Where to see Christmas lights in Dallas-Fort Worth
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The Fort Worth Botanical Garden will have holiday lights to wander through. Photo: Tasha Tsiaperas/Axios
The calendar says it's time to have a holly jolly end of the year.
Why it matters: The holiday season can be stressful. The calendar gets packed. End-of-year projects loom.
- But festive traditions can help lighten the load.
The latest: Christmas is less than three weeks away, and Hanukkah starts next Sunday night.
- We've compiled a list of holiday lights and shows to make you more Cindy Lou Who and less The Grinch.
Ticketed visits
🌟 Garden glow. The Dallas Arboretum hosts its annual Christmas village and 12 Days of Christmas gazebos. This year's event will have Aurora light installations.
- Evenings through Jan. 4. Night owl admission is cheaper.
💡 Trail of light. The Fort Worth Botanic Garden is hosting Christmas in the Garden, which features a mile-long path through lights and illuminated displays. Vendors will have food.
- Evenings through Jan. 4. Plan for at least 90 minutes.
🌠 Astral vibes. The Trinity Forest Adventure Park is hosting Astra Lumina, a mile-long stroll through cosmic installations.
- Most nights through Dec. 31. Tickets.
🦒 Wild lights. Dallas Zoo Lights features nighttime animal lanterns, illuminated pathways and food vendors.
- Open most nights through Jan. 4. A combo ticket lets you visit the zoo during the day to see the animals and then lights at night.
Festive town squares
🪩 Choreographed lights. Frisco is hosting Christmas in the Square featuring a nightly light show, ice skating, visits with Santa and horse carriage rides.
- Light show 6-10pm through Jan. 3. Free visits but skating and other features are ticketed.
✨ Glow on. Irving hosts weekend events at Heritage Park, including movies, a tree lighting and carols.
- Nearby Centennial Park is decorated with 100,000 lights to walk under until 10pm nightly through Jan. 4.
🎄 Tallest tree. Fort Worth's Sundance Square is hosting winter wonderland weekends with visits from Santa, live music and gift shops.
- 5-10pm Fridays-Sundays through Dec. 21.
🎁 Christmas Capital of Texas. Downtown Grapevine is decorated and filled with shops. It features an ice rink and visits with Santa.
- A free drone show starts at 7pm Dec. 8. There are nightly festivities all month.
Even more lights!
Vitruvian Lights: Visit Addison for the spectacle through Jan. 1. Though free, parking is $15.
Deerfield in Plano: A neighborhood so famous for its holiday lights that Google maps lists which street is synced with the radio.
Interlochen in Arlington: A decades-old light tradition. The waits to enter the neighborhood can exceed an hour.
Highland Park: Pick any street, and it's probably gorgeous, but be prepared to get stuck behind the horse carriages.