The holiday season is ramping up in North Texas, and there are various ways to enjoy the festive time of year across the region. Holiday events that can be found this year include parades, light displays, and more.
The top 2022 holiday activities to enjoy in North Texas were gathered by WFAA, with multiple events having been held in the region before. The cities of Fort Worth, Arlington, and Richardson will host some of the holiday parades this year.
On November 20, the Parade of Lights will be held in Fort Worth. The parade will travel down streets that include 9th Street, Houston Street, Weatherford Street, and Throckmorton Street. To see the complete route, click here.
The Parade of Lights was first held in 1983, according to the event website, and has since “grown to become one of the top Illuminated Parades in the country.”
The Holiday Lights parade will be held in downtown Arlington on December 10, with entertainment scheduled for beforehand. There will be opportunities to take photos with Santa, performances of Christmas carols, and other festivities.
The 50th annual Richardson Christmas parade will take place on December 3. It will begin at Richardson Square Mall and end at Huffhines Park. Awards will be presented for the best presentations and floats. Awards include the Mayor’s Award, the Spirit of Giving Award, and the Chairman’s Elf Award.
Light displays can be enjoyed throughout the holiday season in various North Texas cities, including Dallas and Fort Worth.
Dallas will host multiple light displays this season. North Texans can stop by the Dallas Zoo, the Dallas Arboretum, and Enchant Christmas at Fair Park.
The walk-through Dallas Zoo Lights exhibit will last from November 17 to January 1 and consist of over one million lights throughout the zoo. There will also be nightly musical performances, a Santa’s workshop, and programmed light shows, according to the Dallas Zoo website. General Dallas Zoo Lights event tickets are $18 on non-premium nights and $21 on premium nights. Members pay $14 on non-premium nights and $17 on premium nights.
Visitors to the Holiday at the Arboretum display can enjoy a new 50-foot tall musical tree along with 25-foot tall Victorian-style gazebos depicting scenes from 12 Days of Christmas. It runs from November 10 to December 31. The admission price is $20 for adults, $16 for seniors, and $12 for children. Members can get in for free. For tickets, click here.
Enchant Christmas at Fair Park features Christmas lights, as well as a market, ice skating rink, and maze. The first day of festivities is November 25, and the last day is January 1. Tickets start at $34 for adults and $20 for children. To book tickets and see special offers, click here.
This year’s Enchant Christmas features a new story-themed maze. Those who complete the maze are given a chance to go win a Hallmark Channel trip sweepstakes.
“Eddie the Elf and his reindeer friend Sparky were playing in Santa’s Workshop and somehow lost 8 toys,” the website explains about the maze story. “Can you help find the missing presents in time for Santa to deliver them to the boys and girls on Christmas day?”
The Fort Worth Botanic Garden’s Lightscape exhibit starts on November 18 and closes on January 8. The walk lasts for one mile and is only open for select nights during the holiday season. Along the trail, visitors can stop at drink stations for seasonal drinks and roast marshmallows over fires. Tickets cost: adults are $28, children ages 3-12 are $18, and children ages 0-2 get in for free.
