Ultimate List of Christmas Activities in Dallas Fort Worth [2023]
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
- Arts & Crafts Shows – extended North Texas area
- Dallas Arboretum’s 12 Days of Christmas – Dallas, TX
- North Pole Express / Polar Express – Grapevine, TX
- Christmas at Mainstay Farm Park – Cleburne, TX
- YesterLand Farms Christmas Carnival – Canton, TX
- Fort Worth Botanic Gardens Lightscape – Fort Worth, TX
- Lone Star Christmas & ICE! at Gaylord Texan – Grapevine, TX
- Snowday & Santaland – Dallas, TX
- Zoo Lights at Dallas Zoo – Dallas, TX
- North Pole Texas, Christmas at the Anatole – Dallas, TX
- Palestine Polar Express – Palestine, TX
- Peace Plaza Ice Skating Rink – Grapevine, TX
- Lights on the Farm – Plano, TX
- Dallas Cowboys Christmas Extravaganza – Frisco, TX
- The Immersive Nutcracker – Dallas, TX
- Christmas at Daystar – Bedford, TX
- Cancellations for 2023
- Drive-Thru Christmas Lights – extended North Texas area
1. Arts & Crafts Shows
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.
2. Dallas Arboretum’s 12 Days of Christmas
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 featuring their new collection of nearly 600 nutcrackers alongside other classic Christmas themes.
Holiday at the Arboretum starts up on November 8th, 2023 and runs through January 5th, 2024. Tickets range from $12 to $20 and can be purchased for both daytime and nighttime visits. Members are admitted for free. See their site for more info. The gazebos will be lighting up at night except on major holidays. You can find more information about those dates and more on their website.
3. North Pole Express Grapevine
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). This adventure includes a Christmas-themed train ride on an authentic 1920’s era coach pulled by vintage locomotives and is quite possibly one of the most popular Christmas Things To Do in Dallas / Fort Worth. Hop aboard Grapevine’s beautifully decorated Vintage Railroad and join Mrs. Claus on her adventure to Santa’s Workshop. Guests will enjoy an appearance by Santa Claus, a memory mug of Santa’s very own Frosty Chocolate Snow Milk, a special “We Believe” Christmas Bell, Santa’s favorite cookie and photos with Santa before and after their ride on the North Pole Express.
The North Pole Express runs from November 24th to December 23rd. Tickets are $40 per person, kids under 1 are only $6. Tickets for the North Pole Express Grapevine sell out quickly, and you may find they have already sold out this year. The North Pole Express does have a waitlist that you can join on their site.
4. Christmas at Mainstay Farm Park
CLEBURNE, TX – There are many Christmas Activities to enjoy at 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, coaster, hayrides, mazes and quite a lot more!
The Christmas at the Mainstay Farm Park opens on November 24th and continues through the months of November and December on Saturdays and Sundays, with some special occasion openings on Fridays. See their website for days, hours, and ticket sales starting at $17.95. Christmas at the Mainstay Farm Park does offer season passes and flash sales throughout the holiday season.
5. YesterLand Farm Christmas Carnival
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. New to 2023, they are even offering a new Snow Play area! 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 1st for their Christmas Carnival Flash Sale offering savings up to 45% off. The park opens on November 24th and runs through December 23rd, offering primarily weekend availability with some special weekdays added in. For more information on tickets, dates, and times, visit their website.
6. Fort Worth Botanic Gardens Lightscape
FORT WORTH, TX – Be sure to add the Worth Botanic Gardens Lightscape installation to your list of things to do for Christmas in Fort Worth! Walk the beautiful Fort Worth Botanical Gardens while enjoying spectacular and artistic light displays, courtesy of Lightscape. Over 80% of the light installations have been reimagined and newly designed for 2023. 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 17th through January 1st on select nights only (primarily Friday, Saturday, and Sunday with some exceptions). Tickets start at $28 for non members, $18 for kids. Visit their site for more ticketing information, details on dates and times, and to reserve your discounted parking pass.
7. Lone Star Christmas & Ice! at Gaylord Texan
GRAPEVINE, TX – Visit Lone Star 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 How the Grinch Stole Christmas. 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. Honestly, the list of things to do for Christmas at the Gaylord is not a short one. Add snow tubing, gingerbread decorating, visiting with Santa, Elf Training, and quite a bit more to all the Christmas activities you can enjoy there.
Christmas at Gaylord Texan runs from November 10th to December 31st, 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!). Almost all of the additional activities have a separate fee associated, and many of them require you to purchase your tickets in advance online. You can also find Christmas at Gaylord Texan activity bundles to help you enjoy a variety of their activities up to 30% off. Find more info and purchase your tickets on their site.
8. Snowday & Santaland
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 17th through January 7th. Tickets start at $22 for adults and $10 for children. Discounts available for seniors and active military and on Value Tuesdays.
9. Zoo Lights at Dallas Zoo
DALLAS, TX – Another favorite thing to do for Christmas in Dallas is the annual Zoo Lights walk-thru event at the Dallas Zoo. Enjoy more than a million lights decorating the Dallas Zoo, alongside glowing lanterns, photo ops, craft activities, and more! 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 2nd, 5:30PM – 10:00PM. Tickets start at $19 for adults and $15 for children with up-charges on premium nights. For more information on dates, times, and to purchase your tickets, please visit their website.
10. North Pole Holiday Experience, Christmas at the Anatole
DALLAS, TX – If you are looking for fun Christmas things to do in Dallas, North Pole Texas, part of the immersive Christmas experience at the Hilton Anatole, 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. This year they are also offering a North Pole Adventure, new indoor holiday experience, but the information on the website is not really detailed out yet.
North Pole Texas runs from December 8th thru December 30th, weekends mostly, but during the week of Christmas as well. Tickets are $49 for adults and $39 for children. For tickets and more information on dates and times, visit their website.
11. Palestine Polar Express
PALESTINE, TX – If you are looking for a truly unique thing to do for Christmas, jump aboard the Polar Express in Palestine for a 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 November 17th through December 27th on special dates and times. Ticket prices start at $60 for adults and $40 for children 2 – 12. For ticketing and more information on dates and times, please visit their site.
12. Peace Plaza Ice Rink
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 20th to January 7th, 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.
13. Lights on the Farm
PLANO, TX – Over 2 million dazzling lights will illuminate Heritage Farmstead this year, offering a winter wonderland park full of festive fun for the whole family! Enjoy more than 60 enchanting photo opportunities, special appearances from Santa himself, and even hot cocoa and smores around the fire pit.
Lights on the Farm will be running from November 24th to December 30th, Friday through Sunday, 6PM to 9PM. though dates and times vary. Tickets are discounted online, $12 per adult and ages 3-12 are $7. Ages 2 and under enter for free. Tickets at the gate are $3 more. Senior and military discounts are available. To purchase your tickets, check out their website.
14. Dallas Cowboys Christmas Extravaganza
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 around November 18th and runs through December 16th 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.
15. Christmas at Daystar
BEDFORD, TX – Christmas at Daystar features over 2 million Christmas lights, interactive displays, photos with Santa, and so much more. Don’t forget to check out Christmas town or navigate over 400 square feet of sparkles in the Christmas Light Maze.
Christmas at Daystar’s Holiday Light display opens on November 23rd and runs through December 31st. Santa photos will be happening on select days only. Check out their website for more info.
Cancelations and more info
Looking for information on Enchant Dallas? Wondering what’s happening with Radiance! Frozen in Frisco? Can’t seem to find details about Fort Worth Zoo’s Wild! Wonderland or The Immersive Nutcracker? It took some digging and emails, but I have confirmed that Enchant Dallas, Radiance! Frozen in Frisco, and Texas Wild! Wonderland at the Fort Worth Zoo have all been canceled for the 2023 season. Both Enchant and Radiance mentioned hoping to return in future years, so stay tuned and I will keep you up to date!
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.
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!
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.
Originally posted on November 13, 2022.
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Hi, I'm Tania!
Thanks for stopping by DFW Craft Shows! Our blog is home to tons of creative inspiration, gift guides, tutorials, featured artists, and tips for small businesses trying to make their mark in the arts & crafts world.
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Check out our vendor directory
Find tons of talented artisans without ever leaving home. Our online Vendor Directory is full of artists and crafters who would love to earn your business. Shop small and find a truly unique gift for every occasion.
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!
Thank you, Debbie! Have a great holiday season!
These are great ideas!
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!
It’s true, and I haven’t even finished the drive thru lights post yet! 😅
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!
I know, right? Everything looks so magical, I can hardly wait!
These look amazing places for Christmas and haven’t been to some of them.