If you're looking for the best things to do this weekend in Dallas, Collin County and beyond, look no further, here's the only list you need!
Y'all. It's Christmas.
Whether you're planning to soak in the joy of the season at home, travelling abroad, spending the holiday with your family, with your pets, feasting, or sleeping in... we have a few more suggestions to fill in your weekend!
So keep reading for the 10+ best things to do this weekend in Dallas (and beyond), followed by even more of the best things to do this weekend. There's a lot!
Get that last minute Christmas shopping done
It happens to somebody every single year. If that somebody is you, and the year is this one, know that you are not alone and you will find that perfect gift! (Even as the clock ticks faster to Christmas)
That’s why we’ve pulled together this ultimate list of our top picks for last minute Christmas gifts if you’re looking to stick with local shops right here in North Texas.
Plan your Christmas dinner out (or in!)
Need one more thing off your plate this Christmas? Check out these local restaurants in North Texas that will be open this weekend for you and your family. Check to see what the reservation process for each looks like before you load up the fam!
Christmas Eve on the Green
When: December 24, 5:30 p.m.
Where: 970 Garden Park Dr, Allen
More Info: Click here
Each year, Tangible Grace Fellowship Church continues a Watters Creek tradition by bringing Christmas Eve to The Green! Treasure this joyful family experience singing Christmas carols by candlelight from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m.
Santa is at Watters Creek!
When: December 24
Where: 970 Garden Park Dr, Allen
You still have a chance to meet Santa before he takes off in his sleigh to deliver toys all night! Visit Santa in his magical Bavarian Village for photos and wishes. Reservations are recommended, and walk-in visits are offered as space allows. Make your reservations here!
Christmas at St. Andrew - Candlelight Service
When: December 23 - 24
Where: St. Andrew Methodist Church OR online
More info: standrewumc.org/Christmas
On December 23-24, join St. Andrew online or in person for beautiful worship at the Christmas Candlelight Services. The service will conclude with the traditional lighting of the candles and singing “Silent Night” together.
Cirque Música Holiday Spectacular
When: December 24, 3 – 7 PM, or December 26, 5 – 9 PM
Where: Comerica Center - 2601 Avenue of the Stars, Frisco, TX
More info: cirquemusica.com/holiday-spectacular
The Cirque Musica Holiday Spectacular Tour is an all-new production will feature some of the greatest holiday songs of all time performed with the world-renowned cast of Cirque Musica. This is a delightfully unique way to ring in Christmas weekend with your family!
The Light Park in Grand Prairie
When: Dec 24 (5:30 PM), or Dec 25 (5:30 PM), or Dec 26 (5:30 PM)
Where: Lone Star Park (Parking Lot) - 1000 Lone Star Pkwy., Grand Prairie, TX
More info: www.TheLightPark.com
This Christmas lights attraction a bit more of a drive... but it is so worth it! This electric holiday attraction features millions of lights synchronized to a festive mix of music and includes entertainment while you wait.
Elf on the Shelf's Magical Christmas Journey
When: Now through January 2, 2022
Where: Choctaw Stadium - 1000 Ballpark Way. Arlington, TX 76011
More info: elfontheshelfjourney.com/dallas
The Elf on the Shelf’s Magical Holiday Journey is at Choctaw Stadium in Arlington with a one-of-a-kind, open-air experience to spread a Texas-sized serving of Christmas cheer!
Join Santa's elves on an immersive quest to collect the ingredients for Christmas Spirit, as you and your elf-loving crew magically shrink down to elf size and embark on a journey through twinkling wonderlands!
Santa at The Star
When: Until December 24, 2022
Where: The Star in Frisco
More info: thestardistrict.com/santa
Santa’s visitors have the opportunity to take a photograph with him inside his custom Dallas Cowboys cottage. Photo packages include a printed 5×7 photo and an exclusive Cowboys gift for each child.
Santa’s cottage is located centrally in The Star District at 3620 The Star Blvd, Suite 1205 (across from Ascension). Parking is available in the Silver Parking Garage located off of Gaylord Parkway.
Click here to book your visit with Santa!
Take a drive through Deerfield to see the lights
While there are many great areas to see great Christmas lights, one of the best is the Deerfield Plano Christmas Lights. From the dancing Santas, to a house with a lit-up giant wheel, to a whole street snyched up to music, there’s no argument that the Christmas Lights at Deerfield Plano are spectacular.
But now that it’s become so popular, navigating it can be a bit of a challenge.
Never fear! We have a guide for that.
Here we bring you our top tips (as well as everything else you need to know) for making your trip to Deerfield Plano a merry one.
Enchant
When: Until January 2
Where: Esplanade at Fair Park, Dallas
More info: enchantchristmas.com
Prepare to be captivated by the holiday season as Enchant, a whimsical and heartfelt Christmas light maze and village! Known for transporting guests to a world of festive wonder, Enchant is proud to present The Great Search, the first in a series of five fascinating adventures.
Within Enchant Christmas, a world of Christmas wonder awaits holiday revelers in the form of these festive activities:
- The Christmas Light Maze – “The Great Search” takes guests through a twinkling wonderland in search of Santa’s missing gifts.
- Christmas Market – Taste seasonal delights and shop for holiday gifts from dozens of local vendors showcasing home decor, jewelry, gourmet foods, and more. Vendor applications are still being accepted at EnchantChristmas.com.
- Star Experiences – Enjoy all that the Enchant experience has to offer plus full service catering, and more. Enchant Christmas is now accepting reservations for Holiday Parties.
- Visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus – Santa is ready for holiday photos and Mrs. Claus will lead story time for the little ones.
- Food and Beverage – Enjoy holiday-themed food and drinks that are sure to please everyone.,
- Ice-Skating Trail – Enchant features an Ice-Skating Trail adorned with spectacular light displays. Rent a pair of skates at the event and take a glide with your loved ones.
Grab tickets online!
Christmas lights you can’t miss this weekend!
Holidays at the Arboretum
When: Until Dec 31, 2021
Where: 8525 Garland Rd., Dallas
Info: 214-515-6615 | dallasarboretum.org
One of the best things to do this weekend, and every year in Dallas!
Holidays at the Arboretum features the 12 Days of Christmas brought to life with elaborate animatronics in magical, 25-ft tall Victorian gazebos. Explore the Christmas village, featuring an authentic German Christmas pyramid. Visit Santa Claus and enjoy all of the entertainment, shopping, food & beverage options the Dallas Arboretum has to offer. Plus, there’s a new 50-foot tall musical tree with 42,000 lights and holiday tunes playing non-stop!
Lights on the Farm
When: Until December 26, weekends only, 6-10 p.m.
Where: Heritage Farmstead Museum, Plano
Tickets/info: here
Walk-through holiday light display at the Heritage Farmstead Museum, Plano featuring over one million lights in festive yuletide displays. (Closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day)
We think Lights on the Farm is Plano’s best family-friendly Christmas event. Click here to find out why.
RADIANCE! Featuring FROZEN in Frisco
When: Until January 1, 2022
Where: Riders Field, 7300 Roughriders Trail, Frisco
Info: radiancechristmas.com
Drive-thru 1.5 mile-long holiday light spectacular of over 3 million top-of-the-line RGB lights and a winter carnival with bumper cars on ice, snow ball toss and a ferris wheel. Take note that the drive-thru portion is not in your our car, you park your care and ride-through in a theme park-style vehicle ride.
Enchant Christmas (Dallas)
When: Until January 2, 2022
Where: Fair Park at 1300 Robert B. Cullum Blvd., Dallas
Info: enchantchristmas.com
Enchant has Christmas lights, a Christmas carnival, ice-skating and more. This is the winter wonderland you’ve been dreaming of.
Vitruvian Lights
When: Until January 2, 2022 | Available daily from 5 – 11 p.m.
Where: Vitruvian Park at 3875 Ponte Ave., Addison
Info: udr.com/vitruvian-park/vitruvian-park-events/
With over 1.5 million sparking LED lights and more than 550 trees, the display is truly magical. This is a self-guided walk-through experience.
The official opening ceremony for Vitruvian Lights – Holiday Lights Spectacular will be on November 27 at 6 pm. The merriment continues with a performance by the Jordan Kahn Orchestra. The event also includes gourmet food trucks, sweet treats, FREE photos with Santa, classic holiday characters, an elf balloon artist, and more.
Cowboys Christmas Extravaganza
When: Every Friday and Saturday at 6 p.m. until Dec. 18
Where: Tostitos Championship Plaza at The Star in Frisco
More info: thestardistrict.com/christmas/
The show begins with the lighting of The Star’s 67-foot Christmas tree, lit with digital LED lights and leads into a holiday performance showcasing the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, Dallas Cowboys Rhythm and Blue Dancers and Rookie Squad, Dallas Cowboys Drumline, mascot Rowdy, Santa, and special Dallas Cowboys guest appearances.
See The Burkman Holiday House (and tune in on ABC!)
When: All December through the holidays
Where: 3809 Hazelhurst Drive, Frisco, TX
Info: localprofile.com/2020/12/15/friscos-burkman-family-to-compete-on-national-holiday-reality-show/
3809 Hazelhurst Drive is the best neighborhood holiday light display in Frisco. So good they will featured on “The Great Christmas Light Fight” on ABC, the season premier airs November 28. The owners of this house are known for their spectacular style: over 25,000 lights, a giant Santa, a gingerbread house, polar bears, reindeer, penguins, and even a llama or two.
Christmas at Gaylord Texan Resort
When: Until January 2
Where: 1501 Gaylord Trail, Grapevine
Info: christmasatgaylordtexan.marriott.com
This immersive Christmas experience is unlike any other you’ll find in Texas — only here can you go tubing, ice skating (around a 6,000-ft rink!) and even build a snowman all at once in our great state this holiday season!
There’s a lot more to see at the Gaylord Texan Resort than just Christmas lights. Expect holiday activities and endless hours of Christmas fun including ice-skating and snow tubing, as well as Mission: Save Christmas featuring Elf, an immersive multi-sensory experience and adventure to save Buddy the Elf!
Looking for more local holiday events? Here’s your ultimate guide!
Even more great things to do this weekend in Dallas & Collin County
Live Screening of "A Charlie Brown Christmas"
Dec 24 | theartparktrinitygroves.com
ArtPark at Trinity Groves
Jurassic World: The Exhibition
Through Jan 2, 2022 | jurassicworldexhibition.com
Grandscape at The Colony
Trains at NorthPark
Until Jan 2, 2022 | thetrainsatnorthpark.com
NorthPark, Dallas
Immersive Van Gogh
Visit this mindblowing immersive experience where you’ll be surrounded by 500,000 cubic feet of projections displaying Van Gogh’s work.
Through Jan 3 | dallasvangogh.com/about/
Lighthouse Dallas | 507 S. Harwood St., Dallas
The FRIENDS Experience
The couch and Central Perk are all yours for recreating your favorite moments from the sitcom on Instagram!
Through Jan 17 | friendstheexperience.com/dallas
The Shops at Willow Bend in Plano | 6121 W Park Blvd, Plano, TX
Dinosaurs Live!
10 animatronic dinosaurs lurk along a natural trail.
Through Feb 21, 2022 | heardmuseum.org/dinosaurs-live
Heard Museum, McKinney
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