Your 2025 holiday guide to fun and fabulous events across D-FW’s outlying areas

Few things lead to more memory-making than a quick road trip to a place where jolly celebrations are sure to get us into the holiday spirit. We’ve organized a nice wish list of events, alphabetically by city and then chronologically by start date, including carnivals, parades and ice skating. Events that have already begun appear at the top. Pricing details (including several free events), address info and links to each venue’s website make it easy to plan your end-of-year adventures. (All information is subject to change). Make sure to look beyond Dallas County for events in Collin, Dallas and Tarrant counties.

Canton

Christmas Carnival

• Photos with Santa, amusement rides, shopping, animals, holiday treats and fresh Christmas trees.
• Tickets: $30-$55
• Nov. 28-Dec. 23
• Yesterland Farm, 15410 Interstate 20, Canton
• yesterlandfarm.com

The Colony

The Colony Christmas Spectacular

• Nightly choreographed light show.
• Free
• Dec. 6-Jan. 4, 5:30 p.m. nightly
• Central Fire Station, 4900 Blair Oaks Dr., The Colony
• thecolonytx.gov

Holiday in the Park/Parade of Lights

• Parade, cheerful holiday music and activities, rides and a lighted trail.
• Free
• Dec. 6, 5-8 p.m.
• Perryman Park, 4930 South Colony Blvd., The Colony
• thecolonytx.gov

Corsicana

Tree Lighting & Fireworks

• Annual debut of the city’s three-story tree with more than 10,000 lights, plus Santa photos and fireworks.
• Free
• Nov. 21, 5-8 p.m.
• Beaton St., Downtown Corsicana
• visitcorsicana.com

The Nutcracker

• Avante Garde Theatre of Dance production of the traditional ballet.
• Tickets: $25-$35
• Dec. 13, 2:30 p.m.
• The Palace Theatre, Corsicana
• visitcorsicana.com

Festival of Lights Christmas Parade

• Hundreds of decorated floats welcome the season for a magical evening.
• Free
• Dec. 6, 6 p.m.
• Historic Downtown Corsicana
• visitcorsicana.com

Denison

Denison on Ice

• Outdoor skating rink with canopy cover for rain-or-shine fun.
• Free
• Through Jan. 4
• 530 W. Main St., Denison
• discoverdenison.com

TNT Dueling Pianos Special Holiday Event

• Two talented and hilarious pianists battle it out while the audience sings along.
• Tickets: $20-$30
• Dec. 14, 3 p.m.
• Calhoun’s 2.0, 4801 S. St. Hwy. 91, Denison
• facebook.com

Grayson County Holiday Lights Show & Reception

• Daily drive-thru winter wonderland light experience.
• Free
• Nov. 28, 5-9 p.m. (opening reception)
• Nov. 28-Dec. 24
• Loy Lake Park, 457 RC Vaughn Rd., Denison
• facebook.com

91st Annual Denison Christmas Parade

• Parade (7 p.m.) and hot cocoa competition (4 p.m. in Heritage Park).
• Free
• Dec. 4, 4-8 p.m.
• Downtown Denison Main Street
• discoverdenison.com

Denton

Fun, Creative, In-Person Workshops

• Classes for making gifts, from wreaths and candles to sewing and crocheting.
• Tickets: $35-$75 (Varies by class)
• Through Dec. 13
• The Dime Store, 118 E McKinney St., Denton
• dimehandmade.com

Wassail Fest

• Delicious wassail competition, live music and shopping specials.
• Free
• Dec. 5, 6-9 p.m.
• Downtown Denton
• dentonmainstreet.org

Breakfast with the Grinch

• Pancake breakfast, crafts, carnival games and a photo with the green guy himself.
• Tickets: $10
• Dec. 6., 9 a.m.-noon
• MLK Jr. Recreation Center, Park and Playground, 1300 Wilson, Denton
• discoverdenton.com

Denton Holiday Lighting Festival

• Musical performances, lighting of the Denton tree and wassail competition.
• Tickets: $10-$35 (VIP)
• Dec. 6, 3-9 p.m.
• Courthouse on the Square, 110 W. Hickory St., Denton
• dentonholidaylighting.com

The Nutcracker

• Festival Ballet of North Central Texas production of the holiday favorite.
• Tickets: $50
• Dec. 12 & 13
• University of North Texas University Theater (RTVF & Performing Arts Building), 1179 Union Cir., Denton
• festivalballet.net

Happy Kwanzaa Celebration

• Traditional Kwanzaa activities, food, music and more.
• Free
• Dec. 27, 10 a.m.
• MLK Jr. Recreation Center, 1300 Wilson St., Denton
• cityofdenton.com

Cookies & Cocoa To-Go

• Drive-thru event featuring individually wrapped cookies and hot cocoa.
• Free
• Dec. 14, 2-4 p.m.
• Denia Recreation Center, 1001 Parvin St., Denton
• discoverdenton.com

Flower Mound

Reindeer Run 5K & Grinch Sprint

• Festive-attire fun run with coffee, hot chocolate, Santa and the Grinch, benefitting Charities of the Flower Mound Rotary Club.
• Registration: $15-$45
• Dec. 6, 9 a.m.
• Bakersfield Park, 1201 Duncan Lane, Flower Mound
• flowermoundrotary.org

Christmas Parade of Lights & Tree Lighting Ceremony

• Annual nighttime Christmas parade and tree-lighting ceremony.
• Free
• Dec. 6, 5:30-9 p.m.
• Parade route: Spinks Road to Gerault Park, Flower Mound
• civicplus.com

Garland

A Garland Christmas on the Square

• Festive celebration featuring tree lighting to kick off the season.
• Free
• Dec. 4, 5-9 p.m.
• Downtown Garland Square, 520 W. State St. Garland
• visitgarlandtx.com

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

• Madcap holiday staple centered around a rowdy bunch of kids putting on a church pageant.
• Tickets: $15-$25
• Dec. 5-13
• Plaza Theater, 521 W. State St., Garland
• corptheatre.org

Glen Rose

Rough Creek Lodge, Ranch & Resort Firework show

• Fireworks show to celebrate the end of 2025 and the beginning of 2026.
• Free
• Dec. 31- Jan. 2
• N/A
• 5165 County Road 2013 Glen Rose, TX 76043
• roughcreek.com

Grapevine

Winter Wonderland Bubbles at Hotel Vin

• Ski lodge-inspired Winter Wonderland with cozy private “bubbles” outfitted in luxury textiles from Pendleton.
• Tickets: $200-260 per reservation, accommodating up to five guests for 90 minutes
• Through February 15
• WineYard Grille + Bar at Hotel Vin, 215 E. Dallas Road, Grapevine
• grapevinetexasusa.com

Phenomenomaly at Meow Wolf Grapevine

• Limited-time adventure featuring new characters, interactive storylines and exclusive treats at Meow Wolf.
• Tickets: $20-$50
• Through Jan. 4
• Grapevine Mills, 3000 Grapevine Mills Parkway, Suite 253, Grapevine
• meowwolf.com

Christmas at Gaylord Texan

• ICE! featuring Elf interactive experience, ice skating, snow tubing, caroling and more.
• Tickets: From $34
• Through Jan. 4
• Gaylord Texan, 1501 Gaylord Trail, Grapevine
• christmasatgaylordtexan.com

Holly Jolly Bar

• Third Rail at Hotel Vin transforms for the holiday season with kitschy decor, seasonal cocktails and special programming.
• Free (cost for food and beverages)
• Through Dec. 31
• Hotel Vin, 815 S. Main St., Grapevine
• grapevinetexasusa.com

A Sherlock Carol

• Detective Holmes gets hired by Tiny Tim to solve the murder of Mr. Scrooge.
• Tickets: $19-$22
• Through Dec. 7
• Runway Theatre, 215 N. Dooley St.,
• Grapevine
• runwaytheatre.com

Christmas Tribute Performances

• Tribute bands covering beloved acts, from Trans-Siberian Orchestra to Frank Sinatra, bring the holiday season to life with nostalgia to spare.
• Tickets: $18-$50
• Through Dec. 20
• Palace Arts Center, 300 S. Main St., Grapevine
• grapevinetexasusa.com

Texas Star Dinner Theater

• A Cold-Hearted Christmas follows the mean exploits of one E. B. Neazer on Christmas Eve.
• Tickets: $71 (includes taxes/fees)
• Through Dec. 31
• Texas Star Dinner Theater, 816 S. Main St., Grapevine
• texasstardinnertheater.com

Santa’s Wonderland at Bass Pro Shops

• Weekend giveaways, photos with Santa and more holiday surprises.
• Free
• Through Dec. 30
• Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, 2501 Bass Pro Drive, Grapevine
• basspro.com

Fire Your Own Glass Ornament

• Work with artisans in the glassblowing studio to help create unique ornaments to take home and treasure forever.
• Prices vary
• Through Jan. 3
• Vetro Art Glass, 701 S. Main St. #103, Grapevine
• vetroartglass.com

Peace Plaza Ice Rink

• Hour-long skating sessions on a Texas-sized ice rink surrounded by festive holiday decor.
• Tickets: $20 (includes skate rental)
• Nov. 22-Jan. 6
• Peace Plaza at Grapevine Main Station, 815 S. Main St., Grapevine
• grapevinetexasusa.com

Classic Holiday Movies

• More than a dozen holiday film classics on the big screen at the historic Palace Theatre throughout the season.
• Nov. 22-Dec. 23
• Tickets: Starting at $10
• Palace Arts Center, 300 S. Main St., Grapevine
• grapevinetexasusa.com

Photos with Santa

• Get a keepsake photo at the Grapevine Christmas Market General Store.
• Photos: $40
• Nov. 24-Dec. 30
• 701 S. Main St., Grapevine
• grapevinetexasusa.com

Grapevine Christmas Market

• Numerous artists, creators and vendors selling unique gifts in the Christmas Capital of Texas™.
• Free
• Nov. 24-Dec. 30
• Cotton Belt Railroad Historic District, 705 S. Main St., Grapevine
• grapevinetexasusa.com

Snowland at Great Wolf Lodge

• Great Wolf Lodge transforms into a winter wonderland with numerous activities for kids and families.
• Tickets: Prices vary
• Nov. 24-Jan. 6
• Great Wolf Lodge, 100 Great Wolf Drive, Grapevine
• greatwolf.com

37th Annual Carol of Lights

• Live entertainment, food and beverage vendors, an artisan market and kids’ activities.
• Free
• Nov. 25, 4-8:30 p.m.
• Grapevine City Hall, 200 Main St., Grapevine
• gograpevine.com

Merry & Bright Christmas Drone Shows

• More than 400 drones create a spectacular holiday display in the night sky.
• Free
• Dec. 1 and 8, 7 p.m.
• Peace Circle at Grapevine Main Station, 815 S. Main St., Grapevine
• gograpevine.com

46th Annual Parade of Lights

• Main Street comes to life with more than 100 glowing floats and marching bands in the theme of “Storybook Parade.”Free
• Free
• Dec. 4, 7 p.m.
• Historic Main Street (parade route begins at Hanover and Main Street)
• grapevinechamber.org

LEGOLAND Holiday Bricktacular

• LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Grapevine Mills Mall gets its halls decked out for the holidays, including a LEGO Santa Claus.
• Tickets: From $20
• Nov. 28-Dec. 24
• LEGOLAND Discover Center, 3000 Grapevine Mills Parkway, Grapevine
• legolanddiscoverycenter.com

Nash Farm Farmstead Christmas Celebration

• A celebration of the season and open house that includes ornament making, traditional music, refreshments and more.
• Tickets: $5
• Dec. 6, 1-4p.m.
• Historic Nash Farm, 626 Ball St., Grapevine
• NashFarm.org

Holiday Murder Mystery Dinner: Bad Santa

• Christmas-themed murder mystery dinner with wine pairings at Messina Hof Winery.
• Tickets: $99 (includes gratuity and fees)
• Dec. 5, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
• Messina Hof Winery, 201 S. Main St., Grapevine
• messinahof.com

SEA LIFE Scuba Diving Santa

• Watch Santa swim with sharks and stingrays for a unique experience while exploring SEA LIFE Grapevine.
• Tickets: From $23 (includes general admission)
• Dec. 6, 13, 20, 24, 11 a.m.
• SEA LIFE Grapevine Aquarium, 3000 Grapevine Mills Parkway, Grapevine
• visitsealife.com

Kaufman

Turkey Trot

• 5K and 1-mile Thanksgiving morning workout.Tickets: $16-$40
• Nov. 27, 7 a.m.
• Kaufman Square, 215 Mulberry St., Kaufman
• thecenterkaufman.org

Kilgore

93rd Annual Christmas Parade

• “Santa’s Workshop”-themed nighttime lighted parade.
• Free
• Dec. 2, 6:30-8 p.m.
• Downtown Kilgore
• kilgorechamber.com

Lewisville

Punkin’ Chunkin’

• Catapult-powered pumpkin launching to welcome the winter holiday season.
• Tickets: $6
• Nov. 29, noon-3 p.m.
• Lewisville Lake Park, 600 Sandy Beach Rd., Lewisville
• cityoflewisville.com

Old Town Holiday Stroll

• Two-day event with a Christmas parade, breakfast with Santa, hay rides, a holiday movie and a motorcycle toy run.
• Free
• Dec. 5-6
• Multiple Old Town locations, Lewisville
• cityoflewisville.com

Christmas at the Cabin

• Experience the holidays 1870s-style while making candles and ornaments.
• Free ($5 entry to park per vehicle)
• Dec. 13, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area, 201 E. Jones Street, Lewisville
• facebook.com

Lindale

A Storybook Christmas in Lindale

• Miranda Lambert’s hometown gets in the holiday spirit with 10,000 square feet of vignettes for photos.
• Free
• Dec. 6-31 (Parade on Dec. 6)
• Picker’s Pavilion at Blackberry Square, 205 Cannery Row, Lindale
• visitlindale.com

Little Elm

The Light Park

• Magical, mile-long drive-through holiday light experience.
• Tickets: From $30 per vehicle ($130 for a season pass)
• Through Jan. 4
• Little Elm Park, 701 W Eldorado Pkwy, Little Elm
• thelightpark.com

Christmas Tree Lighting & Holiday Parade

• Photos with Santa, holiday music, plus food and drinks for purchase.
• Free
• Dec. 6, 5-9 p.m.
• The Lawn, 125 Main St., Little Elm
• lakefrontlittleelm.com

Polar 5K Run & Plunge

• Take a quick dip in the lake to get 2026 off to a refreshing start.
• Tickets: $30-$45
• Jan. 3
• 701 W. Eldorado Pkwy., Little Elm
• runsignup.com

Red Oak

Christmas in Red Oak

• Holiday parade, kid zone, selfies with Santa and crafts.
• Free
• Dec. 6, 9 a.m.-noon
• Watkins Park, 101 Live Oak St., Red Oak
• redoaktx.org

Sherman

City of Sherman Christmas Parade

• Festival and annual holiday parade with a “Winter Wonderland” theme.
• Free
• Dec. 6, 6 p.m.
• Historic Downtown Sherman
• facebook.com

Terrell

Tree Lighting

• Annual tree lighting with carols and hot chocolate.
• Free
• Dec. 12, 4-8 p.m.
• Historical Downtown Terrell
• discoverterrell.com

Terrell Christmas Parade

• “Rockin’ Around Terrell”-themed holiday parade with floats, bands and holiday characters.
• Free
• Dec. 13, 10 a.m.
• Route begins at Moore Ave./U.S. Hwy 80 at Ninth St., Terrell
• terrelltexas.com

The Colony

Miracle at Puttery

• Holiday cocktail bar pop-up event.Drinks priced a la carteThrough Dec. 31
• Puttery, 5762 Grandscape Blvd, Suite 105, The Colony
• facebook.com

Holiday in the Park Parade of Lights

• Lighted holiday trail, rides, activities, food trucks and live performances.
• Free
• Dec. 6, 5-8 p.m.
• Perryman Park, 4930 South Colony Blvd, The Colony
• thecolonytx.gov

The Colony Christmas Spectacular

• Nightly choreographed light-and-music holiday display.
• Free
• Dec. 6-Jan. 4
• Central Firehouse, 4900 Blair Oaks Dr., The Colony
• thecolonytx.gov

Tyler

Santa Land

• 30th season of drive-through light park with trailer rides, photos with Santa and a large gift shop.
• Tickets: $5-$60 per person (depending on number of passengers per vehicle)
• Through Jan. 4
• 11518 Interstate 20 West, Tyler
• santalandtylertx.com

Tyler Turkey Trot & Fun Run

• 23rd annual run/jog/walk on Thanksgiving morning.
• Registration: $20-$40
• Nov. 27, 9 a.m.-noon
• Racquet & Jog, 5403 S Broadway Ave., Tyler
• runsignup.com

Tyler Up in Lights

• Drive-through light display with walk-through option on Dec. 2 and 9.
• Tickets: $5 per person (walk-through); $20 per vehicle (drive-through)Nov. 28-Dec. 25
• 12885 County Rd. 192, Tyler
• facebook.com

Rose City Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting

• Annual parade followed by tree lighting in a new location.
• Free
• Dec. 4, 6:30 p.m.
• Christus Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium, 609 Fair Park Dr., Tyler
• rosecitychristmasparade.com

Irving Berlin’s White Christmas

• Adaptation of the post-World War II holiday tale.
• Tickets: $15-$25
• Dec. 12-21
• Tyler Civic Theatre, 400 Rose Park Dr., Tyler
• tylercivictheatre.com

The Nutcracker

• 37th annual Tyler Junior College production accompanied by the East Texas Symphony Orchestra on Dec. 5.
• Tickets: $25-$45
• Dec. 5-7
• Rogers Palmer Performing Arts Center. 1303 S. Mahon Ave., Tyler
• tjc.edu

Chanukah Klezmer

• 18th annual celebration with live music.
• Free
• Dec. 8, 7-9 p.m.
• True Vine Brewing Co., 2453 Earl Campbell Pkwy., Tyler
• tylertexas.com

A Pineywoods Christmas

• Trail of lights, ranger story time, holiday crafts and shopping, plus stargazing opportunities.
• Tickets: Free
• Dec. 12 & 13, 5-9 p.m.
• Tyler State Park, 789 Park Road 16, Tyler
• texas.gov

Waco

Christmas at the Silos

• VIP Santa experience, ornament workshops and other memorable activities for fans of Chip and Joanna Gaines.
• Free (some experiences have a price)
• Nov. 28-Dec. 20
• Shops at the Silos, 601 Webster Ave., Waco
• magnolia.com

Wild Lights at Cameron Park Zoo

• The zoo is illuminated with thousands of lights, plus carolers and tasty treats.
• Tickets: $20-$25
• Nov. 28-Dec. 30, 6-9 p.m.
• Cameron Park Zoo, 1701 N. 4th St., Waco
• cameronparkzoo.com

Homestead Fair & Holiday Market

• Annual event featuring barn-raising, cow-milking, hayrides and other old-fashioned experiences.
• Free
• Nov. 28-30
• Homestead Heritage, 608 Dry Creek Road, Waco
• homesteadfair.com

Christmas Lights in the Village

• Thousands of lights illuminate a historic village with storytelling and nightly tree lighting.
• Tickets: $5-$12 (Children under 2 free)
• Dec. 12-21, 6-9 p.m.
• Mayborn Museum Complex, 1300 S. University Parks Dr., Waco
• baylor.edu

Waxahachie

Christmas Parade and Community Tree Lighting

• Christmas parade precedes the official lighting of the town tree.
• Free
• Dec. 2, 6-9 p.m. (parade begins at 6:30 p.m.)
• Downtown Waxahachie Square, 301 S. Rogers St., Waxahachie
• waxahachiecvb.com

Bethlehem Revisited

• Interactive nativity experience that traces the journey of Mary and Joseph.
• Free
• Dec. 5-14, 6-9 p.m.
• Behind Central Presbyterian Church, 402 N. College St., Waxahachie
• waxahachiecvb.com

Fort Worth Symphony Christmas Concert

• Annual performance of holiday hits by the FW Symphony.
• Tickets: $15-$30
• Dec. 5, 6 p.m.Waxahachie ISD Performing Arts Center, 3001 US-287, Waxahachie
• waxahachiesymphony.org

Downtown Christmas Carriage Rides

• A scenic loop through downtown Waxahachie in a horse-drawn carriage with twinkle lights.
• Tickets: $10-$20
• Dec. 12-20
• Downtown Waxahachie Square, 301 S. Rogers St., Waxahachie
• waxahachiecvb.com

Christmas Tour of Homes

• Five historic homes with halls decked out with boughs of holly and more.
• Tickets: $25-$30
• Dec. 13 & 14, 2-8 p.m.
• Various locations throughout Waxahachie
• historicwaxahachie.com

Weatherford

Holiday in the Park Pathway of Lights

• Illuminated outdoor exhibits with a 250-drone show on opening night.
• Free
• Nov. 24-Dec. 31, 6-9 p.m. (tree lighting Nov. 24 at 6:30 p.m.)
• 503 Santa Fe Dr., Weatherford
• experienceweatherford.com

Cowboy Santa

• Join Cowboy Santa and his merrily dressed live llamas for photo ops and activities.
• Free (Photos $10)
• Dec. 6, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
• 122 W. Water St., Weatherford
• experienceweatherford.com

Christmas on the Square

• Support local businesses and vendors during the annual Christmas on the Square shopping event.
• Free
• Dec. 6, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
• One Courthouse Square, Weatherford
• experienceweatherford.com

West

Lights of West

• Drive-thru light trail, light maze, photos with Santa, live music and concessions.
• Tickets: $35-$55 per vehicle
• Nov. 26-Dec. 30, 6-10 p.m.
• 2818 Wiggins Road, West
• lightsofwest.com

Willow Park

The Promise of Christmas

• The story of Jesus’ birth and Christmas lights display in a new location.
• Tickets: $10-$50
• Dec. 5-23
• Willow Park Baptist Church, 777 Crowne Point Blvd., Willow Park
• thepromiseglenrose.com