Dallas-Fort Worth, TX, December 18, 2025

The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is filled with festive holiday activities this weekend, including magical light displays, community events, and performances. Locations such as the Dallas Arboretum and Fort Worth Botanic Garden are hosting enchanting experiences, while Santa sightings and concerts abound, showcasing the spirit of community involvement and joy in North Texas.

Dallas-Fort Worth, TX

DFW’s Weekend Holiday Sparkle: Concerts, Santa, & Community Cheer

As the holiday season reaches its crescendo, the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is abuzz with festive activities this weekend, offering a vibrant array of Christmas concerts, delightful Santa sightings, and numerous community events. This period showcases the strong spirit of local initiative and private enterprise that brings these celebrations to life, fostering communal bonds and individual joy across North Texas.

Local organizers, often driven by personal initiative and a deep commitment to community enrichment, have curated a diverse selection of events. This widespread participation highlights how limited bureaucracy and direct civic involvement can empower groups to create memorable experiences for families and individuals. The upcoming weekend, December 19-21, 2025, promises a wealth of opportunities to embrace the holiday spirit, reflecting the vibrant culture of Texas gatherings.

Enchanting Light Displays and Festive Gardens

The Dallas-Fort Worth area is renowned for its spectacular holiday light displays, many of which are the result of significant private investment and dedicated community efforts. The Holiday at the Arboretum in Dallas is a premier attraction, transforming the Dallas Arboretum into a festive wonderland from November 12, 2025, through January 4, 2026. This event features dazzling 12 Days of Christmas gazebos, a European-inspired Christmas Village, and the elegant Merry Monochromatic décor inside the historic DeGolyer House. New for 2025 is “Night Glow,” powered by AURORA, an after-dark experience illuminating the gardens with artist-curated light installations, blending botanical beauty with luminous creativity. Visitors can also enjoy live entertainment and seasonal performances in the Christmas Village. Santa Claus will be present for visits at the Pauline and Austin Neuhoff Family Christmas Village on select dates, including December 19-24, where keepsake photos are available with a donation to the Volunteer Advisory Board.

Similarly, the Fort Worth Botanic Garden hosts “Christmas in the Garden,” a spectacular holiday light event running from November 21, 2025, to January 4, 2026. This event transforms the garden into a winter wonderland with dazzling light installations, including over 1,000 dancing LED bluebonnets, towering Texas Nutcrackers, a Gingerbread Walk, and a radiant illuminated Texas flag. Guests can wander through the serene Japanese Garden, a rainbow Christmas Tree Grove, and walk-through tunnels like the Candy Cane Tunnel and the shimmering Magical Ribbon Tunnel. Local food favorites, such as JD’s Burgers, Magdalena’s, Pulido’s, Margie’s Italian Gardens, and Curly’s Frozen Custard, offer culinary delights. Santa Claus makes nightly appearances through Christmas Eve, providing photo opportunities.

Magical Santa Sightings Across DFW

Meeting Santa Claus remains a cherished holiday tradition, and DFW offers numerous locations for families to capture these special moments, often facilitated by private venues and local businesses. Beyond the Dallas Arboretum and Fort Worth Botanic Garden, the Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine hosts “ICE! featuring Elf™” until January 5, 2026. This signature event showcases over 2 million pounds of hand-carved ice sculptures depicting iconic scenes from the movie “Elf™,” kept at a frosty 9 degrees Fahrenheit. In addition to the icy walkthrough and two-story ice slides, the resort offers other Christmas activities like ice skating, snow tubing, gingerbread decorating, and photos with Santa. The Gaylord Texan’s extensive holiday offerings are a testament to large-scale private event coordination, drawing visitors from across the region and even nationwide.

Other notable Santa sightings include those at NorthPark Center in Dallas, where Santa offers one-on-one visits and portraits from November 28 through December 24. NorthPark also presents “Songs and Stories with Santa” daily, a free event where Santa shares tales of the North Pole and sings festive songs. Santa’s Village in Richardson is a beloved North Texas tradition offering free admission, free professional Santa photos, and free parking on multiple December weekends, including December 20-22. This type of free community event highlights the impact of local sponsorship and volunteerism in providing accessible holiday joy.

Spectacular Holiday Concerts and Performances

The performing arts scene in DFW also flourishes during the holidays, with a variety of concerts and theatrical productions. The Ballet North Texas will present “The Nutcracker” from December 19-21, 2025, offering a classic holiday ballet experience. For classical music enthusiasts, Orpheus Chamber Singers will perform “Christmas with Orpheus” in Dallas on Sunday, December 21, 2025. This concert promises moments of peace and calm with sounds of the season by candlelight, featuring works like Trond Kverno’s “Ave Maris Stella” and selections from Benjamin Britten’s “Ceremony of Carols,” accompanied by harpist Jaymee Haefner.

The AT&T Performing Arts Center in Dallas will host several performances. Leslie Odom, Jr. will bring “The Christmas Tour” on December 20, 2025, featuring holiday classics, originals, and songs from “Hamilton”. Sarah Brightman will perform “A Winter Symphony” on December 21, 2025, accompanied by an orchestra and choir. Additionally, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra is returning with “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve” in 2025, an electrifying holiday rock opera. These diverse musical offerings demonstrate the breadth of artistic talent and the capacity for private arts organizations to enrich the cultural landscape.

A Season of Community and Connection

Beyond ticketed events, many DFW communities foster holiday cheer through free initiatives and local gatherings. For instance, Houston also boasts a range of free Christmas events and activities in November and December 2025, such as Jingle Town at Lynn Wyatt Square, Deck the Park & Holiday Lights at Memorial Park, and various neighborhood light tours. These events, whether in DFW or Houston, underscore a statewide commitment to fostering community growth through accessible, family-friendly activities, often driven by local leadership and civic engagement.

This weekend in Dallas-Fort Worth exemplifies the spirit of individual achievement and community choice that defines holiday celebrations in Texas. From breathtaking light shows orchestrated by private entities to heartfelt musical performances and free community-driven Santa experiences, the opportunities for connection and joy are abundant. These events not only entertain but also strengthen the fabric of the community, demonstrating the positive outcomes of local initiative and focused civic innovation.

As the holiday season continues, we encourage everyone to support these local events and engage in the community development that makes North Texas a vibrant place to live and visit. Your participation directly contributes to the thriving spirit of these unique Texas gatherings. Houston TX events, Dallas Fort Worth holiday activities, Texas Christmas concerts, Santa sightings DFW, community holiday gatherings.

Frequently Asked Questions About DFW Holiday Events This Weekend

When is Holiday at the Arboretum in Dallas?
The Holiday at the Arboretum in Dallas runs from November 12, 2025, through January 4, 2026.

What can visitors expect at Christmas in the Garden at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden?
Visitors to Christmas in the Garden can expect dazzling light installations, including over 1,000 dancing LED bluebonnets, towering Texas Nutcrackers, a Gingerbread Walk, a radiant illuminated Texas flag, and various walk-through tunnels like the Candy Cane Tunnel. Santa Claus makes nightly appearances through Christmas Eve.

What is “ICE! featuring Elf™” at the Gaylord Texan Resort?
“ICE! featuring Elf™” is a signature holiday attraction at the Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine, running until January 5, 2026, showcasing over 2 million pounds of hand-carved ice sculptures depicting iconic scenes from the movie “Elf™”. It includes two-story ice slides and is kept at 9 degrees Fahrenheit.

Are there free Santa sightings in DFW this weekend?
Yes, Santa’s Village in Richardson offers free admission, free professional Santa photos, and free parking on multiple December weekends, including December 20-22.

What types of concerts are available in DFW this weekend?
Concerts this weekend include Ballet North Texas’s “The Nutcracker” (December 19-21, 2025), Orpheus Chamber Singers’ “Christmas with Orpheus” (December 21, 2025), Leslie Odom, Jr.’s “The Christmas Tour” (December 20, 2025), and Sarah Brightman’s “A Winter Symphony” (December 21, 2025). The Trans-Siberian Orchestra is also performing “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve” in 2025.

Key Holiday Event Features in DFW (December 19-21, 2025)

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