The Dallas Galleria Holiday Celebration is in full swing with free activities for the entire family. The country’s tallest Christmas tree is featured at the Galleria ice rink, rising from the center of the ice rink up to the massive glass atrium. This spectacular tree sparkles with nearly a quarter of a million lights and more than 10,000 ornaments. Holiday Magic on Ice Shows feature Missle Toes the Galleria’s own ice skating Santa performing back flips as fireworks shoot off his skates. World and olympic celebrity skaters also entertain. Santa is in his Galleria Village, Slappy’s Holiday Circus and the Illumination Celebration, which is a tree light show are free for you and your family. During Hanukkah there is a Menorah Lighting and Celebratiion. Most events take place through Christmas Eve. galleriadallas.com 972-702-7100
Grand Prairie’s drive-through light park is featuring all new custom displays for 2011. 4 million holiday lights glow as you drive the 2 miles through Lynn Creek Park. Halfway through the drive you may get out of your vehicle at the Holiday Village where you will find food, gifts, photos with Santa and two additional attractions, The Holiday Dazzle-ation 4D Experience and Holiday Magic lighted walk-through Forest. On the way out of the park you exit through the world’s largest light tunnel. Prairie Lights is open from 6PM-9PM Sunday-Thursday and 6PM-10PM Friday and Saturday. Admission is $20 per car Sunday-Thursday on non-holidays. Friday and Saturday as well as holidays the admission is $30 per car. The Holiday Village admission price is $5 per adult and $3 per child. Admission to the forest is $3 per adult and $2 per child or buy a combo ticket for $7 per adult and $4 per child. Allow 1 1/2 hours to drive through the park with a stop at the village. An additional hour should be allowed on the weekend. Prairie Lights will be open through New Years Eve, December 31st, 2011. Lynn Creek Park is on Joe Pool Lake. 5700 Lake Ridge Parkway, Grand Prairie, Texas. 75052 prairie lights.org
The Lone Star Christmas at Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine, Texas is underway through January 1st, 2012. The highlight is Gaylord Texan Ice featuring Shrek. Hand carved from 2 million pounds of ice by artisans from Harbin, China, you may stroll through this amazing attraction and relive the heartwarming story of Shrek and Fiona told through an interactive world of colorful ice sculptures. Non peak ticket admission prices are $21.95 per adult, $11.95 for children ages 4-12 years of age, $19.95 for seniors ages 55 years and older and under the age of 3 years free. Non peak times are Monday through Thursday December 5th-8th and Monday through Thursday December 12th-15th. All other days are regular admission prices. Regular admission price is $26.95 per adult, $14.95 for children ages 4-12 years, $23.95 for seniors ages 55 years and older and under the age of 3 years free. A $3.00 discount coupon is available to print at the www.mycokerewards.com website. It is good for a $3 discount off an adult ticket admission price through December 15th, 2011. You may walk through the exhibit at your own pace. It is 9 degrees inside. A parka is provided for every participant. Ice is open from 10AM-9Pm Monday through Thursday as well as Sunday. On Friday and Saturday the hours are 10AM-10PM. You may reserve a specific time slot on line. gaylordtexan.com 817-778-2500
Holiday at the Arboretum this year is “It’s a Fairy Tale World.” A 7 fairy tale castle exhibit highlights unique and extraordinary interpretations of various fairy tales. Weekend activities include live reindeer on Saturday and Sunday from 1PM-4PM thru December 18th. Frosty and Rudolph costumed characters will roam on Saturdays and Sundays from 11AM-3PM. The 66 acres of the Dallas Arboretum on White Rock Lake in Dallas, Texas are festive and fun for the entire family. Admission to the Dallas Arboretum is $12 for adults 13-64 years of age, $10 for seniors age 65 years and older, $8 for children 3-12 years and under 3 years of age free. Onsite self parking is $7. On Wednesdays through December 28, 2011 tickets are buy one, get one free. On Thurdays AT&T sponsors a $8.50 admission price for seniors age 65 and older along with a 20% discount in the gift store.
Interlochen Lights will open on Friday, December 16th, 2011 and continue through Christmas Day, December 25th, 2011. 200 homes in this Arlington neighborhood participate and have been enchanting visitors with their extravagant Christmas lights, decorations and displays for 35 years. For many families the drive through Interlochen is an annual event and part of their holiday celebration. The drive-through entrance point is at the intersection of Randol Mill Rd and Westwood Dr in Arlington, Texas. Hours for the drive-through are 7PM-10PM from December 16th-December 22nd. On December 23rd, 24th and 25th you may drive-through from 7PM-11PM. Allow several hours for your visit. Traffic is bumper to bumper as thousands from the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex are drawn to the Interlochen Lights each Christmas season. Directions to Interlochen Lights: from I30E exit at Fielder Road. Travel South to Randol Mill Rd. Turn right on Randol Mill Rd. Follow Randol Mill Rd. to Westwood Drive. From I30W Exit on Chase Parkway. Travel east on Meadowbrook Blvd to Randol Mill Rd. Turn right on Randol Mill Rd and follow to Westwood Dr. The drive through Interlochen Lights is free.
