NOTE: These listings were for the year 2012.
'Tis the season to be jolly! What better way to get in the holiday spirit than going to see Christmas lights, visiting Santa and ice skating. Here's a list of some of the Winter wonderlands around the Metroplex.
Dallas | Tarrant | Collin | Denton
Farmers Branch - Farmers Branch Tour of Lights
Just follow the candy canes! Drive through an amazing display of over 300,000 lights in the Farmers Branch Historical Park. The tour starts at Valley View Lane and Interstate 35. The light display runs from November 23 through December 31, and will be turned on every evening from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Grand Prairie - Prairie Lights -- Powered by Gexa Energy
The must see light display of the season resides in Grand Prairie. Over 4 million Christmas lights adorn the World’s longest light tunnel. Open Thanksgiving night until New Years Eve, this light display offers fun family activities from pictures with Santa Claus, walk-through light displays and a new Holiday Magic light show. Vehicle admission ranges from $20 for cars on non-holiday weekdays to $50-$80 for shuttle vans and buses.
Mesquite - Mesquite Parks and Recreation - Christmas in the Park
Taking a stroll through this beautifully lit park will definitely get you in the holiday spirit with all the lights illuminating! Taking place December 6 through December 8, the Westlake Parks annual event will be overflowing with holiday cheer. Live music and entertainment throughout the weekend will get everyone singing and dancing with holiday tunes. Even Santa and friends took time out of their busy schedule to stop by every evening. Do not forget to dress warm for this outdoor event as it may get so chilly that Frosty the Snowman may even make an appearance!
The Scene
Dallas - Highland Park Village Christmas Lights
This neighborhood is famous to the locals as the go-to spot in the area to drive through and see dazzling and creative Christmas lights. The lights will be illuminated on the evening of November 23 and will run through to Christmas. Additionally on that evening, festivities will include caroling, face painting, dance performances, carriage rides, and photos with Santa.
Dallas - City Lights
The annual holiday lights in downtown Dallas take over five blocks of the area with festive decorations, covering the city's official Christmas tree, Neiman Marcus Crawl Tube, and other holiday displays. Read more here: Hundreds Attend Downtown Tree Lighting
Fort Worth - Fort Worth Parade of Lights
The 30th annual Chesapeake Energy Parade of Lights will be held November 23. The parade will host over 100 highly illuminated entries, 500,000 lights and the Sundance Square Christmas Tree. The parade will transform Downtown with "The Wonder of it All!" theme. Bringing up the finale float of the parade will be a brand new Santa float featuring the stars of the show, Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Fort Worth - The T's Holiday Lights Tours
The T and Stockyards Station will host their annual Holiday Lights tours of more than 200 decorated homes on Saturday, Dec. 8 and Sunday, Dec. 9, starting at 5:30 p.m. with pre-tour festivities and bus boardings from 6:30 to 7 p.m. at Stockyards Station, at 130 East Exchange Avenue. Tickets are $5 per person, children 5 and under are free.
Fort Worth - Gift of Lights at Texas Motor Speedway
Join the holiday season celebration at Gift of Lights at Texas Motor Speedway going on through January 6. Families and visitors can drive the 1.7-mile route and experience sparkling holiday displays made with over 1 million energy-efficient LED lights, all within the comfort of their own cars. Tickets are $15 per vehicle on Monday-Thursday, $20 on Friday-Sunday.
Fort Worth - Chesapeake Lights
Holiday light lovers are welcome to visit Chesapeake Plaza at 100 Energy Way in Fort Worth through the end of 2012. Visitors can stroll through the plaza and gaze at the 1.1 million energy-efficient LED lights adoring 110 oak and cypress trees. Parking is available off Fifth Avenue and Forest Park.
Arlington - Holiday Lights Parade
A downtown Arlington Christmas tradition continues this year, where a flurry of floats adorned with lights marches through the streets surrounding City Hall. Families set up "camp" along the parade route, so make sure you plan accordingly to snag a good spot to view the parade. The parade begins at 6 p.m. on Saturday, December 1, 2012 and ends with the lighting of the Christmas tree on the steps of City Hall. Santa will even be there to take pictures at the Levitt Pavilion.
Arlington - Interlochen
The holiday light tradition returns to Arlington as the Interlochen neighborhood comes alive with lights. More than 200 homeowners have decorated their houses with festive lights and Christmas displays. The display starts December 14 and runs from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. each day through Christmas. Visitors must enter the Interlochen neighborhood from Randol Mill Road at Westwood Drive. Arlington police will control traffic to help ensure safe travel in the area.
Cleburne - Whistle Stop Christmas
Come celebrate the 16th anniversary of Cleburne’s Whistle Stop Christmas. Over 3.5 million lights have transformed Hulen Park into a Christmas Wonderland. The celebration begins on November 19 with the lighting of the Christmas lights and the parade in downtown Cleburne, and continues through December 31. There will also be live entertainment by a community choir, representing area churches, singing Christmas music and live theater groups presenting holiday plays.
Grapevine – The Christmas Capital of Texas
Grapevine offers the ultimate in Christmas celebration. Every weekend in December come celebrate Christmas on Main Street. Bring your family and friends to enjoy free hay rides, reindeer games, decorations, and of course Santa. Other Christmas activities in Grapevine include a North Pole Express Train, ice-skating, Christmas movies, and a Home for the Holidays musical. Don’t miss this one and only Christmas extravaganza. The holiday celebrations begin at 7 p.m. on November 19 with the Carol of Lights and on December 6 with the Parade of lights.
Frisco - Christmas in the Square
If you’re in the Frisco area be sure to check out the dazzling light display in the Frisco Square. The holiday lights and music show run nightly from November 23 through January 6. Drawing in 500,000 visitors annually, the holiday events range from a hot air Balloon Glow, to the traditional visit from Santa, and Frisco's first outdoor ice rink.
McKinney - Heard Holiday Trail of Lights
Escape hibernation! Bundle up your family, get out of the house, and experience the most unique holiday lighting display in North Texas. Enjoy the 4th annual Heard Holiday Trail of Lights on December 14th-15th from 6:30-9 pm. See thousands of holiday décor and lights—many synchronized to holiday music—along a half mile Heard nature trail
Corinth - Whetstone Lights
Every holiday season, this neighborhood just south of Denton becomes a village of 55,000 computerized lights. Drive through the neighborhood to see the dazzling display, all of which is synchronized to holiday music. The lights run from the 6 p.m. November 25th to Christmas til midnight.
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