When it’s the most wonderful time of the year, we all go looking for places to celebrate with family! You might think you need to travel to experience that quintessential, Hallmark movie charm. But, (as Hallmark will be the first to tell you), there’s no place like home for the holidays! Dallas has no shortage of Christmas cheer.
Here are 10 of my favorite places to celebrate Christmas in Dallas, TX.
1. NorthPark Mall
LOCATION: 8687 N Central Expy, Dallas, TX
PRICE: Free
While you can obviously take photos with Santa Claus and do your holiday shopping at any mall, NorthPark is head and shoulders above the rest when it comes to Christmas spirit.
You can find art installations throughout NorthPark mall year-round, but in December they take on a festive twist. This year’s decorations included Santa’s sleigh flying across the ceiling, and a LEGO Santa sculpture composed of more than 32,000 bricks.
One of the loveliest annual additions to the mall is the 28-foot tall Christmas clock, which performs “The 12 Days of Christmas” every 30 minutes.
Last but not least, bring your kids (or a date!) to the annual NorthPark Trains LINK exhibit. Dozens of elaborate toy train displays depict cities across America, the North Pole, Downtown Dallas, and even the State Fair of Texas! It only costs $ to get in, and the profits go directly to The Ronald McDonald House charity.
Read more details about NorthPark Trains here.
2. Vitruvian Park
LOCATION: 3966 Vitruvian Way, Addison, TX
PRICE: Free
There are plenty of paid light displays you can visit throughout the metroplex. But at $30+ per ticket, the expense can really start to add up if you want to bring your whole family. In my humble opinion, the most beautiful light display in Dallas is completely FREE: Vitruvian Lights!
Each year, Vitruvian Park in Addison transforms into a magical wonderland. Every single tree in the park is wrapped with lights in a single colors from the base of the trunk to the tips of the branches. The trees are spread around a small lake, so you can watch as the colorful lights illuminate the night sky and reflect onto the water. It’s absolutely stunning.
3. Fiction Coffee
LOCATION: 623 N Hall St, Dallas, TX
PRICE: ~$5 for Drinks
One of the things I look forward to the most each December is the unveiling of the annual Christmas mural on Hall Street! Fiction Coffee LINK expands their menu to include festive holiday drinks and commissions a local artist to paint a cute mural on the side of their building every year. Typically (when COVID isn’t a thing) they also decorate the inside of the coffee shop with a cozy fireplace full of stockings and a lovely Christmas tree.
4. The Dallas Arboretum
LOCATION: 8525 Garland Rd, Dallas, TX
PRICE: $17
The Dallas Arboretum is beautiful in every season, but visiting during December is extra fun! Guests can wander through The 12 Days of Christmas as beautiful carousels encapsulated inside glass windows. The gardens are also strung up with over 1 million Christmas lights, and you can purchase hot chocolate or mulled wine from carts along the pathways.
5. The Adolphus Hotel French Room
LOCATION: 1321 Commerce St, Dallas, TX
PRICE: $65+ Per Person
While many of the suggestions on this list are totally free, there are places you can splurge to celebrate Christmas in Dallas too. Holiday Tea in the French Room at the Adolphus Hotel is a truly decadent experience.
If you’re seated in the salon like us, you’ll be serenaded with lovely Christmas tunes by a live pianist while you gaze at the glimmering Christmas decorations.
The tea service comes in several courses, and it is delicious. Our menu included English scones with preserves and clotted cream, open face tea sandwiches (one of which included fresh duck), and a huge assortment of beautiful desserts that glistened like jewels. If you’re a foodie or if you just want to treat yourself to something fancy, you can’t go wrong with this Holiday Tea.
Read more about Holiday Tea at the Adolphus French Room here.
6. Downtown Grapevine
LOCATION: 430 S Main St, Grapevine, TX
PRICE: Free
Did you know the official “Christmas Capital of Texas” is right here in the Dallas metroplex? It doesn’t feel like Christmas to me without our annual trip to Grapevine!
The entirety of Main Street in Downtown Grapevine decks its halls each year to welcome thousands of visitors. You’ll find countless fun photo props, including Whoville cutouts, snow globes, ornaments, and my personal favorite: the Mistletoe Kissing Booth!
You can shop for Christmas gifts and decorations at countless charming local shops, then catch a classic Christmas movie at the adorable historic theatre. You can also book tickets and board the North Pole Express – a real train that travels in and out of the historic Grapevine station while guests watch a performance by Santa and his elves.
Read more about things to do in The Christmas Capital of Texas here.
7. The Gaylord Texan
LOCATION: 1501 Gaylord Trail, Grapevine, TX
PRICE: $22 Parking
When you’ve finished your Christmas shopping on Main Street, head over to the Gaylord Texan Resort. Parking costs about $22, but strolling through all of the stunning decorations is free!
When we visit, we like to order a hot chocolate at the Starbucks inside a replica of The Alamo. Then we sit on the balcony above the fountain and enjoy all the Christmas lights while we sip a warm drink.
This past year The Gaylord also offered a paid Christmas Lights exhibit called I Love Christmas Movies. Normally (when COVID isn’t around) there is an elaborate ice sculpture exhibit. If you want to extended your visit to Grapevine into an overnight staycation, The Gaylord is the perfect spot!
8. Deerfield Neighborhood
LOCATION: Legacy Drive at Colonnade Drive, Plano, TX
PRICE: Free
Whether you go by carriage, by car, or on foot, don’t miss the Christmas light displays in Plano’s Deerfield Neighborhood! Famous for Griswold-level decor, the home owners all over Deerfield have been delighting guests for years.
Pro tip: If you visit Deerfield on a weekend, the lines to enter the neighborhood can get really long (like hours long). We always drive through Deerfield on a weeknight after work towards the beginning of December!
9. Legacy West
LOCATION: 5908 Headquarters Dr, Plano, TX
PRICE: Free
If you’re heading over to Plano to see the Deerfield lights, stop by Legacy West shopping center on your way! This year shoppers could take selfies at numerous holiday-themed outdoor stations with tons of cute props at “Legacy North Pole.”
There was an “Ugly Sweater Hall of Fame,” a “Gumdrop It Like It’s Hot” wall, and a “Sleigh All Day” station complete with a replica of Santa’s sleigh. I had so much fun taking pictures there, and I hope Legacy West continues the tradition every year.
If all the shopping and selfie snapping works up your appetite, stop by Legacy Food Hall for a snack. We topped off our dinner with this amazing peppermint milkshake from Marshmallow Box.
10. Decorator’s Warehouse
LOCATION: 3708 W Pioneer Pkwy, Arlington, TX
PRICE: Free
If decorating your home for the holidays brings you joy, you’ll love this place to celebrate Christmas in Dallas. Decorator’s Warehouse is a massive store with hundreds of square feet full of Christmas lights, ornaments, trees, and more. Whether you’re looking for a specific item for your home or you just want to wander through the aisles and browse for free, it’s a magical way to spend an afternoon.
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