Now that Thanksgiving is officially over, let’s dive right into Christmas! Spend the most joyous time of the year visiting Santa, watching tree lightings, catching a show or two and so much more.
Here’s Local Profile’s curated list of must-do holiday events:
ICE! Featuring Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
Nov. 15, 2024-Jan. 5, 2025 | Gaylord Texan, Grapevine
The Christmas classic ICE! returns with more whimsical adventures. Experience the magic of the holidays, featuring Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer at Gaylord Texan. Explore stunning sculptures, thrilling frozen slides and awe-inspiring tunnels. Book a package to immerse yourself in this unforgettable holiday showplace. Be sure to save some time to enjoy the 6,000-foot skating rink made of real ice or slide your way down the eight-lane, snow-covered hill with some snow tubing.
The Trains at NorthPark
Nov. 16, 2024-Jan. 5, 2025 | NorthPark, Dallas
Follow the toy trains traveling a 1,600-foot track on a whimsical rail journey across a diorama-sized America, from New England to San Francisco, with stops in New York City, Washington, D.C., and the desert Southwest, including the Grand Canyon and the Garden of the Gods. (Of course, it makes a Dallas stop!) Benefiting the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas since 1987, The Trains at NorthPark is a family holiday tradition.
Lightscape
Nov. 22, 2024-Jan. 5, 2025 | Fort Worth Botanic Garden, Fort Worth
Starting in November, the Fort Worth Botanic Garden will be transformed into a beautifully illuminated landscape. This year, visitors will find all-new, custom-designed installations that will come alive with color, imagination and sound, including a Christmas village complete with fire pits, s’mores, hot cocoa and photo ops with Santa.
Visit Santaland
Nov. 22-Dec. 24, 2024 | Galleria Dallas
On level 1, near the Banana Republic, Santa’s village popped up overnight. Step into his winter wonderland and let the kids tell him all about their Christmas wishes.
Lights on the Farm
Nov. 22-Dec. 28, 2024 | Heritage Farmstead Museum, Plano
Lights on the Farm will kick off Thanksgiving week, transforming the historic farmstead into a delightful winter wonderland, lit by animated holiday displays and 1 million lights. Take an evening stroll through the quarter-mile trail with a 20-foot-tall Christmas tree before enjoying tasty treats like hot cocoa, kettle corn and s’mores by the fire.
Vitruvian Lights
Nov. 23 - Jan. 1, 2024 | Vitruvian Park, Addison
The 12th annual season of Vitruvian Lights will kick off with a lighting ceremony you won’t want to miss — visitors will be dazzled by 555 trees wrapped with sparking LED lights before enjoying live performances, petting live reindeer and taking photos with Saint Nick.
Galleria Dallas Holiday Performances
Dec. 2-20, 2024 | Galleria Dallas
Galleria Dallas presents a series of festive performances to get you into the holiday spirit. Enjoy live entertainment, from local choirs to professional dance troupes, as you shop and soak up the seasonal atmosphere.
Holidays at the Heard
Dec. 6-7, 2024 | Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary, McKinney
Bundle up for a nighttime hike through the woods at the Heard. The museum will bring the beauty of the season to the beauty of nature with a magical half-mile nature trail accentuated by holiday lights and decor. You’ll even catch a glimpse of dinos along the trail from the Dinosaurs Live! exhibit. Because nothing quite says the holidays like dinosaurs.
Christmas on the Square
Dec. 4, 2024 | Historic Downtown Square, Celina
Experience a charming, small-town Christmas celebration at this free, family-friendly event. Enjoy live performances by local church groups, schools and dance studios. Take the kids to say hi to Santa’s (live, non-flying) reindeer before St. Nick leads the tree-lighting ceremony at 7 p.m.
Merry Main Street
Dec. 7, 2024 | Simpson Plaza, Frisco
Get to the square early and catch the Santa and Friends Parade before Frisco Elementary School Choirs belt out holiday tunes onstage. The tree lighting ceremony begins at 6 p.m., and you really don’t want to miss that. Stick around to check out the holiday gift market, the food vendors and the kids’ holiday store.
Frosty 5K & Merry Mile
Dec. 7, 2024 | Simpson Plaza, Frisco
Get your jogging shoes and run to register for one of Frisco’s favorite holiday events. This year, if you signed up for both the Party in the USA 5K and the Frosty 5K, you will receive the Fire and Ice Challenge medal in addition to a commemorative long-sleeved T-shirt and custom medal available to all participants.
Prosper Christmas Festival
Dec. 7, 2024 | Prosper Town Hall, Prosper
It’s a Prosper tradition that brings the community together to celebrate the Christmas holiday. Festivalgoers can expect a Santa’s workshop, a kids’ gift shop, a kids’ zone, a community stage, exhibitors (artisans and local businesses), carriage rides, food trucks and a community tree lighting, followed by fireworks.
Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting
Dec. 8, 2024 | Historic Downtown Wylie
The Cross Church Wylie and the City of Wylie present the Festival of Lights Christmas Parade down Ballard Avenue, followed by the tree lighting ceremony in Olde City Park. Mayor Matthew Porter will read The Night Before Christmas, and Wylie High School’s Tempo Choir will perform seasonal songs before the community Christmas tree is illuminated.
Grand Holiday Ice Show
Dec. 8, 2024 | Galleria Dallas
Don’t miss the opportunity to see Olympic athletes take to the ice rink from the comfort of your own private pod.
The City of Murphy Santa Ride
Dec. 8 onward, 2024 | City of Murphy
Starting on Dec. 6, and continuing until Santa has covered all the corners of Murphy, Kris Kringle will borrow Murphy’s fire engine to cheer kids all around the city from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. every day. (Note: He will not put out fires.)
Santa Cares at Santaland
Dec. 15, 2024 | Galleria Dallas
Children with special needs and their families receive a very special invitation from Santa himself to a private photo session in an environment set up to support sensory, physical and other developmental needs.
Hanukkah Menorah Lighting
Dec. 29, 2024 | Galleria Dallas
Celebrate Hanukkah with Galleria Dallas’ large-scale menorah during the first-night event and enjoy the choir performance at sundown as you taste delicious complimentary sufganiyot. The menorah will be lit each successive night of Hanukkah.
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