Dallas is the second-most-festive city in the U.S., according to a recent Thumbtack report. Austin is first, Houston came in fourth and San Antonio closed out the list at 10th. So once again, Texas for the win.
But none of us locals are surprised. Once Halloween ends, Dallas is busting out the seams to play “All I Want for Christmas” and to deck the halls. From over-the-top neighborhoods to 86-foot-tall Christmas trees, here are DFW’s best places to see Christmas lights.
Highland Park Village
47 Highland Park Village
Highland Park Village lights up 1.5 million Christmas lights each year from mid-November to February. The famous holiday light display has been a tradition since 1951. Trees and shops dazzle, spreading holiday cheer and making for a Hallmark-worthy holiday stroll.
Highland Park Village has partnered with Threejays Carriages for holiday carriage Christmas-light tours. Horse-drawn carriages decorated in holiday florals and lights and playing holiday music are available for hour-long bookings through one of Dallas’ most sought-after neighborhoods for Christmas light gawking. Prices start at $250, and reservations can be made online.
If a carriage isn’t your thing, jump in the car and see all the wonders the opulent neighborhood has to offer. Don’t forget to stop by the glittering mansion at 6215 Deloache Ave.
Dallas Zoo Lights
Through Jan. 4650 S. R.L. Thornton Freeway
Is there a better way to spend the holiday season than in the company of animals? You might even find a few that look like they could be “away in a manger.” The Dallas Zoo Lights event invites visitors to cruise a mile-long stretch of wondrous 3D-lighted sculptures and larger-than-life animal lanterns. It’s also a great place to get your Christmas card photos taken, as Santa Claus himself is there in the flesh. Tickets start at $13 for non-members.
Cowboys Christmas Extravaganza at The Star
Through Dec. 219 Cowboys Way, Frisco
You’re not going to find a bigger or brighter Christmas tree than The Star’s 67-foot LED Christmas tree on Tostitos Championship Plaza. The 20-minute light show includes performances by Dallas Cowboys Rhythm and Blue and the Cowboys Cheerleaders. and The Cowboys also have a full schedule of Christmas events — all open to the public. The show's festive Christmas songs are even synchronized with the tree’s light spectacle
Six Flags Holiday In The Park
Through Dec. 312201 Road to Six Flags, Arlington
More flags, more fun. It might be a little chilly outside to ride on the Texas Giant, but not sweating like crazy could be a good thing. Six Flags has its usual late-day rides, but the holidays include special Christmas shows and a light show that rivals the Titan. Among the short-term additions are a full Santa’s village and some delicious s’mores.
Lights on the Farm at Heritage Farmstead Museum
Through Dec. 281900 W. 15th St., Plano
Going to the Heritage Museum is a great way to learn some history, but you’ll also get quite a workout. The tour has a quarter-mile trail with over 1 million lights, animated characters and fresh cocoa and kettle corn. You might even want to take in an extra loop around the trail if you have too many addictive “make your own s’mores.”
Vitruvian Lights
Through Jan. 13875 Ponte Ave., Addison
Most of us have a hard time picking out the perfect tree, but Vitruvian Lights doesn’t force you to pick; there are more than 500 beautiful, sparkling trees in this display in Addison. And it's free! This celebrated tradition is now in its 10th year, and this edition is the most spectacular to date.
Dallas by Chocolate's Christmas Lights
Through Dec. 29Various Dallas neighborhoods
There’s nothing more quintessential to Christmastime than chocolate. Hey, it’s the holidays, so save your New Year’s resolution for a few weeks! This tour offers a perfect opportunity to test out some of DFW’s finest dessert cuisines. The heated tour makes stops at local venues and Christmas lights displays.
Deerfield Neighborhood
Through Dec. 30Preston and Coit roads, Plano
Massive holiday events are fun and all, but sometimes a good ole’ car ride is exactly what the holidays call for. What once began as a light-hearted holiday decorating competition has transformed Plano’s Deerfield neighborhood into a must-see magical holiday experience. Fill a Thermos with hot cocoa and load up the car to head to Plano for the Deerfield Homeowners Association’s annual holiday lights display.
Houses light up from 7 to 10 p.m. on weekdays and 7 to 11 p.m. on weekends, weather permitting. To make the most of your experience, enter the neighborhood from Quincy Road. It’s less crowded. Drive by slowly and soak up the holiday spirit.
Like Highland Park, Deerfield also offers carriage rides.
Holiday at the Arboretum
Through Jan. 58525 Garland Road
The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its classic holiday 12 Days of Christmas display. A dozen 25-foot-tall music box displays transport visitors into the nostalgic English Christmas carol. Swans a-swimming, geese a-laying, golden rings and a partridge in a pear tree sparkle, spreading Christmas magic to all.
This year the arboretum’s Christmas Village has grown. The new Pauline and Austin Neuhoff Christmas Family Village addition brings more twinkling lights, decorated shops and the Marily and Ben Weber Family Christmas Pyramid. Stop by the historic DeGolyer House to see this year’s stunning “A Della Robbia Holiday” display by designer Michael Hamilton.
There’s no shortage of things to see by the end of the year at the Arboretum. You can make stops at the Musical Christmas Tree, see a gorgeous Christmas Village and marvel at the 12 Days of Christmas. Happily, the Arboretum respects celebrations of all faiths, and has added Hanukkah and Kwanzaa shows as well.
The Arboretum can never be outdone, and it's certainly living up to its festive reputation this year.
Courtesy of the Dallas Arboretum
Christmas at Hilton Anatole
Through Dec. 242201 N. Stemmons Freeway
Sure, you can read about Santa’s delivery process, but why not see it for yourself? With a Ferris wheel, tree maze, slides and dozens of other jolly options, the Hilton Anatole has a veritable winter wonderland including a Santa Suite and a Bavaraian Village. Tickets are up to $25.
We hope Kevin can yet again outsmart the Wet Bandits this year. Just saying, this Highland Park home looks a lot like the McAllister home.
Brian Maschino
Prairie Lights
Through Dec. 315610 Lake Ridge Parkway, Grand Prairie
Head to Grand Prairie for some North Pole auto-tourism and holiday cheer. This Texas town is hosting its iconic holiday lights experience once again with a holiday village, a magical walk-through forest, carnival photos with Santa Claus himself, shopping and many more festivities.
Radiance! at the Ranch
Through Dec. 302251 Mineral Wells Highway, Weatherford
Radiance! Christmas is lighting up Weatherford for the fourth year this holiday season. It's now presenting exciting scenes, even more lights and free hot chocolate and popcorn. If you're feeling extra fancy, you can even get a VIP pass to access shorter lines. GA tickets are $29.95 per vehicle.
The Christmas capital of Texas is earning its title yet again with a long celebration in Grapevine.
City of Grapevine
The Christmas Capital of Texas
Through Jan. 1Downtown Grapevine
Grapevine is the undisputed Christmas Capital of Texas. So much so, it’s a registered trademark of the suburb. Every year Grapevine transforms into an idyllic small town wonderland with millions of lights, gigantic displays and a plethora of photo ops. The city hosts 11 ongoing events and activities including Toyland, Merry Christmas Square and Santa’s North Pole Express. Visit the grand 60-foot Christmas tree at Peace Plaza Ice Rink and stop by the Grapevine Observation Tower for the best Christmas light views.
Burkman Holiday Home
Through Dec. 283809 Hazelhurst Drive, Frisco
The Burkman Holiday Home is a labor of love. Its efforts have been featured on ABC’s Great Christmas Light Fight and Live With Kelly and Ryan. This week the over-the-top holiday home will make its Hallmark+ debut on Ready, Set, Glow!
The Frisco home’s 2024 light installation of more than 70,000 lights took 11 weeks. Visitors are invited to park and enjoy the display by foot. Don’t forget your camera! New this year is a RGB Reward Box, from the Roblox pet adoption game Adopt Me! The family has also replaced the white ornament arch with a rainbow arch and revamped Santaland. Snap a pic at Santaland’s new Barbie box or say hi to Yoda in the village.
This year, children's-favorite Bluey is joining the Burkman’s character crew, which includes the Grinch, Santa and Frozen’s Anna and Elsa. Photos with characters are available on select days in exchange for a monetary donation or unwrapped new toys. Proceeds benefit The Burkman Foundation, a scholarship fund benefiting individuals with cognitive disabilities, The LiyanaStrong Foundation and the Czarboski family, whose son is battling Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome.
The Light Park
Through Jan. 1Various locations
The Light Park electric light show has locations all over the Texas Triangle, with its tree-topping stop in Frisco. Buy a ticket for your vehicle and embrace the millions of lights, Christmas DJ and food and drinks. Don’t leave your furry friends at home, because this holiday celebration is pet-friendly. Tickets are $39 online, $55 at the door.
Gift of Lights
Through Jan. 53545 Lone Star Circle, Fort Worth
Pack the car with all of your loved ones and get your holiday playlist ready. This 2-mile-long LED light show takes cars down the Texas Motor Speedway in flashing holiday colors. Gift of Lights runs until 10 p.m., allowing you plenty of time to get through lines.
Sundance Square
Through Jan. 1429 Main St., Fort Worth
Fort Worth’s Sundance Square has dethroned New York’s Rockefeller Center. On Dec. 3, Cowtown became a glowing wonderland when Fort Worth lit up Texas’ largest live Christmas tree. The massive 82-foot Norway Spruce is eight feet taller than New York’s famed tree. It’s adorned with sparkling warm white lights and enormous hand-painted ornaments.
Classic Christmas
Through Dec. 291000 Ballpark Way, Arlington
For the last few years Dallas has had the opportunity to experience the world’s largest Christmas light maze courtesy of Enchant. This year, Enchant presented Dallas with Coca-Cola Classic Christmas. There’s no maze, but there is 55,000 square feet of dazzling lights, with plenty of social-media-ready displays.
Astra Lumina
Dec. 311800 Dowdy Ferry Road
We get it. Sometimes the in-your-face holiday garb can be too much. Astra Lumina has the light’s display for you. This all-age event presents nine cosmic-themed immersive areas at Trinity Forest Adventure Park. The self-guided nightwalk brings the stars to you with celestial-centered lights, projections and music. Watch the starlight lanterns, falling stars and stellar visions in awe at this one-hour adventure.
