8 Best Christmas Activities in Dallas-Fort Worth for Families & Kids
A Local Family Photographer’s Guide to Christmas in DFW
Have you taken your family Christmas photos yet? Picked out your holiday card? And started planning some Christmas fun with the kids? 🎄
Christmas always seems to arrive faster than we expect. Between decorating the house, taking family photos, ordering Christmas cards, visiting Santa, shopping for gifts, and trying to fit in all those special holiday traditions, November and December can get busy very quickly!
As a DFW family photographer and a mom, Christmas is easily one of my favorite times of the year. Every holiday season, I get to photograph so many families for their Christmas and Santa sessions - and once my own Christmas photos and cards are checked off the list, I love getting out with my family to enjoy the season, too.
Over the years, we've returned to many of the same DFW Christmas destinations again and again. Along the way, I've learned a few things about when to go, how to avoid some of the crowds, where you might be able to save a little money, and - of course - where to find the best photo opportunities. 📷
So this isn't just a list of Christmas events I found online. These are places and traditions our family has actually enjoyed, many of them for years.
And if Christmas photos are still on your holiday checklist, you can also take a peek at our Southlake Christmas Mini Sessions and Santa Mini Sessions. Get those Christmas card photos taken early, and then you can relax and enjoy the rest of the season! ❤️
Now grab your calendar—here are some of our family's favorite Christmas activities in Dallas-Fort Worth with kids.
1. Holiday at the Dallas Arboretum & Christmas Village 🎄
If I had to recommend just one Christmas outing in Dallas for families, Holiday at the Dallas Arboretum would be at the very top of my list.
I’ve been visiting the Dallas Arboretum during the Christmas season for many years, and it has become one of our favorite family holiday traditions. The beautiful Christmas Village, festive displays, gardens, and Christmas decorations give children plenty to explore—and, as a photographer, I can’t help but love how many beautiful photo opportunities there are around every corner.
My Favorite Time to Go: Around 3 PM
After visiting for so many years, I’ve found that around 3 PM is my favorite time to arrive.
The Arboretum’s regular daytime hours are 9 AM–5 PM, and by late afternoon, the crowds often start to thin out. For our family, two hours is usually plenty of time to walk through the Christmas Village, enjoy the holiday displays, let the kids explore, and—of course—stop for lots of photos along the way.
And from a photographer’s perspective, this timing is perfect. The afternoon light becomes softer and prettier, there are often fewer people in the background, and it is much easier to slow down and capture beautiful family photos.
📷 Photographer’s Tip: If taking beautiful Christmas photos is one of your priorities, try visiting on a weekday around 3–5 PM. Interestingly, the Arboretum also allows professional photography equipment such as tripods and reflectors in the Main Garden specifically during this 3–5 PM window.
Daytime or Nighttime?
The nighttime experience is beautiful, but keep in mind that the Arboretum’s evening holiday programming is a separate ticketed experience from regular daytime admission.
Personally, if my main goal is to let the kids enjoy the Christmas Village and come home with beautiful photos, I prefer the daytime visit. Arriving around 3 PM gives us enough time without turning the outing into a long evening—especially helpful with younger children.
If seeing all the Christmas lights glowing at night is your priority, then the evening experience is definitely worth considering separately.
Don’t Forget About Christmas Break!
Another reason I love recommending the Dallas Arboretum is that the holiday fun doesn't necessarily end on December 25.
Holiday programming at the Arboretum typically continues into the New Year period; for example, the current holiday schedule includes select Christmas Village entertainment into early January. That makes it a wonderful option for the week of Christmas break, when school is out, the presents have already been opened, and parents are looking for something fun to do with the kids.
Just remember that the Arboretum itself is closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, so always check the current schedule before heading out.
For us, the Dallas Arboretum Christmas Village is one of those places worth returning to year after year. It's beautiful, easy to enjoy with children, and—with a little planning—one of my favorite places in Dallas to capture your own Christmas memories. ❤️
2. Ride Santa’s North Pole Express in Grapevine
If you have young children, Santa’s North Pole Express in Grapevine is one of those Christmas experiences that truly feels magical.
Families board a festive vintage train for a Christmas adventure filled with holiday music, activities, and, of course, Santa himself. Children can wear their Christmas pajamas, enjoy the excitement of riding the train, and become completely immersed in the North Pole experience.
And here's the most important parent tip:
Mark October 1 on Your Calendar!
Tickets for the North Pole Express are extremely popular and can sell very quickly. If this is on your family’s Christmas bucket list, set a reminder and be ready when tickets are released.
I also recommend arriving early rather than rushing directly to the train. Give yourself time to park, explore the surrounding Christmas festivities, take a few pictures, and let the kids enjoy the excitement before boarding.
📷 Photographer’s Tip: Christmas pajamas are absolutely adorable for the North Pole Express. If you want a slightly more timeless look for photos around Grapevine before or after the ride, try coordinating cream, red, green, plaid, or warm neutral layers.
3. Experience Christmas Magic on Grapevine Main Street ✨🎄
There is a reason Grapevine is known as the Christmas Capital of Texas. During the holiday season, Historic Main Street transforms into a Christmas wonderland filled with millions of lights, oversized decorations, festive storefronts, and seemingly endless things for families to see and do.
And one of the best parts? You don't necessarily need an expensive ticket to enjoy it. Simply walking along Historic Main Street, taking pictures, exploring the decorations, and enjoying the Christmas atmosphere can make a wonderful family evening.
Don't Miss the Merry & Bright Christmas Drone Show 🚁✨
One of our favorite Grapevine Christmas experiences is the Merry & Bright Christmas Drone Show. Hundreds of illuminated drones take over the night sky, creating giant Christmas images and animations above Historic Grapevine.
It is such a fun experience for kids—and something completely different from the traditional Christmas light displays we see around DFW.
The drone show is offered only on select dates, so check Grapevine's Christmas event calendar before planning your visit. If you can coordinate your Main Street evening with a drone show night, I definitely recommend it!
There Is So Much More to Do
Depending on when you visit, you may also find some of Grapevine's biggest holiday traditions, including the Carol of Lights, Parade of Lights, Christmas Market, holiday performances at the Palace Theatre, and ice skating at Peace Plaza.
Peace Plaza is especially beautiful during Christmas, with its huge Christmas tree and outdoor skating rink. If your kids still have energy after exploring Main Street, it can be a fun addition to the evening.
For another inexpensive little adventure, check out the Grapevine Observation Tower. Tickets have traditionally been very affordable, and the elevated view gives you a completely different perspective of the Christmas lights throughout Grapevine.
Christmas outings can get expensive quickly, but Grapevine is one place where you can create a really fun holiday evening without spending a fortune.
📷 Photographer's Tip: Arrive Before Sunset If you'd like to come home with beautiful photos—not just nighttime snapshots—arrive before sunset. I love photographing children and families along Historic Main Street while there is still some soft natural light. Then, instead of leaving, stay as the Christmas lights begin to glow.
You get two completely different looks in one visit: beautiful late-afternoon Christmas portraits followed by the full nighttime Christmas experience.
And don't feel like everyone needs to wear bright red and green. Grapevine already has plenty of Christmas color! Cream, camel, burgundy, forest green, navy, and subtle plaid photograph beautifully against all of the decorations.
4. Step Into a New Frozen World Every Year at ICE! at Gaylord Texan ❄️
One of the reasons ICE! at Gaylord Texan has become a Christmas tradition for our family is simple: the theme changes every year.
That is actually one of my favorite things about ICE!. Instead of seeing the same displays every Christmas, each year brings a new story to life through enormous, colorful ice sculptures. So even if your kids have been before, there is always something new for them to discover—and, of course, new photo opportunities for Mom! 📷
This year's theme may be one of the most exciting yet: Harry Potter™! The frozen experience brings familiar scenes from the Wizarding World to life, including the Hogwarts Express™, Hogsmeade™, favorite characters, tunnels, towering sculptures, and interactive photo opportunities—all carved from 2 million pounds of ice.
Our Kids' Favorite Part: The Giant Ice Slides! 🧊🛝
No matter what the theme is, one part our kids always look forward to is the ice slides.
These aren't just little slides tucked into the exhibit. The experience includes two-story ice slides, and sliding down them is easily one of the most exciting parts of ICE! for children. This year's Harry Potter experience even incorporates the slides into a Hogwarts-inspired frozen setting. So looking forward to it this year.
My kids rarely want to go down just once! And honestly, this is one of the reasons ICE! feels like more than simply walking through an ice sculpture exhibition—the kids actually get to play and interact with the frozen world.
Yes, It Really Is Cold!
ICE! is kept extremely cold to preserve the sculptures, and guests are provided with parkas. I still recommend dressing children warmly underneath, especially little ones.
📷 Photographer’s Tip: Take a few family photos around the beautifully decorated Gaylord atrium before putting on the giant parkas! Inside ICE!, focus more on capturing the fun and experience rather than trying for perfectly styled portraits.
5. Celebrate a Texas-Style Christmas at the Fort Worth Stockyards
Want something completely different from the traditional Christmas village?
Head to the Fort Worth Stockyards for a Christmas experience that feels unmistakably Texas. 🤠🎄
During the holiday season, the historic Stockyards combines its famous Western atmosphere with Christmas decorations and seasonal activities. Families can enjoy Christmas in the Stockyards, Cowboy Santa, holiday entertainment, and outdoor ice skating at the Stockyards Rodeo Rink.
And since you're already there, make a full family day of it!
Watch the famous Fort Worth Herd Longhorn cattle drive, explore the historic buildings and Mule Alley, enjoy some Texas food, and stay into the evening as the Stockyards takes on its Christmas atmosphere.
This is one of my favorite DFW holiday locations to photograph because it looks completely different from a traditional red-and-green Christmas setting. Historic brick, Western storefronts, cowboy boots, Christmas lights—it has so much personality.
📷 Photographer’s Tip: Embrace the Texas look! Think boots, denim, cream, camel, brown, burgundy, and forest green. The combination looks beautiful against the rustic architecture of the Stockyards.
6. See Dallas Zoo Lights
For families who already love the Dallas Zoo, the holiday season gives you another reason to visit.
Dallas Zoo Lights transforms the zoo into a colorful holiday experience filled with illuminated displays, festive decorations, and family-friendly Christmas fun.
This is a great option if your children enjoy lights but you want something more interactive than simply driving past Christmas displays. Give yourself time to explore rather than trying to rush through everything.
Parent Tip: Check the event schedule and ticket information before your visit, as holiday dates and experiences can change from year to year.
7. Visit The Trains at NorthPark
If you have a little train lover in your family, The Trains at NorthPark is a classic Dallas Christmas tradition.
The elaborate miniature train displays travel through tiny cities, landmarks, landscapes, and holiday scenes, and there is always something new for children to notice.
It is also a great Christmas activity for younger children because it is indoors—perfect for those cold, rainy, or unpredictable December days in North Texas.
Pair it with Christmas shopping, lunch, and a walk around NorthPark's holiday decorations for an easy family outing.
8. Drive Through Prairie Lights in Grand Prairie
Sometimes the easiest Christmas activity with young children is the one where everyone can stay warm and cozy in the car!
Prairie Lights in Grand Prairie is a wonderful family tradition featuring miles of Christmas light displays that you can enjoy from the comfort of your own vehicle.
Put the kids in their Christmas pajamas, bring some hot chocolate, turn on your favorite Christmas playlist, and enjoy the lights together.
This is an especially nice option for families with babies or toddlers when a long evening of walking around a crowded holiday attraction sounds a little too ambitious.
And Don’t Forget Your Annual Visit with Santa! 🎅
After all the Christmas lights, train rides, ice sculptures, and holiday adventures, there is one tradition that deserves to be captured while your children are still little—a visit with Santa!
Our Santa Mini Sessions in Southlake, TX are designed around genuine interaction rather than simply getting one quick posed picture. Children have a chance to talk with Santa, share their wish lists, laugh, cuddle, and create those little moments that make Christmas feel magical.
And parents can join in too! We love capturing a mix of children with Santa, sibling portraits, and a beautiful family Christmas portrait.
Christmas comes every year, but your children will never be this little again. ❤️
Ready for Some Christmas Magic?
Santa is coming to town—and we're ready for the giggles, hugs, wish lists, and a little Christmas magic! 🎄✨
Santa Mini Sessions are limited and fill quickly, so grab your favorite time before Santa's calendar gets full!
Book Your 2026 Santa Mini Session in Southlake
We can't wait to create some magical Christmas memories with your family! 🎅❤️
A Few Tips for Enjoying Christmas in DFW with Kids
Christmas activities around Dallas-Fort Worth can get very busy, especially on December weekends. Whenever possible, purchase tickets in advance, choose a weekday or earlier time, and give yourself extra time for parking and little-kid breaks.
Most importantly, don't feel like you need to do everything on this list. Pick a few traditions that your family truly enjoys, take lots of pictures, and enjoy watching your children experience the magic of Christmas.
Those little moments are the ones you'll miss someday. ❤️
Planning Your Christmas in Dallas-Fort Worth?
Save this guide and come back as the holiday season gets closer. Event dates and schedules can change each year, so always check the individual event's official website before heading out.
And if you're looking for beautiful Christmas photos to add to your holiday cards—or your walls—we'd love to see your family at our Southlake Santa Mini Sessions this Christmas! 🎄📷