Dallas Christmas Event Guide 2025

From twinkling lights and towering trees to train rides, parades, and snow-covered concerts, DFW turns into a winter wonderland every December that even the Grinch can't resist! Make sure to mark your calendars for all of these festive and fun events that can be found throughout Dallas-Fort Worth this holiday season!

1. Holiday at the Arboretum 

Holiday at the Arboretum is a magical outdoor event where twelve 25-foot Victorian-style gazebos appear throughout the Dallas gardens, all adorned with the many characters from the classic Christmas carol, “Twelve Days of Christmas.” This can be a great way to get outside and stretch your legs, and those who choose to take in these wondrous sights at night, there’s also a Christmas Village where you can enjoy food, shopping, vendors, music, and more seasonal fun!

• Dates: November 13th, 2025 – January 5th, 2026
• Address: Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, 8525 Garland Rd, Dallas, TX 75218
• Kid-friendly: Yes
• Pet-friendly: No
• Free: Free to Members (Tickets range from $13 to $37)
• Website: www.dallasarboretum.org/events-activities/holiday-at-the-arboretum/

2. Christmas Capital of Texas

Grapevine is the official Christmas Capital of Texas and you will be remiss if you miss out on this festive occasion! All the fun starts at the Gaylord Texan Resort where you will discover over 1.5 million Christmas lights, tens of thousands of shimmering ornaments, a 54-foot rotating Christmas tree, gingerbread houses, and even more Christmas joy! 

Kids will rejoice when riding Santa’s North Pole Express and adults can get into the holiday spirit when chugging along on the Christmas Wine Train. Great Wolf Lodge has a snow land experience for kids of all ages, and the city hosts over 1,400 Christmas events across 40 days. There are tree lightings, Santa sightings, shopping, and fun to be found for everyone! 

• Dates: November 22, 2025, to January 5, 2026
• Address: Grapevine, Texas
• Kid-friendly: Yes
• Pet-friendly: No
• Free: Free to walk around, but attractions require a ticket
• Website: www.grapevinetexasusa.com/christmas-capital-of-texas/

3. Gift of Lights

Amazing holiday light displays can be found at the Texas Motor Speedway each Christmas season during their Gift of Lights event! This mesmerizing evening attraction is an immersive experience where visitors get to enjoy a 45 minute drive through over 200 themed displays that are decorated with over 200 million Christmas lights. Turn on your favorite holiday tunes and enjoy the dazzling views this December.

• Dates: To Be Announced (typically runs late November through early January)
• Address: Texas Motor Speedway, 3545 Lone Star Circle, Fort Worth, TX 76177
• Kid-friendly: Yes
• Pet-friendly: Yes, as long as they stay in the car
• Free: No ($35 per car | $60 per Bus/Limo/RV)
• Website: www.giftoflightstexas.com

4. ICE! featuring Elf at The Gaylord Texan

ICE! is an extremely cool event where visitors get the chance to put on parkas and explore a frozen wonderland filled with larger-than-life ice sculptures carved from more than 2 million pounds of ice—and this year Buddy the Elf is coming to Grapevine! Slide down two-story ice slides and take incredible photos in the scenes from this fantastic Christmas movie. 

• Dates: November 14, 2025 to January 4, 2026
• Address: Christmas Village at the Gaylord Texan 1501 Gaylord Trail, Grapevine, TX 76051
• Kid-friendly: Yes (Strollers are NOT permitted)
• Pet-friendly: No
• Free: No (Pricing starts at $33, depending on the day | Kids 3 and under are free)
• Website: christmasatgaylordtexan.marriott.com/ice

5. Dallas Zoo Lights

Dallas Zoo Lights brings the excitement of the holidays to life with over two million twinkling lights, immersive art installations, and interactive, themed zoo areas. Whether you’re there to sip hot cocoa with Santa, enjoy live music, or explore sensory‑friendly evenings, it’s a festive, family‑friendly treat, and one of the top zoo light shows in the country!

• Dates: To Be Announced (typically runs late November through early January)
• Address: Dallas Zoo, 650 S R.L. Thornton Fwy, Dallas, TX 75203
• Kid-friendly: Yes
• Pet-friendly: No
• Free: No
• Website: www.dallaszoo.com/zoolights/

6. Interlochen Holiday Lights

It’s a 40-year holiday tradition that brings thousands of families to the Arlington region! The Interlochen Holiday Lights are a mesmerizing sight to see throughout the Christmas season. Drive through two miles of bright and beautiful displays put on by over 200 homes. This street lights up the season with creativity, nostalgia, and community spirit—find joy in the classic Christmas scenes and jaw-dropping themed displays. It’s free, festive, family‑friendly, and one of North Texas’s most beloved Christmas traditions.

• Dates: Mid-December through Christmas
• Address: Designated entry is off Westwood Drive at Randol Mill Road
• Kid-friendly: Yes
• Pet-friendly: Yes
• Free: Yes
• Website: lakeinterlochentx.com/about/christmas-lights/

7. "Christmas Pops" Concerts 

Celebrate the season with an unforgettable event filled with masterful music and theatrical charm. With the soaring voices of the Dallas Symphony Chorus and Children’s Chorus, plus acclaimed vocalists Jasmine Habersham (soprano) and Reginald Smith Jr. (baritone), you’ll be treated to all your holiday favorites in a beautifully orchestrated and immersive musical experience. There’s even a sing-along and a special appearance by Santa himself, along with some other wonderful surprises!  

• Dates: December 12th through December 21st, 2025
• Address: Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, 2301 Flora St., Dallas, TX 75201
• Kid-friendly: Yes
• Pet-friendly: No
• Free: No (Tickets starting at $64)
• Website: www.dallassymphony.org/productions/christmas-pops-4/

8. The Trains at NorthPark

Running for nearly four decades, this beloved exhibit is one of Dallas’s defining holiday experiences. Over 600 toy trains chug along 1,600 feet of track, carrying visitors on a wonderul journey across meticulously crafted scenes through Dallas and America’s most iconic cityscapes. Best of all, this event truly embodies the reason for the season, benefitting the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas.

• Dates: November 15, 2025 – January 4, 2026
• Address: NorthPark Center, 8687 N Central Expy, Dallas, TX 75225
• Kid-friendly: Yes
• Pet-friendly: No
• Free: No
• Website: trainsatnorthpark.org/

9. Dallas Holiday Parade

Bundle up and embrace this merry and bright display—the Dallas Holiday Parade is a festive spectacle filled with floats, giant balloons, bands, and holiday charm. Held downtown, the two-hour procession is free to attend (with optional seating upgrades), and surrounded by vendors, performances, and seasonal spirit. It’s a joyous, multi-generational tradition that launches the holiday season with fantastic flair!

• Dates: Saturday, December 6th, 2025
• Address: Downtown Dallas, the route starts at Commerce and Houston Streets
• Kid-friendly: Yes
• Pet-friendly: No
• Free: Attendance is free, but seats must be purchased
• Website: dallasholidayparade.com

10. Tree Lighting Celebration at Klyde Warren Park

Another whimsical way to celebrate the start to the Christmas season is to head out to Klyde Warren Park for the annual tree lighting celebration! Enjoy a ballet performance, photos with Santa, live music, face painting, crafts, and games at this amazing afternoon event!

• Dates: Saturday, December 6, 2025
• Address: 2012 Woodall Rodgers Fwy, Dallas, TX 75201
• Kid-friendly: Yes
• Pet-friendly: Yes
• Free: Yes
• Website: www.klydewarrenpark.org/tree-lighting-celebration

Make Merry Memories This Christmas

From holiday events to Christmas inspiration, we have everything you need to make this season merry and bright! Be sure to follow us on Instagram @thechristmascom for more holiday events, gift ideas, and giveaways! 

Have an event to add or see an update we should make? Email us at info@thechristmas.com.