Holiday Lights and Christmas Events in DFW for 2026
Updated September 30, 2026
Most DFW cities and venues don't lock in their holiday schedules until mid-October or November, so this list is shorter than it will get. We're only posting dates we could confirm directly from the organizer, and we'll keep adding tree lightings, parades and light displays here every week as they're announced through early January.
Below are 8 free tree lightings, parades and light displays in date order, then 2 bigger ticketed outings that run for weeks.
Free tree lightings, parades and light displays
GM Financial Parade of Lights
- When
- Sunday, Nov. 22 · Parade steps off at 6 p.m.
- Cost
- Free
The city's official kickoff to the holiday season, with more than 100 lighted floats, marching bands and horse-drawn carriages along a 1.6-mile downtown route. This year's theme is A Legacy of Lights.
Carol of Lights
- When
- Monday, Nov. 23 · 4 to 8 p.m.
- Cost
- Free
The 38th year of this come-and-go opener to Grapevine's Christmas Capital of Texas season, with several stages of live music, activity zones and food trucks along Main Street.
Cowboy Santa's Grand Arrival Parade & Tree Lighting
- When
- Friday, Nov. 27 · Parade 11:30 a.m., tree lighting 6 p.m.
- Cost
- Free
Cowboy Santa rides in on a parade down East Exchange Avenue at 11:30 a.m., and the Stockyards' public tree lighting follows that evening on the Livestock Exchange Lawn.
Vitruvian Lights
- When
- Tree lighting Sat., Nov. 28 · 6 to 10 p.m., then lit nightly through Jan. 1
- Cost
- Free
More than a million LED lights cover the trees along Vitruvian Park's walking trails, free to see any night. The season opens with a tree lighting and live band on Nov. 28, and lights run nightly from 5 to 11 p.m. after that.
Grapevine Parade of Lights
- When
- Thursday, Dec. 3 · 7 p.m.
- Cost
- Free
The 47th annual Parade of Lights bills itself as the largest lighted Christmas parade in North Texas. It runs down Main Street every year on the first Thursday of December.
Christmas in the Stockyards
- When
- Saturday, Dec. 5 · 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Cost
- Free
A full day across the Stockyards district with Reindeer Games, Cowboy Santa photos, Mrs. Claus story time and a 4 p.m. Christmas parade.
Denton Holiday Lighting Festival
- When
- Saturday, Dec. 5 · 3 to 9 p.m.
- Cost
- Free
Denton has hosted this lighting festival since 1988, and 2026 brings back the Holly Jolly Trolley for a return to Quakertown Park. Expect vendors, a snow hill, live music and Santa.
Prosper Christmas Festival & Tree Lighting
- When
- Saturday, Dec. 5 · 3 to 7 p.m., tree lighting at 7
- Cost
- Free
Prosper's signature holiday event, with Santa's Workshop, ice skating, inflatables and live performances before the mayor lights the town tree at 7 p.m., followed by a drone show.
Ticketed holiday events
These run for weeks and charge admission, but they fill a whole evening.
Holiday at the Arboretum (12 Days of Christmas)
- When
- Daily, Nov. 11 through Jan. 3 · 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., select nights to 9
- Cost
- Arboretum admission; a separate ticket covers the 12 Days at Night hours
The Arboretum has confirmed this is the final season for its 12 Days of Christmas gazebos, a display it has run since 2014, alongside the Christmas Village and a decorated DeGolyer House. Official page
ICE! featuring Harry Potter
- When
- Daily, Nov. 13 through Jan. 3 · timed entry
- Cost
- Timed-entry tickets, from about $33
This year's theme is Harry Potter, carved from 2 million pounds of ice into 10 scenes with two-story ice slides. The venue is kept at about 9 degrees, so the resort provides parkas at the door. Official page
More on the way
Dallas Zoo Lights, the Gift of Lights drive-through at Texas Motor Speedway, and most neighborhood light displays and downtown tree lightings across DFW haven't posted exact 2026 dates yet. Check back here as the season gets closer, or bookmark this page and we'll keep it current through early January.
Tips for holiday lights season
- Parking fills up. Downtown tree lightings and the Stockyards draw big crowds. Arrive at least 30 minutes before a parade or lighting starts.
- Dress for the cold. Most of this runs after sunset, which is before 5:30 p.m. by late November.
- Free displays can get crowded fast. Vitruvian Lights and the Stockyards district are walkable, so a stroller can be slower going than on foot.
- Check before you leave. Outdoor lightings can move for severe weather. Look at the host's Facebook or Instagram the day of.
Planning a holiday party
Find local help on DFW Local: event planners for a company party or family gathering, party rentals for tables and decor, DJs and entertainment, bakeries for the holiday desserts, and photographers for family photos in front of the lights.
Still planning around the fall calendar? See our Halloween events guide and fall festivals roundup for what's still running this October.
Dates and details come from each host's own announcements, confirmed directly on the organizer's page, as of September 30, 2026. Plans change, so confirm with the host before you go. If you're hosting a holiday lights event in DFW, tell us and we'll add it.