10 Holiday Events To Get Your Family In A Holly-Jolly Mood
Check out these yuletide happenings to add to your wish list
Even with Halloween barely in the rearview mirror and more than a month until winter officially begins, the holiday season is so close you can practically smell the gingerbread in the air. Dallas is home to some major annual attractions, from Holiday at the Arboretum and The Trains at NorthPark to Dallas Zoo Lights and SNOWDAY at Galleria Dallas. There are literally hundreds of other intimate, perhaps lesser-known community celebrations that offer fun ways to make new memories. We don’t have room to list each of those options, of course, but we’ll get you started with 10 can’t-miss events that’ll put some jingle in your step and a Christmas carol or two in your heart.
SCROOGE IN ROUGE
November 16-December 17
If you have puns on your holiday wish list, prepare to believe that Santa really does give you what you want. Theatre Too presents this farcical musical comedy that follows the misadventures of a 20-member theater troupe, 17 of whom come down with a terrible case of food poisoning, leaving only three members to tackle every role in A Christmas Carol. The show must go on, as they say, and this time it's going to be an incredible feat to make happen.
A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS
November 18-December 23
Dallas Children’s Theater presents the Charles M. Schulz holiday classic live on-stage with the entire Peanuts Gang: Charlie Brown, Sally, Linus, Lucy, Shroeder, and good ol’ Snoopy. The action unfolds as favorite tunes played by a live combo fill the theater with joy—and the true spirit of the holiday season.
WINTERPROOF AT WATERPROOF
November 22-February 11
For the fifth consecutive year, The Statler’s rooftop bar, Waterproof, transforms into Winterproof. Awaiting your arrival are outdoor snowglobes and heated cabanas, perfect for catching sweeping downtown views—and a buzz from creative adult beverages. This year’s theme draws inspiration from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory and you’ll find all sorts of kooky cocktails and treats that would make the unpredictable chocolatier very proud indeed. If you’re looking for something for the whole family, Willy Wonka’s Edible Tea takes place early on Saturdays and Sundays from November 25-December 30. Make reservations soon for either or both events because they will definitely book up quickly.
THE NUTCRACKER
November 24-December 3
For some people, it’s A Christmas Carol. Others are Team Elf. Or maybe it’s playing Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” on a never-ending loop that gets you in the spirit. Yet for millions of others worldwide, it wouldn’t truly be the holidays without seeing The Nutcracker. Texas Ballet Theater brings the classic back to the Winspear Opera House and the Mouse King, Sugar Plum Fairy, and the Nutcracker himself hope to see you there.
HOLIDAY CIRCUS
November 24-December 23
Galleria Dallas has no shortage of yuletide cheer (or twinkle lights and tinsel) throughout the shopping center’s four stories. But don’t overlook the classic European-style circus featuring clowns, magicians, puppets, acrobats, contortionists, and jugglers all at Level 10 on the holiday spirit meter. The fun-for-the-entire-family event is free, too, so that’s definitely a treat for your budget, too.
THRIFT THE HALLS
November 29-December 16
Dwell with Dignity’s beloved Thrift Studio gets a holiday makeover with a special-edition pop-up store. Find meaningful high-end gifts galore, including holiday decor, furniture, and home accessories at deep discounts. The biggest bonus? Your purchase benefits the nonprofit and its mission to provide newly housed families with furniture, art, and kitchen essentials so they can truly make a home.
BLACK NATIVITY
November 30-December 17
Back in 1960, Langston Hughes presented a Broadway show performed by an entirely Black cast. Bishop Arts Theatre Center has kept the tradition alive locally for 19 years and audiences love the high-energy night of inspirational wonder that promises to get toes tapping, fingers snapping, and hands clapping.
JADA BELLS - A HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA
December 1-10
Uptown Players presents the debut season of a sure-to-become-classic holiday extravaganza featuring local actor extraordinaire Lee Walter’s drag persona, Jada Pinkett Fox. rings glamour and humor to a debut holiday extravaganza. The multi-talented entertainer will bring her signature show-stopping vocals, sense of humor, and plenty of glamour to the stage in a show written and directed by B.J. Cleveland.
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS, CHOCOLATE & SIPS TOURS
December 1-30
Dallas by Chocolate has assembled a vast array of holiday tours to suit any craving, pairing light displays with everything from chocolate and desserts to margaritas and tacos. The tours include motorcoach transportation to a variety of delicious destinations with stops along the way to marvel at holiday light displays. Book a family-friendly tour or gather all your friends for an adults-only adventure where you’ll enjoy boozy beverages, as well as the opportunity to BYOB. Join a public tour or book a private excursion with a variety of indulgent itineraries.
THE POLAR EXPRESS IN CONCERT
December 15-17
The Academy Award-nominated holiday animation classic, The Polar Express, gets a live-action accompaniment from the Dallas Symphony Orchestra at the Meyerson Symphony Center. Alan Silvestri’s magical score comes to life as the titular train embarks on its wintery adventure across a winter wonderland fueled by imagination.
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