Holiday scene

Dallas Christmas Guide 2024

Dallas's Best Christmas Events for 2024!

Last updated February 18, 2025.

When December rolls into Big D, the Dallas Arboretum transforms into a winter wonderland, while the Galleria's SNOWDAY brings frosty magic indoors. From Highland Park's dazzling residential displays to Grapevine's North Pole Express, Dallas knows how to deck the halls Texas-style.

DFW's holiday celebrations stretch from the Cowboys Christmas Extravaganza in Frisco to Prairie Lights in Grand Prairie. Whether you're ice skating at the Galleria or catching the Trail of Lights downtown, the Metroplex offers distinctly Texan holiday charm.

Explore our Big D holiday guide below!

When is Christmas? Thursday, December 25th, 2025

Dallas Holiday Light Displays

Holiday at the Arboretum

Holiday at the Arboretum is a festive celebration featuring elaborate light displays, including the iconic 12 Days of Christmas exhibit with Victorian-style gazebos. The event also includes a lavishly decorated DeGolyer House showcasing 'Christkindlmarket Treasures' and a charming Christmas Village with old-world European-style shops. The garden is adorned with over one million lights, creating a breathtaking ambiance both day and night. Live performances and special events add to the festive atmosphere, making it a must-visit holiday destination.

Details:

  • 📅 Dates: November 13 - January 5
  • ⏰ Time: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM daily, extended hours for The 12 Days of Christmas at Night
  • 🏛️ Venue: Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden
  • 📍 Address: 8525 Garland Rd, Dallas, TX 75218

Dallas Zoo Lights

Dallas Zoo Lights is a holiday celebration featuring over two million twinkling lights, immersive holiday-themed areas, and festive drinks. The event includes live music, illuminated art shows, face painting, and photo opportunities with Santa. Guests can explore the zoo grounds, enjoying activities such as snowball fights, s'mores stations, and drinks including spiked hot cocoa.

Details:

Christmas in the Square

Christmas in the Square is a spectacular holiday light and music show in Frisco Square, featuring over 180,000 lights, 200 dancing snowflakes, and 10 miles of wiring. The event is choreographed by Jeff Trykoski and includes a variety of activities such as ice skating, a Christmas tree maze, and horse-drawn carriage rides. The light show is synchronized to holiday music and can be enjoyed by tuning into 107.3 FM or listening through speakers as you walk through the Square.

Details:

  • 📅 Dates: November 22nd - January 6th, 2025
  • ⏰ Time: 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM daily
  • 🏛️ Venue: Frisco Square
  • 📍 Address: Frisco Square, Frisco, TX

Dallas Trail of Lights

Dallas Trail of Lights is a holiday event featuring a World's Largest Light Tunnel, a Grand Carousel, Ferris Wheel, Ice Slide, Giant Snow Foam Pit, Drone Show, Projection Mapping Show, and Instagrammable photo ops. The event also includes a Santa on-site for photos and hot cocoa.

Details:

  • 📅 Dates: December 6 - December 25
  • ⏰ Time: (See website for times)
  • 🏛️ Venue: Reunion Tower
  • 📍 Address: 700 Sports St

Prairie Lights

Prairie Lights is a premier holiday light park in Texas, featuring over four million lights arranged in hundreds of festive scenes throughout a two-mile drive-through path. The park includes a Holiday Village with seasonal concessions, shopping, carnival rides, and photos with Santa. Additionally, it offers a magical walk-thru forest and an animated exit tunnel.

Details:

  • 📅 Dates: November 28 - December 31
  • ⏰ Time: 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM daily
  • 🏛️ Venue: Lynn Creek Park on Joe Pool Lake in Grand Prairie, TX
  • 📍 Address: 5610 Lake Ridge Pkwy, Grand Prairie, TX

Highland Park Lights

Highland Park Lights is a renowned holiday light display featuring over 1.5 million lights transforming the Village into a festive hotspot. The tradition, which began in 1951, includes beautifully illuminated building rooflines and trees, creating a dazzling spectacle. Visitors can stroll through the Village, enjoying the holiday ambiance and festive decorations.

Details:

  • 📅 Dates: (See website for dates)
  • ⏰ Time: (See website for times)
  • 🏛️ Venue: Highland Park Village
  • 📍 Address: View on map

Klyde Warren Park Tree Lighting

Klyde Warren Park Tree Lighting is a festive event featuring a 52-foot tall Christmas tree adorned with 37,500 lights and 3,836 ornaments. The celebration includes live music, food trucks, and various activities such as photos with Santa and storytime with Mrs. Claus. The event promotes community spirit and holiday cheer, making it a popular family-friendly event.

Details:

University Park Tree Lighting

The University Park Tree Lighting is an annual event featuring live holiday carols and dances. The festivities take place in Centennial Park, which is decorated with a beautifully lit holiday tree. The event is a community gathering where residents come together to celebrate the coming holiday season with music, dance, and the illumination of the holiday tree.

Details:

  • 📅 Dates: December
  • ⏰ Time: (See website for schedule)
  • 🏛️ Venue: Centennial Park
  • 📍 Address: View on map

Dallas Holiday Markets and Shopping

Grapevine Christmas Capital of Texas

Grapevine, Texas, is the Christmas Capital of Texas, hosting over 1,400 festive events in 40 days. The historic downtown area is adorned with twinkling lights, and the city features live Christmas trees, a Holiday Queen, and numerous holiday markets and shopping opportunities. The North Pole Express train ride offers caroling elves, Santa's special treats, and a stroll through the snowy North Pole Forest. Additionally, the town is home to the Gaylord Texan Resort, which features 1.5 million lights, 12,000 ornaments, a 54-foot tree, and two million pounds of ice for ICE®. The Palace Theatre hosts concerts by the Texas Tenors and Grapevine Opry Christmas shows, as well as classic holiday movie screenings.

Details:

  • 📅 Dates: 40 days
  • ⏰ Time: (See website for times)
  • 🏛️ Venue: Grapevine
  • 📍 Address: 76051

Grand Prairie Premium Outlets Light the Night

Grand Prairie Premium Outlets Light the Night features a festive atmosphere with holiday decorations and special promotions. The event offers a variety of shopping opportunities with discounts on popular brands like Tommy Hilfiger, Adidas, and Michael Kors. Visitors can enjoy a 50% off everything sale, excluding certain items, and explore the outlet's extensive collection of holiday gifts and seasonal items.

Details:

  • 📅 Dates: (See website for dates)
  • ⏰ Time: (See website for times)
  • 🏛️ Venue: Grand Prairie Premium Outlets
  • 📍 Address: 2950 W. I-20

Dallas Holiday Shows and Entertainment

Grapevine North Pole Express

The Grapevine North Pole Express is a family-friendly event that takes passengers on a round-trip journey to Santa's Workshop aboard the Grapevine Vintage Railroad. The train is beautifully decorated, and guests enjoy festive activities such as singing and dancing to a Broadway-style show, walking through the Snowy Tree Trail, and taking part in photo opportunities. Each guest receives a delicious chocolate chip cookie baked in Mrs. Claus' North Pole kitchens and a taste of Santa's Frosty Chocolate Snow Milk served in a keepsake Memory Mug. Children also receive a beautiful 'We Believe' bell. Festive pajamas are encouraged.

Details:

Reliant Lights Your Holidays

Reliant Lights Your Holidays is a festive event featuring a concert by legendary Dallas alt rock band Jackopierce, special appearances by NRG Party Band, Whitney James’ Cool Yule Duo, and Pretty Boy Aaron Duo. The event includes a holiday vendor market with 15 local artists selling apparel, jewelry, art, and other great holiday gifts. Thousands of LED lights illuminate Sammons Park, and a Christmas-themed drone show by world record holder Sky Elements will blast off with fireworks from Pyrotex. The event also features a wintery snow playground with real snow, cookie decorating stations, reindeer ornament crafts, free photos with Santa sponsored by Lexus, and free miniature golf on the Reliant Putting Green. Expanded food and beverage offerings are available.

Details:

Cowboys Christmas Extravaganza

The Cowboys Christmas Extravaganza is a festive holiday event featuring a dazzling 20-minute show with performances by the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, Rhythm and Blue, Cowboys Rookie Squad, and Rowdy. The event includes the lighting of a 67-foot LED Christmas tree synchronized with original Christmas music and pyrotechnics. Special appearances by Dallas Cowboys football heroes and Santa Claus add to the excitement. This family-friendly event transforms Tostitos Championship Plaza into a vibrant celebration of game-day excitement and Christmas cheer.

Details:

  • 📅 Dates: November 22 - December 21
  • ⏰ Time: 6:00 PM - 6:20 PM daily
  • 🏛️ Venue: The Star in Frisco
  • 📍 Address: The Star in Frisco

Holiday Events at Galleria Dallas

Galleria Dallas offers a variety of holiday events, including an immersive photo experience called SNOWDAY, where visitors can take festive photos. The Grand Tree Lighting Celebration features a spectacular ice-skating show with Olympic skaters and Missile Toes, Galleria's famed ice-skating Santa. Additionally, there is a holiday circus with holiday-themed puppets, magicians, clowns, contortionists, and jugglers. The Grand Holiday Ice Show is a ticketed event benefiting The Family Place and Broadway Dallas. Visitors can also meet Santa at Santaland, which offers a special and safe experience with Santa.

Details:

Dallas Arboretum Evening Concerts

Dallas Arboretum Evening Concerts feature live music performances by renowned artists in a scenic botanical garden setting. The concerts are held on the Martin Rutchik Concert Lawn, offering general admission seating on the lawn. Guests are encouraged to bring picnic baskets, food, coolers, and beverages, with pre-order food options and a beer and wine bar available for purchase. The event includes access to the garden before the concert, and children must always stay with their parents.

Details:

  • 📅 Dates: April 3 – June 26, September 4 – November 6
  • ⏰ Time: Spring/Summer concerts 7:30 – 9:30 PM, Fall concerts 7:00 – 9:00 PM
  • 🏛️ Venue: Dallas Arboretum
  • 📍 Address: 8525 Garland Rd, Dallas, TX 75218

Santa’s Village at Huffhines Park

Santa's Village at Huffhines Park is a festive holiday event featuring time-treasured dwellings, interactive activities, free photos with Santa, live entertainment, and concessions for sale. The village offers a variety of holiday-themed performances by local community choirs, dance groups, theaters, and musicians on Prancer's Stage. Visitors can stroll through the village to view the twinkling lights and enjoy the festive atmosphere.

Details:

Dallas Other Holiday Activities

SNOWDAY at Galleria Dallas

SNOWDAY at Galleria Dallas is an immersive, Christmas-themed photo experience featuring nearly 10,000 square feet of Hollywood-grade sets and styling. Guests explore the secret town where Santa's elves live, with state-of-the-art, touch-free photo technology and surreal holiday photo opportunities. Additional features include a new multimedia show with lights, sounds, and videos, culminating in 'real' snowfall, and a Christmas Kaleidoscope photo op. The exhibit also includes fan-favorite rooms like the Christmas lights maze with twinkling lights.

Details:

Santaland at Galleria Dallas

Santaland at Galleria Dallas offers a unique holiday experience where families can ride the Santaland Express, a simulated train ride through a festive forest, and visit Santa Claus in his chalet. The environment is designed to create memorable family photos, including a magical forest and a photo opportunity with Santa. This experience is perfect for capturing traditional holiday moments.

Details:

The Trains at NorthPark

The Trains at NorthPark is a holiday family tradition featuring a fascinating array of miniature trains rolling across 1,600 feet of track on a whimsical rail journey across America. The trains travel from the autumn foliage of New England to San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge with stops along the way to see New York City, Washington DC, Dallas, and the desert Southwest including the Grand Canyon and the Garden of the Gods. The event includes interplanetary visitors from Outer Space and offers an enchanting experience for attendees of all ages.

Details:

Christmas at the Anatole

Christmas at the Anatole is a festive holiday event at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, featuring a Grand Ferris Wheel offering panoramic views of the Dallas skyline, a twinkling Christmas Tree Maze, and the exhilarating Snowy Summit Slide. Visitors can stroll through a charming Bavarian Village to shop for unique holiday gifts and seasonal treats, and unwind at the Après-Ski Lodge with cozy festive food and craft cocktails. The celebration also includes Breakfast with Santa every weekend, as well as other holiday activities and attractions.

Details:

Grapevine Interactive Hometown Christmas

Grapevine Interactive Hometown Christmas is an immersive holiday exhibit that recreates the charm of a classic American town preparing for Christmas. The exhibit features vintage vignettes, animated reindeer, live musicians, and plenty of photo opportunities with beautifully lit backgrounds. This interactive display is designed to delight kids of all ages and offers a serene side of the holiday season.

Details:

Omni Dallas, Ice, Lights and City Nights

Omni Dallas, Ice, Lights and City Nights is a holiday event featuring an outdoor ice-skating rink, rich and decadent hot cocoa stations, and a variety of family-friendly activities. The event includes a ride on the Elf Express train through the hotel's winter wonderland, seasonal craft cocktails at Blitzen's Bar, and opportunities to catch a glimpse of Santa Claus. The hotel's exterior is adorned with 4 miles of LED lights, and nightly holiday light shows are a highlight of the event.

Details:

Dickens in Downtown Plano

Dickens in Downtown Plano is a festive holiday event in the Historic Downtown Plano Arts District. The event features photos with Santa, a snow slide, the Coffee and Cocoa Walk, the Children's Entrepreneur Market, and a traditional tree lighting with the Plano mayor and city VIPs. Downtown businesses stay open late for holiday shopping and dining.

Details:

Ice Skating at Galleria Dallas

Ice Skating at Galleria Dallas offers a lively and family-friendly activity where visitors can glide across the ice. The rink is surrounded by shops and restaurants, providing a convenient and enjoyable experience. Expert-led classes are available for all ages, covering various techniques and skills. The rink has hosted numerous Olympic athletes and events, making it a historic and prestigious venue for ice skating.

Details:

Horse Carriage Rides at Frisco Square

Horse Carriage Rides at Frisco Square offer a charming and traditional holiday experience. Visitors can enjoy a leisurely ride through the beautifully decorated area, taking in the festive atmosphere and holiday lights. The carriages are a delightful way to explore the square, providing a unique perspective on the holiday festivities.

Details:

Dallas Arboretum Themed Garden Tours

Dallas Arboretum Themed Garden Tours offer a comprehensive exploration of the 66-acre botanical garden, featuring stunning seasonal displays, native and foreign plant life, and various themed gardens. Visitors can enjoy a tram ride along 'The Paseo,' which serves as the central walkway of the garden, and stop at notable areas like the Magnolia Glade, Crape Myrtle Allee, and Toad Corners. The garden also includes the Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden, A Tasteful Place, and the Trammell Crow Visitor Education Pavilion. Each garden offers unique features and attractions, making the tour an engaging experience for all visitors.

Details:

Dallas Arboretum Workshops for Kids

The Dallas Arboretum offers a variety of engaging workshops for kids, including interactive programs like Little Sprouts Squirrel Adventure and Butterfly Adventure. These workshops focus on science and nature, with activities such as puppet shows, outdoor exploration, and hands-on STEM experiments. The programs are designed for PreK-6th grade students and provide a fun and educational experience.

Details: