Christmas in Dallas with kids.
Christmas in Dallas spreads across the whole Dallas-Fort Worth area. The Dallas Arboretum's 12 Days of Christmas opens November 11. Gaylord Texan in Grapevine has ice! with a Harry Potter theme, and Santa's North Pole Express leaves from Grapevine's Main Street.
Fort Worth's Parade of Lights is November 22, and the Dallas Holiday Parade is December 5. Both are free to watch. Texas Ballet Theater does The Nutcracker in Dallas first, then in Fort Worth.
Before you go
- It's 9 degrees inside ice! at Gaylord Texan, so bring hats and gloves.
- Frisco's Christmas in the Square light show is free. Tune your car radio to 107.3 FM to hear the music.
- At the Dallas Holiday Parade, bring chairs or a blanket if you don't buy bleacher seats.
- For Fort Worth's Parade of Lights, streets start closing at 3pm. TEXRail park-and-ride lots skip the downtown traffic.
- Parking at the Dallas Arboretum is not included in your ticket.
Family Christmas events in Dallas
25 events
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- Christmas lightsSanta visitsHoliday festivals Good for toddlers
Holiday at the Arboretum: The 12 Days of Christmas
- Dates
- Nov 11 - Jan 3 · Daily. Daytime 9am-4pm. Holiday at Night 5-10pm.
- Where
- Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, 8525 Garland Road, East Dallas (White Rock Lake)
- Price
- Daytime: adults $21.95-25.95, kids 3-12 $17.95-21.95. Holiday at Night: $35-40 for ages 3 and up. Under 3 free. Prices change by date.
- Ages and booking
- All ages · Buy online ahead. Night tickets cost $4 more at the gate.
This is the last season for the 12 Days of Christmas gazebos, which have stood in the garden since 2014. Come by day for the displays and the Christmas Village, or after dark when the garden is lit.
Parent tip: Santa visits the Christmas Village on select days, so check his schedule first. Parking is not included in your ticket.
- Holiday festivalsSanta visits Good for toddlers
Christmas at Gaylord Texan with ice! Featuring Harry Potter
- Dates
- Nov 13 - Jan 3 · Daily during the season. Pick a time when you book.
- Where
- Gaylord Texan Resort, 1501 Gaylord Trail, Grapevine (near DFW Airport)
- Price
- Ticketed. Prices vary by activity. Activity passes bundle ice! with other fun.
- Ages and booking
- All ages · Buy tickets online ahead. Day visitors can prepay parking.
A big resort Christmas with a walk-through ice show. This year the ice carvings show scenes from Harry Potter, and there are ice slides, including a small one for little kids.
Parent tip: It is 9 degrees inside ice!, so bring hats and gloves. Ice tubing, gingerbread decorating and Santa photos are separate tickets.
- Holiday trainsSanta visits Good for toddlers
Santa's North Pole Express
- Dates
- Nov 27 - Dec 30 · Daily boarding times from 10am to 8pm. No trains Dec 24-25. On Dec 3 trains leave from the Fort Worth Stockyards instead.
- Where
- Grapevine Vintage Railroad, 705 S. Main St., Grapevine (Historic Main Street)
- Price
- From about $90 for a two-person bench. Lap kids under 2 about $6.
- Ages and booking
- All ages · Buy only from the official sellers. Seats are sold by the two-person bench, so a family of three buys four seats.
A ride in old train cars with carols, elves, Santa and Mrs. Claus. Kids get a cookie and chocolate milk in a keepsake mug, and each family gets one photo with Santa.
Parent tip: Check-in opens 20 minutes before boarding, and the doors close 5 minutes before. Come early to see the Christmas Market by the depot.
- Shows and Nutcracker
Texas Ballet Theater's The Nutcracker (Dallas)
- Dates
- Nov 27 - Dec 6 · Nov 27-29 and Dec 3-6. 2pm matinees on weekends.
- Where
- Winspear Opera House, Dallas Arts District, Downtown Dallas (Arts District)
- Price
- From about $35. Prices vary by seat and date.
- Ages and booking
- Kids who can sit through a full ballet · Buy ahead online
North Texas's big holiday ballet. The Dallas run comes first, then the show moves to Fort Worth.
Parent tip: Pick a 2pm matinee for younger kids.
- Shows and Nutcracker
Texas Ballet Theater's The Nutcracker (Fort Worth)
- Dates
- Dec 11-27 · Dec 11-27, including weekday matinees Dec 21-23 and a 2pm show on Dec 24.
- Where
- Bass Performance Hall, Downtown Fort Worth (Sundance Square)
- Price
- Ticketed. Prices vary by seat and date.
- Ages and booking
- Kids who can sit through a full ballet · Buy ahead online
The Fort Worth run of the same Nutcracker, in the city's grand downtown hall. There are more matinees here in the days before Christmas.
Parent tip: The Dec 21-23 afternoon shows work well once school is out.
- Parades and tree lightingsFree Good for toddlers
Dallas Holiday Parade
- Dates
- Dec 5 · Saturday morning, Dec 5. Starts around 8:30-9am and lasts about two hours.
- Where
- Downtown Dallas streets (starts at Commerce and Houston streets)
- Price
- Free to watch. Bleacher seats cost extra.
- Ages and booking
- All ages · No tickets needed at the curb. Bleacher seats are sold ahead online.
Dallas's big holiday parade rolls through downtown on the first Saturday in December.
Parent tip: Bring as little as you can, plus chairs or a blanket if you don't buy seats. Bleacher ticket holders can store strollers under the stands.
- Parades and tree lightingsFree Good for toddlers
GM Financial Parade of Lights
- Dates
- Nov 22 · Sunday evening, Nov 22, at 6pm
- Where
- Downtown Fort Worth streets
- Price
- Free to watch. Reserved street seats from about $15.75 for kids and $19.50 for adults.
- Ages and booking
- All ages · Walk up for free spots. Reserved seats are sold ahead online.
Fort Worth's lit-up holiday parade kicks off the season downtown on the Sunday before Thanksgiving.
Parent tip: Streets start closing at 3pm. TEXRail park-and-ride lots are mostly free and skip the downtown traffic.
- Christmas lightsIce skatingSanta visitsFree Good for toddlers
Christmas in the Square
- Dates
- Nov 20 - Jan 4 · Light show nightly 6-10pm
- Where
- Frisco Square, Main St. and Coleman Blvd.
- Price
- Light show free. Skating, Santa visits and carriage rides cost extra.
- Ages and booking
- All ages · Walk up for the light show
A free light show set to music in Frisco's town square. There's also an outdoor ice rink, Santa visits and horse carriage rides.
Parent tip: Tune your car radio to 107.3 FM to hear the music if you're watching from your car.
- Christmas lights Good for toddlers
The Light Park Frisco
- Dates
- Nov 6 - Jan 3 · Nightly. Sun-Thu 5:30-10pm, Fri-Sat 5:30-11pm. Dec 18-26 open until 11pm.
- Where
- Riders Field, 7300 Rough Riders Trail, Frisco
- Price
- One ticket per car. Pre-sale from about $29.99 before Nov 6.
- Ages and booking
- All ages · Buy online ahead. You can buy at the gate, but online is advised.
A drive-thru light show on a mile-long route, driven at about 3 mph. You tune your radio to the show's station for the music.
Parent tip: Weeknights are usually less busy. Kids can stay buckled in and in pajamas.
- Christmas lights Good for toddlers
The Light Park Arlington
- Dates
- Nov 6 - Jan 3 · Nightly. Sun-Thu 5:30-10pm, Fri-Sat 5:30-11pm. Dec 18-26 open until 11pm.
- Where
- Hurricane Harbor Arlington, 1800 E. Lamar Blvd., Arlington (entertainment district)
- Price
- One ticket per car. Pre-sale from about $29.99 before Nov 6.
- Ages and booking
- All ages · Buy online ahead. You can buy at the gate, but online is advised.
The same mile-long drive-thru light show, set up at the water park lot in Arlington.
Parent tip: Weeknights are usually less busy than weekends.
- Christmas lights Good for toddlers
The Light Park Mesquite
- Dates
- Nov 6 - Jan 3 · Nightly. Sun-Thu 5:30-10pm, Fri-Sat 5:30-11pm. Dec 18-26 open until 11pm.
- Where
- Samuell Farm, 100 US-80, Mesquite (east of Dallas)
- Price
- One ticket per car. Pre-sale from about $29.99 before Nov 6.
- Ages and booking
- All ages · Buy online ahead
The drive-thru light show's east-side location, on farm land just outside Dallas.
Parent tip: Handy if you're staying on the east side of Dallas.
- Shows and Nutcracker
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer at Dallas Children's Theater
- Dates
- Nov 21 - Dec 20 · Weekends only, 1:30pm and 4:30pm
- Where
- Baker Theater, 5938 Skillman St., Northeast Dallas (Lake Highlands)
- Price
- See the official site. Prices vary by show.
- Ages and booking
- Ages 4 and up · Buy ahead online or by phone
A stage version of the Rudolph story, made for kids by a theater that only does family shows.
Parent tip: The 1:30pm shows fit around afternoon naps for younger siblings at home.
- Shows and Nutcracker
Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical
- Dates
- Nov 25-29 · Nov 25-29. Morning, afternoon and evening shows over Thanksgiving weekend.
- Where
- Music Hall at Fair Park, 909 1st Ave.
- Price
- From about $37
- Ages and booking
- All ages. Everyone needs a ticket, even babies. · Buy ahead online
The Grinch story as a stage musical. It runs 85 minutes with no break.
Parent tip: The 11am shows on Nov 27 and 28 are the easiest for little kids.
- Shows and Nutcracker Good for toddlers
Family Holidays with the Dallas Symphony
- Dates
- Dec 12 · Saturday, Dec 12, at 11am
- Where
- Meyerson Symphony Center, 2301 Flora St., Downtown Dallas (Arts District)
- Price
- From $48
- Ages and booking
- All ages · Buy ahead online
A one-hour holiday concert made for kids, on a Saturday morning.
Parent tip: Get there 30 minutes early to park and find your seats.
- Shows and Nutcracker
The Muppet Christmas Carol in Concert
- Dates
- Dec 4-6 · Fri Dec 4 and Sat Dec 5 at 7:30pm. Sun Dec 6 at 2pm.
- Where
- Meyerson Symphony Center, 2301 Flora St., Downtown Dallas (Arts District)
- Price
- From $73 (Fri-Sat) or $94 (Sun)
- Ages and booking
- See the official site · Buy ahead online
The Muppet movie plays on a big screen while the Dallas Symphony plays the music live.
Parent tip: The Sunday 2pm show is the best fit for kids.
- Shows and NutcrackerSanta visits
Holidays with the Dallas Symphony
- Dates
- Dec 12-20 · Dec 12, 17, 18, 19 and 20. Afternoon and evening shows.
- Where
- Meyerson Symphony Center, 2301 Flora St., Downtown Dallas (Arts District)
- Price
- From $58 ($77 on Sunday)
- Ages and booking
- See the official site · Buy ahead online
Holiday favorites with the orchestra, choir and a children's chorus. Each show ends with snow falling in the hall, and you can get a photo with Santa.
Parent tip: Pick a 2pm matinee if you're bringing school-age kids.
- Shows and Nutcracker
Home for the Holidays with the Fort Worth Symphony
- Dates
- Nov 27-28 · Fri Nov 27 and Sat Nov 28 at 7:30pm
- Where
- Bass Performance Hall, Downtown Fort Worth (Sundance Square)
- Price
- From about $45
- Ages and booking
- Families. No age limit listed. · Buy ahead online
A sing-along holiday concert with a singer, a choir and a visit from Kris Kringle.
Parent tip: A good pick for the day after Thanksgiving if you're in Fort Worth.
- Shows and Nutcracker
Sounds of the Season with the Fort Worth Symphony
- Dates
- Dec 15 · Tuesday, Dec 15, at 7:30pm
- Where
- White's Chapel Methodist Church, Southlake
- Price
- See the official site
- Ages and booking
- Families. No age limit listed. · Buy ahead online
A family holiday concert with music from The Nutcracker and The Polar Express, plus Sleigh Ride.
Parent tip: Kids who know The Polar Express will spot the music.
- Shows and Nutcracker Good for toddlers
Cliburn Family Concert: 'Twas the Night Before Christmas
- Dates
- Nov 28 · Saturday, Nov 28, at 10:30am and 2:30pm
- Where
- Stampede Room, Fort Worth Stockyards Station
- Price
- $20 each or $75 for a family 4-pack. Under 2 free.
- Ages and booking
- Families. Kids under 2 don't need a ticket. · Buy ahead. Seats are general admission.
The classic Christmas poem set to live classical music, in a short family concert.
Parent tip: Pair it with a walk around the Stockyards the same day.
- Parades and tree lightingsSanta visitsHoliday festivals Good for toddlers
Tree Lighting Celebration at Klyde Warren Park
- Dates
- Dec 5 · Saturday, Dec 5, 4-7pm
- Where
- Klyde Warren Park, 2012 Woodall Rodgers Fwy., Downtown Dallas (Arts District / Uptown edge)
- Price
- Santa photos are free. See the official site for other costs.
- Ages and booking
- All ages · Walk up
The park's tree lighting, with free Santa photos, story time with Mrs. Claus, face painting, dancers, stilt walkers, and Frosty and Rudolph.
Parent tip: Come early for the Santa line, then stay for the lighting at the end.
- Santa visits Good for toddlers
Santa Saturday at Klyde Warren Park
- Dates
- Dec 19 · Saturday, Dec 19, 1-4pm
- Where
- Hart Boulevard, Klyde Warren Park, Downtown Dallas (Arts District / Uptown edge)
- Price
- See the official site
- Ages and booking
- All ages · Walk up
An afternoon to get a holiday photo with Santa in the park. Pets are welcome too.
Parent tip: The park's children's area is next to the Santa spot if kids need to burn off energy.
- Shows and Nutcracker Good for toddlers
The Ramazinis Circus Holiday Show
- Dates
- Dec 13 · Sunday, Dec 13, noon-2pm
- Where
- Children's Park, Klyde Warren Park, Downtown Dallas (Arts District / Uptown edge)
- Price
- See the official site
- Ages and booking
- All ages · Walk up
A circus family puts on a holiday show of acrobatics and comedy in the park's kids' area.
Parent tip: Bring a blanket to sit on.
- Christmas markets Good for toddlers
Boho Holiday Market at Klyde Warren Park
- Dates
- Dec 5-6 · Sat Dec 5, 4-9pm. Sun Dec 6, 11am-5pm.
- Where
- Klyde Warren Park, 2012 Woodall Rodgers Fwy., Downtown Dallas (Arts District / Uptown edge)
- Price
- See the official site
- Ages and booking
- All ages · Walk up
An outdoor holiday market in the park on the same weekend as the tree lighting.
Parent tip: Do the market on Saturday afternoon, then catch the tree lighting.
- Holiday festivalsSanta visitsParades and tree lightingsFree Good for toddlers
Prosper Christmas Festival
- Dates
- Dec 5 · Saturday, Dec 5, 3-7pm. Tree lighting at 7pm.
- Where
- Prosper Town Hall, 250 W. First St., Prosper (north of Frisco)
- Price
- Free
- Ages and booking
- All ages · Walk up
A free small-town Christmas party with bouncy houses, face painting, balloon artists and free family photos with Santa.
Parent tip: Santa is there 3-6pm, so see him before the 7pm tree lighting.
- Christmas lights Good for toddlers
Lights on the Farmstead
- Dates
- Nov 20 - Dec 30 · Nov 20-Dec 30. See the official site for nights and times.
- Where
- Heritage Farmstead Museum, 1900 W. 15th St., Plano
- Price
- Advance tickets from about $15 for adults and $12 for kids. Under 3 free.
- Ages and booking
- All ages · Buy online ahead
A holiday light walk around a historic farm in Plano, now in its sixth year.
Parent tip: Buy ahead to get the lower advance price.
Dates and prices were checked on each event's official site. They can change, so check the official site before you go.
On a budget? See every free Christmas event in Dallas, including parades and tree lightings.
Shopping for gifts? Compare the Christmas markets in Dallas, with hours, costs and tips for going with kids.
Planning a Santa visit? See where to find Santa in Dallas, plus free Santa photos, breakfasts with Santa and tips for skipping the line.
Going to the ballet? Compare every Nutcracker in Dallas, with run times, age tips and sensory-friendly shows.
Questions parents ask
What is there to do in Dallas for Christmas with kids?
See the 12 Days of Christmas at the Dallas Arboretum and ice! at Gaylord Texan. Ride Santa's North Pole Express in Grapevine, or drive through The Light Park in Frisco, Arlington or Mesquite.
Watch the Dallas Holiday Parade or Fort Worth's Parade of Lights, and see Texas Ballet Theater's Nutcracker.
When is the Dallas Holiday Parade in 2026?
The Dallas Holiday Parade is on Saturday, December 5, 2026, downtown. It steps off around 8:30 to 9am and lasts about two hours. Watching is free, and bleacher seats cost extra.
When is the 12 Days of Christmas at the Dallas Arboretum in 2026?
It runs from November 11, 2026, to January 3, 2027. Santa visits the Christmas Village on select days, so check his schedule first.
Christmas in other cities
- Christmas in New York
- Christmas in Chicago
- Christmas in Boston
- Christmas in Washington, DC
- Christmas in Nashville
- Christmas in Seattle
- Christmas in Denver
- Christmas in San Diego
- Christmas in San Francisco
- Christmas in Los Angeles
- Christmas in Atlanta
- Christmas in Houston
- Christmas in San Antonio
- Christmas in Gatlinburg
- Christmas in Philadelphia
- Christmas in Pittsburgh
- Christmas in Las Vegas
- Christmas in Orlando
- Christmas in Miami
- Christmas in New Orleans
- Christmas in Charlotte
- Christmas in Kansas City
- Christmas in Austin
- Christmas in Phoenix
- Christmas in St. Louis
- Christmas in Tampa
- Christmas in Cincinnati