It’s going to be a bright holiday season. Places throughout North Texas are preparing to flip the switch on giant Christmas trees, seasonal decorations, and parade floats. While there are plenty of upcoming holiday events worth your while (the weekly transformation of downtown Dallas into a so-called “wanderland park” sounds particularly interesting), for the purposes of this list, we concerned ourselves with more traditional tree-lighting celebrations.
It’s by no means comprehensive, but here’s a guide to 10 tree lightings to put you in the holiday spirit this year.
Nov. 20: Addison Circle Tree Lighting | Beckert Park
A coloring contest and a bevy of other children’s activities will keep the kids occupied, while horse carriage rides and entertainment courtesy of WaterTower Theatre should entertain the whole family. Santa and his better half roll in on a fire truck before the inevitable tree lighting. Bring canned food or a toy to donate to the Metrocrest Food Bank.
If you miss this particular lighting and still need a holiday light fix in the Far North Dallas-Addison area, head to Vitruvian Park a week later. The Vitruvian Lights go on Nov. 27 at a big shindig, and stay lit every night through the end of the year. It’s a technicolor winter wonderland and ideal territory for a stroll.
Nov. 22: Sundance Square Parade of Lights and Tree Lighting | Sundance Square in Fort Worth
Fort Worth’s Parade of Lights breaks a long tradition and arrives ahead of Thanksgiving this year, but not much else has changed about this absolutely massive downtown celebration. Lit-up floats, Cowboy Santas collecting toys for charity, and thousands of people converging on Sundance Square. The 100-plus float parade commences around 6 pm, with the tree lighting itself at 7:45 pm, but it would behoove you to show up early. Grab a good spot or just mosey around the shops and restaurants.
Nov. 22: University Park’s Holiday Tree Lighting | Snider Plaza in University Park
Nov. 28: Galleria Tree Lighting Celebration | The Galleria Dallas
Making excellent use of the ice rink surrounding the giant Christmas tree in the heart of the shopping mall, this celebration will feature appearances from Olympic skaters and a “pyrotechnic Santa Claus.” These shows repeat every Saturday at 6 pm through December.
Dec. 2: Light Up Lee Park | Lee Park in Oak Lawn
More of an “Arlington Hall lighting” than a “big tree lighting,” we’re of the opinion this still counts. Come for the free hot chocolate and holiday music courtesy of the Salvation Army Brass Ensemble Band.
Dec. 3: Fair Park Holiday Tree Lighting Festival | Fair Park
Denise Lee is leading the Christmas show at 8 pm, and there are plenty of other entertainment options going around. A laser light show will illuminate the Esplanade, while Victorian carolers and other characters stroll about. Pet a reindeer, sit with Santa, or just take in the sights and sounds. Somewhere in there, they’ll light up the Christmas tree.
Dec. 3: Highland Park Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony | The Big Pecan Tree
Dec. 4: Dickens in Historic Downtown Plano | Downtown Plano and Haggard Park
Local church groups, high school performing arts classes, and dance troupes take to several stages throughout downtown Plano to provide live entertainment, with an assortment of food vendors providing grub. Santa — maintaining a busy social schedule, as always — will also be on hand. The tree lighting itself is at Haggard Park.
Dec. 4: Denton Holiday Lighting Festival | Downtown Denton
Local musicians play, vendors dish food, and people behave festively at this celebration outside the courthouse in Denton’s square.
Dec. 5: Klyde Warren Park Tree Lighting followed by Reliant Lights Your Holidays | Dallas Arts District
Summon your deepest reserves of holiday cheer and spend the entire day celebrating the holidays in the Arts District. The festivities begin at noon at Klyde Warren Park with face painting, games for the kids, food trucks, and demonstrations from the park’s “arts and cultural friends and neighbors.” Once the tree is lit at 5:45 pm, mosey a short distance for more holiday cheer, more lights, more music, and more activities at the AT&T Performing Arts Center Campus and the awkwardly-named-but-how-about-that-corporate-branding celebration known as Reliant Lights Your Holidays.
Synergy aside, Reliant Lights Your Holidays should be a fun shindig, with LED light displays strung across the district’s performing arts venues, a fireworks show, and performances from the Polyphonic Spree, Bubba Hernandez y Los Super Vatos, and cast members from the Jersey Boys touring production.
Dec. 5: Santa’s Village Tree Lighting | Richardson Public Library
