Must-Do Holiday Events in DFW

Looking to celebrate the holidays? In the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex we’re lucky to have so many to experience but here’s our shortlist of Must-Do Holiday Events in DFW!

Check back often: This list will update throughout the season. 

Ready for the holidays? Don’t worry, they’re already here, so get ready.

And in the DFW metroplex, from Fort Worth to Arlington, Addison to Grapevine (and of course everything in between), there are plenty of great ones to choose from every day of the week for holiday fun this time of year. However, there are a few events that you need to have on your must-do, must-go, must-see list for the holidays in 2021! (And make sure to look as some of these have giveaways too!) 

Holiday at the Arboretum

Nov. 10 – Dec. 31, 2021

Dallas / Arboretum

Tickets: Prices range with activities (some activities included with admission.)

Holiday at the Arboretum features the return of the magnificent The 12 Days of Christmas outdoor exhibit, as well as almost 1 million lights throughout the garden at night, trimming the architecture of the historic homes and lighting the canopies overhead—including a 30-foot-tall tree. But that’s just the beginning! You can snag a kiss under the mistletoe, get a glimpse of Santa and a real reindeer, have tea, and much more. There are activities available both morning and nights, throughout the week and the weekends so make sure to check the schedule to get your favorites. Get the details.

GO TO GRAPEVINE: Christmas at the Gaylord

Nov. 19 – Jan. 2, 2022

Grapevine / Gaylord Texan Hotel and Convention Center

Prices: Rates range based on activities (Save with promo code REO)

Without a doubt, if someone is looking for something Christmas, I always send them to Grapevine. There’s so much to do in the Christmas Capital of Texas, especially at the Gaylord Texan. This year’s events may not include ICE!, but it does include a special challenge, Mission: Save Christmas featuring Elf™. Journey through some of your favorite movie scenes as you join Buddy the Elf to help save Christmas. Complete fun-filled challenges alongside Buddy and friends as you visit the candy cane forest, assist with toy preparations at the North Pole, prepare for Santa’s arrival at the iconic department store, and take part in an epic virtual snowball fight in Central Park. But that’s not all – just make a weekend of it and enjoy a stroll down main street and you’ll get in the holiday mood with tons of shops, restaurants and events happening all season.   Get the details.

 

Radiance: A Holiday Lights Spectacular

Nov. 19 – Dec. 26, 2021

Frisco / Weatherford / Decatur 

Prices: $30 per car / $50 for VIP (special VIP lane, hot chocolate and magical light glasses for the kids.)

Enjoy the wonder of RADIANCE! A Holiday Light Spectacular, at Frisco, Decatur, or Weatherford, or gather your friends and experience all three. Gather the family and sip a cup of hot chocolate as you marvel at two million lights, animated to the tunes of your favorite holiday classics from the safety and comfort of your car! Get the details.

Enchant Christmas

Nov. 26 – Jan. 2, 2022

Dallas / Fair Park

Prices: $25 for kids / $20-$35 for adults

Get ready to light up your Instagram. Experience thousands of radiant Christmas lights as you immerse yourself in a spectacular Light Maze adventure. Guided by dazzling lights, you’ll search for nine of Santa’s reindeer who have become lost in a giant snowstorm and need your help finding their way out of the mystical Enchant forest. Glide through an illuminated ice skating trail, stroll through the Enchant market for goodies including some great vendors (bring on the tamales and the raclette, enjoy Mrs. Claus storytime and visit with Santa himself in Santa’s Landing. Get the details. 

The Trains at Northpark

Nov. 13 – Jan. 2, 2022

The exhibit closes for Christmas and Thanksgiving, also closing early for both Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

Dallas / Northpark Center 

Prices: Children under 2 free / Children ages 2-12 $5 / Adults $10 / Seniors over 65 $5

For the past 34 years The Trains at NorthPark have been a holiday tradition for many families (you can spot them through the mall sporting their PJs as they head to the exhibit!) Benefiting Ronald McDonald House of Dallas (RMHD), and presented by Bank of Texas, The Trains at NorthPark features 750 railcars on a 1,600-foot elaborate configuration of tracks and scenes. The largest miniature train track in Texas, the Trains at NorthPark features cityscapes like Dallas, the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge and Fair Park; New York with Times Square and Grand Central Terminal; Washington, D.C. with The White House; and San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge. Other highlights include New England’s fall foliage, the Grand Canyon, Garden of the Gods, Mount Rushmore and Route 66. The charming exhibit has been seen by around two million since its original run over 30 years ago.  (As you can see here from 2013, we’re big fans!)  Get the details.

SNOWDAY Dallas

Nov. 19 – Dec. 24, 2021

Dallas / Galleria Dallas

SNOWDAY Prices: Children under 3 free / Kids ages 4 – 12 $12 / Adults $27   

Santaland Prices: Family admission ticket for up to 6 people total starts at $28

Galleria Dallas wins the award in our opinion when it comes to holiday! Maybe it’s the largest indoor Christmas tree in the U.S., maybe it’s the red twinkling lights, maybe it’s the free holiday shows featuring award-winning ice skaters, or maybe it’s the shopping! We do know that it’s definitely one of its newest additions, SNOWDAY! In its third year,  come discover what magic awaits you on the other side of the North Pole where the elves play. Guests board the train to a wonderland of fun with festive photo ops, enchanted rooms, interactive spaces, and nostalgic moments with photo booths integrated throughout the exhibit. This year you can make your trip extra magical with a visit with the big man himself. Catch the next train to Santaland with daily non-stop service to the North Pole! There you will find Santa who already knows every child’s name (yes, really!)

 

The Elf on the Shelf’s Magical Holiday Journey

Nov. 18 – Jan. 2, 2022

Arlington / Choctaw Stadium (formerly Globe Life Park)

Prices: $10 for kids / $20 for adults 

Join Santa’s Elves on a quest to collect the ingredients for Christmas Spirit! Magically shrink down to elf size and embark on a journey through twinkling wonderlands to set Santa and Christmas back on course.  Visit with jolly ol’ Saint Nick, snap great pictures with family and friends, sip on hot cocoa, and enjoy yummy treats. Get the details. 

The best part is you’ll also get a chance to get you’ll find a German Christmas at the Texas Christkindl Market. Discover holiday cheer, decorations, German treats, and one-­of-­a-­kind finds and gifts from your favorite vendors. Get the details. And make the most of it with a trip to the most Christmasy restaurant in DFW,  Campo Verde and Decorator’s Warehouse, the largest Christmas store in Texas! For more fun in Arlington, check out 0ur Arlington holiday bucket list!

Dallas Zoo Lights

Nov. 19 – Jan. 2, 2022

Dallas / Dallas Zoo

Prices: Member $50 per car / Non-Member $65 per car

After the animals head in for the evening, the Dallas Zoo transforms into a winter wonderland with over one million twinkling lights illuminating the Zoo throughout the holiday season. Discover realistic silk-covered lanterns in the shape of your favorite animals, plus even more light displays and festivities for the entire family! Get the details.

Dallas Zoo Lights Activities:

• Holiday Light Show
• Santa meet-and-greet
• Nature ornament-making activity
• Nightly musical performances throughout Zoo
• North Rainbow Arch
• Whimsical African watering hole at Lantern Ridge
• Santa’s Sleigh photo op
• Elves’ Workshop at the Lacerte Family Children’s Zoo with Animal Encounters every 30 minutes
• S’mores, specialty donuts, funnel cakes, and hot chocolate.  

Holiday in the Park

Nov. 19 – Jan. 2, 2022

Arlington / Six Flags Over Texas 

Ticket Prices vary

If you’re looking for holiday thrills you’ll find them at Holiday in the Park at Six Flags over Texas. Discover a winter wonderland filled with more than 1 million lights holiday attractions including visits with Santa, sing-a-longs, holiday shows and don’t forget the treats (s’mores!)  At the Merry Marketplace grab a few holiday gifts filled with holiday treats, shopping, and photo opportunities. Get the details.

Prairie Lights 

Nov. 25 – Dec. 31, 2021 Thanksgiving – New Year’s Eve (hours vary) 

Grand Prairie / Joe Pool Lake

Prices start at $40 per car

Long one of my favorite of displays in DFW, Prairie Lights in Grand Prairie is well worth the time and money! There is such much even beyond two miles of lit paths and four million lights, it’s a whole night of fun for the kid in all of us. 2021 features the return of Holiday Village, the magical walk-thru forest, carnival rides, photos with Santa, and more.  Get the details.

Gift of Lights 

Nov. 25 – Jan. 2, 2022

Fort Worth / Texas Motor Speedway

Prices: Tickets start at $30

Head to Texas Motor Speedway for the Gift of Lights.  There you will see a fantastic light show, travel to Santa’s Village where you will meet Santa and experience what Christmas is like at the North Pole. First responders and military also get a special gift with a free 5 x 7 photo in Santa’s Village. Get the details. 

Vitruvian Lights 

Nov. 26 – Jan. 2, 2022

Addison / Vitruvian Park 

Free 

The most dazzling and spectacular time of the year is here!  Vitruvian Park transforms into a magical holiday wonderland during Vitruvian Lights. Walkthrough the park to view the lights, gourmet food trucks, sweet treats, FREE photos with Santa, classic holiday characters, elf balloon artist, and Metrocrest Services Donation Drive plus live music! Get the details.

                   (Photo credit: Visit Addison Facebook) 

Christmas at the Anatole

Nov. 28 – Dec. 24, 2021

Dallas / Hilton Anatole

Rates and prices range based on activities.

When it comes to having some real face-time with Santa and Mrs. Claus, Christmas at the Anatole is the perfect place. The legendary hotel transforms into a winter wonderland complete with festive décor, Santa fun, holiday movies and even live reindeer. But waking up with Breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus might be the icing on the Christmas cookies! Make a weekend of it with a stay at the hotel which includes a holiday movie night or try to snag one of the select opportunities for Breakfast with Santa only. Either way, you’ll make some great memories! Get the details.

 

Daystar Christmas

Nov. 25 – Jan. 2, 2022

Bedford / Daystar

Free admission

I can’t believe for so many years I didn’t know about this event, but I’m so glad we do now! A beautiful, intimate way to spend the holidays together looking at lights and the life-size nativity scene, Daystar Christmas is even adding a massive drive-thru tunnel stretching 950 ft. with more than 11,000 Lights. There are amazing backdrops for photos, there are visits with Santa and there’s even a coffee shop that you can visit with sweets, cocoa, and more.  Get the details.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Nov. 20 – Dec. 23, 2021

Fort Worth / Casa Manana

Prices: Start at $19 (Get 20% OFF with code AUTUMN20)

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer soars off the screen and onto the stage with all of our favorite characters. This musical adaption is filled with holiday hits like “A Holly Jolly Christmas” and “The Most Wonderful Day of the Year”. Pictures with Santa are also available before every show! Get the details. 

 

POGO Pass

Dallas / Fort Worth

Want to save some money on memories this holiday season? Looking for a great stocking stuffer? The POGO Pass is one pass, one price, for one year of fun. Save even more with promo code MAMACHALLENGE Get the details. 

 

Check back often: This list will update throughout the season.