10 Things to do in Dallas at Christmas

Christmas is often a magical time full of traditions. Every country and every city has its own customs. If you travel to Dallas, a big city in Texas, you will have the opportunity to get to know all the typical activities of the locals.

Children tend to enjoy Christmas activities and attractions. So this time of year can be a great time to travel as a family. Explore the city, the most popular sites and celebrate the New Year in style in Dallas.

Christmas lights are one of the most eye-catching things to see in any city during the holiday season. Dallas is no exception, as in and around the city you can choose from a variety of destinations to appreciate the holiday decorations. If you want to have the best memories of your visit to North Texas, I recommend you book a professional photo session with the lights and other Christmas decorations.

One of the places you can visit is the historic centre of Grapevine. In addition to the decorations, there are plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy. This is a great place if you want to take pictures as you'll find Christmas trees and benches to sit on while sipping a hot chocolate.

If you're not in the mood for a walk and would rather drive your car, I recommend the Prairie Lights. Without getting out of your vehicle you can pass under more than 5 million Christmas lights. You will feel like you are travelling in a tunnel to another dimension. Please note that you must purchase a ticket to enter.

You can also visit Enchant Christmas at The Esplanade in Fair Park. This outdoor light alternative offers a giant maze of Christmas lights. You can also enjoy a family-friendly market of crafts, food and drinks. Please note that you must get tickets for this light show in advance.

The Dallas Arboretum is one of the must-see places to visit when you are in Dallas. At Christmas time, a tour of the botanical garden is one of the best plans as every year you can enjoy a Christmas exhibition. When you enter you'll feel like you're in a magical Christmas village.

The Dallas Botanical Garden or Arboretum is 22 hectares in size and has 11 gardens. During November and December you can enjoy millions of Christmas lights, hundreds of decorated trees, a European-style village and themed kiosks.

In the Christmas Village, located in the garden area called Pecan Grove, you'll find a pyramid of lights twinkling to music. Around the village you'll see 20 quaint little houses that you can go inside to take some photos. The houses have different themes such as Santa's house, a toy shop, a bookshop and more.

You can also buy food and hot drinks. Children will be able to talk to Santa and enjoy shows that vary from year to year. Opening times may vary but usually at this time of year you can visit the park even during the night.

Interesting details

• Price: The cost of admission per person averages €15 during the day or €20 at night.
• When to go: Christmas attractions are usually available from the second week of November until 31 December.
• Opening hours: from 10 am to 8 pm. Hours may vary.
• Location: 8525 Garland Road, Dallas, Texas 75218.

One of Dallas' most beloved Christmas traditions is visiting the North Park Train Show. This activity has brought families of locals and tourists together year after year. When you go, you'll find a display of picturesque trains spanning some 400 metres.

Visiting this great train show is one of the best things to do with kids in Dallas. They are the main audience, as many of them tend to be fans of this type of vehicle. In addition, you will be able to watch as the little trains make a tour of different scenery in the United States.

Among the decorations are the autumn weather on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. You can also see New York City, Washington DC, Dallas and even the desert southwest. In this part of the tour you can see the Grand Canyon.

For this activity you don't need to book a ticket, just buy it on the North Park Trains website. You can go any day of the week and there is no time limit. The average cost is around €10 for adults and tickets for children cost around €5.

Interesting details

• Price: between €10 and €5.
• When to go: You can go from mid-November to early January.
• Hours: from 10 am to 6 pm.
• Location: NorthPark Center, 8687 N. Central Expressway, Dallas

Zoos are usually an interesting place to visit no matter what time of year. However, during the Christmas season the Dallas Zoo is filled with beautiful Christmas lights and decorations that are not to be missed. I recommend going after dark so you can appreciate all the decorations.

As you stroll through the zoo you will see beautiful illuminated sculptures of giant animals. You can also walk along fully illuminated paths and have an immersive experience. In some areas there are even screens that project different videos that will make you feel like you are in a fairy tale.

It is worth mentioning that this visit must be done in a vehicle, as it is a path specially made to celebrate this time of year. The tour lasts about half an hour and to enjoy it you must buy a ticket for around 20 €.

Another recommendation I can give you is to buy your tickets in advance. This is usually a traditional activity for many families, so it can be very busy. I also recommend that you check which days the zoo is open, as this can change. Tour times are from 6pm to 9:30pm.

Details of interest

• Price: around €20.
• When to go: You can go from mid-November to the end of December.
• Hours: from 6pm to 9:30pm.
• Location: Dallas Zoo, 650 S. R. L. Thornton Freeway, Dallas.

Another of Dallas' most beloved traditions in December is the Christmas Parade. Held on the first Saturday in December, it's one of the largest outdoor events in the city. You'll see hundreds of people celebrating in costume with balloons, floats and marching bands.

The Christmas parade usually starts at the corner of Commerce and Houston Streets at 8am. This event is completely free if you want to watch it from the streets. However, if you want to watch the parade from comfortable bleacher seats located in various areas of the city, I recommend purchasing your ticket in advance.

The parade usually takes place on the first of December or the first Saturday of the month. The parade also passes through Commerce Street, past the Adolphus Hotel and on to Harwood Street. The entire route culminates at Young Street. This event is televised on the same day and is usually repeated on 25 December.

Details of interest

• Price: Free event. Tickets to the grandstands can be priced from €10 and upwards.
• When to go: 1st of December or the first Saturday of this month.
• Hours: 8am to 10am.
• Location: Downtown Dallas.

It's hard not to know the story of The Polar Express, that famous children's tale where children travel by train to the North Pole. If you want to live that experience or at least simulate it, a ride aboard The Polar Express is your best option for Christmas in Dallas.

This themed train departs from the Palestine Depot where the Texas State Railroad is located. Along the way you can listen to the soundtrack of the animated movie inspired by this tale. As well as taking in the scenery along the way, the chefs on board will serve biscuits and hot chocolate.

As the train progresses you can read the story along with the other passengers. It's a good idea to give the book to children as a gift just after boarding. This way they can have a magical experience.

Note that you can buy different types of tickets. First class tickets offer seating for groups of two or four. You will also receive Polar Express mugs as souvenirs, as well as chocolate and biscuits. All other classes do not include a complimentary mug. In economy class there are Pullman style seats where two people can be seated. At the end of the journey passengers will be able to see Santa and his elves.

Interesting details

• Price: from €30 for adults and €50 for children.
• When to go: first of December or the first Saturday of this month.
• Hours: 8am to 10am.
• Location: 789 Park Rd 70, Palestine, TX 75801, United States.

A unique display of 20 rooms with extravagant Christmas decorations can be enjoyed at Snowday. Here, the little ones can take unique photos with Father Christmas as a souvenir. These are taken with professional cameras and sent instantly to the phone for posting on social media. Definitely an experience to show off on your Instagram.

Snowday is an immersive experience created by the BAYMO team and is based in Dallas. When you visit the attraction, you'll see that all the walls and ceilings are filled with Christmas images. It's the perfect place to take all the pictures you want.

Please note that the photographs are taken by professionals. These photos are then sent to your mobile phone. In addition to the themed decorations, you will find around 20 enchanted rooms with interactive, immersive and even nostalgic spaces. In one of them you'll encounter colourful characters such as Santa's elf helpers.

You only need an hour to explore the whole place. Tickets cost an average of €25. Be aware that on some days Snowday can be very busy, so you'll need to get there early.

Interesting details

• Price: around €25.
• Hours: 11am to 7:30pm.
• Location: 13350 Dallas Pkwy. Suite #1020. Dallas, TX 75240

The Texas Christkindl Market is a traditional European-style Christmas market. You can take advantage of your holidays to visit it and buy whatever you want. It is open to the public from the end of November until 23 December.

Admission to the market is free, you only have to pay for what you consume or for the attractions you want to use. Some years the market has a large skating rink, but to use it you have to pay an entrance fee of approximately €20. All activities are accompanied by Christmas music.

As it is inspired by the traditional German Christmas markets, you will find food, drink, crafts and much more from Germany. It can be a relaxing and entertaining visit for the whole family.

Interesting details

• Price: free admission.
• When to go: from the end of November to 23 December.
• Hours: 11am to 8pm.
• Location: North Plaza at Globe Life Field.

New Year's Eve fireworks are a worldwide tradition. When in Dallas you can experience this moment in many ways. One of them is to stroll around different clubs and restaurants, or visit downtown Dallas.

One of the most popular options is to go to the Reunion Tower Over the Top event. From this iconic observation deck, you'll be able to see the only 360-degree panoramic fireworks display in Texas. The show starts a few minutes before midnight. You can also see them if you're at City Hall Plaza.

However, if you go to Reunion Tower, you'll also have the opportunity to visit its restaurants and dine before the show. You can also visit Sundance Square, located in downtown Fort Worth. This square is often the site of a midnight countdown, food, drink and more.

If you don't feel like taking a walking tour of Dallas to see the Christmas decorations, I recommend taking a carriage tour. Highland Park is an exclusive area of Dallas that is home to mansions and spectacular homes. During the Christmas season the decorations are beautiful and you can take a carriage ride to admire them.

Throughout this neighbourhood there are always millions of Christmas lights installed, not only on the houses, but also on the road. When you get on the carriage you can experience something out of a fairy tale. The carriage is pulled by docile horses and you can choose different types of these vehicles according to their capacity.

If you are travelling as a couple this can indeed be a romantic December plan. During the trip you can enjoy a hot chocolate. Keep in mind that this tour should be done at night to enjoy the lights to the fullest.

The weather in Dallas during December is usually cold, but not too cold. Temperatures range from 7°C to 14°C (45°F to 57°F). On the other hand, the days tend to be shorter so as you walk around the city it will get dark quickly. However, there are Christmas activities that you can enjoy regardless of the time of day.

For this weather I recommend wearing jumpers that keep you a bit warm but not too warm. Comfortable, warm shoes and comfortable trousers. As rain is common during the last days of the month, it is best to bring an umbrella.

The Dallas Christmas parade in December is usually quite low, especially during the Christmas season. This makes it an ideal time to stroll around and get to know the city. If you like to experience different traditions, this time of year is ideal for you.

On the other hand, prices for attractions and even flights are usually not very low. However, they are cheaper than the most frequented months of July and August.