Celebrating winter season with outdoor DFW holiday attractions

Winter break starts Saturday for Coppell ISD. The Sidekick staff writer Manasa Mohan shares a list of popular winter-themed attractions in the Dallas-Fort Worth area for people to enjoy over the holidays.

Trisha Atluri

Winter break starts Saturday for Coppell ISD. The Sidekick staff writer Manasa Mohan shares a list of popular winter-themed attractions in the Dallas-Fort Worth area for people to enjoy over the holidays.

Manasa Mohan, Staff Writer

The pandemic seems to have put a halt on seasonal festivities, but it does not have to be that way. Whether you want to visit a marvelous light show, take some photos, listen to classic Christmas music or visit themed Christmas attractions, there is something for everyone this holiday season for you to try.

  1. Gift of Lights 

    A drive-thru light experience at the Texas Motor Speedway will help keep all visitors safe in the vicinity of their cars. Over the course of six weeks, the attraction will not only feature the light show, but will also have food trucks through Dec. 26. 

    Address: 3545 Lone Star Cir, Fort Worth, TX 

    Hours of Operation:  Friday & Saturday: 6pm-10pm / Sunday – Thursday 6pm-9pm

  2. Holiday at the Arboretum

    The Dallas Arboretum will feature 12 25-foot tall themed gazebos to represent the 12 days of Christmas. Attend at nighttime to experience the garden’s million lights. The event will have visits with Santa Claus, shopping, foods and drinks, seasonal classes and more. The event runs through Dec. 31. 

    Address: 8525 Garland Rd, Dallas, TX

    Hours of Operation: Open daily: 9am–5pm; Sun–Wed from 6–9pm & Thu–Sat from 6–10pm

  3. Candy Cane Lane

    Candy Cane Lane at the American Airlines Center contains many visual experiences for passengers, including but not limited to a vast array of holiday lights, holiday lantern characters and more. Similar to the Gift of Lights, passengers will remain in their cars to stay safe. The event runs through Dec. 26.

    Address: 2500 Victory Ave, Dallas, TX

    Hours of Operation: Open daily from 6 pm-9pm

  4. Radiance! A Holiday Lights Spectacular

    Another drive through light show, Radiance! has more than two million lights animated to holiday classics and allows families to make timeless memories in the safety of their own cars. With the VIP experience, passengers have the opportunity to sip on hot chocolate, have faster access and magic light glasses will be given to children to create a special image for every light. Radiance! will continue until Jan. 3 at Dr Pepper Ballpark in Frisco.

    Address: 7300 Roughriders Trail, Frisco, TX

    Hours of Operation: Open daily from 5:30 pm-11 pm from Dec. 18 – Jan.2; Jan. 3 open from 5:30 pm-10 pm

  5. Snowday Dallas

    Snowday Dallas is a walk-through adventure in the Galleria Mall in Dallas which features more than 10 festive photo opportunity rooms. The attraction also features six photo moments with professional cameras and lighting. Any digital photos will be sent to the visitor with a completely touchless system. 

    Address: 13350 Dallas Pkwy, Dallas, TX

    Hours of Operation: Dec. 18: 9 am-11:30 pm; Dec. 19: 9 am-9:30 pm; Dec. 20: 10 am-8:15 pm; Dec. 21-23: 9 am-9:15 pm; Dec. 24: 9 am-5:30 pm; Dec. 26: 10 am-8:30 pm; Dec. 27: 11 am-7 pm; Dec. 28-30, Jan. 2: 10 am-8 pm; Dec. 31-Jan. 1: 10 am-5:30 pm; Jan. 3: 11 am-4:30 pm 

  6. The Galleria Mall’s Ice Skating Rink

    Also located in the Galleria Mall, the ice skating rink in the center of the mall is a great activity for family and friends. The rink is surrounded by lots of stores for any last minute Christmas shopping and has the tallest indoor Christmas tree in the United States in the center, bound to fascinate any visitors. 

    Address: 13350 Dallas Pkwy, Dallas, TX

    Hours of Operation: Dec. 18-21, 22-23: 9 am-9 pm; Dec. 20: 11 am-8 pm; Dec. 24: 9 am-6 pm; Dec. 26: 10 am-9 pm; Dec. 27: 11 am-7 pm; Dec. 28-30, Jan. 2: 10 am-8 pm; Dec. 31-Jan.1: 10 am-6 pm

  7. Dallas by Chocolate

    Dallas by Chocolate are tours around Dallas from the safety of the visitors’ cars. There are multiple tours offered, including one where visitors taste delicious treats from local desert values and then look at the most spectacular light displays in the Park Cities, Dallas/Frisco or Addison. These tours are held until Dec. 30, excluding Christmas and Christmas Eve.

    Address: 4925 Greenville Ave Suite 255, Dallas, TX

    Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday Evening Tours: 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday Evening Tours: 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

  8. Lone Star Christmas at Gaylord Texan

    The Gaylord Texan Resort offers a multitude of holiday activities including an ice sculpture attraction, outdoor lights and snow tubing. The resort attractions run through Jan. 3.

    Address: 1501 Gaylord Trail, Grapevine, TX

    Hours of Operation: Please refer to the image down below

    The Gaylord Texan offers multiple holiday activities with the corresponding schedule. Please note that times vary per activity and the schedule will also change based on the day of attendance.
  9. Luminova Holidays

    Luminova features local Christmas anthems, ice skating, a light journey, train rides and more. The event is following social distancing guidelines by having visitors walk through the attraction six feet apart from other guests. Located at Globe Life Field in Arlington, the event will runs to Jan. 3

    Address: 734 Stadium Dr. Arlington, TX 

    Hours of Operation: Open daily from 4:30 pm to 10 pm

  10. Holiday in the Park 

    Holiday in the Park is a Christmas event at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington. The seasonal entertainment includes a tree lighting ceremony, visiting with Santa, a holiday lights presentation, a Christmas music show, a tree lights show, a holiday trail to meet iconic Christmas characters and other foreign holiday traditions such as Scottish Christmas, a Mexican Christmas and more. The park’s winter season ends on Jan. 4.

    Address: 2201 E Road to Six Flags St, Arlington, TX

    Hours of Operation: Dec. 18, 21-23: 2 pm-10 pm; Dec. 19-20, 31: 12 pm-10 pm; Dec. 26-30: 12 pm-8 pm

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