Ultimate List of Christmas Activities in Dallas Fort Worth [2022]

November 22, 2022 |
DFWCS_Christmas-Activities_Titles

It’s that time of the year: the lights are up, the cold weather has finally arrived, and everyone is feeling holly jolly. There are so many fun ways to enjoy the holiday season, and I’ve put together a big ‘ol list of fun Christmas Activities in Dallas / Fort Worth to help you get started.

If you are looking for Christmas Light Displays you can enjoy from the comfort of your car, make sure to check out our list of the Best Drive Thru Christmas Lights in DFW.

Christmas Things To Do in Dallas Fort Worth

indoor event full of vendor booths, artists, crafters, and food.  funky finds in fort worth
Funky Finds craft show located in Fort Worth. Photo credit: DFW Craft Shows

1. Arts & Crafts Shows

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NORTH TEXAS – There are tons of Christmas events and holiday related arts & crafts shows happening nearly every weekend across the extended North Texas area, and they are a GREAT way to get in the holiday spirit. DFW Craft Shows keeps an extensive events calendar for Dallas Fort Worth that you can browse in list, month, week, day, and map formats. We also compile a Weekend Guide every Monday morning with all the upcoming events for that weekend. Not only will you find tons of unique gifts, you also get the opportunity to shop small, and support local artists, crafters, makers, and bakers!

Many of these events support awesome local programs and charities geared at helping our local community. They typically span only a few days and happen just once or twice a year, so check out The Weekend Guide often for the latest and greatest. Also worth mentioning, many of these events have appearances from Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, and even The Grinch.


several people are dressed as drummers around a small gazebo at night.  The trees are covered in lights for the 12 days of christmas at dallas arboretum
The Dallas Arboretum Christmas Village & 12 Days of Christmas display are breathtakingly beautiful ways to get into the holiday spirit. Photo credit: Dallas Arboretum

2. Dallas Arboretum’s 12 Days of Christmas

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DALLAS, TX – The Dallas Arboretum is well known for their stunning holiday displays throughout the year and Holiday at the Arboretum is no exception. Enjoy their Musical Tree, Christmas Village, and gorgeous 12 Days of Christmas displays. Don’t forget to stop by the historic DeGolyer House which has been elaborately decorated with a new exhibit by Michael Hamilton celebrating the diversity of the holiday season in North Texas. This new seasonal exhibit, The Artistry of Faith & Culture, prominently features the three world holidays most celebrated in North Texas: Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. 

Holiday at the Arboretum starts up on November 10th and runs through December 31st. Tickets range from $12 to $20 and can be purchased for both daytime and nighttime visits. See their site for more info.

A village is fully covered in christmas lights at Enchant Dallas
Lights as far as the eye can see at Enchant Christmas Dallas. Photo credit: Enchant Christmas Dallas

3. Enchant Christmas Dallas

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DALLAS, TX – Fair Park is about to get lit for the extravaganza known as Enchant Christmas. This winter wonderland is filled to the bright with spectacle and wonder, including a Christmas light maze, 100ft Christmas tree, ice skating, Christmas village filled with local artisans, Santa, food, live entertainment and more!

Enchant Christmas Dallas is open from November 25th thru January 1st. Tickets start at $34 for adults and $20 for kids. More information and ticketing details are available on their site.


a grapevine vintage train travels through the snow for north pole express in grapevine
This train ride is a truly special treat for all those aboard. Photo credit: North Pole Express Grapevine

4. North Pole Express Grapevine

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GRAPEVINE, TX – If it’s Christmas magic you are looking for, you may certainly find it aboard the North Pole Express Grapevine (also known as the Grapevine Polar Express). Hop aboard Grapevine’s beautifully decorated Vintage Railroad and join Mrs. Claus on her adventure to Santa’s Workshop.

Tickets for the North Pole Express Grapevine sell out quickly, and you may find they have already sold out this year. They do have a waitlist that you can join on their site.

Mrs and Mr Santa Claus stand in front of a Mainstay Farm sign in their red velvet attire
A warm welcome awaits you at Christmas at Mainstay Farm Park. Photo credit: Mainstay Farm Park

5. Christmas at Mainstay Farm Park

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CLEBURNE, TX – There is much to enjoy for Christmas at Mainstay Farm Park including a Christmas Haymarket, choose and cut your own Christmas trees, haymarket, big time climb & play, Texas tubin’ hill slide, Texas big wheel, xoaster, hayrides, mazes and more!

The Christmas at the Mainstay Farm Park opens on November 25th and tickets start at $16.95. Visit their site for more details on dates and pricing.


Barn with the words "YesterLand Farm" in the background with people holding highly decorated hot cocoa in the foreground
Grab a cup of cocoa and enjoy a day of fun. Photo credit: YesterLand Farms

6. YesterLand Farm Christmas Carnival

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CANTON, TX – From Christmas light decor to corn maze, wagon rides, amazement rides, farm attractions and more, you will not find a lack of Christmas activities at the YesterLand Farm Christmas Carnival. Don’t forget to browse their selection of pre-cut trees and say hi to Santa while you are there!

Tickets for the YesterLand Farm Christmas Carnival go on sale November 14th. The park opens on November 25th. For more information on tickets, dates, and times, visit their website.

several people walking through a tunnel made of lights
Amazing light displays at Fort Worth Botanical Gardens! Photo credit: Lightscape

7. Fort Worth Botanic Gardens Lightscape

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FORT WORTH, TX – Walk the beautiful Fort Worth Botanical Gardens while enjoying spectacular and artistic light displays setup by Lightscape. Find a variety of light tunnels, a fire garden, undulating waves of bluebonnets, singing trees, and more across a one-mile walking path right here in Fort Worth. Don’t forget to swing by and toast marshmallows over the fire and enjoy a cuppa hot chocolate and other seasonal drinks along the way.

Lightscape in Fort Worth Botanic Gardenas runs from November 18th through January 8th on select nights only. Tickets start at $28 for non members, $18 for kids. Visit their site for more ticketing information and details on dates and times.


Polar Express ice sculptures at Gaylord Texan
Enjoy a variety of decorations, photo ops, activities, and ICE! Photo credit: Gaylord Texan

8. Christmas & Ice! at Gaylord Texan

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GRAPEVINE, TX – Visit Christmas at Gaylord Texan where you can enjoy 2 million sparkling lights, over 15,000 ornaments, and hundreds of Christmas trees all across their indoor atrium. For a truly unique experience, stop by their signature winter land sculpture exhibit, ICE!, featuring over 2 million pounds of colorful ice carved to tell the story of the Polar Express. Don’t forget to take a ride down their slides, which are also made entirely of ice, or visit their 6,000 square ft ice rink.

Christmas at Gaylord Texan runs from November 11th to January 1st, and ticket pricing for ICE! starts at $25 for adults and $16 for children. (Keep out an eye for 50% off coupons in the mail though, they do exist!). Find more info and purchase your tickets on their site.

a little girl high fives santa in a cozy den full of christmas decorations
End your journey in Santaland with a visit to the man himself. Photo credit: Snowday & Santaland

9. Snowday & Santaland

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DALLAS, TX – Snowday & Santaland offer magical, immersive experiences for kids and adults of all ages. Get ready for an explorable adventure through endless imaginative rooms and hundreds of surprises with each experience. The Santaland experience wraps up with a Santa encounter and optional secret wardrobe to travel to the second experience, Snowday. While you are at the Galleria, don’t forget to check out their large-scale Menorah and the LARGEST indoor Christmas Tree in the nation!

Santaland & Snowday open on November 18th. Tickets start at $9 for adults and $17 for children. Discounts available for seniors and active military.


Buildings and storefronts at the Texas Wild! at the Fort Worth Zoo.  A grren tractor cutout can be seen out front.
Texas Wild! is getting ready for their Winter Wonderland. Photo credit: Fort Worth Zoo

10. Texas Wild! Wonderland at Fort Worth Zoo

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FORT WORTH, TX – The Fort Worth Zoo announced the debut of their newest holiday extravaganza, Texas Wild! Wonderland. Their beloved Texas Town is being transformed into a winter wonderland complete with holiday themed shows, photo ops with Santa, falling snow, seasonal food, and more! And, best of news for visitors to the Fort Worth Zoo, you will be able to enjoy access to Texas Wild! Wonderland with the price of your admission.

Texas Wild! Wonderland at the Fort Worth Zoo takes place Saturdays and Sundays starting on November 27th. For tickets to the zoo and more information, visit their website.

A warmly lit ornament tunnel feature at the Zoo Lights event at the Dallas Zoo
Lights as far as the eye can see at Zoo Lights. Photo credit:Dallas Zoo

11. Zoo Lights at Dallas Zoo

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DALLAS, TX – Things are getting festive at the Dallas Zoo with their annual Zoo Lights walk-thru event where you can enjoy over a million lights across the zoo. Visit elaborate displays in ZooNorth and WIlds of Africa and don’t forget to stop by Santa’s Workshop to see the man himself. Festive treats will be available along with nightly musical performances, programmed light shows, crafts, activities, and more!

Zoo Lights at the Dallas Zoo is open select nights from November 17th to January 1st. Tickets start at $21 for adults and $17 for children. For more information on dates, times, and to purchase your tickets, please visit their website.


two kids snow tube down a large snowy hill at radiance frozen in frisco
Enjoy ice tubing, even here in Texas! Photo credit: Radiance! Frozen in Frisco

12. Radiance! Frozen in Frisco

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FRISCO, TX – Radiance! Frozen in Frisco is a full winter carnival with over 3 million lights and activities sure to delight the entire family, including ice tubing, snowball toss, ice skating, reindeer rodeo, bumper cars, Christmas carousel, real snowman building, and Santa Claus himself!

Radiance! Frozen in Frisco begins November 18th and runs through December 31st. Tickets are available on their site where they offer a variety of admission options starting at $35. Visit their site for more info.

Small houses stretch across the Hilton Anatole for North Pole Texas Christmas Village
There is much to do at North Pole Texas during Christmas at the Anatole. Photo credit: Hilton Anatole

13. North Pole Texas, Christmas at the Anatole

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DALLAS, TX – If you are looking for a lot of fun Christmas things to do in Dallas, North Pole Texas, part of the Christmas at the Anatole celebration, will surely not disappoint. Journey through the North Pole Village and enjoy Santa’s House, sweet shoppes, cookie decorating, the elves’ workshop, a talking Christmas tree, and so much more. Don’t forget to also stop by the Alpine Village and Toyland, with a petting zoo, smores and more fire pit, scavenger hunts, ice fishing, skeeball, escape rooms, hot cocoa… the list goes on and on.

North Pole Texas runs from November 18th until December 24th, weekends mostly, but during the week of Christmas as well. Tickets are $43 for adults and $36 for children. For tickets and more information on dates and times, visit their website.


The immersive nutcracker is immersive experience with projectors and bright lights all around, seen here in a colorful dipslay across several large screens.
Witness the Nutcracker as you have never experienced it before. Photo credit: Immersive Nutcracker

14. The Immersive Nutcracker

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DALLAS, TX – Become part of the story at The Immersive Nutcracker, coming to Dallas this November! Explore 500,000 cubic feet of this interactive beauty as you relive Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker.”

The Immersive Nutcracker opens November 19th and runs through December 31st. Tickets start at $27. For more details on pricing and availability, please visit their site.

A 67 ft christmas tree is lit with LEDs and stands in the middle of a large plaza with fireworks erupting in the background
The Dallas Cowboys Christmas tree is 67 ft tall and lit entirely with LEDs. Photo credit: The Star

15. Dallas Cowboys Christmas Extravaganza

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FRISCO, TX – The Dallas Cowboys are having their Christmas Extravaganza again this year, and it is an experience like no other. Enjoy an electrifying 20 minute show that begins with lighting their 67 foot Christmas tree, quickly followed by a holiday performance by the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleads, Rhythm and Blue Dancers and Rookie Squad, Drumline, mascot, Santa, and special Dallas Cowboys guest appearances.

Dallas Cowboys Christmas Extravaganza starts on November 18th and runs through December 17th every Friday and Saturday evening at 6PM. This event is free and open to the public. Parking is also free and available onsite. Please verify event information and find more details on their site.


several people dressed in striped pajamas/costumes are all in a line holding onto each other as one falls off a table holding a stuffed animal
All the children were snug in bed… or were they? Photo credit: Cirque Du Soleil

16. Twas the Night Before, Cirque Du Soleil

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DALLAS, TX – Cirque Du Soleil is known for their unique performances and this modern twist on a holiday classic is no exception! Their performance is sure to leave you in the holiday spirit after taking a festive journey filled with friendship and warmth.

Cirque Du Soleil will be performing Twas the Night Before from November 25th to December 11th. Tickets start at about $44 and go up from there. Please visit their website for full event details and ticketing info.

Inside the Texas State Railroad at Palestine during the Polar Express Rides shows several comfy couches and Christmas lights hung around the coach.
Take a ride you will not soon forget. Photo credit: Palestine Polar Express

17. Palestine Polar Express

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PALESTINE, TX – Jump aboard the Polar Express in Palestine for a truly unique ride from the Palestine Depot to the North Pole. Enjoy a live musical performance happening in each coach as you are served hot chocolate and cookies. Purchase your own copy of The Polar Express to follow along with their performances.

The Polar Express in Palestine operates on special dates and times throughout November and December. For ticketing and more information on dates and times, please visit their site.


a person sits on the ice with their ice skates on.  They have coral color mittens and are wearing a sweater with matching scarf
Time to dust of those skates and get to gliding.

18. Peace Plaza Ice Rink

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GRAPEVINE, TX – We all know Grapevine is the Christmas Capitol of Texas. The Christmas tree, the lights, the parades, and the activities–They do the holidays bigger than life, and their ice skating rink is no exception! The Peace Plaza Ice Rink is over 4,500 sq ft and is the largest outdoor ice skating rink in North Texas.

The Peace Plaza Ice Rink operates from November 18th to January 8th, though dates and times vary. Tickets are $20 per person, skate rental included. To reserve your spot or for more info on dates and times, check out their website.

A road surrounded by a tunnel of lights, decorations, and ornaments.

Drive Thru Christmas Lights

If you are wondering where all the must-see Drive-Thru Christmas Lights are in this list, fret not! There were so many fun Christmas activities in Dallas (and beyond), I decided to make a dedicated post for each. Cruise right over to the Best Drive Thru Christmas Lights in DFW for details on all the most awesome Christmas Light displays that you can enjoy right from the comfort and warmth of your own car.


A woman and young girl stand in a tunnel of lights with a sparkler, both are smiling widely.  The title reads "ultimate list christmas activities dallas fort worth"

Share your favorites!

I did my best to include Christmas activities in Dallas, Fort Worth, and all over the metroplex, but I would LOVE to know of any other festive fun that I’ve missed! Please drop down in the comments and let me know YOUR favorites, and I will keep adding to the list. Happy Holidays!

Graphic with bold title frame that reads "WEEKEND GUIDE" and has an event pic in the background

Looking for other fun holiday activities around North Texas?

Every week, I compile a list of upcoming arts & crafts shows, fairs, festivals, and classes happening around the extended Dallas / Fort Worth metroplex. Check out The Weekend Guide for a number of pop up shops and fun Fort Worth / Dallas Christmas event opportunities to discover new artists, shop small businesses, support your local community, and have fun.


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Originally posted on November 13, 2022.

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8 thoughts on “Ultimate List of Christmas Activities in Dallas Fort Worth [2022]”

  1. This is such an amazing list of holiday happenings in Dallas area. My husband and I love planning Christmas themed vacations and always like trying new places. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  2. Wow, take me to Dallas for Christmas, look at all the beautiful displays! Adding this amazing place to my Christmas bucket list trips – you could be busy all month!

    Reply
  3. What a great list of activities with incredible pictures too to make it look even more fun. Looks like Dallas really knows how to set the holiday spirit in motion. This is great, thanks for sharing! The winter carnvials look so fun!

    Reply

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