’Tis the season for hot chocolate, garland, mistletoe and—of course—Christmas lights! We’ve rounded up the best festive displays across the Metroplex, sure to bring that extra dose of cheer to your December.
Plus, we’ve got guides to our favorite destinations for ice skating rinks, where to see Santa or drink hot chocolate, and what to do with the kids on winter break. Gather the family and enjoy these light shows and exhibits below, listed in order of their openings.
*Editor’s Picks
(Top image courtesy of Prairie Lights)
*Holiday at the Arboretum
Where: Dallas Arboretum, 8525 Garland Road, Dallas
When: Nov. 9–Dec. 31, 2022
What to know: One of Dallas’ main holiday attractions, will have you feeling all warm inside even if the weather is chilly. Holiday at the Arboretum features like 25-foot-tall Victorian-style gazebos—each representing one day of 12 Days of Christmas—and the German-inspired Christmas Village with a musical tree, and this year, a new exhibit inside the DeGoyler House honoring Christmas, Hannukah and Kwanzaa.
Tickets from $10 for early bird admission and for nighttime viewing.
*ICE! Featuring The Polar Express
Where: Gaylord Texan Resort, 1501 Gaylord Trail, Grapevine
When: Nov. 11, 2022–Jan. 1, 2023
What to know: Step inside to enjoy the resort’s 4-acre indoor atrium, showcasing millions of twinkle lights, and even more walking through the Merry & Light lights, but the real draw is the myriad of recreational activities: ice skating, snow tubing, snow throwing, and the return of the ICE! exhibit, featuring enormous sculptures of colorful ice in scenes from the popular Christmas story The Polar Express.
Tickets: Prices vary by activity, but the ICE! starts at $25.99 for adults, $16.99 for children; under 4 free. Bundles available. Overnight guests get extra perks.
*Dallas Zoo Lights
Where: Dallas Zoo, 650 S. R.L. Thornton Freeway, Dallas
When: Nov. 17, 2022–Jan. 1, 2023
What to know: Dallas Zoo Lights returns as a walk-thru event with more than a million lights twinkling across most of the zoo, new larger-than-life animal lanterns, elaborate holiday-themed displays in ZooNorth and Wilds of Africa, festive drinks and snacks for all ages. You can also visit Santa’s Workshop to see the jolly old elf himself.
Tickets: Prices start at $18 for adults and $14 for youth; and Dallas Zoo Members get a $4 discount, with some levels getting free admission.
Lightscape
Where: Fort Worth Botanic Garden, 3220 Botanic Garden Boulevard, Fort Worth
When: Select evenings Nov. 18, 2022–Jan. 8, 2023
What to know: New this year, spectacular artistic installations along a one-mile path light up after nightfall and come to life with color, imagination and sound. You’ll walk through a fire garden, waves of bluebonnets, singing trees, treetop sculptures, and more artistic installations. Plus, you can toast marshmallows over a fire and drink hot chocolate at stations along the trail.
Tickets: $28 adults; $18 children; under 3 free. Tickets are required for admittance, with entry times available every 15 minutes from 5:45–9pm nightly. The average tour time from start to finish is 1.5 hours, although there is no time limit.
The Light Park
Where: Hurricane Harbor Arlington, 1800 E Lamar Blvd., Arlington
When: Nov. 4, 2022 – Jan. 1, 2023. Open 5:30–10pm Mondays–Thursdays and 5:30–11pm Fridays–Sundays. Open until 11pm Dec. 19–23.
What to know: This one’s a drive-thru lights show, so organizers ask you to stay put in the cab of your vehicles. They estimate the show will take about 30–40 minutes to drive through on weekdays and 60–90 minutes on weekends or holidays.
Tickets: General admission starts at $39 per car, typically $49 per car on the weekends, and select days after Christmas are $29 per vehicle. Purchase tickets online for a reserved showtime. Tickets are also available at the gate on a limited basis. Upgrade to the Dasher Pass for a shorter wait time and four pairs of Magic Glasses. You can also reserve soda, candy, popcorn and light-up toys.
*Radiance! & Frozen in Frisco
Where: Riders Field (formerly Dr Pepper Ballpark), 7300 Roughriders Trail, Frisco
When: Nov. 18–Dec. 31, 2022
What to know: The Radiance! holiday lights show is back with millions of Christmas lights, plus the family attraction Frozen in Frisco. Combo tickets include with a two-story ice tubing hill, ice skating, snowball throw. VIP tickets gets you access to even more activities: bumper cars on ice, snowman building, and a Bucking Blitzen ride.
Tickets: Tickets are on sale soon. Last year admission was from $19.99 per child; from $29.99 for adults. $14.99 VIP for Fast Pass to light show, VIP entrance to event, bottomless upgraded hot chocolate, holiday cookie, retail discount and free parking.
Christmas in the Square
Where: 8843 Coleman Blvd., Frisco
When: Nov. 18, 2022–Jan. 3, 2023; times vary
What to know: Christmas in the Square returns with ice skating, Santa meet and greets, carriage rides, even a Christmas tree lot. Visitors can tune to 107.3 FM on their car radio and drive through, or listen to the music pumped through the square while walking the free display—filled with 180,000 lights and 200 dancing snowflakes.
Tickets: Free to view lights show; $15 each for ice skating, Santa visits and carriage rides; $20 for story time with Anna, Elsa and Olaf
Holiday in the Park
Where: Six Flags Over Texas, 2201 E. Road to Six Flags Street, Arlington
When: Nov. 19, 2022–Jan. 1, 2023; times vary by date; lights on at sundown
What to know: In between the thrill rides you’ll enjoy festive shows including the Holly Jolly Holiday Parade and meet Santa in the Merry Marketplace. Plus, every night the park is open, Santa Claus lights the giant Christmas Tree at the front of the park.
Tickets: Online tickets from $59.99.
GM Financial Parade of Lights
Where: Downtown Fort Worth, parade begins at the intersection of Weatherford and Throckmorton Streets and ends on Third Street. See the complete route information and a full map here.
When: Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022 (the Sunday before Thanksgiving) at 6pm
What to know: The largest illuminated holiday parade in all of Texas, with more than 100 floats expected to march down the 2.2-mile parade route around downtown Fort Worth.
Tickets: See from the sidewalk sidelines for free or reserve a street seat, starting at $20.
*Carol of Lights
Where: Grapevine City Hall, 200 S. Main St., Grapevine
When: Monday, Nov. 21, 2022
What to know: The Christmas Capital of Texas illuminates its historic downtown with hundreds of thousands of lights up and down Main Street. Sing along with the 40-foot community animated Singing Christmas Tree. Grapevine’s first-ever ice-skating rink with real ice will be open (through January 8). Be sure to come back for the Merry & Bright drone show on Dec. 3 and many more events happening in Grapevine this season.
Tickets: Free admission
Vitruvian Lights
Where: Vitruvian Park, 3875 Ponte Avenue, Addison
When: Nov. 25, 2022–Jan. 1, 2023; lights on 5–11pm nightly
What to know: Stroll or drive through 12 acres of colorful trees at Vitruvian Park’s annual free holiday light display of 550 trees in multicolored LEDs. On the Friday after Thanksgiving, come to see the flip switch and stay for free photos with Santa, an elf balloon artist, and live music by Jordan Kahn Orchestra. Catch more live music on Saturday, Dec. 3.
Tickets: Free admission
Lights on the Lake
Where: Little Elm Park, 701 West El Dorado Parkway, Little Elm
When: Nov. 25–Dec. 27, 2022; 6–10pm Thursday–Sunday
What to know: Along with an incredible light show, Lights on The Lake offers pictures with Santa, a hot air balloon glow, a Ferris wheel, a carousel, an ice skating rink, and themed weekends featuring Anna and Elsa, Santa and his reindeer, The Grinch, and The Elf on the Shelf. New this year: the holiday drone shows that go with the weekend’s themes, and a holiday kick-off parade on Saturday, Dec. 3.
Tickets: In advance: $26 adults; $16 children; under 3 free. At the door: $30 adults; $20 children.
Gift of Lights
Where: Texas Motor Speedway, 3545 Lone Star Circle, Fort Worth
When: Nov. 24, 2022 – Jan 1, 2023; Friday–Saturday 6–10pm, Sunday–Thursday 6–9pm
What to know: Relax and enjoy the ride as your family cruises through Fort Worth’s Gift of Lights, a 2-mile light park with millions (yes, millions) of shining bulbs.
Tickets: Tickets start at $30 per car on weekdays and $35 on weekends. Note that this year’s display will not include Santa’s Village.
Prairie Lights
Where: Lynn Creek Park at Joe Pool Lake, 5610 Lake Ridge Parkway, Grand Prairie
When: Nov. 24–Dec. 31, 2022, open nightly at 6pm
What to know: Prepare to be dazzled with 4 million lights across two miles in this drive-thru holiday park. Be sure to stop at the Holiday Village for a stroll through the beautiful Walk-Thru Forest, enjoy holiday shopping, sip or snack on tasty concessions, and grab a picture with Santa.
Tickets are $50 for a regular car pass, or $149 for a fast pass, which allows you to select your arrival time and skip the line.
Update: Prairie Lights will be closed December 22–23, due to weather conditions. Guess holding pre-purchased general admission passes may use those passes on any night through Dec. 31, and guests with Fast Passes should check their email for instructions on how to redeem for another evening. A “Days of Saving” promotion starts Dec. 26. Use code SAVE20 to save 20% on general admission car pass.
*Deerfield Holiday Lights
Where: Between Preston Road and Coit Road, Plano
When: Dec. 1–30, 2022; 7–10pm weekdays and 7–11pm on weekends
What to know: This northwest Plano neighborhood has quite the reputation of elaborate holiday light displays. Cars and pedestrians are free to tour the streets, but these are private homes so please be respectful and stay in your vehicles. For an even more magical experience, reserve a carriage to top off your evening at dfwcarriages.com, available all month except Christmas Day.
Interlochen Lights
Where: Interlochen neighborhood, 2001 Westwood Drive, Arlington
When: Mid-December through Christmas Day, 2022 at 7pm until around 11pm
What to know: For nearly 45 years, more than 200 homeowners in this northwest Arlington neighborhood near Interstate 30 celebrate the season by adorning their homes and property with festive lights and holiday-themed displays. The area’s festive lights have become must-see attraction for families in Metroplex. Traffic is always heavy, so expect your drive through the streets to take up the whole evening. Admission is free and lights reoccur nightly. Watch a video preview and find a printable map here at arlingtontx.gov.
*Denton Holiday Lights
Where: Denton Downtown Square, 110 W. Hickory Street, Denton
When: Friday, Dec. 2, 2022, 6–9pm
What to know: There’s no place like Denton this holiday season, where the downtown square’s lights turn on when the sun goes down and local businesses compete in the wassail tasting competition.
RELATED: How to Create New Holiday Traditions
Top photo courtesy of Prairie Lights
