’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.
Where: Dallas Zoo, 650 S. R.L. Thornton Freeway
When: Nov. 19, 2021–Jan. 2, 2022, 6–9:30pm
What to know: Dallas Zoo Lights returns as a socially distanced drive-thru experience with a mile-long route featuring one million twinkling lights, elaborate holiday-themed displays, dazzling 3-D lighted sculptures, larger-than-life animal lanterns you can see from the comfort of your vehicle.
Holiday at the Arboretum Dallas
Where: Dallas Arboretum, 8525 Garland Road
When: Nov. 10–Dec. 31, 2021; member preview Nov. 9
What to know: One of Dallas’ main holiday attractions, Holiday at the Arboretum will have you feeling all warm inside even if the weather is chilly.
Radiance! Featuring Frozen in Frisco
Where: Riders Field (formerly Dr Pepper Ballpark), 7300 Roughriders Trail, Frisco
When: Nov. 18, 2021–Jan. 1, 2022
What to know: The Radiance! holiday lights show is back with an all-new family attraction called Frozen in Frisco, with a two-story ice tubing hill, ice skating, snowball throw, bumper cars on ice, a 108-foot Ferris wheel overlooking the majestic Radiance! light show, and, of course, Santa greetings.
Where: Little Elm Park, 600 Main Street
When: Nov. 20, 2021 – Jan 2, 2022
What to know: Drive through this holiday lights. Pricing per carload, or you can bypass must of the traffic with a Dash Pass.
Where: 3875 Ponte Ave., Addison
When: Nov. 26, 2021 – Jan. 2, 2022; 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.
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: Nov. 21 (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.
Where: Six Flags Over Texas, 2201 E. Road to Six Flags St.
When: Nov. 19, 2021 – Jan. 2, 2022; times vary by date; lights on at sundown
What to know: In between the thrill rides you’ll enjoy festive shows including the all-new Holly Jolly Holiday Parade and meet Santa in the Merry Marketplace.
Where: Interlochen neighborhood, 2001 Westwood Dr.
When: Mid-December–Christmas Day, 2021 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.
Where: Texas Motor Speedway, 3545 Lone Star Circle
When: Nov. 25, 2021 – Jan 2, 2022; 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.
Where: 8843 Coleman Blvd., Frisco
When: Nov. 19 through Jan. 3, 2022; 6–10pm
What to know: Christmas in the Square returns with ice skating, Santa meet and greets, carriage rides, even a Christmas tree lot.
Where: Lynn Creek Park at Joe Pool Lake, 5610 Lake Ridge Parkway
When: Nov. 25 – Dec. 31, 2021, open nightly at 6pm
What to know: Prepare to be dazzled with 4 million lights across two miles in this drive-thru holiday park.
Grapevine Christmas Spectacular
Where: Grapevine City Hall, 200 S. Main St., Grapevine
When: Nov. 22, 2021 – Jan. 9, 2022
What to know: The Christmas Capital of Texas illuminates its historic downtown with hundreds of thousands of lights up and down Main Street.
Lone Star Christmas Featuring Elf
Where: Gaylord Texan Resort, 1501 Gaylord Trail
When: Nov. 12, 2021 – Jan. 2, 2022
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 new this year.
Where: Between Preston Road and Coit Road
When: Dec. 1–30, 2021; 7–10pm weekdays and 7–11pm on weekends
What to know: This northwest Plano neighborhood has quite the reputation of elaborate holiday light displays.
Where: Denton Downtown Square, 110 W. Hickory St.
When: Friday, Dec. 3, 2021, check back soon for more info as it’s announced.
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.
Ho Ho Ho Holidays in the Stockyards
Where: Fort Worth Stockyards, 131 E. Exchange Ave.
When: Check back for details about 2021 entertainment as it’s announced.
What to know: Enjoy a Cowboy Christmas in the Fort Worth Stockyards, with thousands of twinkling lights, a 30-foot tree, strolling carolers, Santa photos, and rodeo competitions at the Cowtown Coliseum on Friday and Saturday nights.