Christmas is a great time to get together with family and friends and enjoy their company while dining out, going to the movies, or taking in a show.
ICE!2008 at the Gaylord Texan
Nov 14, 2008-Jan 3, 2009. Sun-Thu, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Fri-Sat, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. ICE!2008 is two million pounds of ice carved into magical holiday scenes and sculptures by forty visiting artisans from China. Mon-Thu, admission costs $20 for adults, $10 for children 4-12, and $18 for seniors 55 and older. Fri-Sat, admission costs $23 for adults, $12 for children 4-12, and $20 for seniors 55 and up. Children three and under are free every day. Self-parking is included in the price of the ticket. The Gaylord Texan Resort is located at 1501 Gaylord Trail in Grapevine.CityLights
Nov 14, 6:30 p.m. Downtown Dallas's Main Street District will come alive with the annual CityLights display. At 6:30 p.m., enjoy live entertainment, music, face painting, and more. The lighting of the holiday lights and tree at Neiman Marcus and the unveiling of the holiday windows will happen at 7 p.m. and the lighting of the holiday tree at Pegasus Plaza (Main and Akard) will happen at 7:30 p.m. Santa will be around and lots of shopping and dining specials will be available for shoppers.Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Nov 21-Dec 21. Fri 7 p.m., Sat 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., Sun 2 p.m. Watch the classic tale of shy Rudolph and his adventures performed live at Casa Manana in the Fort Worth Cultural District. Tickets cost $17 and $19, although there is not a seat in the house that's far away from the stage.Polar Express at the Omni Theater
The animated film Polar Express (2007, Tom Hanks) is back at the Omni Theater this year. Every Saturday, also at the Omni, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., take part in polar investigations with the staff from CommunITy Studios; 9 a.m.-2 p.m., enjoy free hot chocolate, courtesy of Starbucks; 9 a.m.-9:45 a.m., Rocky Raccoon and other surprises with paid admission to the 10 a.m. Saturday showing.The Trains at NorthPark Center
Nov 22, 2008-Jan 4, 2009. Mon-Sat 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Sun noon-6 p.m. Over 2500 feet of train track wind through miniature landmarks, such as Reunion Tower, the Statue of Liberty, and Mount Rushmore. More than forty locomotives pull train cars around the track to the delight of kids and adults. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for kids 3-12 and seniors 65 and over, and free for kids two and under. Proceeds go to the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas.Fort Worth Parade of Lights
Nov 27, 2009, 2 p.m.-10 p.m. Enjoy live entertainment, crafts, free samples of coffee and food from downtown restaurants, and a kids' activity area in the Chisholm Trail parking lot in downtown Fort Worth. 5:30 p.m., Cowboy Santas will gather new, unwrapped toys for donating to needy children in Tarrant County. 6 p.m., the Chesapeake Energy Parade of Lights begins at Belknap and Throckmorton Streets, heads east on Belknap, south on Commerce, west on 6th Street, and north on Houston Street to Weatherford Street. 7:35 p.m., the Christmas tree in Sundance Square will be lit. 8 p.m., watch "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" in the Chisholm Trail parking lot. Reserved seats ($10 for adults, $7 for children) are available online.North Pole Express
Nov 28-Dec 21; Fri, Sat, and Sun only. The Grapevine Vintage Railroad will be transformed into the North Pole Express during the holiday season. Kids can board the train cozy in their pajamas and participate in ornament making, caroling, and other fun activities.Dickens in Downtown Plano
Dec 5, 6 p.m.-10 p.m. Meet Santa, listen to carolers, hand bell choirs, and a variety of other local entertainment in Plano's historic downtown district. At 7 p.m., Haggard Park will host a tree-lighting ceremony. Downtown Plano has its own DART light rail station.Neiman Marcus-Adolphus Children's Parade
Louis Curtis, Jr.
Dec 6, 10 a.m. More than 350,000 people attend the annual Neiman Marcus-Adolphus Children's Parade each year in downtown Dallas. Since 1987, the parade has been raising funds for the Children's Medical Center of Dallas. The parade route starts at the intersection of Austin Street and Commerce Street, heads east on Commerce past the Adolphus Hotel and Neiman-Marcus, turns right on Harwood, right on Young, left on Ervay, and right on Marilla to pass in front of City Hall and end at Akard Street.