Top 10 things to Do in North Texas to Get You into the Christmas Spirit
As Christmas rapidly approaches, The North Texas region is gearing up for a holiday season. There are tons of activities around town, from holiday-themed festivals and parties to shopping opportunities and even a few free events for those on a budget. Plus, there’s plenty of live music happening this season too!
So whether you’re looking for something new or want to relive some old memories, these are the top 10 things to do in North Texas to put you in the Christmas mood.
The Prairie Lights have been a Dallas holiday staple for 15 years. It’s a 2-mile show that runs down the banks of Joe Pool Lake in Grand Prairie, Texas, with over 5 million lights and a Holiday Village replete giving you festive spirits.
You may take a drive or stroll through the show and then spend some time in the village shopping, munching on treats, sipping cocoa, and taking photographs with Santa. Often, this show begins on Thanksgiving and runs until New Year’s Eve.
Radiance! and Frozen in Frisco are two parks that provide unlimited visits with a single ticket. Radiance! is a Christmas light show where visitors may drive through 3 million lights timed to music. You’ll go through several light tunnels, see a light laser display, and see a moving memorial to our armed forces overseas as you make your way around the park’s many themed areas.
On the other hand, Frozen in Frisco attendees may participate in an outdoor Winter Carnival with activities for all ages. You may also take a trip on the Ferris wheel, go on the bumper cars, or take a spin on Bucking Blitzen, all while taking in the sights and sounds of the holiday season.
Granbury is a little lakeside hamlet ideal for setting the mood for traditional Christmas. Many of the town’s historic residences host candlelight tours of their festively adorned interiors over the Christmas season. This is what you would call a spectacular Texas Christmas!
Enchant is the world’s largest Christmas light event experience, spanning over 10 acres. It features a breathtaking installation of over 4 million shimmering multicolored lights, creating a unique, story-themed walk-through maze with holiday trees of over 100 feet.
The event is held in prominent outdoor areas and on the grounds of major sports stadiums. Enchant also has an ice skating track, live performances, activities, visits with Santa, and a quaint winter bazaar filled with local artisan merchandise and tasty seasonal treats.
The Dallas Zoo Lights is a drive-thru light show at a well-known zoo. It features a brand-new corridor decked with more than a million lights, silk-covered animal lanterns, an ice palace large enough to house three penguins, and much more. This exhibit is family-friendly and features refreshment stands at both ends.
This excursion combines delicious chocolate tasting with refreshing beverages and a breathtaking light show. The Chocolate and Sips Tour takes you to three or four locations across the city where you may indulge in exquisite chocolate delights before visiting festively lit locations. You may view the light show from your car or up close and even indulge in festive treats along the route.
Spending time at Galleria Dallas is necessary to set the Dallas Christmas vibe. About seven million Christmas shoppers have flocked for the annual Grand Tree Lighting Celebrations for over three decades.
The lighting ceremony’s focal point is the country’s largest indoor Christmas tree. The ice skating rink and Christmas lights provide a joyful atmosphere for holiday celebrations. Moreover, Galleria Dallas is the best destination to find Christmas gifts and festive foods.
Fort Worth is where the West starts, and the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District represents Western tradition best. Everything at the Stockyards, from the historic brick walkways to the wooden corrals, is steeped in the rich heritage of Texas’s illustrious livestock business.
You may buy anything from the typical Texas trinkets and souvenirs to more unique items such as hand-tooled leather saddles, miniature cowboy hats for children, honey, antique candies, and wine.
The Dallas Arboretum truly shines during the Christmas season. It hosts several events, illumination displays, and exhibitions, with ’12 Days of Christmas’ being the most popular. This outdoor installation has 25-foot-tall Victorian gazebos that rotate clockwise every day until Christmas.
Do not miss the brand-new Christmas Village, which illuminates like a Christmas tree at night, creating a magical atmosphere ideal for enjoying festive food and drinks.
Relax and enjoy the trip as your family travels through Fort Worth’s Gift of Lights, a two-mile light park containing millions of sparkling bulbs. The proceeds from this event are donated to local organizations, including the Ronald McDonald House and the Speedway Children’s Charities.
Bottom Line
Taking a quick look at the options above, you can be assured that there is something for everyone. Whether you’re looking for some family fun or a festive adult evening, you’ll find it in North Texas. Combined with the Christmas spirit and feeling of generosity that seems to fill the air during the season, these events can offer the perfect antidote to whatever blues may be laying heavy on your heart this time of year. So visit these places this season and see what they have to offer. I’m sure you won’t be disappointed!
