One of Dallas-Fort Worth’s most beloved traditions is a Christmas tree lighting. The more local, the better, too, as it’s an ideal way to connect with friends, families and neighbors in your community during the holidays. Tree lightings are free to attend in the area, though there are paid activities that accompany them, such as photos with Santa Claus, snow hills and food trucks. A handful include drone shows, Christmas lights and music to enjoy. There are special holiday traditions across North Texas, too, that include parades before their tree lightings, including Arlington, DeSoto, Duncanville, Frisco, Irving, Richardson and Rockwall.
Weather can be fickle this time of year in North Texas, so make sure to check your desired event’s website or social media accounts before you go.
Is your favorite D-FW Christmas tree lighting not on the list? Tell us about what makes it special in the comments below.
Arlington Holiday Lights Parade and Tree Lighting
News Roundups
After its annual holiday parade concludes, Arlington welcomes in the season with a tree lighting. Crafts, games, face painters and more will fill the day, and kids can expect to meet Santa Claus (and even sit for a photo opp) from 2 to 5 p.m. at the library (100 S Center St.) and again after the tree lighting at Founders Plaza near Levitt Pavilion. The tree itself is a sight, standing at 65 feet tall.
Dec. 13 from 2 to 9 p.m. Tree lighting will follow the parade, which begins at 6 p.m. Downtown Arlington near Levitt Pavilion, 100 W Abram St., Arlington.
Related
Christmas on the Square in Celina
This event promises attendees a “charming, home-town Christmas celebration reminiscent of a Hallmark movie.” Find festive live music and dance performances, local vendors, photos with Santa, a petting zoo, kids zone, and more, before the evening ushers in the festive season with a tree lighting.
Dec. 3 from 5 to 9 p.m. Tree lighting takes place at 8 p.m. Downtown Square, 141 N. Ohio St., Celina.
City of Duncanville’s Christmas Tree Lighting
This Friday night extravaganza includes a parade and drone show to accompany its tree lighting – all part of Duncanville’s Holiday Lights in the Park & Parade. There will be live music, festive snacks, local vendors and more to relish in the season with family and friends.
Dec. 5 from 5 to 9 p.m. Armstrong Park, James Collins Blvd., Duncanville.
Colleyville’s Christmas Tree Lighting
The annual tree lighting in Colleyville takes place outside of City Hall. Food trucks, choir performances, photos with Santa Claus, a drive-in movie and more will fill the evening’s festivities. But first the evening will kick off with Mayor Bobby Lindamood and Santa Claus making their way down Main Street for the tree lighting at 5:45 p.m.
Nov. 22 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. 90 Main St., Colleyville.
Denton Holiday Lighting Festival
The lighting festival has been a Denton holiday tradition since 1988 and has grown to include arts and crafts, food, music and photos with Santa Claus. The night before the tree lighting marks Denton’s Wassail Fest, taking place from 6 to 9 p.m. on Downtown Denton Square. The annual event allows visitors to sample and vote for their favorite hot, spiced holiday punch (also known as wassail).
Dec. 6 from 3 to 6 p.m. Quakertown Park, 700 Oakland St., Denton.
Garland Christmas on the Square
This tree lighting will be accompanied by a Santa photo booth, treats from local eateries and food vendors, arts and crafts, live reindeer, a snow hill, train rides and a lighted tunnel. Garland also hosts a holiday storefront contest, during which local businesses compete for best displays under the theme “Arctic Blast” and visitors can vote using QR codes posted in the city square from Nov. 28 through Jan. 4. Throughout the season, visitors can also find an outdoor skating rink, part of Garland Square on Ice.
Dec. 4 from 5 to 9 p.m. Tree lighting takes place at 6:30 p.m. Downtown Garland Square, 520 W. State St., Garland.
Holidays at Heritage: Parade + Tree Lighting in Irving
A parade will march through Irving’s Heritage District, which is then followed by a tree lighting and drone light show at Heritage Park. The parade’s theme this year will be “Unwrap the Magic!” After the parade and before the tree lighting, find live music, photos with Santa Claus and more at the park. This evening of festive celebration begins a December full of free holiday events hosted at Heritage Park.
Dec. 6 from 6 to 9 p.m. Tree lighting is at 8:30 p.m. at Heritage Park, 217 S. Main St., Irving.
Holiday Tree Lighting at AT&T Discovery District in Downtown Dallas
The AT&T Discovery District is hosting its 5th annual tree lighting on Nov. 22 to kick off the holiday season.
AT&T Discovery District
The AT&T Discovery District is hosting its 5th annual Get Lit in the District as part of a weekend filled with festive fun. A 30-foot tree will be lit on the plaza following a countdown on the district’s massive media wall. The following evening on Nov. 23, there is a free screening of holiday film The Grinch (2018) on the media wall. Stop by the Exchange Food Hall for a bite or drink, which includes a holiday popup – Tinsel Tavern – on the second floor this year. There is free self-parking for both events at the 1212 Jackson Street garage.
Nov. 22 at 8 p.m. 308 S. Akard St., Dallas.
Holly Jolly Celebration in Allen
The City of Allen Christmas tree will be lit on Dec. 6, accompanied by a drone show, light displays, a 5K and much more. The day’s events start with a fun run, followed by a 5K. Before awards from the 5K race are handed out, visitors can expect the Christmas tree lighting and drone show. There will inflatables, games, food trucks, train rides, photos with Santa Claus, carolers, sensory friendly spaces and more. Expect plenty of photo ops, too.
Dec. 6 from 4p.m. to 8 p.m. Tree lighting takes place at 6 p.m. Downtown Allen beginning at Allen Drive and Main Street, Allen.
Merry Main Street in Frisco
From 3 to 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 6, you can expect a day filled with holiday fun in Frisco before the tree lighting takes place. There will be a parade, photos with Santa Claus, choir performances from Frisco ISD elementary school students, and an ornament hunt. The Frosty 5K is also back. It all helps usher in the jolly season for Frisco Square’s Christmas in the Square, packed with free events, including a nightly light show through Jan. 3.
Can’t make it this year? Kaleidoscope Park is back for a second holiday season this year with the Holly Jolly Stroll and Roll & Tree lighting on Nov. 21 from 6 to 9 p.m. If you can’t make it to either of those Frisco tree lightings, find more festive flair at Cowboys Christmas Extravaganza at The Star.
Dec. 6 from 3 to 7:30 p.m. Tree lighting is at 5:30 p.m. Simpson Plaza, 6101 Frisco Square Blvd., Frisco.
Related
Hometown Holiday Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting in DeSoto
Following a parade that treks along Hampton Road to DeSoto Town Center, there will be a magical tree lighting. The theme of this year’s festivities is “Welcome to Candyland,” so expect gumdrops, lollipops and candy canes galore. At the tree lighting, expect live entertainment and holiday music, all in the name of family fun.
Dec. 7 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tree lighting is at 8 p.m. DeSoto Town Center, 211 E. Pleasant Run Road, DeSoto.
Klyde Warren Park Tree Lighting
A look at past holiday lights at Klyde Warren Park in downtown Dallas
Maria R. Olivas
Take a photo with Santa, listen to story time with Mrs. Claus, watch a special show at the Nancy Best Foundation, see a performance of The Nutcracker and more at the Klyde Warren Park Tree Lighting. The event culminates with the lighting of the Mayor’s Tree. Following the tree lighting celebration, there will be a screening of the family friendly winter film Frozen, starting at 7:15 p.m. on the Ginsburg Family East Lawn.
Dec. 6 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. 2012 Woodall Rodgers Fwy., Dallas.
Lights at Legacy in Plano
Live entertainment, inflatables, train rides, toy soldier stilt walkers, little drummer boys and more will fill the Legacy East area beginning in the afternoon. There’s an opportunity to take a picture with Santa, which is $30 and half of proceeds go toward My Possibilities. The event concludes with a tree lighting ceremony.
Nov. 23 from 4 to 7 p.m. Tree lighting is at 6:30 p.m. The Shops at Legacy East, 5741 Legacy Dr., Plano.
McKinney Christmas Tree Lighting
Head to historic downtown McKinney for the classic holiday festivity. McKinney is raising money through Go Fund Me to bring in a 40-foot tree from Michigan this year. There will be visits with Santa, a petting zoo, a Ferris wheel, carousel and more throughout the weekend following Thanksgiving.
Nov. 28 at 6:15 p.m. The Square in Historic Downtown McKinney, 200 N. Kentucky St., McKinney.
Rockwall’s Hometown Christmas
The day starts with a parade featuring more than 100 festive floats, a holiday market, snow hill and photos with Santa and the Grinch, and the tree lighting acts as the cherry on top. Crafts, cocoa and cookies should also be expected, courtesy of the Rockwall Women’s League
Dec. 6. Tree lighting festivities take place from 6 to 8 p.m. 385 S. Goliad St., Rockwall.
Santa’s Village Tree Lighting at Huffhines Park in Richardson
On Dec. 6, a tradition that’s been going strong for more than three decades kicks off in Richardson, with the help of a tree lighting. Santa’s Village, a North Pole-inspired land comprised of little interactive dwellings, will open to the public for the season. There is free parking, free photos with Santa Claus, musical performances and more at Huffhines Park through certain evenings in December. There’s also a sensory-sensitive night on Dec. 11, which is free, though advance registration is required due to limited space. Richardson’s Christmas Parade also falls on Dec. 6, starting at 9 a.m. — a redo of sorts after the event was cancelled in 2024.
Dec. 6. 1500 Apollo Road, Richardson.
Snider Plaza Tree Lighting in University Park
This holiday celebration starts with a ribbon cutting to welcome residents to Snider Plaza after ongoing improvements at the popular shopping center. That will be followed by a bevy of performances starting at 3:45 p.m., including from Dallas Youth Strings Outreach, HP Dance Company and Lads and Lassies. Arrive early to take advantage of photos with Santa. If you can’t make it to this one, there’s another tree lighting in University Park at Elena’s Children’s Park on Dec. 2 at 6:30 p.m. at 2900 Hanover St.
Nov. 30 at 6:30 p.m. 6815 Snider Plaza, Dallas.
SMU Celebration of Lights
This year marks the 47th annual Celebration of Lights at Southern Methodist University. Join students, alumni and faculty at the school for an event filled with carol-singing, a reading of the Christmas story, and the tree lighting on Dallas Hall lawn.
Dec. 1. More details to come. Dallas Hall lawn, 3225 University Blvd., Dallas.
Related
