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'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

DALLAS COUNTY

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! 

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

TARRANT COUNTY

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.

COLLIN COUNTY

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

DENTON COUNTY

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.

Have other Holiday Light locations we should know about? Click here to e-mail us.

For the last 40 years, The Kimbell Art Museum has been collecting and displaying pieces of art in Fort Worth, with an emphasis on conservation.

In the new exhibit, "The Kimbell at 40: An Evolving Masterpiece," the museum is putting on the largest display ever of its permanent collection from Oct. 7 to Dec. 30.

More than 220 pieces from the collection will be on display throughout the museum -- and it's all free.

Going further, the Kimbell has produced a brand-new app for iPad that allows visitors to get additional information about 32 selected works from the collection.

"Conservation is one of the most important and fascinating things we do here at the Kimbell, and it's so rare that we have the opportunity to share this type of behind-the-scenes information with our visitors," Museum director Eric M Lee said. "With the iPad app, we're able to deliver in-depth research, descriptive images and intriguing discoveries too extensive to be included on the gallery wall labels, in an innovative format that allows for personalized exploration of the collection."

The app is a significant update to the labels, audio tours, or other interactive informational options as it allows visitors to access background text, zoomable images, and more for works by Caravaggio, Monet, Picasso, Michelangelo and others at their own pace.

The free app will be available for public use on 20 iPads available for public use at the museum.

NBC 5 is a media sponsor of "The Kimbell at 40" exhibit.

Tens of thousands of people attended Plano's annual Christmas Parade.

The Early Lions Club puts on the annual event.

"It's a tradition in Plano we think is very special that we enjoy doing every year," resident Mark Sims said. "The kids look forward to it. We get doughnuts and hot chocolate."

The marching bands of all nine Plano high schools performed in the parade, which had dozens of floats from civic groups and churches. Boy Scouts and other groups handed out candy to children.

The Lions say 4,200 people were in the parade.

Before the parade, which NBC 5 sponsors, the Lions held a pancake breakfast with Santa Clause where people donated canned goods to the Plano Food Pantries.

A previous version of this story had the incorrect start time for the Dallas Marathon. The marathon starts at 8 a.m. NBC 5 regrets the error.

The Dallas Marathon may be taking its cues from one of James Brown's signature lines.

Brown used to say "let's take it to the bridge" during his songs -- and the marathon's new route crosses the Trinity River into the West Dallas loop and the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge.

The change means a big single-day marketing opportunity for West Dallas businesses.

"It's the Super Bowl for all of us in this area," said Mike Babb, owner of Babb Bros BBQ. "Right now, it's a big deal."

About 25,000 runners are expected participate in the Dallas Marathon, formerly the Dallas White Rock Lake Marathon. Thousands more will line the streets as spectators.

West Dallas Loop organizers say the visitors will see the new hot spot for growth in Dallas.

"It's really just been in the last six months, if you will, that there's been an enormous amount of activity in terms of openings," said Jeff Herrington of West Dallas Loop. "They're going to be passing through and seeing a West Dallas that's transforming."

New businesses such as restaurants, health spas, and retail stores are along the west loop. There are plans to highlight them with micro-parties featuring food, live music, entertainment and children's activities.

Businesses plan to put their best foot forward during the marathon to build a lasting new customer base.

"For a long time it's been Kessler Park, Bishop Arts, the Methodist hospital and, now, it's another brand new community," said Dustin Thibodeaux of the Clairevista Vitality Club.

The marathon starts at 8 a.m. Sunday.

Feeling adventurous? A new reality show is looking for outgoing people, and there's a casting call in Dallas.

"We're going throughout the country looking for teams of two people; people who are up for the challenge, people who are outgoing, whether you're family members, whether you're co-workers, whether you're buddies. We're looking for people who already have a connection and people who are willing to give it their all for what is definitely going to be the ultimate reality survival competition," said Bear Grylls of his upcoming adventure show to air on NBC.

To be eligible, contestants must be a legal U.S resident who is at least 21 years old as of Feb. 1, 2013. They also must have a United States passport that's valid as of Feb. 1, 2013 through Oct. 15, 2013.

The North Texas casting will be Sunday, Dec. 9 at the Gilley's at 1135 South Lamar St. in Dallas, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The show relies on pairs, and it's important that both people attend the casting call for the team to be considered.

Full details, the application and requirements are posted on NBCBearShow.com.
 

Mary J. Blige fans will be sad to hear the singer has canceled her Sunday concert and won't be rescheduling this time.

Blige was scheduled to take the stage at the American Airlines Center in November, but that show was rescheduled for Sunday, December 9.

The AAC reports The Liberation Tour with special guest Brandy has been canceled. Ticket holders can receive a refund from the point of purchase.

Reason for the postponement were not immediately released.

Unfortunately the singer's website was still urging fans to buy tickets for the canceled concert. And the singer's Twitter account touted tickets to the Dallas concert as well.

Blige has no other scheduled tour dates in 2012, but according to EW.com she's expected to join the Rolling Stones at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn Saturday night.
 

From the Tannenbaum to the pre-lit artificial tree sitting in your living room, we highlight the history of Christmas tree.

The modern Christmas tree dates back to 16th century Germany. In that period, some churches and guildhalls began putting up evergreen fir trees, or Tannenbaums. These trees were often decorated with fruit, nuts, or pretzels, which were then collected by the children on Christmas morning as gifts.

As the tradition gained prominence, people like Martin Luther have been said to introduce other elements to the tradition, including adding decorations to symbolize the stars in the sky. In the 19th century, Russia, France, and England began to adopt the tradition, though American immigrants from Germany claim to have introduced Christmas trees as early as 1777.

Before electric string lights were created, Christmas trees were lit by candles placed in the branches of the tree, a process still used by some to decorate their tree. The dripping wax then fell too often on the floor of the house, along with needles, which added the need for a tree skirt below the tree.

Traditions for setting up the tree vary from place to place. In many countries, setting up the tree previous to the first day of winter -- Dec. 22 -- is considered bad luck, while in others, like Australia, the tree is put up as early as Dec. 1, the normal start date for their school holiday season. In the United States, the day after Thanksgiving is often for more than just getting some shopping deals -- it's also time to bust out the Christmas decorations.

Artificial trees have become very popular in recent years as deforestation, fire danger, and allergies have become leading reasons look into purchase of the reusable trees instead of the annual ritual of chopping down a new fir. Even with pre-lit artificial trees, traditions for decoration vary from family to family.

Among the glittering events happening in Miami for Art Basel is a private dinner and auction presented by Chanel and Paddle8.com to benefit the Henry Street Settlement’s Boys & Girls Republic (BGR) and the Dash Snow Initiative.

A group of Snow’s closest friends are honoring his memory by raising funds for an after-school program in his name, and the artists donating works include high-wattage names, such as Julian Schnabel, Ryan McGuinley, Jeff Koons, Richard Prince and Dan Colen, among many others.

This unique project honors Snow’s legacy by giving back to the most vulnerable youth in BGR's community, a neighborhood with significant meaning in Snow's life.

Bidding is open until tomorrow, December 5th at 12pm EST — please visit Paddle8.com for more information.

Why doesn't PETA go after the artists behind these Christmas songs featuring animals?

We detail the cringe-worthy aspects of these annoying songs below.

Dominick the Donkey - Lou Monte

We've always been told that reindeer pull the sleigh, but in Italy (according to this song), donkeys get the honor of hauling Christmas gifts into town. Why? Because flying reindeer can't climb hills. Seriously. Of course it gets weirder as Monte switches into a half-English half-Italian round of lyrics to close the tune. We don't even know what he's saying, and we don't want to listen again to find out.

I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas - Gayla Peevey

Of course an Okie made this song. (We're just kidding, Oklahoma. Don't cry.) Ten-year-old Gayla Peevey sings her little heart out about wanting a two-ton semi-aquatic mammal that often attack humans and are considered one of the most dangerous large animals in Africa. It's pretty hard to explain to a child that a territorial beast that sprays its waste all around them isn't a very good animal to have in the house, so we'll have to chalk this up as a "cute" misunderstanding.

Silent Night - Jingle Cats

Around our house, a Silent Night is one where you don't hear cats screeching. Not so to the Jingle Cats crew. They've made dozens of Christmas favorites into annoying reminders not to feed that stray tabby. Cat lovers will appreciate that this tune is apparently made of real cat meows, unlike a lot of the other almost auto-tuned purrs on the Jingle Cat channel.

The Singing Dogs Jingle Bells - Dr. Demento

Play this for your dog. They'll enjoy it more than you do.

The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late) - The Chipmunks

Have you seen the trailers for "Chipwrecked," the latest movie in the resurgent "Alvin and the Chipmunks" series? They just look awful. But it makes sense that the film (like it's predecessors) would be released near Christmas -- after all, that's when we were all first introduced to the group 53 years ago. Yes, the above song, including the classic "hula hoop" lyric, spent four weeks at No. 1 starting in December of 1958 and sold more than 4 million copies in seven weeks.

So, the song is pretty popular -- and, honestly, it's one of our favorite tunes during the holidays, since it reminds us of our less Grinchy youth. But, play it twice in-a-row. Now play it loud enough for your other office folks to hear it. Everyone will try their chipmunk impression, you'll have "a huuuula hoop" stuck in your head for a day, and you might cringe the next time you hear it on a play list. Sorry.

You think these are bad? Check out Five Terrible Holiday Songs here and share your least favorites.

Did we miss some other annoying animal-related Christmas tunes? Tell us in the comments below.

It's a holiday tradition to turn on tunes while trimming the tree, but after hearing just one of these awful excuses for "holiday classics," we're more likely to trim off our ears to keep from hearing them again. Here are five of the terrible tunes we hope to avoid this year.

Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer - Elmo and Patsy

It might have been funny when we were six, but this "comic" salute to octogenarian homicide via arctic mammal seems idiotic now. We're all for having fun during the holiday season, but this piece of hokey sonic sludge irks every time a DJ thinks it's time for "something lighter" after a four minute version of the sluggish Bob Seger version of "Little Drummer Boy."

 Last Christmas - Wham!

We'd imagine the conversation went something like this: "Hey guys, it's your manager. Holiday season is coming up and the label really thinks a Christmas song will be a big hit. I know you're working on that broken heart song, do you think you could just insert the word Christmas into it? Like, instead of 'Last year, I gave you my heart' it could be 'Last Christmas, I gave you my heart?' Would mean huge sales for the holidays! Thanks, guys!"

Seriously, listen to this song; the lyrics could change with all the holidays -- "Last Halloween," "Last Valentine's Day," "Last Veteran's Day," etc. -- and it wouldn't change the fact that it's a whiny love song about being dumped. Where's the love, togetherness, or family in this Holiday song? Get over it, guys.

The Christmas Shoes - NewSong

We originally read the story of "The Christmas Shoes" in a chain e-mail. It didn't touch our stony hearts then, and the NewSong adaptation into this schmaltzy piece of sickening trash actually made us turn against this tale of a kid that begs for shoes in order to get his mom well-dressed for the afterlife. Yes, we know Jesus is the reason for the season, and we don't dispute the fact that if we'd read it in a Chicken Soup for the Soul book, we'd be a little more likely to be emotionally effected -- still, it's a strange thought that the kid is more worried about how his mom will look when she's dead than spending time with her on their last Christmas together.

Do They Know It's Christmas? - Band Aid

Yes, let's remind everyone feasting on fruitcake and Christmas ham that African children are dying of starvation and won't see snow. This product of the '80s not only gives us the guilty Debbie Downer feeling after we hear it, the video provides photographic evidence of the largest gathering of mullets ever. With the amount of money these pop stars spent on their hair, we'd bet they could have fed Africa three times over. Thanks for killing our Christmas cheer, Bob Geldof -- go spray your hair with the guys from Duran Duran.

Simply Having a Wonderful Christmastime - Paul McCartney

Absolutely the worst Holiday song ever, this massive pile of nonsense isn't just the worst thing ever written by a Beatle (yes, we're including Ringo's solo stuff), it's the only song we've ever heard that can use just two notes to raise our blood pressure to near heart attack levels. The lyrics are useless, the synth line sounds like a kid playing on a new Casio keyboard they just got for their seventh birthday, and it's mixed all together with some ridiculous choral portions that serve only to remind us that Paul was able to convince others to join in on this affront to all good musical sense.

We've heard urban legends that the song was written to win a bet against someone who challenged Paul to write a holiday song in just five minutes, but as much as we'd like to excuse the song for rushed composing, it's still a terrible song that shouldn't have been released. We just don't understand why people like this horrific holiday tune that makes us simply have a terrible Christmastime.

You think these are bad? Check out Five Terrible Animal-Theme Holiday Songs here and share your least favorites.

The Perot Museum of Nature and Science is a spectacle inside and out, yet there were more jaw-dropping sights to be seen outside the museum Saturday as two acrobats danced to music while rappelling down the side of the museum. 

Minutes later, the museum opened and hundreds of people went in to explore Dallas’ latest wonder.

“It’s big,” said Qwun Davis, referring to the building and not the dinosaur bones he’s surrounded by in one exhibit.  “I like the outside.  I don’t really know how it (the building) stands up because it’s all placed weird.  It’s cool.”

On all five floors, and in all 11 permanent exhibit halls, there’s something to engage or challenge the mind and boddy.

“I just think they’re going to learn so much,” said Ann Hardaway moments after watching her 7-year old daughter Charlotte play meteorologist in front of a map, camera and teleprompter.  “I think they’ve (the museum) done a really good job putting all the information together.  They’ve touched on all the things kids can understand layman-wise.”

“It’s spectacular and it’s engaging, “ said Walt Davis, who’s touring the museum with his wife and grandsons.  “It draws you in and you do things and you learn things as you go along.

The Perot Museum of Nature and Science is all about inspriring young people to want to learn about science and it’s what Ross Perot said needs to happen.

“In our country, we don’t have near enough scientists and engineers,” Perot told NBC 5 shortly before the museum opened.  “80 percent of our PhDs at all of our elite engineering schools like Cal Tech and MIT come from two countries, China and India. Is that amazing?  We’ve got to create those engineers right here.”

Organizers hope the museum is unlike any other and amazes all who enter.

“It’s more than we ever expected,” said former teacher, and Ross Perot’s wife, Margot Perot.  "It’s going to mean a lot to people of all ages so I hope people come again and again."

The five adult Perot children made a $50 million gift to get the museum named in Margot and Ross Perot’s honor.

For more on the museum and to order tickets on line visit perotmuseum.org.
 

Dallas's newest museum, the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, opens Saturday.

The museum, which has been under construction since 2009, will showcase 11 exhibit halls filled with interactive, hands-on learning that is spread out over 180,000 square feet.

In the sports hall, you can compare your form to professional athletes at the motion lab.  On the running wall, you can race a T-Rex, cheetah or even Cowboys running back Felix Jones while learning about your body in motion and velocity.

"The exhibits are finishing up.  The exhibits are fast and furiously getting ready for opening day," said Jennifer Scripps, director of business and partnership development.

Movie star Owen Wilson is a narrator in the Expanding Universe Hall.

"A lot of people know the voice.  You have to tell them, 'He's from Dallas.  It's Owen Wilson'  It's a lot of fun in the Universe Hall.  That's next to the dinosaur hall," said Scripps.

In the T. Boone Pickens Life Then and Now Hall visitors will see the first-ever installation of the Alamosaurus.  You can also compete against an opponent in the "Predator vs. Prey" game to see how adapting to your surroundings is the key to survival.

"I hope people come and have fun.  This is a world-class science museum, and our community is in for a treat," said Scripps.

Tickets are $10 for kids, $15 for adults.  Annual memberships are also available. The museum is located along Woodall Rogers Freeway at Field Street.

It is a gathering unlike any other across the country, and it only happens in North Texas.

Throughout the day on Friday, more than 1,700 children and military spouses arrived at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport as part of the seventh annual Snowball Express, a event for the families of fallen service members.

American Airlines brought in nine charter planes full of families. Others arrived on regular flights, some flying from as far away as Guam, Puerto Rico and Germany.

The loads of planes were greeted with thunderous applause and cheers from dozens of volunteers, American employees, Patriot Guard Riders, military members and even regular travelers.

"It's the least we can do for these kids, for these families who have given so much," said Capt. Jim Palmershem, an American pilot who flew the first flight of the day from Nashville and Arkansas.

The Strattons arrived on a charter from Indianapolis and Washington, D.C. The family of three children and mother, Jennifer, from Stafford, Va., are attending their third Snowball Express.

"The first event we went to, my daughter, Delaney, looked around at all the people and she said, 'They haven't forgotten daddy.'" Jennifer Stratton said. "And I said, 'No they haven't.'  This is one of those weekends where it's America at its best. We just love coming to Texas and that Texans remember our fallen heroes."

The Snowball Express isn't just a warm greeting at DFW Airport. The five-day event includes for the first time a day of activities in the Fort Worth Stockyards.

"We do a thing called the 'Walk of Gratitude,' said Dan Ronan, a member of the board of directors of the Dallas-based charity Snowball Express. "And this is a chance for the community to come out and to try and show people how much they appreciate the service and sacrifice these families have made."

"On Sunday morning, about 10:30, we'll kick off with about 2,000 folks that we can cheer on and let them know how much we appreciate them," Palmershem said.

The Syversons from Carlisle, Penn., have attended every Snowball Express after Army Maj. Paul Syverson was killed by a mortar in Balad, Iraq, in 2004. His daughter Amy, who was just 2 months old at the time, said she enjoyed coming to North Texas for the events.

"It's really great to be here with everyone's support," she said. "It's really nice."

Her mother, Jackie, echoed the sentiment.

"It's a cool honor, because holidays are hard in their own way," she said. "And then when the kids get to come here and do something really cool like this and be around other kids who are like them, it works out great. It's just a really cool way to start the holidays, it means a lot to us."

It also means a lot to the volunteers, who spend hours coordinating the massive five-day operation.

Bridget Johnson, an American operations agent, helped decorate a part of Terminal C for the arriving planes. A former military member herself, Johnson said she can't think of a better way to honor the families.

"We didn't pay the ultimate sacrifice, and these families did," she said. "It means a lot for us to be able to give back."

"It's about creating some happy times around Christmas time," Palmershem said. "I'm not sure who gets more out of it, the kids or the volunteers. But we're just so glad to be here and be a part of this and looking forward to a great weekend here in Dallas-Fort Worth."

Jennifer Stratton said she knows her husband would be happy to hear that his family gets a holiday treat away from home and a chance to remember the families that have lost a loved one in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.

"He would be happy to know that America doesn't forget their heroes," she said.

The Walk of Gratitude will begin at 10:30 on Sunday along East Exchange Avenue in the Stockyards. The public is encouraged to line North Main Street for the walk. Click here for more information.

Some people decorate their home with a few Christmas lights for the season.

Then there is Marty Pasieka.

Pasieka's front yard in Flower Mound has a 22-foot tall Christmas tree made of more than 4,000 lights. It stands next to 10 smaller Christmas trees that glow red, green and white.

And he's just getting started with the Christmas spirit.

Pasieka has synchronized the lights to blink to the beat of five different Christmas songs. Passers-by can hear the music if they pull up a few yards from the house and tune in to the radio station he's programmed the music to play through.

"This is just my second year doing this so, definitely, the palette is -- there's a lot more on there," he said. "Half empty or half full, definitely there is a lot more that I can do."

Pasieka said he has plans to expand the Christmas display from the current 10,000 lights.

"I have a few ideas," he said.

But he doesn't want to give too many of his secrets away, so Pasieka is keeping his plans quiet.

Meanwhile, his neighbors can't stop gushing about the display.

"My wife and I always pull up and stop," one man yelled out his window, before driving off.

Pasieka said it took him a few months to build the frame to hold the lights, and it takes a few days to program the lights to blink to the beat of the music. The computer work takes more time, he said.

"That takes a lot more time," he said. "You have to separate it by seconds, hundredths of a second, tenth of a second, to kind of look at it and, you know, see what you like, see what it looks like."

Pasieka also put on a light show for Halloween, with one sequence set to "Gangnam Style."

Pasieka jokes that decorating his lawn is just a hobby. His real job? A baggage handler for Southwest Airlines.

If you want to swing by and see the display, the family lives in the 4900 block of Marcus Drive in Flower Mound. The lights are on Sunday through Thursday from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. On Friday and Saturday, the lights are on from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Feel like your holiday light photos aren't shining as brightly as you'd hoped? Check these tricks for making those lights look clearer.

Hold the Flash Back
Using your camera's flash could wash out those twinkling lights. Snap your pictures without the flash to ensure the lights you're seeing are provided by the designed strands you're trying to capture. Most modern cameras have good sensors for detective what values to set exposure, even in the auto settings. Conversely, if you're more focused on what's not lit -- the kids in front of a Christmas tree, for example -- add that flash. Better yet, take one photo each way and see which one turns out better. Don't know how to turn off your camera -- or camera phone's -- flash? Now's the perfect time to learn.

Slow and Steady
Lowering your shutter speed will let more light into the camera, which could make those lights brighter -- but might add blur if the camera is moved. Try investing in (or borrowing) a tripod to keep your camera rock solid while the photo is taken. This slow and steady approach will make your photos clearer.

Dusk to Dusk
Use the twilight time to shoot your photos outdoors rather than waiting until it gets darker. You can often catch some of the color in the sky instead of a black sky, which will look a little nicer, plus you'll have some natural light that can illuminate decorations you might lose when only the strands are shining.

iPhone Home
The camera you're most likely to carry with you is on your phone -- but it's got some faults you'll need to overcome. First, many cameras on phones aren't able to make settings on shutter speed, ISO settings, or any of the advanced elements you might want to try. The more recent your phone is, the better the camera is likely to be -- but that's no gaureentee you'll get a good image. Also, while they're small enough to fit in your pocket, the tiny size of modern phones leads to blurry photos as you stuggle to shoot straight. You may want to check out alternate camera apps on the various app stores to make sure your camera's functions are accessible, too.

Once you've taken those shining shots, share them with us by e-mailing them to isee@nbcdfw.com and view other Holiday Photos here.

The Dallas Museum of Art is now free to visitors.

Both the admission and membership prices for the DMA are free starting January 21, 2013.

The change was announced in December during a special news event.

Maxwell L. Anderson, the Eugene McDermott Director of the Dallas Museum of Art, published a video message addressing the change.

Anderson said current museum members will be transitioned to a new "Partners" status, which will give them special benefits including free admission to special exhibitions, free parking, and exclusive programs.

“Visitors literally bring life to the Dallas Museum of Art. Their participation in our galleries, exhibitions, education initiatives, and public programs activates the DMA and is the cornerstone of a vibrant cultural community,” Anderson said in a press release. “Through a return to free general admission and the new Friends & Partners program, we can open the doors of the Museum and show appreciation to our visitors for the many ways their participation matters to the DMA. We believe that by increasing access to the Museum and by finding new ways to say ‘thank you,’ we can fundamentally change the role museums play in a global society.”  

The free general admission will also offer visitors to become "Friends" of the museum and earn credits based on their participation with the museum. Those credits could allow "Friends" to become "Partners" as well.

“New technologies and online participation are already an integral part of many visitors’ daily lives,” said Rob Stein, the DMA’s Deputy Director, who, along with Anderson, is spearheading technology initiatives at the Museum. “As part of our new approach to visitor engagement, we want to provide our audiences with enhanced ways to feel connected to the Museum and to share their opinions with us and each other. In doing so, we hope to build a virtual community that is as strong as our physical one. The DMA Friends program uses technology to demonstrate to our visitors that the DMA recognizes the value they bring to the Museum when they engage deeply in sharing their creativity and ideas with us.”

The DMA previously was free to visitors until 2001. The 2013 change is being called a "reinstatement of the policy."

More information on the changes is posted to the museum's official site.

Sundance Square has the Christmas spirit.

On Friday, Sundance Square hosted the 8th Annual Fort Worth Parade of Lights. Tens of thousands of people crowded the streets to get a look at more than 100 floats decorated with lights.

But the big draw was a big tree. Santa Claus came into town to help light up a 55-foot blue spruce from Michigan decorated with ornaments.

Based on reaction from kids in the crowd, the event was a hit.

“We get to see the tree light up, and we get to see, we get to see Santa!” said an excited Kaila Delane of Irving. “It's my first time, but I kind of like it. It's like New York.”

Hundreds of people waited in line to pose for a picture with Santa and the tree. Pictures are $7 and benefit charity.

Want to see more local lights? Click here to find holiday lighting displays around North Texas.

Thursday is, of course, Thanksgiving, but it's also Nov. 22 and the 49th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

It may seem hard to believe, but 2013 will bring the 50th anniversary of the president's death and many across North Texas are already coordinating plans for marking the occasion.

Earlier this week, city leaders in Dallas unveiled plans for a memorial service in Dealey Plaza on the 50th anniversary.  Two weeks ago, across the street from the hotel where Kennedy spoke to thousands on the morning of Nov. 22, the city of Fort Worth opened a new memorial to the fallen leader.

In Dallas, Southern Methodist University will partner with the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum and the Sixth Floor Museum to host a yearlong series of public programs that will begin on President's Day.

"The series will begin with "The Politics of Memory" on President's Day 2013 (Feb. 18, 2013) and end on President's Day 2014 (Feb. 17, 2014) with "Coping With Crises: How Presidents Manage National Crises," a program sponsored with the Sixth Floor Museum and the Bush Library and Museum. Other programs examining the legacies of the Kennedy presidency and its impact on American domestic and foreign policy are planned for the months leading up to Nov. 22, 2013," SMU said in a news release Wednesday.

SMU said they will organize the programs with a special committee of distinguished SMU faculty members and guests known as the Tower Center Working Group on Remembrance and Commemoration:  The Life and Legacy of JFK. 

Here is more from SMU on the group:

The committee is led by Dennis Simon, SMU political science associate professor, a fellow in the Tower Center and director of the Tower Center program on American Politics. George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum Director Alan Lowe is a member of the committee, as is Jeffrey Engel, founding director of SMU's new Center for Presidential History and associate professor in the Williams P. Clements Department of History.

The working group includes William Bridge, SMU associate professor in the Dedman School of Law; Lee Cullum, journalist and Tower Center fellow; Kenneth Hamilton, SMU associate professor in the William P. Clements Department of History and director of ethnic studies in Dedman College; James Hollifield, SMU professor of political science and Arnold Fellow of International Political Economy, director of the Tower Center and chair of the Sixth Floor Museum Board; Rita Kirk, director of the Cary M. Maguire Center for Ethics & Public Responsibility at SMU and a professor in the Division of Communication Studies;  Thomas Knock, SMU associate professor of history and member of the board of trustees of the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library; Ruth Morgan, former SMU provost and professor emerita of political science; Daniel Orlovsky, SMU professor of history and SMU's George A. Bouhe Research Fellow in Russian Studies; and Tom Stone, SMU senior English lecturer who teaches courses that view the assassination through the works of writers, artists and scholars.

"SMU is looking forward to bringing an academic and scholarly orientation to the observance of this somber anniversary," Simon said.  "The Tower Center has a history of productive partnerships with the National Archives and Records Administration and presidential libraries, as well as with the Sixth Floor Museum. We are excited about the opportunity to reexamine the life and legacy of JFK and to help commemorate this tragic event."

The George W. Bush Presidential Center, which houses the Presidential Library and Museum, will be dedicated in late April 2013 on the SMU campus.

Further details of the JFK-related series will be released as they become available.

With the observance in mind, the Sixth Floor Museum in Dallas remains open on Thanksgiving Day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

On Thanksgiving morning in Frisco, the city’s relatively new North Texas Turkey Trot tradition was bursting at its seams.

With another beautiful day on tap, you may want to make plans to head to the Dallas Zoo on Wednesday, but you may have a little wait.

That's because the zoo is hosting its dollar day, which, of course, is one of the most popular days at the zoo.

That's right, for just a buck you can get into the zoo to enjoy everything it has to offer from its new Koala Walkabout exhibit, to the Wilds of Africa experience and everything in between. Kids 2 and younger get in free.

For a little extra cash, you can even feed the giraffe, take the monorail safari tour or hop up and take a camel ride.

The zoo is open between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. and parking will cost you $8. Don't want to drive or bother with parking? No problem, the zoo encourages you to take the DART red line, which will take you right to the zoo entrance.

Getting there:
Dallas Zoo
650 S. R.L. Thornton Freeway                                 
Dallas, TX 75203