Grab your leather gloves and fluffy jackets out of the closet, the holiday season is here! With the hustle and bustle of buying presents and entertaining guests, it is easy to forget about all of the beautiful events happening right around you. To make your plans just a little easier, here is a list of the best Holiday Events happening in North Texas this year!
Plano:
Photos with Santa – November 16 – December 24, 2023
Bring your Christmas wish list and double check you’re on the nice side of Santa at the Shops at Willow Bend in Macy’s Court. St. Nick is ready to pose for the camera 7 days a week with special days like PJ photos every Tuesday and Ugly Sweater photos every Thursday.
Crayola Experience Colorful Christmas – November 19, 2023 – January 3, 2024
Deck the halls with tons of COLOR! Colorful Christmas is back. Make handmade gifts from the heart, complete a seasonal scavenger hunt, and more! It’s a holiday hullabaloo with SNOW much to do!
Lights on the Farm – November 24 – December 30, 2023
For one month, the Heritage Farmstead Museum will transform into a winter wonderland with more than one million twinkling holiday lights. Visit every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evening to enjoy the quarter-mile trail lined with stunning holiday light creations and animated displays, plus towering Christmas trees and refreshments like hot cocoa and s’mores.
Santa Photos at Legacy East – November, 25 – December, 23, 2023
Capture the joy of the season at The Shops at Legacy East! Book an appointment at the Santa Boutique Studio, located next to Kilwins for professional Santa photos at great prices!
Deerfield Holidays Lights – December 1 – December 30, 2023
One of the most iconic holiday lights displays in North Texas is right around the corner in Plano’s Deerfield neighborhood. The tradition has been around ever since the subdivision was being built and has since grown into a collection of over 500 houses decked out in all things holiday every year. Pro tip: visit on a weekday to avoid traffic and enter near the back of the neighborhood off Quincy.
Elf The Musical Jr. – December 1-3 & 7-9, 2023
Nothing gets us in the holiday mood quite like a live performance. Don’t miss this classic Christmas film transformed onto the stage with a musical twist!
Holiday Parade Downtown Plano – Dec 2
Make a new family tradition this year and bring the whole crew along for a day of Santa, shopping, and high spirits!
Waxahachie:
Sparkle & Sleigh Christmas Market – December 1 & 2, 2023
The Waxahachie Junior Service League Mistletoe and Holly Christmas Market is held the first weekend in December and offers a unique shopping experience with over 100 vendors.
Historic Waxahachie Christmas Home Tour – December 9 & 10, 2023
Celebrate the spirit of the season through the lens of Waxahachie’s stunning historic homes. The tour will give you a behind-the-scenes view of the historic buildings and learn about what it was like to live, work, and play in the magnificent homes.
Allen:
Santa at Watters Creek – November 19 – December 24, 2022
Santa Claus is coming to Watters Creek! Click here to discover how you can schedule an appointment to visit him in person (sensitive Santa options available), schedule a virtual visit, or even grab a photo of him and your furry friend!
Richardson:
The Nutcracker at the Eisemann Center – November 24-26, December 2-3, December 8-10, December 16-17, December 22-23
Our favorite way to transport ourselves to a winter wonderland? Attending a performance of The Nutcracker at the Eisemann Performing Arts Center! Catch one of five world-class ballet companies put on the prestigious holiday show throughout the weekends of November and December.
2023 Christmas Parade – December 2, 2023
Grab the whole family for a tradition 51 years in the running: the Richardson Christmas parade! Cheer on festive floats as they pass by and wave to the holiday’s most iconic legends including Santa Claus himself!
Dallas:
The 12 Days of Christmas at the Dallas Arboretum – November 9, 2023 – January 5, 2024
Holiday at the Dallas Arboretum is a must-see destination during every season of the year with over one million lights across the gardens and parks. This year’s theme is the 12 days of Christmas. Explore the decorated gazebos and new 50-foot tall Dazzling Musical Tree plus costumed characters, whimsical animals and holiday tunes. And don’t miss out on the various programming including visits with Santa, live music at the Shadow Garden, the holiday vendor market, and more.
The Trains at NorthPark – November 11, 2023 – January 5, 2024
All aboard! This Dallas tradition features 1,600 feet of track with whimsical toy trains rolling from coast to coast on a journey across America. The elaborate display includes sights from the fall foliage of New England to the Grand Canyon and the Garden of the Gods. Plus plenty of miniature Dallas icons you’re sure to recognize.
Snowday at Galleria Dallas – November 17, 2023 – January 7, 2024
Snowday takes guests on an explorable adventure through more than 20 imaginative rooms and hundreds of surprises for all ages over the course of about an hour. Created to be a fully immersive journey, Snowday features unique photo opportunities for guests to have fun, strike a pose, and snap a picture, including five extra-special photo moments with integrated cameras and lighting.
Dallas Zoo Lights – November 17, 2023 – January 2, 2024
Discover the wonder of the Dallas Zoo combined with the magic of more than two million holiday lights. Plus, visit Santa’s Village to meet with St. Nick himself, chow down on festive treats, take part in crafts for the whole family, and more.
Kyle Warren Tree Lighting – December 2, 2023
Gather around the tree with a cup of hot cocoa and a heart of holiday spirit! Come for the lighting of the Mayor’s Tree and stick around for family entertainment including photos with Santa, story time with Mrs. Claus, face painting, crafts, games, and visits from Frosty and Rudolph.
Fort Worth:
Lightscape – November 17, 2023 – January 1, 2024
Following sold-out runs in the world’s largest cities including London, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York, the internationally acclaimed Lightscape is coming to Fort Worth for the holiday season. Walk a one-mile-long path with suspended strands and tunnels of light, a fire garden, undulating waves of bluebonnets, singing trees, treetop sculptures, and artistic installations while toasting marshmallows over a fire and drinking hot chocolate and other seasonal drinks at stations along the trail.
Stockyards Rodeo Rink | Nov 20-Jan 7
It’s time to lace up your skates! The Stockyards Rodeo Rink glides into Fort Worth November 20 – January 7. Open daily, rain or shine.
Texas Motor Speedway Gift of Lights – November 23, 2023 – January 7, 2024
Enjoy the dazzle of sparkling holiday lights from the comfort and warmth of your car as you drive through the Gift of Lights at Texas Motor Speedway.
