Click on the Event Photo to verify the current date, cost and location before heading out.
Public Event;
Online Ticket;
Parking Fee;
$25+
Lightscape
(Fort Worth Botanical Garden)
NOVEMBER 17 - JANUARY 1 Dazzling return for a 2nd season with 80% new displays: Come stroll a one-mile-long path with suspended strands and tunnels of light, a fire garden, undulating waves of bluebonnets, singing trees, treetop sculptures, and artistic installations, while toasting marshmallows, drinking hot chocolate and other seasonal drinks at stations along the trail.
Gift of Lights (Texas Speedway)
NOVEMBER 23 - JANUARY 7
This incredible drive-through light show has a two-mile course featuring more than a million twinkling lights. Plan at least – 45 minute. Admission is for an entire carload, and pets are welcome.
Dallas Zoo Lights
💰 NOVEMBER 17 - JANUARY 2. Explore more than a million lights across most of the zoo + New larger-than-life animal lanterns create lighted photo ops and wonder. nightly 5:30 - 10 pm. Ride the carousel, mini-train, sample treats, watch light shows and listen to nightly concerts. 🎟️ 🅿️
12 Days of Christmas
(Dallas Arboretum)
💰🅿️ NOVEMBER 9 - DECEMBER 31. Twelve gazebos will be encased in glass and extravagantly decorated on all sides to provide a dramatic, three-dimensional experience, and will feature mechanical parts and festive music that will assist in bringing the characters to an even more life-like state. Save online.🎟️
Gaylord Texan ICE! Show (Grapevine)
NOVEMBER 10 - DECEMBER 31
Step into a wonderland carved by expert artisans out of two million pounds of colorful ice.It's a cool 9 degrees Fahrenheit inside, but their signature blue parkas are warm and toasty. The theme is HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS in 2023. Go Snow Tubing indoors! While you visit consider watching the miniature trains or an evening light show INDOORS. Budget friendly prices weekdays or before 11/23/23. Use promo code TWINKLE for 50% discount.
Dallas Christmas Parade (Downtown)
🆓 💰 DECEMBER 2 The Dallas Holiday Parade is the City’s largest one-day, outdoor event. More than 350 television stations in 159 markets have syndicated the parade. It has become a holiday tradition for thousands of families throughout North Texas and coast to coast. Don't miss the free concert after at the Convention Center. Use the online map to plan your route. Streets close early. Bleacher seats available on-line or arrive early to line the streets. 🎟️
Merry & Bright Christmas Drone Show (Grapevine)
🆓 DECEMBER 2, 9 & 16 ONLY! Watch this fleet of 160 drones create Christmas magic in the sky over Main Street in front of Hotel Vin on Peace Plaza. Shows will begin promptly at 8:00 pm and will last 8-9 minutes. Come early and shop along Historic Downtown storefronts at the Christmas Capital of Texas, then meet up at Harvest Hall for a treat.
The Gift of Christmas (Plano)
DECEMBER 1-3 & 6-10
This visually stunning multimedia event is complete with special effects, a nearly 1,000-member cast and choir, live orchestra, flying angels and a LIVING NATIVITY! The program will keep you fully engaged for a powerful 100 minutes, the perfect length for every family member to enjoy.
Very Merry Light Parade (Keller)
DECEMBER 1. Held at Keller's Town Center the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony kicks off at 6pm including photos with Santa. There’ll also be a Santa Scurry 5K Run & Walk immediately following the Light Parade. Festivities also include live entertainment, an ice skating rink, a kid’s zone, vendors, and food trucks. Canned food donations will be collected for the Community Storehouse.
Holiday Lighting Festival & Wassail Weekend (Denton)
DECEMBER 2. An evening of free cider tastings from local business owners sets the stage before the tree and square begin to glow. Events from 3-9 pm. An all-access $10 wristband afford your souvenir Santa photo, carriage ride, snow slopes and trackless train ride. Active TOY DRIVE on-site.
Hometown Holiday (Roanoke)
DECEMBER 2. This joyous annual event features a parade, tree lighting ceremony, carriage rides, Santa’s Workshop, and gingerbread house building contest. There’ll also be a kid’s zone, a S’mores station, Letters to Santa, a shopping bazaar and much more from Noon-8pm on Historic Oak Street.
Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting (Flower Mound)
DECEMBER 2, 2022.
This year’s theme for the 6-9 pm event is “Cowboy Christmas” with lighted floats parading down Spinks Road and ending at the Flower Mound Community Activity Center. Join us after for a tree lighting ceremony with choir performances, kids’ activities, local vendors, food trucks. The Summit Club will be accepting canned good donations along the parade route.
Parade of Lights (Grapevine)
DECEMBER 7, 2022. This nighttime event features more than 100 lighted floats and marching bands. Look for Santa Claus on the last float! Come early to claim your spot along Historic Main Street.
Christmas Musical (Southlake)
🆓 DECEMBER 13-17, 2023. Truthical NIGHT SHIFT, an all new musical (with over 100 cast members) is sure to create meaningful memories and valuable conversations for the whole family. You won’t want to miss one of the most exciting musical events of the Christmas season! Year, after year, Gateway Performing Arts brings us broadway excellence with a twist. Treat your eyes, ears and heart this Christmas season. TICKETS ISSUED BEGINNING 12/5. FREE ADMISSION 🎟️
Candlelit Christmas (11 sites)
🆓 DECEMBER 23-24, 2023. This interactive service is for the whole family, complete with Christmas carols, a special message from Pastor Robert Morris, traditional candle lighting, and musical guests: CAIN, Dave Barnes, Michelle Williams, Jenna Raine & Rebecca Hart. Find a Gateway Church campus near you or gather online. Let's not forget the REASON FOR THIS SEASON!
Autumn at the Arboretum (Dallas)
💰💰🅿️ SEPTEMBER 15 - NOVEMBER 5 Greet the gang from ‘It’s The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown’ at the 18th annual event featuring over 100,000 pumpkins and photo ops! Discover the acclaimed Pumpkin Village and of course, a maze for younger visitors. A visit to the children’s garden never disappoints. This is one of America’s Best Pumpkin Festivals (Orbitz Travel).🎟️
State Fair of Texas (Dallas)
🆓💰💰🅿️ SEPTEMBER 29 - OCTOBER 22 Where can you find larger-than-life dinosaurs, a contortionist archer, and the most epic water ballon fight you’ve ever seen? Lots of new shows and attractions are included in this year’s admission ticket. Military and First Responders receive daily discounts. Visit any participating North Texas McDonald's for discount vouchers for everyone. 🎟️
Hall's Pumpkin Farm & Corn Maze (Grapevine)
💰🅿️ SEPTEMBER 29 - OCTOBER 31 This is the pumpkin patch that provides entertainment, treats and hayrides for all ages. The corn maze is always an adventure with 2 acres of twist, turns and dead ends. Plan to visit and play 2023. Part of the nostalgia includes 100% CASH ONLY!
Forest Park Miniature Train
(Fort Worth)
💰 WEEKENDS YEARROUND Since the 1950's, riders have flocked to the Forest Park Miniature Railway for a peaceful retreat around Ft. Worth’s Trinity Park. Throughout its 5-mile journey, the train travels under the highway and proceeds into the tranquil Trinity Park. The complete 5-mile circuit features two depots and six bridges.🎟️
DFW Zombie Paintball Hunt (Roanoke)
💰💰 OCTOBER WEEKENDS Looking for your chance to protect our city? Join the cause and target the zombies! At the DFW Adventure Park in Roanoke, the Zombies don’t have weapons so you’re not going to get hit. You can do a lot to “save humanity” while on a hayride pulled by a custom military truck. Weekends only in October. Tickets sell out in advance.🎟️
Geocaching Adventure (Fort Worth)
🆓 YEARROUND The TRWD Trinity Trails Geocaching Adventure consists of 30 geocaches hidden along the Trinity River! An award awaits those clever enough to earn 20 points by answering the question located inside each cache and participating in approved river activities. Details on how to get this award are in the "Take the Challenge" section online. Download a free Ap to play. 🎟️
Coyote Drive-in Theaters
(Downtown Fort Worth)
💰💰 FALL NIGHTS Set against the skyline of Fort Worth, its more than just a movie. The Canteen affords live entertainment, classic video games, a children's park and sports on several TVs 2 hours prior to start time. Pets welcome. Set up on the lawn or pile up blankets in your truck bed. Double features start after NOVEMBER 5, 2023.🎟️
Historic Trade Days (Roanoke)
🆓🅿️ OCTOBER 14 Celebrate the western heritage of Roanoke Noon - 9 pm with hilarious games, food, music and intriguing vendors for no charge. Who doesn’t enjoy a petting zoo, horse tricks and live street shows. The night sky will glow with drones at 8:30 pm.
Oktoberfest (Southlake)
🆓💰🅿️ OCTOBER 13-15 This year will mark 21 year with 100,000+ people visiting October 13-15, 2023. Attendance is completely free — there are no admissions or parking fees. Review the live entertainment calendar and hours online. Don’t miss the iconic wiener dog races and BIG SCREEN SPORTS while you browse the artist booths or let the kids play in the ZONE!
Monarch Butterfly Release (Grapevine)
🆓💰🅿️ OCTOBER 21st Families will love the 26th Annual Monarch migration @ Grapevine Botanical Gardens from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There are even costume contests to register for prior to the first of four Butterfly releases. Be sure to stay after with the little ones to experience the petting zoo. Some events sponsored are ticketed.
Boo at the Zoo (Fort Worth)
💰🅿️ OCTOBER 27,28,29 Enjoy trick or treating 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at one of the premier zoos in the U.S! This event is free with Zoo admission and includes themed entertainment, animal shows and $3 Treat stations. Apply online to display your decorated pumpkin in the gardens.🎟️
General Election & Texas Constitutional Amendments
NOVEMBER 7 Important reminder to VOTE today! Click the image to redirect to Secretary of State site to review a sample ballot. Review 14 Propositions and vote to Update the Texas Constitution on property taxes, the right to farm, if you want a wealth tax or tax breaks for in-home daycare, improvements to our water infrastructure, the energy grid and more...
Veteran's Day Parade (Fort Worth)
🆓 NOVEMBER 11 Join in saluting all military veterans in Tarrant County and 150 years of TCU's ROTC cadets: New parade route along Forest Park from Panther Island, show your appreciation and enjoy several of the local High School Marching Bands as they honor the ones who served and protected us all. Please use the parade map online to plan ahead.
Veterans' Parade, Car Show & Cook Off (Roanoke)
🆓 NOVEMBER 11 This nostalgic march through a charming town includes a classic car show, fun FREE activities for children, and a cook-off between Roanoke's delicious local restaurants. Enjoy FREE food samples, live music, a beautiful Veterans Day ceremony, and a fantastic parade at 10 am. Events open til 2pm.
Tree Lighting & Firework Show (Southlake)
🆓 NOVEMBER 18, 2023 The Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony starts early with live music, dance and other entertainment on two stages, and ends with fireworks afterwards. Iconic photos with Santa will be at his Ruston Pavilion workshop beginning 11/20.
Holiday Kickoff & Fireworks
(The Colony)
🆓 NOVEMBER 18. The Grandscape entertainment district will be hosting several staged events, concerts, face painting, food vendors and fireworks to launch the Season. Don't miss live reindeer and hot cocoa together.
Christmas in the Square
(Frisco)
NOVEMBER 18-JANUARY 8, 2024
Plan to experience the largest choreographed holiday lights and music show in North Texas. This show is free each night 6-10 pm and features 10 songs. Events include ice skating & carriage rides. You can even purchase your family tree.
Parade of Lights
(Downtown Fort Worth)
NOVEMBER 19. This nighttime parade features over 100 illuminated entries. Avoid the crowds by parking before 4:30pm or shop early and enjoy lunch at hundreds of great restaurants. Stop by Sundance Square for photos with Santa and the towering tree. Reserved Seats are available.
Carol of Lights (Grapevine)
NOVEMBER 22.
Celebrate the Christmas spirit with live performances, a spectacle of lights, lasers and breathtaking fireworks at City Hall beginning at 7:00pm. Show up early and embrace the greatest time of year with family-friendly activities such as taking photos with live reindeer, creating seasonal crafts and savoring tasty food vendors all beginning at 4:00 pm. Reserved seats are $5, but standing room has good views, too.
Fort Worth Turkey Trot (Clear Fork)
💰 THANKSGIVING DAY The YMCA Turkey Trot started on Thanksgiving morning in 1981 with just a 5K race. Since then, the Turkey Trot has grown from 200 runners to over 10,000 in our 5K, 10K and Gobbler Trot races. It has become a Fort Worth tradition for generations of families and our community. Sign up online and trot for a great local cause in a new location for 2023. 🎟️
Christmas Wine Train (Grapevine)
NOVEMBER 30 & DECEMBER 14, 2023 ONLY.
Toast the holiday during a two-hour train ride on the Grapevine Vintage Railroad. All guests must be 21+ and will receive a souvenir wine glass, two (4 oz) wine pours, savory hors d'oeuvres & dessert bites. Your route takes you to the Historic Fort Worth Stockyards and back. Boarding begins at 7 pm.
