The BIG List of Holiday Events and Christmas Lights in DFW Area

Holiday Events & Light Displays (Interlochen) DFW

Holiday events and Christmas lights in Dallas – Forth Worth and surrounding communities

(Updated for 2018)

Addison

Holiday Lights Spectacular at Vitruvian Park

Vitruvian Park transforms into a magical Holiday wonderland November 23 through January 1. Event is free. Opens 5pm except for Saturday November 23, December 1 and 8 (opens at 6pm).

Vitruvian Lights – A Magical Night of Lights

Tree lighting ceremony at 6pm November 23. Live performances and kid-friendly activities including photos with Santa.

Arlington

Enchant Christmas

Explore the World’s Largest Christmas Light Maze, and help Santa find eight gifts hidden by the mischievous Eddie the Elf in time for the Christmas delivery! Visit website for times and pricing as well as more information, including a special date night for Military and First Responder couples.

Holiday in the Park – Six Flags Over Texas

See the park transformed into a winter wonderland with millions of twinkling lights during Holiday in the Park, select days November 16 – December 30th.

Interlochen Lights

More 200 homeowners decorate their homes with lights and holiday-themed displays. December 14 through December 25th 7-11pm. Free drive through display.  Westwood Dr. at Randol Mill Rd. in Arlington. Download Map

Cedar Hill

Holiday on the Hill
Thursday, December 6, 2018
6:00 – 8:00pm
Historic Downtown Cedar Hill

Celebrate the holiday season with us at the annual Holiday on the Hill celebration in Downtown Cedar Hill. There will be train rides, plenty of holiday kids activities, festive crafts, live performances, photos with Santa, snow hill slide and the official lighting of the City of Cedar Hill tree. You don’t want to miss this FREE family event!

Cleburne

Whistle Stop Christmas

Lighted Christmas Parade on December 7 in Downtown Cleburne. After the parade, the celebration continues at Johnson County Market Square with food & gift vendors and a special visit by Santa & Mrs. Claus. Throughout the holiday season, both of Cleburne’s live theater groups will be presenting holiday plays.  Visit the  website for details.

The Colony

The Colony Christmas Spectacular

The Colony Christmas Spectacular light show at is choreographed to music and can be seen every evening in December starting on Dec. 1 from 5:30pm to 10:30pm Sunday-Thursday and 5:30pm to 10:50pm Friday and Saturday. Tune your radio to 99.9FM to enjoy the music. Free event.

Dallas

Dallas Arboretum

This holiday season experience the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden’s one-of-a-kind exhibition, The 12 Days of Christmas November 14 through December 30. Exhibit features a collection of 25-foot Victorian style gazebos filled with the charming costumed characters, whimsical animals and music. Each gazebo will be encased in glass and extravagantly decorated on all sides to provide a dramatic, three-dimensional experience, and will feature mechanical parts and festive music that will assist in bringing the characters to an even more life-like state. Visit website for times and pricing.

Candlelight at Dallas Heritage Village

Travel back in time with us at our annual Candlelight holiday celebration, where you can sing along with strolling carolers, tell St. Nicholas your holiday wishes, and make holiday crafts. The Village will be decked in festive lights and traditional decor, Willie and Waylon will be available for wagon rides, local groups perform on three stages all evening. Festive foods are available for purchase from food trucks as well as a bake sale, traditional kettle korn, nuts and more.

Dallas Holiday Parade

December 1 @ 10am in Downtown Dallas. Visit website for more information.

Dallas Zoo Lights

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. This year, discover realistic silk-covered lanterns in the shape of your favorite animals, plus even more light displays and festivities for the entire family! Select nights November 16 – January 1, 5-9pm. Visit website for additional details.

Deck the Halls and Welcome All: Christmas at the House 2006

Visitors get a glimpse into the magical White House holiday celebrations of 2006. The exhibit will be adorned with recreations and decorations of the Christmas White House holiday, behind-the-scenes photos, and a replica of the Blue Room White House Christmas tree. Through January 6 at the George W. Bush Library & Museum. Visit website for details and pricing.

Deck the Paws
Saturday 12/1 & Sunday, 112/2
11am – 7pm
Centennial Building at Fair Park
Seniors 65+ and Kids 12 & under Free

Make your holidays extra merry and bright at Deck the Paws, a two-day pet-topia of fun for the whole family! Promising to be your new fur-vorite holiday tradition, you’ll fa-la-la-la-love the paw-tastic festivities!

Deck the Plaza

A free holiday celebration on Friday, November 30, from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Join Mayor Mike Rawlings for the official illumination of City Hall Plaza, including a 40-foot tree lighting. The festive, family-friendly event will include interfaith speakers and a special arrival from the big man himself… Santa Claus! Musical entertainment will be provided by Dallas Winds and the Castro band, headlined by locals Jason and Michael Castro of “American Idol” fame. Attendees can enjoy holiday treats including hot chocolate, apple cider and cookies.

Lone Star Circus Forever

In a fun and daring tribute to the birth of the modern circus, Dallas’ own Lone Star Circus brings its unique brand of spectacle back for the holidays in this all-new show! Jugglers, acrobats, clowns, and four-legged performers from around the world come together to create a parade of not-to-be-forgotten moments for the entire family. Limited Run: December 28, 2018 – January 1, 2019 at the Dallas Children’s Theatre.  Click here to purchase tickets and for more information.

Trains at North Park

This holiday family tradition has become a favorite for generations of Dallasites and includes 1600 feet of track rolling from coast to coast on a whimsical rail journey across America. Runs November 17 – January 6. Check website for specific dates and times.

White Rock Holiday Market

Local produce, meats, eggs, baked goods, artisan crafts and more. Shop local for your holiday feasts while you also shop for friends.

Denton

Denton Holiday Lighting Festival

A festive evening on the Square with live local music, food, family fun and joyful holiday spirit for this one-of-a-kind, free community event. A donation for the toy drive benefiting Elves Shelves is encouraged. Friday, November 30, 2018 from 5:30-9:30pm.

Farmers Branch

Christmas in the Branch

Create new holiday traditions at Christmas in the Branch, where you can explore Santa’s Village, shop our holiday Marketplace and ice skate Under the Stars at our outdoor skating rink.  Our traditional Tour of Lights drive thru display has been re-imagined into this exciting interactive Christmas experience where now you can get out and play! December 1 – January 6.

Christmas Tree Lighting
December 1 at Liberty Plaza. Get more information.

Frisco

Christmas in the Square

Christmas in the Square draws over 750,000 visitors annually. Families, friends and holiday guests from all over come and enjoy the spectacular show. The Holiday lights and music will run daily 6-10 PM through December 31.

Fort Worth

Gift of Lights

The Gift of Lights is back and this family-friendly holiday show is a great opportunity to share the joy of the season with friends and family. Located at the Texas Motor Speedway, you will enjoy a Texas-sized drive thru light park  every night of the week from 6pm – 10pm November 29 through December 30. Visit website for pricing and more information, including a special offer for Military and First Responders.

Rockin’ a Winter Wonderland

Saturday, December 1 from 10am – 2pm. FREE community holiday celebration feature live music from local country artist Grady Spencer and The Work, and appearances by Mrs. Claus, Rudolph and Disney’s favorite winter princesses Elsa and Anna. Activities will include ornament decorating, letters to Santa, a giant inflatable slide, a snow globe photo booth, giveaways, cookies and cocoa and more. Benefits foster kids under the care of ACH Child.

Starlight Symphony

Crockett Row’s family-friendly holiday celebration, Starlight Symphony, is back to make this festive season merry and bright! Set to the beat of favorite holiday tunes, Crockett Row will be transformed into a glowing wonderland with a 5-minute music & lights show every night from November 30 through December 31 from 6pm – 9pm. Visit website for more information.

Garland

Christmas on the Square

The 2018 Christmas on the Square Tree Lighting Ceremony kicks off Christmas on the Square with live holiday performances and the lighting of the official Christmas Tree on Thursday, Nov. 29. Ceremony starts at 5:30 p.m. So come early and carpool. The City of Garland strives to bring families together by spreading the joy of the holiday season.

Grand Prairie

Prairie Lights 

Upon arriving at the entrance of Prairie Lights,  you will be dazzled with 4 million lights set along 2 miles of path. Hundreds of ALL-NEW displays in shapes of all kinds line and arch over the roads. Half way through the drive get out of your car for a stop at Holiday Village where you will find food, gifts, Santa, a brand-new indoor Holiday Show, and the Holiday Magic Lighted Walk-Through Forest. Once back in your vehicle, the second half of the drive ends with the very animated light tunnel – the perfect finale to a night you will never forget! Thanksgiving Night through Sunday, December 30. Visit website for dates and pricing.

Grapevine

Hometown Christmas

Experience the charm and spirit of a classic American town preparing for Christmas. Stroll through vintage vignettes and snap pictures to create Instagrammable memories. This interactive Christmas exhibition will delight kids of all ages. November 23 – December 23. Free for all ages.

Sensory Friendly – Holiday Autism Activity Day

A sensory-friendly event for children with autism, in a safe and judgment-free zone, to celebrate the holidays and enjoy a number of free activities, including taking with a sensory-friendly Santa and his elves, getting your face painted by a professional, playing fun holiday-themed games, or getting creative with an arts & craft project you can use as gifts. Free event on December 8 from 3:30 – 5:30pm.

Highland Park

Highland Park Christmas Light Tours

Touring the beautiful lights and homes of Highland Park has been a grand tradition of the holiday season for many years. Suggested place to star your light tour is at Armstrong Parkway and Preston Road. It’s free to drive through; carriage rides are available for a fee.

Tree Lighting Ceremony for the “Big Pecan Tree” on Armstrong Parkway, just west of Preston Road, on the first Thursday in December, at 6:00 p.m.

Irving

Holiday Lights at Centennial Park

The Holiday Extravaganza is a two-part event, featuring a community parade through the Heritage District followed by a tree lighting ceremony outside of Irving City Hall. This annual celebration is a tradition for many Irving families. Centennial Park Holiday Lights will be on display through December 25 from dusk – 10pm.

Plano

Deerfield Holiday Lights

Deerfield is located in Northwest Plano between Preston Rd. and Coit Rd. Enter from Legacy on Colonnade or Archgate. Watch all signs, drive carefully and enjoy the holiday lights which are usually on between the hours of 7pm-10pm during the entire month of December. Rainy nights are not the best days to view the lights so take that into consideration! Should you decide to walk the neighborhood, please park on a street at the far north part of Deerfield, close to Quincy Rd. and not on one of our busy streets as causes traffic problems. **Please do not get out of your car to take pictures as it causes problems with traffic as well.

Holidays at the Heard

A Fun, Festive and Family-Friendly Fundraising Event Benefiting Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary. December 14 & 15. Visit website for details.

Lantern Light, A Victorian Holiday

The Heritage Farmstead Museum welcomes visitors every year to enjoy the 4 acre historic sight decorated in Holiday style. The twinkle of lights and the glow of over 75 kerosene lanterns make this location explode with historic holiday magic. This year our guests will enjoy sledding in the North Meadow on the Farmstead snow hill. There will be tours of the Historic Victorian home throughout the event, storytelling, the unique Magic Lantern Show, wagon rides, children’s crafts in the one room school house, choirs in the Pole barn, photos with Santa Claus and so much more. Visit the website for dates and pricing.

Richardson

Santa’s Village

Santa’s Village, a tiny town of 16 holiday dwellings on the north side of City Hall (at 411 W Arapaho Rd) is a holiday tradition for families from Richardson and beyond. Each colorful building offers children a fun activity and even a visit with Santa Claus! Attendees can also enjoy live performances, holiday photo ops and warm up with a cup of hot chocolate or a snack.  Visit website for dates and times.

Southlake

Santa’s Village

Nothing marks the holidays like pictures with Santa Claus. Kids of all ages can visit with the jolly fella in the big red suit at Santa’s Village in Rustin Park through Decmeber 24th. New for 2018: Reserve your family’s private, no-wait visit with Santa at Santa’s Village. Visit website for specific dates and times.

Wylie

Wylie Arts Festival and Tree Lighting

The City of Wylie and the Public Arts Advisory Board are proud to present the Wylie Arts Festival in the FBC Wylie Event Center, 200 N. Ballard Avenue. Shop for fine art and handmade crafts; listen to the sounds of the season; and enjoy festive foods. Admission is free. 9 am – 4 pm, Wylie Arts Festival, First Baptist Church Events Center; 5 – 7 pm Tree Lighting, Olde City Park. FBC Wylie has moved the Festival of Lights Christmas Parade to 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 8.

© North Texas Kids 2018
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