Where To Find the Family-friendliest Holiday Fun in Dallas-Fort Worth

We've got you covered with a huge master list of Christmas activities to fill your holiday season with festive vibes right here. But in this post, we're focusing specifically on the events and activities that are fun for the WHOLE family. So basically, here's your comprehensive list of DFW holiday activities that come sans booze.

1. festive photo op — the mayor's tree at Klyde Warren

They're calling the 48-foot tree at Klyde Warren Park “The Mayor's Tree” this year, as The City of Dallas wants to make Klyde Warren the city's official Christmas park. The Mayor's Tree weighs nearly 5,000 pounds, and it will display 37,520 multi-colored LED lights and 3,836 multicolored ornaments. It will be positioned on the south end of Hart Boulevard, the Park's main pedestrian thoroughfare, through January 9, 2023.

2. yesterland farm

Put on your favorite holiday tunes and head down to Canton, because Yesterland Farm is hosting a GIANT Christmas Carnival! 🎄 And, this year, the farm is going all out with its brand NEW Christmas light experience, including displays all around the working farm's 42 acres!

3. enchant

Enchant, which makes the BOLD claim to be the "world's largest Christmas light maze and village," is open Nov. 25 through Jan. 1 at Fair Park. Tickets start at $34 for adults and $20 for the kiddos. A night at Enchant is a magical evening with over 4 million sparkling lights, the story-themed walk-thru light maze, Ice Skating, and maybe even a visit with Santa!

4. vitruvian lights

This year, they're celebrating the 10th anniversary of Vitruvian Lights in Addison, and they are once again DOING IT BIG. Vitruvian Park transforms into a magical wonderland, and the best part is that the lights are free for viewing nightly from 5-11 p.m. from Nov. 26 through Jan. 1. Kids can also get their photo taken with Santa for free here! Parking is $15 CASH ONLY, however. They'll flip the switch for the first night of viewing on Nov. 25 at 6 p.m.!

5. dallas zoo lights

If you just can't wait until after Thanksgiving to go see some Christmas lights, the Dallas Zoo has about a million reasons to come to Dallas Zoo Lights 2022! More than 1 million lights will be strung up, and the Zoo is open for walk-through viewings on select days starting Nov. 17 through Jan. 1, 5:30-10 p.m. Check the schedule and buy tickets here. They're $13 for youth members ($17 for non-members) and $17 for adult members ($21 for non-members) — and it's all a few bucks cheaper on "non-premium" nights!

6. society bakery christmas cookie kits

Santa deserves the best cookies this Christmas, and so do you! Order one (or a few) of these Christmas cookie kits from Society Bakery on Greenville and you get all the fun of decorating the cookies without the hassle of actually baking them! This way, nothing gets burned and everyone gets their fill of delicious and beautifully decorated Christmas cookies.

7. grand prairie — prairie lights

Prairie Lights is one of the premier holiday light parks in Texas, located at Lynn Creek Park on Joe Pool Lake in Grand Prairie. Prairie Lights 2022 will feature Holiday Village, the magical walk-thru forest, carnival rides, photos with Santa, holiday shopping and more. They're open every night From Thanksgiving to New Years Eve, starting at 6 p.m., and they'll let you line up in your car until 10. They're charging $50 per car, or $149 per car if you want to skip the line with a fast pass.

8. festive photo op with this sign in bishop arts

Oh, Bishop Arts, please don't ever change. We absolutely adore this "Merry Christmas You Filthy Animal" sign that has been posted outside of Eno's Pizza Tavern in one of our favorite neighborhoods in town for the past couple holiday seasons. We're not exactly sure when the heartfelt wishes will show themselves this year, but last year, we know the sign was up by Nov. 24. So keep looking if you're trying to be the first to get your off-color photo op here this year!

9. ruibal's at the farmers market

Get the fullest trees and your beautifully festive live wreaths at Ruibal's at the Dallas Farmers Market, and it comes with a huge bonus. Look at that backdrop of Downtown against the luscious selection of Christmas trees! It's truly one of the perfect holiday photo ops in town — you just have to capture it for yourself.

10. festive photo op at the adolphus christmas tree

There's just so much holiday charm at the Adoluphus at every turn, isn't there? Their ever-so extravagant Christmas tree is even more impressive in person! It’s the perfect spot for a LIT gram-worthy photo this holiday season!

11. Festive photo op at civic garden

The Civic Garden in Downtown on Main Street is aglow in its annual Holiday Butterfly Lights display! It's another gorgeous spot for the whole team to gather and get in the spirit with family or group photos.

12. Northpark Center model train exhibit

This is absolutely the perfect idea if you've got littles at home and you're looking for something affordable to do that will bring that special holiday twinkle to their precious little eyes. Tickets for the Trains at Northpark exhibit are just $10 for adults and just $5 for kids, and proceeds benefit the Ronald McDonald House, so you're doing some holiday good just by showing up! The exhibit is open through Jan. 6.

13. snowday

Snowday and Santaland at the Galleria are back and better than ever for the fourth year in 2022. You're in for an always changing immersive holiday photo experience when you enter, and your Insta feed will reap all the rewards! Roam through the explorable adventure and imaginative rooms where hundreds of surprises await, for all ages! Have fun, strike a pose, and snap a picture, especially at the five extra-special photo moments with integrated cameras and lighting. Get your tickets here.

14. photo op — tallest indoor christmas tree in the u.s.

And while you're at the Galleria, your Insta feed is absolutely BEGGING you to get a few selfies with the tallest indoor Christmas tree in the nation for the festive feed vibes. Ice skaters twirling, lights twinkling and the mega-huge 100-pound, 10-foot tall LED-lit star at the top — it's a SCENE. The giant tannenbaum soars 95 feet in the air and is adorned with 450,000 lights and 10,000 ornaments, y'all.

15. holiday at the arboretum

Holiday at the Arboretum is an ABSOLUTE MUST every year for us. It's the incredible CHRISTMAS WONDERLAND that feels like the perfect way to kick off the most wonderful time of the year! It is open now, through Jan. 31 — don't miss the 12 Days of Christmas and the daily visits from Santa! Tickets are $20 for adults, $16 for seniors, $12 for children and free for members — get them here.

16. lights on the farm

Some of the BEST holiday lights and displays live at Lights on the Farm in Plano through December 30. It's at the Heritage Farm Museum, and you can check out the more than 1 million lights, the 20-foot Christmas tree, a themed scavenger hunt, s'mores, hot cocoa, kettle corn and photos with Santa!

17. frisco — christmas in the square

This year at Christmas in the Square in Frisco, the family-friendly fun includes visits with Santa ($15 per person), skating in the Square ($15 per skater), horse carriage rides ($15 per rider), storytime with Elsa, Anna and Olaf ($20 per person) and free access to the chroeographed light show! The event is open now through Jan. 3!

18. live the cowboy christmas dream at hotel drover

Here's what you can expect at the AMAZING 12 Days of Drover, which runs December 13-24 at our unrivaled favorite Fort Worth hotel: complimentary photos with Cowboy Santa, real-life reindeer, fire-roasted s’mores, breathtaking Christmas decor and holiday photo opportunities at every corner!

19. hit the christkindl market

The traditional family-friendly Christkindl market at Arlington's Texas Live! is definitely a unique holiday experience! Inspired by a cherished German tradition, Texas Christkindl Market is giving Christmas Magic with authentic German food, treats, and collectibles here as well as shopping from other local businesses who offer one-of-a-kind Christmas gifts, decorations, and activities!

20. drive through the interlochen lights

Did you know that for over 40 years, the Interlochen neighborhood in Arlington has been transforming its streets into a bonafide holiday hot spot? When you drive through the Interlochen Holiday Lights Display, you'll find twinkling lights, fun animatronics, and more at nearly 200 homes that are turning Christmas up to 11!

21. visit mainstay farm park & winery

Take the short drive out to Cleburne to experience the rustic (and pet-friendly) Christmas charm only found at Mainstay Farm Park & Winery! There you'll find a choose-&-cut Christmas tree farm, a wine terrace with wine fights for the adults, tons of rides and activities like the big wheel, a tubing hill slide, a roller coaster and even a jumping pillow, photo opps galore, visits with Mr. and Mrs. Claus and milkshakes, sweet treats and over-the-top hot cocoa options.

22. stockyards rodeo rink

The Stockyards Rodeo Rink is open now for the perfect day of family-friendly holiday fun. Take in the daily cattle drive, visit Santa at his cabin outpost (Wed.-Sun.) and take a gander at some of the most festive holiday decor in the Metroplex while you're wandering to and from all the hottest bars and boutiques!

23. grapevine — the christmas capital of texas

Not only is this the most festive holiday experience in the metroplex, with countless photo opps and instagrammable moments at every turn, but the wineries that dot Grapevine's Main Street make this an extra saucy Holiday Extravaganza! You see, Grapevine has named itself the Christmas Capital of Texas, and by the way they deck out Main Street, it's a title they take very seriously. You've got to see this for yourself!

24. santa house

Here's yet another reason Grapevine rightfully took the title of "Christmas Capital of Texas." Go visit the iconic Santa House while you're visiting for a fun photo op and the amazing Ho, Ho, Ho vibes. They've got more than 1,000 light-up Santas displayed in their yard in the form of a maze that guests can wander through! Grapevine Santa House is also raising money to spread holiday cheer to those in need. 100% of all donations will go to the Grapevine Relief and Community Exchange (GRACE) to provide Christmas gifts to children this season.

25. light park

The Light Park at Hurricane Harbor in Arlington is open now through Jan. 1, and it is FESTIVE with a capital "F"! Tickets start at just $29 per car for this drive-through experience with MILLIONS of lights, the best Christmas tunes, fun props and Electric Lemonade (it lights up)! This is unique because as you drive through the immersive experience, you tune you car radio into to the proper frequency, and the lights dance along with the Christmas music blaring from your speakers!

26. lightscape

This is without a doubt the most aesthetic and wonderful holiday light experience that Tarrant County has to offer. Lightscape is set up at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden as a family friendly, illuminated walking trail. It's a full mile of suspended strands, light tunnels, captivating displays and a beautiful fire garden. Enjoy wine, beer, hot cocoa and snacks while you make your way to the Japanese garden featuring colorful lights that dance along to the music. Learn more and get your tickets here.

27. photo op — stockyards christmas tree

There are so many fun and festive things to do around the Stockyards this year, and while you're out enjoying one of our favorite parts of town, be sure to stop by and get some pics with the gorgeous Stockyards Christmas tree!

Add all of them to the Holiday Love List✨🎄