GRAND PRAIRIE: Prairie Lights
What: Prarie Lights is a two mile stretch of decorations and festive fun featuring over 4 million lights, hundreds of new displays, an all-new Holiday Magic light show, new walk-through lighted displays, pictures with Santa, seasonal food and family fun. About halfway through the drive, Holiday Village has Santa, carnival rides (rides are included with the cost of admission), snacks, and souvenirs. Cars with up to eight people in them cost $15 Mon-Thu, $20 Fri-Sun and holidays. Limos and buses cost more. Santa is there nightly through December 23, 2011.
When: Thanksgiving through New Year's Eve each year. That's Nov 22, 2012 through December 31.
Hours: Due to the high volume of cars on weekends, please allow for an extra hour to get through the park. Sun - Thurs: 6-9 p.m.; Fri-Sat 6-10 p.m.; Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Eve: 6-10 p.m.
Where: Lynn Creek Park is at 5700 Lake Ridge Parkway in Grand Prairie. Take I-30 or I-20 to 360 and go south. Make a left of Camp Wisdom Road and a right on Lake Ridge Parkway.
MCKINNEY: McKinney Christmas
Photo courtesy of Kenny Ahnemann
The show features 70,000 lights all synchronized to music, 7 different songs, snow machines, a 25-foot Christmas tree, a 10-foot Christmas tree, an 8-foot star, and leaping arches of light. This home has been on the news and featured in local magazines as well. The show starts Thanksgiving night at 8pm and runs until the first weekend in January.
Hours: Sun - Thur 6-10 p.m.; Fri - Sat 6-midnight. Their goal is to collect 1,000 toys this year for Toys for Tots. Last year they collected close to 500 toys last year.
McKinney Christmas is located near the intersection of Highway 121 and Alma road. We are very close to the edge of Plano, Frisco, Allen and McKinney. They are located only minutes from Highway 75 as well as the Dallas North Tollway. 7805 White Stallion Trail, McKinney TX 75070.
PLANO: Deerfield
Angela Patterson
I've already made a mini trip through one of my favorite areas to view holiday lights and it doesn't disappoint. Grab a cup of hot cocoa or a gingerbread latte and take a drive through this festively illuminated neighborhood. The HOA suggests that guests do not stop for photos (although I did); it gets very crowded on weekend evenings especially.
Where: Deerfield is located in Northwest Plano between Preston Road and Coit Road. Enter from Legacy on Colonnade and Archgate, noting one-way and restricted-turn signs along Old Pond Drive and Hallmark Drive.
Cost: Free. Carriage rides are available through North Star Carriages through December 30, 2012. Reservation line is 214-441-9996. It's best to make a reservation although they will take walk ups if they aren't occupied. Carriage rides begin in the Legacy Church parking lot, 4501 Legacy Drive, located at Legacy and Preston Meadow.
