Believe it or not, December is almost here. Between the holiday shopping, decorating, eating, and more eating, there awaits a splendid assortment of magical things to do in the city this holiday season.
Read on to discover the most festive things to do in Dallas this December!
1. Harry Potter: The Exhibition
Step directly into the Wizarding World! This is your chance to relive the most beloved moments from the Harry Potter series through a deeply immersive and interactive exhibition.
Go beyond observation: become part of the magic by touching authentic props, examining original costumes, and engaging in hands-on activities. Visitors can brew virtual potions, master spell-casting techniques, practice Quidditch skills, and even earn points for their chosen Hogwarts House.
Designed to engage every sense—sight, sound, touch, and scent—this experience brings the iconic sets and magical environment to life like never before.
2. Astra Lumina
Embark on a magical walk amongst the stars this holiday season at the debut of Astra Lumina in Dallas! The celestial experience takes place at Trinity Forest Adventure Park, where visitors can follow cosmic pathways through a forested area among awe-inspiring light installations, astral projections, combined with ethereal sounds. Tickets are now on sale!
🎁 Get an Astra Lumina gift card here
3. Dallas Holiday Lights
Light it up this holiday season at the city’s greatest light displays! From race courses adorned in over 3 million lights to glowing Christmas gardens, hit the link above to find the best light displays in the DFW area.
4. AirOtic Naughty Noel
This holiday season, prepare to be swept away by the return of Naughty Noel in Dallas, TX! Forget the winter chill—this brand new Christmas-themed cabaret is a seductive, sensual inferno.
It’s a festive fantasy where the jaw-dropping artistry of cirque meets the irresistible allure of burlesque. Immerse yourself in a spectacular holiday extravaganza, featuring mesmerizing dance, sultry choreography, and breathtaking acrobatic acts.
Get ready for an experience infused with captivating performances, enchanting holiday remixes, and spectacular visuals that will leave you breathless. Naughty Noel is the ultimate, unforgettable heatwave this Christmas.
Get your tickets here!5. Enjoy a Concert by Candlelight
Experience the enchanting Candlelight concerts in Dallas, where the brilliance of hundreds of candles combines with breathtaking musical tributes to both contemporary and classical musicians. Your evenings in the city are set to be warmed by live musicians performing beautiful classical renditions of the world’s most recognizable and influential artists.
Immerse yourself in the intimate atmosphere as the music of Beyoncé, Pink Floyd, Hans Zimmer, Bad Bunny, and more comes to life, surrounded by the flickering glow of candles. Prepare to be dazzled by these captivating performances.
6. Pay homage to tallest indoor Christmas tree in the country
The monolith tree, which is decked out with roughly 10,000 colored ornaments and nearly half a million lights requires the work of 50 employees at Galleria who come together and spend days building the five-ton steel frame before installing more than 1,700 branches and decorating the enormous evergreen.
7. Revel in Christmas cheer at the Arboretum
One of the picks of the bunch can be found at the esteemed Dallas Arboretum. One of the top botanical gardens in the world and one of the city’s top attractions, the 66-acre arboretum transforms each year for its popular “Holiday at the Arboretum” event.
8. Experience the Official Christmas Capital of Texas
Just outside of Dallas is Grapevine, the Official Christmas Capital in Texas. From the epic Gaylord Texan’s ICE! experience, to Christmas trains, and ice skating at what’s been called the Rockefeller of the South, a trip to Grapevine is something that should definitely be on your list!
9. Get into the holiday spirit with A Very Sinatra Christmas Special
10. Netflix House Grand Opening
This December, Netflix plans open its second-ever Netflix House at Galleria Dallas. The experiential venue from the streaming titan will feature three interactive experiences based on its hit TV shows Stranger Things and Squid Game as well as its retro arcade, Netflix RePLAY. Visitors can also enjoy themed eats and drinks based off Netflix shows at its Netflix Bites cafe, score merch at its retail store, and more!
11. Take a Trip To The Gingerbread City
Located less than an hour’s drive from Dallas, Waxahachie, Texas is a darling Texas town. Due to its stunning collection of Victorian homes, the city has earned the moniker of “The Gingerbread City”. In addition to its beautiful homes, Waxahachie also features a beautiful downtown district filled with 19th-20th-century storefronts, mom-and-pops, and small town charm!
12. Enjoy Dallas’ Spectacular Zoo Lights Experience
The 106-acre zoological Park is once again hosting its beloved mile-long walk-thru experience inviting guests to wander beneath millions of twinkling lights between dazzling 3D lighted sculptures and installations.
13. Marvel at the Interlochen Holiday Lights
Located in Arlington, the Interlochen Holiday Lights is a nationally-recognized light experience that traces back over 40 years. If you’re looking for something free to do this holiday season, take a cruise through this delightful neighborhood.
14. Gift a loved one a Candlelight Concert
Can’t decide? Or struggling to think of a present for somebody? Gift somebody an exclusive concert illuminated with thousands of candles with a Candlelight gift card.
Choose from concerts featuring jazz, rock, pop, classical music, and even movie soundtracks in spectacular venues around Dallas.
Candlelight gift cards are really easy to use and valid for any Candlelight event making it a unique and exciting gift for friends or family!
Get your Candlelight gift card valid for any Candlelight concert in Dallas or any other city in the U.S. here.15. Sip on Christmas spirits at Dallas’ Holiday Pop-Ups
It wouldn’t be the holidays without the arrival of the DFW area’s wonderful Christmas bars. From Grinchy rooftops, to surf-spun Sippin Santa, classic Christmas haunts, and more: hit our link for the best holiday pop-ups in Dallas!
16. Visit the Christkindl Market
Beers, Bavarian bites, and bristling holiday charm await at the Texas Christkindl Market! Taking place at Globe Life Field, the Texas Christkindl Market celebrates its 15th anniversary this year, with a fabulous German-themed marketplace. Here, visitors can enjoy a wide range of on-site vendors, German faire, as well as live performances throughout the season!
17. Snap your new Christmas Card at SNOWDAY
The ultra festive SNOWDAY and SNOWLAND pop-up has returned to Galleria Dallas with imaginative themed rooms full of holiday cheer. Here, visitors of all ages can delight in multiple photo-ops ranging fro the Polar Express to Santa’s Christmas cabin.
18. Enjoy the Adolphus Hotel’s rooftop winter village
Dallas’ iconic Adolphus Hotel has had a Christmas makeover and it looks magical. The luxury hotel’s pool deck has been transformed into a winter village complete with snow globes, themed cottages, cozy winter cabins, Croque Monsieur winter soldiers, and festive food and drink options.
Every week Tuesday through Saturday guests can now transport themselves to a chic chalet village and revel in festive cheer.
19. Step Inside the Largest Christmas Store in Texas
Whether you’ve yet started or finished decorating for Christmas, Texas’s #1 Christmas Store, Decorator’s Warehouse in Dallas is worth a trip this festive season.
20. Revel in the Spectacle of the Dallas Holiday Parade
Dallas’ one and only Holiday Parade returns in all of its Yuletide pageantry this December. On December 6, the largest one-day events in Dallas will once again fill downtown streets with a promenade of floats, performances, characters, and more. The event will also find a series of food trucks and vendors at Main Street Gardens and Civic Gardens with seasonal concessions.
21. Go on a Magical Christmas Cruise
The largest party barge in Texas has turned into a Christmas cruise this holiday season! Float down to Grand Prairie this December for a trip on their holiday excursions, a one-hour trip that takes visitors on a lake tour of the enchanting Prairie Lights at Lynn Creek Park.
22. Feel the joy of the season at Christmas in the Garden
Christmas in the Garden has arrived at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, transforming the renowned space into a holiday fairytale. Wander down a glowing path, meet Santa, indulge in seasonal treats, and more! Get tickets today to make the best festive memories this season.