By Nicolas Henderson
@happenstance98
It’s that time of year again; holiday festivities are back and they are in full gear throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area. There are many great different holiday events in the area, so many in fact that it can be pretty hard to choose which ones to visit. Here are some of DFW’s most elaborate and entertaining attractions this holiday season.
Lone Star Christmas
The Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center in Grapevine is known for its extravagant atrium and elegant charm year-round, but during the holiday season it gets transformed into a winter wonderland, featuring two million lights, 15,000 ornaments and dozens of other incredible holiday decorations. In addition, the Gaylord is also known for its annual holiday attraction, ICE!, which features Frosty the Snowman this year. This year’s ICE! features more than two million pounds of hand carved ice. A new feature to this years event is the opportunity to watch ice carvers from Harbin, China create sculptures up close.
The Trains At NorthPark
NorthPark Mall in north Dallas is well known as one of the area’s premier shopping centers and during the holiday season the mall’s dynamic variety of options grows with the annual holiday event, The Trains at NorthPark. Often called the most elaborate toy train display in Texas, this year marks the 16th year of its annual residency at NorthPark. The exhibit takes the trains across the country with cityscapes including downtown Dallas, Washington D.C. and many more. The trains will also visit iconic American landmarks, including the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and even Route 66.
http://www.rmhdallas.org/trains/
Panther Island Ice
One of the most exciting holiday attractions this year is North Texas’ only outdoor ice skating rink, located at the Coyote Drive-In Theater in downtown Fort Worth. The rink is open throughout the holiday season, even on Christmas day. This is the rink’s second year in operation, and it is a part of Fort Worth’s ongoing Trinity River projects that include the Panther Island Pavilion, DFW’s newest amphitheater. The rink is operated by Ice Rink Events, who also operate an outdoor rink in downtown Houston. Who knew outdoor skating could do so well in Texas?
Gift Of Lights
When thinking of places to go view beautiful holiday lights, Texas Motor Speedway might not be what first comes to mind. But perhaps it should be because the Gift Of Lights display is returning to the speedway this year with an elaborate setup featuring over 600 unique LED light displays. The event is also accepting Toys For Tots donations at the gate, which gives you a $5 discount on entry to the event.
http://www.tmsgiftoflights.com
Sparkle! Christmas At The Anatole
Much like the Gaylord Texan, the Hilton Anatole Hotel is known for its elegance and charm. For its second year in a row, it is transforming its Trinity Hall into a Christmas extravaganza, featuring an indoor ice skating rink, 1.2 million lights, light shows every half hour, live holiday shows and much more. It is the complete holiday package, all in one place.
http://www.hiltonanatolehotel.com/christmas-experience/
If you want to stay in town and celebrate, Coppell will be hosting its lighted parade and tree lighting at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday , December 6th.
http://business.coppellchamber.org/events/details/lighted-parade-tree-lighting-9986
