Best Christmas Attractions & Experiences in Dallas-Fort Worth 2026: Holiday Activities Guide

Discover the best Christmas attractions and experiences in Dallas-Fort Worth for 2026. Kid-friendly events, holiday exhibits, marathons, and more can be found throughout the metroplex!

Dallas-Fort Worth is one of the most mesmerizing metro areas to celebrate Christmas, with a packed calendar of family-friendly events, holiday traditions, and unforgettable experiences for all ages. From Santa visits and ice skating to interactive holiday villages and holiday marathons, here's your guide to the best Christmas attractions and experiences in Dallas-Fort Worth for 2026!

The Best Christmas Attractions & Experiences in Dallas-Fort Worth This Season

1. Christmas at the Anatole — Dallas

The Hilton Anatole goes all in on the holiday season, anchoring its winter transformation around the largest outdoor ice rink in the DFW area. Beyond the ice, the property expands into private winter chalet rentals with full food and beverage service, a cozy Lodge pop-up bar, indoor train rides, and Mrs. Claus' Library featuring holiday films, interactive crafts, and massive inflatable play areas. Its masterfully designed to offer distinct lanes for both high energy family fun and elevated adult experiences, making it one of the most complete, self-contained winter traditions in the city.

Dates: November 27th, 2026 - January 3rd, 2027
Admission: Ticketed (On sale July 11, 2026)
Street Address: Hilton Anatole, 2201 N Stemmons Fwy, Dallas, TX 75207
Kid Friendly: Yes
Pet Friendly: No
Parking: Paid parking available on-site
Website: https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/dfwanhh-hilton-anatole/things-to-do/christmas/

Insider Tip: Take some time to explore the indoor atriums while you are here. The property houses one of the largest private, museum caliber art and sculpture collections in the country, which looks spectacular against the winter decor.

2. Trains at NorthPark — Dallas, TX

This iconic miniature rail exhibition features thousands of feet of custom engineered tracks winding through highly detailed, scaling replicas of famous American landmarks. Visitors to this NorthPark Center Christmas exhibit love to lean in close to watch the intricate models cruise past miniature versions of New York's Grand Central Station, the monuments of Washington D.C., and the architectural lines of the downtown Dallas skyline. The entire production serves as a massive charitable fundraiser for the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas, providing critical housing and resources for families with hospitalized children. It remains a premier indoor holiday destination that masterfully blends engineering artistry with seasonal philanthropy.

Dates: November 14th 2026 - January 3rd, 2027
Admission: Ticketed
Street Address: NorthPark Center, 8687 N Central Expy, Dallas, TX 75225 (Located on Level 1, across from Kona Grill)
Kid Friendly: Yes
Pet Friendly: No
Parking: Free (On-site mall parking lots and garages)
Website: https://trainsatnorthpark.org

Insider Tip: Park in the underground deck of the NorthPark Center directly beneath Nordstrom to enjoy the fastest elevator route right to the Level One exhibit entrance while completely avoiding the frantic surface lot traffic.

3. Dallas Arboretum Workshop: Holiday Gingerbread House — Dallas, TX

Hosted inside the gorgeous, lakeside "A Tasteful Place" facility at the Dallas Arboretum, this sweet, sprinkle-covered, and frosting-filled hands-on class is led by instructor Diana Warsham. The workshop is perfect for families, friends, and teams looking to let their creativity run wild with premium confections, leaving everyone with a beautifully decorated holiday masterpiece and zero post baking cleanup stress.

Dates: Saturday, December 5, 2026 (Class runs from 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM)
Admission: Ticketed (Tickets on sale now)
Street Address: 8525 Garland Rd, Dallas, TX 75218
Kid Friendly: Yes
Pet Friendly: No
Parking: On-site parking available
Website: https://www.dallasarboretum.org/event/holiday-gingerbread-house/

Insider Tip: Bring a heavy-duty, flat cardboard sheet or a wide plastic serving tray from home to place under your gingerbread house. The Arboretum provides cardboard bases, but a rigid tray makes transport to your car trunk infinitely safer over the garden's gravel pathways.

4. Santa’s North Pole Express — Grapevine, TX

Board the beautiful Grapevine Vintage Railroad for an enchanting journey to help Santa save Christmas! Located in the official Christmas Capital of Texas, this immersive holiday train ride brings seasonal stories to life as passengers cruise in historic coaches, enjoying seasonal refreshments and sweet holiday surprises before arriving at the wintery North Pole.

Dates: November 27th - December 30th, 2026
Admission: Ticketed (Advance online registration highly recommended)
Street Address: 705 S. Main St., Grapevine, TX 76051
Kid Friendly: Yes
Pet Friendly: No
Parking: Free public parking lots available throughout Historic Downtown Grapevine
Website: https://www.grapevinetexasusa.com/articles/post/grapevine-vintage-railroad-2026-season-opener/

Insider Tip: Give yourself a few extra hours before or after your train time. Grapevine hosts over 1,400 holiday events over 40 days, so you'll want time to explore Historic Main Street's outdoor light installations or grab dinner at a boutique spot near Hotel Vin.

5. Santa's Village at Huffhines Park — Richardson, TX

A beloved holiday tradition for families from Richardson and beyond, Santa’s Village transforms the park into a tiny town of North Pole inspired holiday dwellings. Each colorful building offers children a fun interactive activity, holiday crafts, live musical performances, holiday photo ops, and a special visit with Santa Claus while warming up with hot chocolate.

Dates: December 5th-6th, 11th-13th and 18th-20th, 2026 (Open for strolling only December 7th-10th and 14th-17th)
Admission: Free
Street Address: Huffhines Park, 1500 Apollo Rd., Richardson, Texas 75081
Kid Friendly: Yes
Pet Friendly: Yes (Leashed dogs allowed on park trails, but restricted inside the small village houses)
Parking: Free on-site park parking
Website: https://www.cor.net/departments/parks-recreation/community-events/santa-s-village-at-huffhines-park

Insider Tip: If you have family members who thrive in quiet spaces, Richardson hosts a dedicated Adaptive Night on Thursday, December 10th from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM. This sensory sensitive environment requires advance pre-registration online and offers a peaceful, line-free iteration of the village magic.

6. Irving Frost Marathon — Irving, TX

This highly anticipated running event brings athletes together from all over the world to test their endurance along a fast and exceptionally scenic route. Participants can push their limits across multiple distances, including a Boston Marathon qualifying course, before celebrating their personal records and ringing the PR Bell at the spectacular winter themed post race festival at Toyota Music Factory.

Dates: Saturday, December 19th, 2026
Admission: Ticketed (Runner registration fees vary by distance)
Street Address: The Plaza at Toyota Music Factory, 330 W Las Colinas Blvd, Irving, TX 75039
Kid Friendly: Yes
Pet Friendly: No (Pets are not permitted on the timed race course for safety reasons)
Parking: Paid parking at Urban Towers Garage (222 W Las Colinas Blvd)
Website: https://www.irvingmarathon.com/5k-dallas-irving-frost-half-marathon

Insider Tip: The Urban Towers Parking Garage opens early at 5:00 AM. Make sure to arrive a full hour before your race time to complete your free bag check and access the starting corrals, as late starts are strictly not allowed. The first 1,000 registrants score a custom commemorative beanie!

7. Candy Cane Course — Fort Worth, TX

Grab your friends and family for a high energy running event that welcomes every single pace, fitness level, and age group. This holiday themed race series is all about community fun, treating runners to custom designer shirts, large finisher medals, chip timed live tracking, and a wonderful spread of delicious holiday treats waiting at the finish line.

Dates: Saturday, December 19th, 2026
Admission: Ticketed
Street Address: Gateway Park, 751 Beach St, Fort Worth, TX 76111
Kid Friendly: Yes (Features a 12 & Under registration discount and a fun Kids Dash)
Pet Friendly: Yes (Leashed dogs allowed)
Parking: Free parking lots available within Gateway Park
Website: https://runsignup.com/Race/TX/FortWorth/CandyCaneCourseFWTX

Insider Tip: Register by midnight on the Thursday two weeks before the race day to guarantee your custom shirt size. Also, if your child wants to join the fun Kids Dash but doesn't care about collecting the medal or shirt swag, they are welcome to run with the group for free!

8. The 5th Annual 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' 5K/10K — Dallas, TX

Come rediscover the true meaning of Christmas in one of the nation's most popular holiday run and walk events. Teamed up with Peanuts, this yearly tradition features a mostly flat course along the scenic Trinity Skyline Trail. All participants receive officially licensed Peanuts gear, seasonal refreshments, and a chance to show off their best holiday attire alongside Santa Claus.

Dates: Saturday, December 19th, 2026
Admission: Ticketed (Strictly limited to 2,000 registration spots; events sell out yearly)
Street Address: Trinity Groves Gateway Plaza West, Dallas, TX 75212 (Near Continental Pedestrian Bridge)
Kid Friendly: Yes (Includes the Snoopy Kids Dash for ages 12 and under; strollers welcome at the back)
Pet Friendly: No (Due to strict insurance and course trail rules, pets are not allowed)
Parking: Plentiful public parking lots and garages available throughout the Trinity Groves complex
Website: https://runsignup.com/Race/TX/Dallas/dallasholiday5k

Insider Tip: Skip the race day lines and the $5 convenience fee by hitting up the free advance packet pickup at Sun & Ski Sports (11170 N Central Expwy) on the Thursday or Friday before the event. Remember to pin your bib securely to the front of your shirt so the RFID chip tracks your time perfectly!

9. Candy Cane Course Garland — Garland, TX

Bring the family out to Audubon Park for a holiday themed race series designed for all ages and fitness levels. Runners can choose between timed 5K, 10K, and 15K courses, or enjoy a relaxed, untimed mile stroll. Every participant is treated to premium swag, including a custom race bib, a designer shirt, and a beautiful finisher medal, with live awards waiting at the finish line.

Dates: Saturday, December 5th, 2026
Admission: Ticketed (Registration fees vary by distance)
Street Address: Audubon Park, 342 W Oates Rd, Garland, TX 75043
Kid Friendly: Yes
Pet Friendly: Yes (Leashed pets welcome on park paths)
Parking: Free parking lots available inside Audubon Park
Website: https://runsignup.com/Race/TX/Garland/CandyCaneCourseDFW

Insider Tip: If your little ones want to experience the thrill of the Kids Dash but don't need the extra shirt or medal, they can run the course for free on race day! Just line up at the main start gate at 8:55 AM to join the group.

10. The Inaugural Jingle Jog 5K — Grand Prairie, TX

Celebrate the holiday season with a healthy, active morning at Grand Prairie's inaugural winter run and walk event. Participants are encouraged to sport their favorite ugly sweaters and festive attire on a scenic, bell-filled course accompanied by classic Christmas music. Every runner crosses the line to receive a custom finisher medal, a race shirt, hot cocoa, and free professional photos with Santa.

Dates: Saturday, December 12th, 2026
Admission: Ticketed
Street Address: Grand Prairie, TX 75050 (Exact park/course layout details on website)
Kid Friendly: Yes
Pet Friendly: No (Due to timed trail restrictions, pets are not permitted on the course)
Parking: Free public parking available adjacent to the starting village
Website: https://findarace.com/us/events/jingle-jog-5k-6

Insider Tip: The Lil' Jingle Joggers 1K is specifically structured as a safe, highly encouraging introduction to running for kids. It features dedicated post-race kid-friendly snacks and its own special finisher award to celebrate their very first official finish line.

Tips for Family Christmas Activities in Dallas-Fort Worth

Book Santa photos early! Popular Santa visits at malls, train rides, and holiday villages sell out weeks in advance. Book as soon as dates are announced.
Plan around nap and meal times: Holiday events draw crowds at peak times. Going right at opening or in the late afternoon often works better for younger kids.
Layer up for outdoor events: Many family Christmas activities are partially or fully outdoors. Bring extra layers, hats, and gloves for unpredictable weather.
Bring snacks: Food at holiday events often has long lines and inflated prices. Packing your own snacks saves money and meltdowns.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here's what to know before you go to any of the listed Dallas-Fort Worth Christmas attractions and experiences this season.

What are the best Christmas activities for kids in Dallas-Fort Worth?

Dallas-Fort Worth offers everything from Santa visits and ice skating to holiday train rides, and interactive Christmas villages. There's also reindeer runs and kid's dashes paired with marathons and races happening throughout December. The right pick depends on your kids' ages and interests. Check the listings above for age recommendations.

Where can I take a photo with Santa in Dallas-Fort Worth?

Major shopping centers, holiday villages, train experiences, and select neighborhood events offer photos with Santa. Reservations are strongly recommended for the most popular Santa visits, which book up weeks in advance.

Are Dallas-Fort Worth Christmas attractions free for kids?

Many Christmas activities in Dallas-Fort Worth are free to infants and young toddlers, but most experiences like Santa photos, train rides, and workshops are ticketed events.

When should I book Christmas activities in Dallas-Fort Worth?

Book ticketed activities and register for races as soon as dates are announced, typically in October. The closer to Christmas, the harder slots are to get.

Christmas Attractions and Experiences Worth the Drive from Dallas-Fort Worth

Dallas-Fort Worth isn't the only place worth visiting for family Christmas activities this season. Within a couple of hours' drive, you'll find several other cities with their own kid-friendly holiday events worth the trip.

Marble Falls, Texas — 3 Hours 20 Minutes from Dallas-Fort Worth

Make lasting memories at the beloved Breakfast with Santa in Marble Falls, where families gather for a hot holiday breakfast, festive crafts, and a personal meet-and-greet with Santa in the heart of the Hill Country. Check back closer to the season for additional Christmas experiences and attractions as details are announced.