Enchant Christmas, a world of Christmas wonder awaits holiday travelers in the form of festive things to do. enchantchristmas.com
The Nutcracker
Moody Performance Hall
2520 Flora Street,
Dallas, TX 75201
Experience this magical holiday tradition as Clara and the Nutcracker Princes battle an army of mice and explore a winter wonderland. Join the Avant Chamber Ballet with Paul Mejia’s joyful full-length production of The Nutcracker, accompanied by a live orchestra performed by Brad Cawyer. This holiday classic is created to take the entire family on a marvelous trip to the Land of Sweets through Clara’s eyes with Tchaikovsky’s rich score and ACB’s lush, professional creation! Daily shows are starting from December 9th through the 12th. ticketdfw.com
Christmas Light Tunnel at Prairie Lights
Lynn Creek Park
5610 Lake Ridge Parkway
Grand Prairie, TX 75052
A short 15 minutes drive from Downtown Dallas awaits the most fantastic light experience the whole family will enjoy. With more than 4 million lights and 2 miles of driving paths, Prairie Lights features more than an hour of in and out of car enjoyment. Halfway through, you’ll see the Holiday Village, where you can get up close to the action at several walk-through light installs and get some warm food to keep you going through the rest of the trip.
In the end, you’ll even move through the world’s largest lighting tunnel. Perfect for date night, an adventure with close friends, or a fun family activity. Open daily at 6 pm until December 31; get your tickets today. visitgrandprairietx.com
2021 BMW Dallas Marathon Festival
Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas
650 S Griffin Street
Dallas, TX 75202
This Dallas Marathon is a non-profit organization that focuses on endorsing health and physical fitness through running activities and related activities. It produces what has become Dallas’ and Texas’ most significant running marathons. Running the marathon in Dallas features the city’s most lively neighborhoods, entertainment districts, and iconic Dallas landmarks. Many visitors join in BMW Dallas Marathon both days, lining the roads and communities to cheer on participants in a competition that is recognized as the official race of the City of Dallas. If a marathon is for you and your family, check out the full schedule online and clear your weekend from December 10th – 12thh. rundallas.com
Frisco’s Christmas in the Square
Frisco provides a whole other set of Christmas things to do. The cream of the crop is likely the most incredible choreographed light and music display in North Texas, which includes over 175,000 lights moving in time to holiday hits. Visitors may tune in to 107.3 FM on the radio in their vehicles or listen to the music piped through speakers as they take a walk through the Square. The display takes place every day until January 2, 2022, starting at 6 pm every night. Christmas in the Square also includes an outdoor skating rink and a Christmas tree maze. The light show is completely free, but some activities do require a fee. friscosquare.com/cits-overview
