Weekend Event Planner

A Christmas Story and Usher top best weekend events in Dallas

As will be the case throughout pretty much all of December, holiday-themed events once again dominate the entertainment landscape around Dallas-Fort Worth. But there are a couple of non-holiday happenings going on, including the return of a hip hop master and special screenings of one of the best trilogies of all time

Below are the best options for your precious free time Thursday through Sunday. Don't like what you see? Lucky for you, we have a much longer list of the city's best events.

Thursday, December 4

Dallas Summer Musicals presents A Christmas Story, The Musical
A Christmas Story, which tanked in its initial movie release, is an unlikely success story. But home video and years of airing on TBS have made it a holiday classic, and now fans have a new way to enjoy the story through this stage musical. You can see Ralphie pine for a BB gun and almost shoot his eye out through song at Music Hall at Fair Park until December 14.

Usher in concert with August Alsina
Despite the presence of many high-powered competitors, Usher has remained at or near the top of the hip hop/R&B charts for going on 20 years. The Dallas-born singer is on the verge of releasing his eighth album, UR, in 2015, so attendees of this concert at American Airlines Center can expect a good mixture of the new and the old. Usher is joined by opening act August Alsina.

Friday, December 5

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is another story that has become a holiday classic thanks to repeated showings of the Rankin/Bass TV special. This stage musical attempts to replicate the charm of the original, using puppets and some of the same songs to give a nostalgic feel to things. It plays at Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth through Sunday before moving to the Majestic Theatre in Dallas next week.

Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents DSO Pops Christmas
It's one thing to sing along to your favorite Christmas songs on the radio and quite another to do so when backed up by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and a choir. That is the case for the next three weekends at Meyerson Symphony Center when the DSO Pops plays a variety of holiday favorites and Christmas classics. The show runs through December 21.

Texas Ballet Theater presents The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker is one of those holiday shows that will never go out of style, as it has almost the perfect appeal to both children and adults. Texas Ballet Theater present its annual rendition, taking the audience through the enchanted Land of Sweets with Clara and her Nutcracker Prince. It plays at Winspear Opera House through Sunday before moving to Bass Performance Hall next week.

Saturday, December 6

2014 Dallas Children's Health Holiday Parade
It's a been a long wait for the return of this annual holiday parade, as last year's edition was canceled due to a freak ice storm. There's zero chance of that happening this year, so guests can line Commerce Street and other roads in downtown Dallas to enjoy the plethora of floats, balloons, marching bands and more for the trek that culminates at Dallas City Hall.

Alamo Drafthouse presents Back to the Future Trilogy Feast
James Wallace, the head local programmer for Alamo Drafthouse, is a self-professed Back to the Future fanatic, so you know that this event showing the BTTF films back-to-back-to-back is worth the price of admission. Each movie has a full themed menu to make the experience even more fun. Great Scott, indeed.

Celebrate the Holidays at Klyde Warren Park / Reliant Lights Your Holidays
These two events in the Dallas Arts District are technically separate, but they are tied together in a unique way. The goings-on at Klyde Warren Park feature a variety of holiday activities, including music, live reindeer, photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and a tree lighting. But right after they light the tree, Santa and Mrs. Claus lead visitors over to Sammons Park for Reliants Lights Your Holidays, which has performances by Jack Ingram and Los Lobos, fireworks, a snow hill and more.

Sunday, December 7

CultureMap Holiday Pop Up Shop
Only the ultra-prepared have already finished their holiday shopping, so we're presenting a chance to peruse the offerings of a slew of local retailers all in one convenient spot. Among the stores showcasing their wares at Sixty Five Hundred are Dirt, Gypsy Wagon, Life of Riley, Mizzen + Main, Scardello Artisan Cheese and Trousseau of Dallas.

Dallas Summer Musicals presents A Christmas Story, The Musical at Music Hall at Fair Park through December 14.

Photo courtesy of A Christmas Story national tour

Dallas Summer Musicals presents A Christmas Story, The Musical at Music Hall at Fair Park through December 14.

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Holiday attractions

All the cool new ice rinks skating into Dallas for 2024 holiday fun

Photo courtesy of Omni Dallas Hotel

The Omni Dallas Hotel is channeling Rockefeller Center with its ice rink this season.

The coolest new holiday attractions of 2024 will have Dallas-Fort Worth jumping, spinning, and gliding through the season: Ice skating rinks are being installed as part of winter festivities all over North Texas. From a downtown Dallas ice rink channeling Rockefeller Center to community rinks that look like Hallmark movie settings, here are the best new places to skate through the holidays, along with some favorites making their limited returns for the season.

Omni Dallas Hotel, downtown Dallas, November 22-January 5
The downtown Dallas hotel known for its trademark sculpture of giant-sized Christmas-tree red ball ornaments is upping the ante this year. As part of its seasonal celebration called "Ice, Lights & City Nights," the hotel is introducing downtown's only outdoor ice skating rink on Pegasus Lawn. Visitors of all ages can twirl and spin beneath the glow of holiday lights, then warm up with at a hot chocolate bar, kids can ride the Elf Express train, and adults can make spirits bright at Blitzen's Bar. Every night at 7:30 pm, Omni Dallas will host holiday light shows with 4.1 miles of LED lights wrapped around the building’s exterior.

Details: The rink is open to the public and hotel guests alike, 10 am-10 pm daily. Tickets (starting at $18) can be purchased online or at the ice rink, for 60-minute sessions; skate rental included. A helpful FAQ about the ice rink can be found here.

Coca-Cola’s Classic Christmas, Choctaw Stadium in Arlington, November 22-December 29
A new immersive holiday event from the creators of the popular "Enchant" light maze turns Choctaw Stadium into a winter wonderland, and it includes an ice skating rink. Adults and kids will glide on real ice underneath dazzling lights. The event illuminates 55,000 square feet of holiday light sculptures featuring larger-than-life, interactive Coca-Cola-inspired vignettes to walk through and explore; plus a snow slide, falling snow, visits with Santa, caroling, seasonal treats, special themed nights, and more.

Details: Open select nights, as early as 4:30 pm and as late as 11:30 pm; check the calendar for specific dates and times. Ice skating tickets (including skate rental) are $9 for juniors and $13 for adults, in addition to event admission, $14-$35; free for kids up to 3. Skating session times are unlimited. Note: If bringing your own skates, make sure they have blade guards on at all times; skate bags must meet a Clear Bag Policy; more info here.

Skate under the twinkling lights at Coca-Cola's Classic Christmas in Arlington.Photo courtesy of Coca-Cola's Classic Christmas

Home for the Holidays: Christmastime in Southlake, November 27-January 1
The 25th-anniversary Southlake holiday celebration will include an outdoor ice rink for the first time. Although the city's Christmas tree will be lit at the big Home for the Holidays event on November 23, the ice rink will not open until November 27. The rink is in the heart of Southlake Town Square, and includes a spot for gourmet hot cocoa, a nearby Santa's Village, carriage rides, and more.

Details: Open 3-10 pm Sunday-Thursday and 12-10 pm Saturday-Sunday outside City Hall, 1400 E. Southlake Blvd. Tickets, timed every 15 minutes, are $15 for one-hour sessions and include skate rentals; walkups will be welcome, but reservations are recommended through the Geoji app.

Christmas Tyme in Aledo on Ice, December 6-January 5
The city of Aledo is debuting its first-ever outdoor ice rink, open for 30 days as part of the holiday festivities. Located in the city's downtown, the Aledo Ice Rink will be adorned with twinkling lights and festive decorations, with music piped in under winter skies and seasonal refreshments to refuel. The annual Christmas Tyme in Aledo event on December 7 will feature the city's tree lighting ceremony, vendors, visits with Santa, live music, food trucks, and more.

Details: The ice rink is at Aledo City Hall, 104 Maverick St. Open 4-9 pm Monday-Thursday, 4-10 pm Friday, and 12-10 pm Sunday. Tickets for one-hour sessions are $15 (plus service fee), and include skate rental.

Skate the Square, Frisco, November 22-January 6
Now 14 years strong, Frisco's Christmas in the Square event boasts the city's only real ice outdoor ice rink. "Skate the Square" is but one of the highlights of the holiday extravaganza, which includes one of the largest free choreographed lights and music displays in North Texas: nightly shows of over 180,000 lights, 200 dancing snowflakes, and festive music. There's also a Christmas tree lot, carriage rides, visits with Santa, and more.

Details: The Skate the Square rink is located along Main and Coleman. Open daily, but times vary (as early as 12:15 pm and as late as 10 pm); check the calendar for specific dates and times. Ice skating tickets are $20, with or without skate rentals. Private group bookings are available. Christmas in the Square runs nightly, 6-10 pm; the light show is free to attend.

Stockyards Rodeo Rink, Fort Worth Stockyards, November 21-January 5
For the third year, visitors to the historic Fort Worth district can "giddy up and glide" as part of the Stockyards' holiday festivities. The 4,000-square-foot professional ice skating rink has taken over the lawn of the Livestock Exchange Building (131 E Exchange Ave.) and includes a snack and beverage bar, fire pits, music, picnic seating, and more. The Stockyards will also host visits with Cowboy Santa, a tree lighting at Hotel Drover, rides on the North Pole Express train, a "Christmas in the Stockyards" event, and more throughout the season.

Details: Open at 11 am most days through the season. Five 90-minute skating sessions are offered Monday-Thursday, with an extra 9 pm session Friday-Sunday. Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for kids ages 3-12, and include skate rental. A family four-pack is available for $80.

Fort Worth Stockyards Rodeo Rink, ice skating, ice rink The Stockyards Rodeo Rink returns to Fort Worth for the holiday season.Photo courtesy of Fort Worth Stockyards

Peace Plaza Ice Rink, Grapevine, November 23-January 27
The 4,500-square-foot outdoor ice skating rink on Historic Main Street has become a favorite tradition in the "Christmas Capital of Texas." Skaters can jump and spin in the festive surroundings, including the 60-foot live Christmas tree, and the entire street decked out with Christmas lights. The ice rink's grand opening on November 23 will feature a performance by Olympic figure skater Ashley Cain, Team USA pair team Nick Traxler and Kristen Nardozzi, and more, beginning at 6:15 pm.

Details: Open daily, times vary (opening as early as 11 am with last entry as late as 9 pm); check the calendar for exact dates and times. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Location is Grapevine Main Peace Plaza, 815 S. Main St., at the train station outside Hotel Vin. Tickets are $20 for a one-hour session at 15-minute timed intervals; skate rentals included. Group ice rentals are available by the hour. (UPDATE 11-22-2024: "Unfortunately, Peace Plaza Ice Rink will not be open this weekend due to the warm temperatures," a spokeswoman says. New opening date TBA.)

Of course, no Dallas ice-skating list would be complete without the most famous rink of all ....

Galleria Dallas, November 22-January 5
The nation's tallest indoor Christmas tree (at 95 feet) will sparkle in the middle of the ice rink throughout the season. Public skating is available every day, but as usual, holiday festivities will really rev up on at 12 pm Black Friday (November 29) with the Grand Tree Lighting Celebration on the ice rink, featuring Olympic figure skaters and a fireworks finale starring Missile Toes, the famed ice-skating Santa. (The celebration will repeat at 12 pm November 30.) A Grand Holiday Ice Show, starring some of the best figure skaters and ice dancers in the world (Ashley Cain, Mariah Bell, Keegan Messing, Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean-Luc Baker, Ryan Bradley, and Kim Navarro and Brent Bommentre) will take place at 9 am December 8 and benefit Broadway Dallas; tickets are $150.

Details: Public skating hours are 10 am-9:30 pm Monday, Wednesday-Thursday; 10 am-9 pm Tuesday & Friday; 12-9 pm Saturday; 12-6 pm Sunday. Admission is $13, plus $5 for skate rental. Public skating is first-come, first serve; no reservations permitted. A full list of holiday events at the ice rink is here.

Mariah Bell, figure skating, Olympian Olympic figure skater Mariah Bell will be one of the featured performers at Galleria Dallas' Grand Holiday Ice Show. Getty Images

christmas capital of texas downtown dallas families family friendly galleria dallas holiday attractions ice skating rinks omni dallas hotel stockyards rodeo rink winter festivities holidays