Christmas in Dallas may not be likely to include snow, but there are plenty of Christmas lights, events, and festive things to do in Dallas in December that you definitely won’t miss the classic white Christmas!
From amusement parks to classical concerts to foodie hotspots, Dallas and the areas nearby have a lot to offer to those who visit.
Here are the best things to do in Dallas at Christmastime.
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Typical Winter Weather in Dallas, TX
Winter in Dallas is relatively short, with an average of three to four months of cool weather.
Average temperatures reach a high is 64° and a low of 39° during the winter, with January being the coldest month.
December temperatures are not much different and have a high of 60° and a low of 41°.
Temperatures in November typically sit around the high 60s, and by March, the temperatures go back up into the 80s.
Dallas rarely sees snow (except for when the once-a-decade winter storms happen) and there are almost always a few clouds in the sky to accompany the crisp, cold winds and bright blue sky that gives the city a near-perfect Christmas atmosphere!
White Rock Lake showing off the extremely rare exception to winter weather in Dallas… not the rule!The Best Dallas Christmas Events + Things to Do
Go ice skating at the Galleria.
For those looking for a romantic, private, and quiet getaway, you might try Ice Skating at the Galleria Mall in Dallas.
It’s open all throughout winter. The rink sits in the center of the massive mall, so it’s impossible to miss!
Whether you just want to take a break from shopping to rent a set of skates or take lessons from an instructor, it’s one of the few opportunities Texans and visitors get to see and skate on ice.
Some even travel for hours from small Texas towns just to enjoy this small luxury and claim it as a tradition they’ll never grow out of.
… And soak up views of their famous Dallas Christmas tree.
Did you know that the tallest indoor Christmas tree in the country can be found right here in Dallas?
Ice skaters at the Galleria will skate around this monstrosity, featuring 10,000 ornaments, and it makes for a magical winter atmosphere!
Photo provided by the local Dallas company Mosaic Makers Collective. Reused with permission.Attend the Dallas Holiday Parade.
Can’t or don’t want to travel all the way to New York for a Thanksgiving or Christmas parade?
Then stop by and enjoy the bright, diverse, and celebratory Dallas Holiday Parade!
Every year the city puts on its largest one-day outdoor event on the first Saturday in December, with tickets going on sale in early October to those who want a front-row seat.
This holiday tradition never ceases to capture the awe and wonder of spectators who want the parade experience without leaving home.
With over 300 television stations that broadcast the parade across North Texas and across the entire nation, why not check this festival out for yourself?
Admire the decor at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden.
What do Christmas trees, wreaths, and holly have in common?
Besides being well-loved symbols of the festive season, they all are plants!
You can see these and more beautiful plants at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden.
Although the garden is open all year, they have holiday events where guests can come to experience Holiday at the Arboretum through elaborately decorated Victorian gazebos.
If the gazebo trail doesn’t pique interest, the garden also offers shopping and holiday teatimes to its guests.
Children can meet Santa or watch a chef show off his skills.
At night, the garden comes to life with one million lights and even more Christmas attractions.
After paying general admission, everything but what shops and vendors offer is free to experience!
Attend a festive performance from the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.
Love Christmas music with a passion that can only satisfy by hearing an orchestra or band play your favorite scores and tunes?
You can satiate that passion at the Dallas Symphony Orchestra!
From the Orchestra to modern singers, the Symphony lines up multiple musical Christmas acts throughout December.
The best part?
Most of the acts are available to buy tickets a month or two in advance, so you’ll have plenty of time to decide who you want to see and when you want to see them in concert.
Just don’t forget to buy your tickets before they sell out!
Attend a holiday tour by Dallas By Chocolate.
For foodies looking for delicious things to enjoy during the Christmas season in Dallas, Dallas By Chocolate’s Christmas Lights, Chocolate & Sips Tours, is the premier place to get a small taste of the city’s food.
Book 1 (or all!) of their 8 tours! From late November to the end of December, the company takes reservations, with prices ranging from $35 to 79.
While they aim most of the tours at adults who enjoy their alcohol, Dallas By Chocolate offers family-friendly versions of their outings.
No one will have to miss out on the delectable excursion of Dallas, Frisco, or Addison.
Be sure to book your tour before they sell out!
Enjoy Klyde Warren Park’s Tree Lighting Celebration.
Need a fun, admission-free place to take the family filled with lights, music, and everything imaginable when we think of a modern Christmas?
Then Klyde Warren Park’s Tree Lighting Celebration is what you’re looking for!
Come for the iconic tree lighting ceremony, stay for story-time with Mrs. Claus, meet Santa and play games!
They also offer crafts, face-painting, live entertainment, and even create some artificial snow for those who secretly hope to wake up to it on Christmas morning.
If this is everything you look for at a Christmas event, come check it out on the first Saturday in December.
Explore the Christmas Capital of Texas in nearby Grapevine.
Grapevine, Texas lies just outside of Dallas, and it has completely earned its status as the Christmas Capital of Texas!
From riding the Polar Express to sipping wine in cozy tasting rooms to admiring the truly over-the-top decor that transforms the entire downtown into a holiday wonderland, Grapevine is one of the best places to be when looking to celebrate Christmas in the Dallas area.
Be sure not to miss a visit to The Gaylord Texan, whether you’re staying there or not.
Self-described as the “Dallas Christmas Hotel”, you’ll find everything from magical decor to snow tubing to a snowball building station to photos with Santa available inside.
Want to check in to the Dallas Christmas Hotel yourself?
Attend Candlelight at the Dallas Heritage Village.
Dallas, Texas, is a city with nearly 200 years of established history.
A town with such a long history is not without its museums and nods to its humble beginnings.
At Dallas Heritage Village, visitors can peek into what Dallas was like back in Victorian-era Texas.
During the Christmas season, they offer a Candlelight with caroling, entertainment, and vendors who help recreate the atmosphere of what it would be like to celebrate Christmas in Dallas with traditions from a time long past.
Considering how fast and loud the city can be, taking a step back from all the mass-marketed tinsel is a heartwarming reminder that it was not always that way.
For those who love history, this is your go-to Dallas Christmas event this December.
Check out the holiday events at the NorthPark Center.
One of the best places to get some Christmas shopping done while also enjoying unique attractions at the NorthPark Center, a massive mall complex with dining, a contemporary art museum, and plenty of space for events guests to attend throughout the year.
They celebrate Christmas with just as much enthusiasm as any other holiday.
The first attraction that stands out is The Trains at NorthPark.
Texas owes a lot of its past and current success to the railroad.
Since the revolutionary invention of trains, Dallas has grown and adapted to the changing times more quickly.
They showcase the toy-like exhibit of miniature trains painted in Christmas colors and patterns.
From November to the New Year, visitors can learn about the history, enjoy, and buy trains to start their own miniature railroad!
Guests also enjoy the opportunity to buy and decorate gingerbread cookies, see artistic Christmas installations throughout the mall, or compete in a modern doghouse design and construction competition.
Then see them light a menorah and take part in charity work through the local angel tree.
If you’re looking for a quieter, self-paced Christmas event in Dallas, this is the mall for you!
2021 Note: Visits with Santa are virtual this year.
Enjoy the Christmas lights at Six Flags Over Texas Holiday in the Park.
Have a family of all ages open to starting a new, exciting tradition to pass on to your children?
Thirty minutes away from Dallas in nearby Arlington, Texas, at the original amusement park of the highly successful Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, you’ll find a cherished annual Christmas event, Holiday in the Park.
To get the best deals on admission and fast passes for rides, buy them online ahead of your visit, as they offer their best package deals online for those on a budget.
From mid-November to early January, visitors can enjoy the same rides they would in summer when the park is open for business, plus get special holiday cups, shirts, hot chocolate, cookies, a light show, and still see Santa.
While it may not be in Dallas, it’s one of the top attractions around and worth braving the cold, windy night to experience.
Spend a day at Radiance! Frozen in Frisco.
From mid-November to the first Saturday of January, anyone of any age can enjoy Radiance! Frozen in Frisco, the ultimate winter-themed amusement park.
Just 35 minutes away from Dallas, the park is a fan favorite for families who want to take a walk in a winter wonderland.
Ride a tram through the park to save time getting from one place to another in this stunning park with musically synchronized lights.
Drive through their maze of lights, drink delicious hot cocoa, or go down a mountain snow slide in a tube!
After snowball throwing games to ice skating, take a magical ride on the carousel.
This is the ultimate Dallas Christmas attraction!
