Dallas Christmas lights and holiday events for 2026 — the Arboretum’s final season of the 12 Days of Christmas gazebos, Dallas Zoo Lights, ICE! at the Gaylord Texan, free neighborhood light drives, tree lightings, and the holiday parade. Dates and prices checked against each event’s own website.
Dallas Christmas Lights — Quick Picks
Most big displays run mid-November into early January. Book timed tickets early for December weekends.
Search Dallas Hotels →Dallas Arboretum
Final season of the 12 Days of Christmas gazebos. Nov 11–Jan 3.
Dallas Zoo Lights
Select nights Nov 13–Jan 3, 5:30–9 p.m. From $19.
ICE! — Harry Potter
At the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine, Nov 13–Jan 3.
Highland Park Lights
Drive or walk the neighborhood displays — no ticket needed.
Dallas Christmas Lights 2026 at a Glance
| Event | Dates | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday at the Arboretum | Nov 11, 2026–Jan 3, 2027 | Day $21.95–$25.95 adults; Holiday at Night $35–$40 |
| Dallas Zoo Lights | Select nights, Nov 13–Jan 3 | From $19; parking $15 |
| ICE! at the Gaylord Texan (Grapevine) | Nov 13, 2026–Jan 3, 2027 | Tickets online |
| Six Flags Holiday in the Park (Arlington) | Select days, late Nov–Dec 30 | Included with park admission |
| Klyde Warren Park Tree Lighting | Sat, Dec 5, 2026 | Free |
| Dallas Holiday Parade | First Saturday in December | Free (paid bleacher seats) |
| Highland Park, Swiss Avenue & Kessler Park lights | December | Free |
Holiday at the Arboretum — The 12 Days of Christmas: One Final Chorus
The Dallas Arboretum’s Victorian gazebos — one for each of the 12 Days of Christmas — have been a Dallas tradition since 2014, and 2026 is their final season. Starting in 2027, a new light exhibition takes over. If you’ve always meant to go, this is the year.
| Ticket | Hours | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Daytime | 9 a.m.–4 p.m. | Adults $21.95–$25.95; kids 3–12 $17.95–$21.95 |
| Holiday at Night | 5–10 p.m. | $35–$40 (ages 2+) |
| Night Owl (online only) | 8:30–10 p.m. | $15 |
- Where: 8525 Garland Road, on White Rock Lake.
- Parking: $15 per vehicle. Families can use Entry 3 (8657 Garland Road) by the Children’s Adventure Garden.
- Closed: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.
- Tip: The Night Owl ticket is the cheapest way to see the lights — $15 for the last 90 minutes.
Dallas Zoo Lights
The zoo lights up on select nights from November 13 through January 3, 5:30–9 p.m. It’s the easiest holiday outing with young kids.
- Tickets: From $19. A Combo Ticket (afternoon zoo visit plus evening lights) adds $10.
- Igloos: Private igloos for up to 6 guests, 90-minute slots, $200 before food.
- Parking: $15. Combo Ticket holders pay once for both visits.
- Skip parking: The DART Red Line stops at Dallas Zoo Station, a short walk from the entrance.
- Special nights: Sensory Friendly Night on Nov 17.
ICE! at the Gaylord Texan — Harry Potter
The Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine is debuting ICE! featuring Harry Potter for 2026, an indoor attraction carved from ice, with icy tunnels and two-story ice slides. It runs November 13, 2026, through January 3, 2027. Tickets and overnight packages are sold through the Gaylord Texan’s Christmas site.
Make it an overnight. The Gaylord Texan sells holiday overnight packages, so you can skip the drive home. Grapevine sits between Dallas and Fort Worth, near DFW Airport.
Six Flags Holiday in the Park
Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington turns into Holiday in the Park on select days from late November through December 30. Live shows, light displays, and most rides are included with park admission. Check the park calendar for exact days and hours.
Free Christmas Lights in Dallas
- Highland Park: Dallas’s best-known neighborhood light drive. Start at Armstrong Parkway and Preston Road. December weekends get busy, so go on a weeknight if you can.
- Swiss Avenue: Historic East Dallas homes decked out for the season.
- Kessler Park: Oak Cliff’s light drive. Start at Colorado Boulevard and Lausanne Avenue.
- Galleria Dallas: Home of what it bills as America’s tallest indoor Christmas tree, with an ice rink.
- Downtown hotel trees: The Adolphus and the Fairmont put up showpiece lobby trees each year.
Tree Lightings & the Holiday Parade
- Klyde Warren Park Tree Lighting — Saturday, December 5, 2026. A free day of activities that ends with the lighting of the Mayor’s Tree.
- Dallas Holiday Parade: Held the first Saturday in December, starting at Commerce and Houston streets downtown. Watching is free; bleacher seats can be bought for a guaranteed spot. DART rail stops are within blocks of the route — the easiest way in.
Driving downtown for the parade or tree lighting? Meters now run until midnight in many areas — see our downtown Dallas parking guide.
Where to Stay for Christmas in Dallas
- Downtown Dallas puts you near the parade route, Klyde Warren Park, and the Adolphus and Fairmont trees, with DART to the zoo.
- Grapevine makes sense if ICE! is the main event — the Gaylord Texan sells holiday overnight packages.
- Families can split a VRBO with a kitchen, which beats multiple rooms for a holiday week.
Compare neighborhoods in our Dallas hotels by neighborhood guide.
Planning a Holiday Trip?
Book Your Dallas Holiday Stay
December weekends fill fast. Lock in a room or a family rental early.
Search Dallas Hotels → Browse VRBOs →Still Waiting on 2026 Dates
These favorites haven’t posted their 2026 details yet. We’ll add them when they do:
- The Trains at NorthPark — the model train exhibit on Level One of NorthPark Center benefiting Ronald McDonald House of Dallas. Last season ran mid-November through early January.
- Vitruvian Lights in Addison — free, with trees lit nightly 5–11 p.m. last season.
- Galleria Dallas tree lighting — last year’s celebrations were on Black Friday and the first Saturday in December.
Planning ahead? Save this guide to Pinterest so you have the dates handy in December.
Save to Pinterest →Dallas Christmas Lights — FAQ
When are the Christmas lights at the Dallas Arboretum in 2026?
November 11, 2026, through January 3, 2027. It’s the final season of the 12 Days of Christmas gazebos. Holiday at Night runs 5–10 p.m. ($35–$40), and a Night Owl ticket for 8:30–10 p.m. is $15.
How much is Dallas Zoo Lights?
General admission starts at $19, and parking is $15. It runs select nights from November 13 through January 3, 5:30–9 p.m.
What is the ICE! theme at the Gaylord Texan for 2026?
Harry Potter. ICE! featuring Harry Potter runs November 13, 2026, through January 3, 2027, at the Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine.
Where can I see free Christmas lights in Dallas?
Highland Park (start at Armstrong Parkway and Preston Road), Swiss Avenue in East Dallas, and Kessler Park in Oak Cliff. Klyde Warren Park’s tree lighting on December 5, 2026, is also free.
When is the Dallas Holiday Parade?
It’s held the first Saturday in December, starting at Commerce and Houston streets downtown. Watching is free.
More Dallas Guides
- → Family Friendly Dallas
- → Cowboys Thanksgiving Game
- → Dallas Hotels by Neighborhood
- → Downtown Dallas Parking
- → Things to Do in Arlington
Dallas Unscripted is an independent guide, not affiliated with any event listed. Dates, hours, and prices change — verify on each event’s official website before you go. This post contains affiliate links; if you book through our links we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.