- See more editors’ picks for the best events coming soon by clicking here.
- The top places to see Christmas lights and other holiday displays in Dallas-Fort Worth
- This holiday season, order out or dine in at these Dallas-Fort Worth restaurants
- Celebrate Hanukkah with these free menorah lightings
Beer and Carols at Oak Highlands Brewery
FREE Cozy up with your kids, spouse and perhaps even out-of-town holiday guests at this fun-for-all-ages singalong at Oak Highlands Brewery. (Hey, what better than beer and cheer to soften an awkward dynamic with overnight visitors?) The evening includes a live band leading classic Christmas carols and a visit from Santa, plus craft brews for sale in the brewery’s taproom and snacks for purchase from food trucks.
Dec. 20 from 5 to 9 p.m. at Oak Highlands Brewery, 10484 Brockwood Road, Dallas. Free admission; beer and food prices vary. facebook.com/oakhighlandsbrewery.
Treats of Christmas at NorthPark Center
We won’t tell if you pass off a gourmet dessert purchased from this “ultimate holiday bake sale” as your own at a holiday party. You’ve offset the omission by buying treats that benefit great causes. Presented by the Dallas chapter of the Texas Chefs Association, this sale features cakes, pies and cookies by dozens of premier chefs from area restaurants and catering companies. Proceeds go to the North Texas Food Bank and Prodigal Projects, which provide food, community and dignity to people experiencing homelessness in D-FW.
Dec. 21 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Level 1 between Macy’s and Dillard’s and Level 2 between Nordstrom and Macy’s at NorthPark Center, 8687 N. Central Expressway, Dallas. Prices vary for baked goods. northparkcenter.com.
Winter Solstice Celebration at Unitarian Universalist Church of Oak Cliff
FREE The volunteer-run Labyrinth Walk Coffee House may be one of the best-kept spiritual secrets in Dallas. Behind the Unitarian Universalist Church of Oak Cliff, you’ll find a peaceful garden walkway for mindful meditation. On the evening of the winter solstice, the congregation will gather at this indoor-outdoor event to “celebrate the first day of winter and herald the return of light.” Activities include earth-loom weaving and performances by storytellers and musicians before a drum circle in the gazebo.
Dec. 21 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Labyrinth Walk Coffee House, 3839 W. Kiest Blvd., Dallas. Free. labyrinthwalkcoffeehouse.com.
Dallas Cowboys’ 'Christmas Spectacular’
FREE This weekend is your last chance to catch the Dallas Cowboys’ Christmas Spectacular, a holiday show featuring the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, Dallas Cowboys Rhythm and Blue Dancers and Drumline, mascot Rowdy, Santa and guest appearances by Cowboys players.
Dec. 20-21 from 6 to 10 p.m. at The Star in Frisco, 1 Cowboys Way, Frisco. Free admission and parking. thestarinfrisco.com/christmas.
M-Line Trolley Holiday Express
You’ve likely seen the vintage trolleys clang, clang, clanging through Uptown Dallas, but if you’ve yet to hop aboard the M-Line, there is no better time than Christmastime. See the city aglow with holiday lights and adorned with festive garlands on a tour down McKinney Avenue to downtown’s Arts District and back. The ride includes music, hot cocoa and cookies, plus a “window scavenger hunt” and small souvenirs for children.
Dec. 20 and 22-23 from 6 to 7 p.m. and 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. beginning at Uptown Station, 2700 CityPlace West Blvd., Dallas. $20, $15 for ages 2-17, free for children under 2. facebook.com/mckinneyavetransitauthority.
Christmas with Megan Hilty and Cheyenne Jackson
Expect vibrato and bravado as Broadway veterans Megan Hilty and Cheyenne Jackson join the Dallas Symphony Orchestra for an “intimate show … sure to make your holiday sparkle.” Tony Award nominee Hilty and Theatre World Award winner Jackson will perform classic Christmas songs set to a spectacular musical production led by conductor Lawrence Loh.
Dec. 20-21 at 7:30 p.m., Dec. 22 at 2:30 p.m. at the Meyerson Symphony Center, 2301 Flora St., Dallas. $32-$104. mydso.com.
Adult Night: Ugly Sweater at Legoland Discovery Center
People 18 and older generally aren’t allowed at Legoland Discovery Center unless they are accompanying a minor, but you don’t have to have a child (or even particularly like being around them) to enjoy this recurring adults-only meet-up. For the December event, wear a tacky holiday sweater, compete in build competitions for prizes and explore attractions such as Miniland, an interactive city built from more than 1.5 million bricks. Shake things up by testing your engineering skills on an earthquake table or challenge the center’s Master Model Builder.
Dec. 20 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Legoland Discovery Center, 3000 Grapevine Mills Parkway, Grapevine. For ages 18 and up. $14.50 in advance or $29.95 at the door. Prices vary for coffee shop food and drinks. dallasfw.legolanddiscoverycenter.com.
Dallas Jingle Bell Run
You’re likely to spot elves, reindeer and several Santas dashing through Dallas at this charitable nighttime running event. Participants in the 5K and 1-mile fun run will receive jingle bells and glow bands, and there will be carolers and festive music to keep attitudes merry along pathways decked out with holiday lights and decor. Afterward, there will be a post-race party, where organizers will give an award for the most festively dressed dog. All proceeds benefit the Trinity Strand Trail and the Mavs Foundation.
Dec. 20 at 6:30 p.m. at the Hilton Anatole, 2201 N. Stemmons Freeway, Dallas. See website for registration prices; race-day registration will be at the Anatole. dallasjinglebellrun.com.
Texas Ballet Theater: 'The Nutty Nutcracker’
While this prestigious dance company performs a lavish traditional version of The Nutcracker throughout the holiday season, audiences get but one chance to catch this racy, wacky spinoff. Rated PG-13 and featuring classic heroine Clara, the story soon departs from the usual with references to current events and pop culture, plus off-kilter characters you might recognize from of-the-moment memes or hilarious headlines — think, for example, awkward Super Bowl celeb “Left Shark” gyrating to Tchaikovsky’s original score.
Dec. 20 at 8 p.m. at Bass Performance Hall, 525 Commerce St., Fort Worth. For ages 13 and up. $60-$130. texasballettheater.org.
Santa’s Village
FREE This hometown holiday tradition has warmed hearts in Richardson since 1989. A tiny town is constructed on the north side of City Hall featuring 16 colorful North Pole dwellings such as Mrs. Claus’ Bakery, Santa’s Post Office and TV station K-ELF. Each building offers a different children’s activity. There are also live performances by community choirs and dance groups, photo ops and hot chocolate and other seasonal concessions for sale at Santa’s Castle Cafe.
Dec. 20-22 from 6 to 9 p.m., next to Richardson City Hall, 411 W. Arapaho Road, Richardson. Free admission, parking and Santa photos. cor.net.
Unbranded
FREE Downtown Dallas Inc. hosts this holiday pop-up shop through Dec. 21 featuring more than a dozen artisans, designers and other retailers. Check the website to see which vendors will be in the lineup for the shop’s final weekend.
Dec. 20-21 from noon to 9 p.m., at 1508 Commerce St., Dallas. Free admission. weareunbranded.com.
Texas Christkindl Market
FREE Arlington’s German-inspired holiday fest is in the final stretch for 2019. The family- and dog-friendly outdoor market features music and other performances, a warming hut, food and drink for sale and more than 20 holiday vendors selling gifts and decorations. Market shoppers will be able to browse the exclusive Käthe Wohlfahrt Christmas decorations and designs from the Rothenburg ob der Tauber Christmas Village in Germany. There’s also an outdoor ice rink, which will stay open after the market concludes, through Jan. 12.
Dec. 20-21 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Dec. 22 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at 1650 E. Randol Mill Road, Arlington, near Texas Live and Globe Life Field. Free admission. txchristkindlmarket.com.
Skate with Santa
Santa will be on the ice at the Richardson StarCenter for a special holiday skate Dec. 21. Visit the website (and see Winter Wonderland at right) for more holiday events and public skating sessions at other StarCenter locations in Dallas-Fort Worth.
Dec. 21 from 12:45 to 2:45 p.m. at Children’s Health StarCenter, 522 Centennial Blvd., Richardson. $10 for ages 4 and older, free admission for ages 3 and younger; $5 skate rental. nhl.com/stars/starcenters.
Winter Wonderland at Comerica Center
The Christmas tree will be at center ice and holiday inflatables will surround the rink during the Frisco hockey center’s Winter Wonderland running Dec. 23-31. Special holiday events also include skating with Santa on Dec. 23 from 7 to 9 p.m. and a New Year’s Countdown party on Dec. 31 from 7 to 9 p.m.
Dec. 23-31, four two-hour sessions each day at 10 a.m. and 1, 4 and 7 p.m. (10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Christmas Eve, closed on Christmas Day). Comerica Center, 2601 Avenue of the Stars, Frisco. $12, $5 skate rental. nhl.com/stars/starcenters/frisco.
Winter Wonderland at NYTEX
The NYTEX Centre will be decked out for holiday skating fun Dec. 23-31. The west rink will sparkle with twinkling lights and decorations, and holiday tunes will play. Santa, Lone Star Brahmas mascot Bango and other costumed characters will drop in during the week.
Dec. 23-31 (except Christmas), daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (until 3 p.m. Dec. 24 and 31). NYTEX Sports Centre, 8851 Ice House Drive, North Richland Hills. $15, includes skate rental. nytexsports.com/winter-wonderland.
TubaChristmas in Denton, Fort Worth and Dallas
FREE Tuba and euphonium players bundle up and break out the big brass for these fun outdoor concerts each holiday season. The shows are free for spectators; if you’re a tuba or euphonium player, check tubachristmas.com for info and registration fees for joining in.
Denton: Dec. 21 at noon at the University of North Texas Library Mall, 1506 W. Highland St.
Fort Worth: Dec. 23 at noon outside Texas Christian University’s Jarvis Hall, 2820 S. University Drive.
Dallas: Dec. 24 at noon at Thanks-Giving Square, 1627 Pacific Ave.
Slappy’s Holiday Circus and Showtime Saturdays at Galleria Dallas
Locals likely already recognize the names of Slappy and Monday, who perform regularly at Galleria Dallas, but those not yet acquainted with the beloved clowns can get an oversized shoe-full of fun during special seasonal performances on Dec. 21. Fun begins with Showtime Saturdays’ Jingle Bell Jubilee from 11:30 to noon on Level 3, featuring holiday music, puppets, family-friendly comedy and more led by Mistletoe the Elf. Some audience members will even have a chance to participate in an improvised bell choir performance. Grab lunch in the food court, and then head down to Level 1 for Slappy’s Holiday Circus at 1 and 3 p.m. A “classic European circus” experience, the show includes puppets, magic, contortionists and jugglers — as well as clowns, of course.
Galleria Dallas is at 13350 Dallas Parkway, Dallas. Both shows are free. galleriadallas.com.
Jingle Bell Jubilee: Dec. 21 from 11:30 a.m. to noon on Level 3 near the Children’s Play Place and Nordstrom.
Slappy’s Holiday Circus: Dec. 21 at 1 and 3 p.m. on Level 1 near Nordstrom and Belk.
Peppermint Park
The Hilton Anatole transforms its outdoor park into a winter wonderland with light displays, train rides, interactive family entertainment, North Pole miniature golf, cookie decorating, a Teddy Bear Factory, face painting and more. There will also be nightly tree lightings.
Through Dec. 23 on Fridays, Saturdays and select dates from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Hilton Anatole, 2201 N. Stemmons Freeway, Dallas. $24.95, $19.95 for children 3-17, free for children 2 and younger. Some activities are included in the ticket price; others require coupons. peppermintpark.info.
Frisco Community Hanukkah Celebration
FREE The Chabad of Frisco hosts its sixth annual menorah lighting. There will be music and dancing, children’s crafts and games, and holiday food and drinks. New this year is a cultural experience with a Jewish folk band. The event will also honor community educators.
Dec. 22 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at Simpson Plaza, 6101 Frisco Square Blvd., Frisco. Free. facebook.com/chabadfrisco.
Hanukkah at Southlake Town Square
FREE Chabad of Southlake invites the community to help build and light Southlake’s tallest Lego menorah. The event includes live music, Hanukkah treats, latkes and more.
Dec. 22 at 5 p.m. at Rustin Park in Southlake Town Square, 1349 Main St., Southlake. Free. jewishsouthlake.com.
Hanukkah Celebration at NorthPark Center
FREE Chabad of Dallas will host a menorah-lighting celebration at 5 p.m. on the first day of Hanukkah in NorthCourt, between Nordstrom and Macy’s. The event includes live music, doughnuts, latkes, dreidels and more. The shopping center will display its own menorah between Neiman Marcus and Dillard’s in the enclave between Burberry and Louis Vuitton.
Dec. 22 at 5 p.m. at NorthPark Center, 8687 N. Central Expressway, Dallas. Free. facebook.com/chabadofdallas.
Menorah-Lighting Celebration
FREE Congregation Shaare Tefilla will celebrate the first night of Hanukkah with Rabbi Ariel Rackovsky’s telling of the story of Hanukkah, music by the congregation’s children’s choir, and treats and goodies.
Dec. 22 at 5:30 p.m. on Level 1 (near Guest Reception) at Galleria Dallas, 13350 Dallas Parkway, Dallas. Free. A candle on the Galleria’s large-scale menorah will be lit each night of Hanukkah, except Dec. 25, when the mall is closed. galleriadallas.com.
