The magic is back. After a dimmer holiday celebration in 2020, the Dallas area is lighting up, merry and bright, for the Christmas season once again — from towering trees that twinkle and shine to dazzling drive-thru displays and immersive walk-thru experiences.

Here's our 2021 guide to the biggest, brightest, most spectacular Christmas light displays in the area. (Bookmark and check back often because it'll grow and grow as more businesses and neighborhoods deck their halls in coming weeks.) Pour the hot chocolate, load up the car, flip on the holiday tunes, and enjoy these illuminated wonderlands.

Immersive experiences and choreographed shows

Enchant Christmas, Fair Park, November 26-January 2
Returning this year in a new location with new features, Enchant will present "The Great Search," the first in a series of five fascinating adventures. Guests embark on a quest within the forest of millions of twinkling lights and a world of art installations as they journey to save Christmas. The adventure includes gliding down the Ice Skating Trail, sampling gourmet holiday treats from around the world, visiting the artisan Christmas market, and meeting the Big Man himself, all before stepping into a magical Christmas light maze. For tickets ($20-$35), schedule, and more information, visit EnchantChristmas.com.

Christmas Christmas Extravaganza at The Star, Frisco, now-December 18
The Cowboys' fifth annual Christmas at The Star includes Cowboys Christmas Extravaganza powered by Reliant, a must-see 20-minute show that electrifies The Star with a powerful mix of game day excitement and Christmas cheer on Tostitos Championship Plaza. Kicking off with the lighting of The Star’s 67-foot Christmas tree by a Dallas Cowboys alumni, Cowboys Christmas Extravaganza then leads into a holiday performance showcasing the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and more. For more information on the free event, visit the website.

Lights on the Farmat Heritage Farmstead Museum, Plano, now-December 26
Heritage Farmstead Museum in Plano will be bedazzled with more than one million twinkling holiday lights and filled with animated yuletide displays as part of the venue’s first-ever Lights on the Farm holiday event. Visitors can walk a quarter-mile trail through the property showcasing holiday light creations and animated displays. Guests will also enjoy a 20-foot Christmas tree, refreshments such as hot cocoa and make-your-own s’mores, and a chance for the youngest guests to visit with Santa. The event takes place mostly on weekends through through December 26; $7-$15 and more information here.

North Pole Texas at Hilton Anatole, now-December 24
The hotel's guided 90-minute interactive event starts with a Peppermint Park train ride through the light display in the Anatole Sculpture Park. The train will deliver guests to the North Pole Texas welcome station for their elf check-in. Children of all ages will be able to participate in holiday activities, including writing letters to Santa at the North Pole Mailroom, decorating cookies in Mrs. Claus’s kitchen, attend Elf Academy, and more. $36-$43 for non-hotel guests, $25-$30 for hotel guests; more information here.

Six Flags Holiday in the Park, Arlington, November 26-January 1
Six Flags Over Texas will transform once again into a winter wonderland for the 36th annual Holiday in the Park. More than 2 million twinkling lights, six new shows, and the introduction of the Holly Jolly Holiday Parade will provide the perfect backdrop for holiday traditions. New this season is the Holly Jolly Holiday Parade, a spectacle of lights, festive characters and seven giant floats passing through the midways of the park, including a finale float featuring Santa Claus. Merry Marketplace is home to Santa’s Outpost, where guests can stop in for a personal visit with Santa Claus himself. For ticket pricing and schedule, visit the event website.

Christmas at Gaylord Texan, now-January 2
Part of the Gaylord's Texas-sized Christmas extravaganza, Merry & Light features a sparkling array of larger- than-life holiday décor and immersive state-of-the-art light elements. ​Also, don't miss A Christmas Wish Light Show, a multi-sensory spectacle of lights set to a holiday musical score. There's also a "Cirque Winter Wonderland," "Mission: Save Christmas featuring Elf," snow tubing, and more (but not ice show this year). For a complete rundown of events, scheduling, tickets, and more, visit the website.

Drive-thru displays

Prairie Lights, Grand Prairie, now-December 31
At Prairie Lights at Lynn Creek Park in Grand Prairie, visitors will be dazzled with 4 million lights set along two miles of path. Hundreds of all-new displays in shapes of all kinds line and arch over the roads. This year's event, running through December 31, will feature the return of Holiday Village. At the halfway point, guests can exit their vehicle to enjoy carnival rides, concessions, photos with Santa, the magical walk-thru forest, and more. The second half of the drive ends with the new-and-improved light tunnel. $40-$120 per vehicle, more information here.

Dallas Zoo Lights, Dallas Zoo, now-January 2
Dallas Zoo gives visitors a chance to cruise the mile-long route during Dallas Zoo Lights. The spectacle features one million twinkling lights, elaborate displays, dazzling 3-D lighted sculptures, larger-than-life animal lanterns, and more. This year, the light show debuts an immersive video projection that transforms the path. After driving through, guests can park and enjoy Reliant Holiday village to take photos with Santa and sing along to musical performances. $50-$65 per vehicle; more information here.

The Light Park, Lone Star Park, Grand Prairie, now-January 2
The Light Park features a large animated holiday light show along with the world’s largest 700-foot animated LED tunnels. It boasts more than a million LED lights throughout its one-mile light show and musical experience, all synced and choreographed to holiday music on a dedicated music station, K-GLO, the North Pole’s No. 1 hit radio station. $30-$80 per vehicle; more information here.

Radiance! featuring Frozen in Frisco, Riders Field, Frisco, now-January 1
Back after a smash-hit run last year, Radiance! featuring Frozen in Frisco is a two-part experience covered by one ticket. Radiance! becomes a theme park-style ride in a vehicle that guides guests through the show. Visitors can expect an all-new, mile-long light trail of over 3 million lights, animated to favorite holiday tunes. Frozen in Frisco will feature a two-story outdoor ice tubing hill, ice skating under the stars, bumper cars on ice, snowball toss with real snow, a 108-foot Ferris wheel, Christmas carousel, buckin’ reindeer rides, a Christmas Story escape room, s’mores fire pits, a holiday market, and more. Tickets are $19.99-$54.98, more information here. (There are also Radiance events in Ennis and Weatherford.)

Gift of Lights at Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, now-January 2
Texas Motor Speedway will once again open its gates to the public for the annual Gift of Lights drive-thru holiday lighting spectacular around the track. The lights experience will include over two miles of light displays, with almost 3 million lights, while visitors get to stay in their warm cars, listening to Christmas music on KLTY. Returning this year is Santa's Village, where visitors can get out and enjoy treats, warm beverages, and pictures with Santa. Tickets start at $30, depending on size of vehicle and may be purchased online or at the gate. Check the website for special discounts, tickets, and more.

Christmastime In Texas, Joshua, now-January 1
This one-year-old drive-thru Christmas light park is filled with hundreds of displays spread out across a winding road a mile-and-a-half long. A large section of the park is devoted to lights timed to favorite Christmas tunes. A new event tent includes Santa, vendors, and a seating area for folks to sit after visiting the food vendors. The park's address is 5801 County Road 904 Z, Joshua (near County Road 904 & Chisholm Trail Parkway). Admission starts at $35 per vehicle. For more information, visit the website.

Santa’s Country Christmas, Seagoville, now-January 1
Now in its fourth year of operation, Santa's Country Christmas drive-thru lights experience is located on Hwy. 175 in Seagoville, 20 minutes from downtown Dallas. The two-mile drive-thru park includes lights, animals, and music. There's a new walk-thru Christmas village and photos with Santa and the Grinch, too. Admission is $25 per vehicle, purchased at the door. For more information, visit their Facebook page.

Commercial displays and special events

Vitruvian Lights, November 26-January 2
Addison's Vitruvian Park transforms into one of North Texas' most spectacular holiday destinations during Vitruvian Lights, an annual celebration in which 1.5 million sparkling LED lights are wrapped around more than 550 trees to create a blazing wonderland. Once the switch is flipped, the lights will remain on every evening through January 2. Tree lights will be on daily from 5-11 pm, and it's free to view.

Holiday at the Arboretum, Dallas Arboretum, now-December 31
Holiday at the Arboretum has a new treasure that’s sure to get visitors in the holiday spirit: the Dazzling Musical Tree, a 50-foot-tall tree animated with more 42,000 lights and merry holiday tunes that play. The holiday festival also features a million lights throughout the gardens, The Christmas Village, DeGolyer House with The Artistry of the Nativity, and The 12 Days of Christmas. For admission, tickets, schedule (including special evening hours) and more, check the website.

Reliant Lights Your Holidays, AT&T Performing Arts Center, December 4
AT&T Performing Arts Center will present Reliant Lights Your Holidays. The event will be an evening of holiday magic and music and will illuminate the Center’s campus with dazzling LED lights to celebrate the arrival of the holiday season. This festival includes a holiday concert featuring Vinyl Countdown: A Tribute to Arena Rock, Selena tribute band Bidi Bidi Banda, projections on the campus' venues, crafts for the kids, and, of course, Santa; more information on the free event here.

Klyde Warren Park Tree Lighting Celebration, December 4
Klyde Warren Park's Tree Lighting Celebration is a festive day of activities and entertainment, such as photos with Santa, story time with Mrs. Claus, face painting, games, and crafts for children. The day will culminate with a live holiday show that includes visits from Frosty and Rudolph, the beloved second act of The Nutcracker Suite performed by the award-winning dancers at The Dallas Conservatory and — the highlight of the event — Klyde Warren Park’s spectacular tree lighting.

Visit Plano presents Dickens, Haggard Park, Plano, December 4
Dickens, the popular Victorian-themed holiday festival, returns. The event will feature a Trimmed Tree Trail and tree lighting, free s’mores, food vendors, Victorian music, characters including Scrooge, carolers, a snow slide, shopping, and photos with Santa. Free and pet-friendly; more information here.

Highland Park Village Christmas Lights Celebration, December 8
The gorgeous homes and businesses in the Park Cities neighborhoods of Dallas shine with beautiful light displays, none more stunning than Highland Park Village. Sip, shop and stroll under the Village’s 1.5 million Christmas lights while enjoying store promotions, discounts, gifts with purchase, festive treats, and more with extended store hours until 7 pm. Snap photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, enjoy a live holiday performance by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s Young Strings quartet, and bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate to the Community Partners of Dallas Toy Drive.

Daystar Christmas, Daystar Television Network, Bedford, now-January 2
Daystar Christmas features over 1 million lights, a life-sized Nativity, kid-friendly Christmas town, a new 950-foot drive-thru tunnel, and more. Guests are welcome to drive through the property or get out, explore, take photos with Santa, and eat — Daystar’s Scratch Café will be serving holiday treats on certain days throughout the season. The whole event is free; for schedule and more information, visit the website.

Snowday and Santaland at Galleria Dallas, now-January 17
At the Galleria's Santaland visitors will arrive in a magical moonlit forest and journey through an enchanted path filled with starry lights, polar bears, and endless photo ops leading to Santa’s cabin hideaway. Next to Santaland is Snowday, which takes guests on an explorable adventure through more than 20 imaginative rooms and hundreds of surprises for all ages over the course of about an hour. Of course, don't miss the Galleria's grand Christmas tree in the ice rink — the country's tallest indoor Christmas tree.

Holidays at the Heard, McKinney, December 17-18
Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary will present Holidays at the Heard. Holiday lights and décor will accentuate a half-mile Heard nature trail. Families will also get get a glimpse of the Dinosaurs Live! exhibit along the trail. In keeping with the Heard’s role as a nature preserve, this light display is designed to enhance, rather than overpower, the sanctuary’s natural beauty. Live, festive music will be presented in the Heard outdoor amphitheater. Admission is $7-$10; free for children 2 and under.

Christmas at the Square, Frisco, now-January 3
The largest choreographed holiday lights and music show in North Texas features more than 175,000 lights that twinkle for 11.5 miles. Wear your comfiest shoes to walk the square or load the family into the car. Hundreds of dancing snowflakes and cutting- edge LED canopies light up the town. Find Christmas at the Square at 8843 Coleman Blvd., Frisco.

Historic Main Street, Grapevine, now-January 9
Grapevine's historic downtown area is shining bright with thousands of lights up and down Main Street through January 9 (a total of 40 days of Christmas events) — no wonder they call Grapevine the Christmas Capital of Texas. Start at Grapevine City Hall, 200 S Main St., Grapevine, park, and go from there. Consult a complete schedule on the website.

Individual homes and residential neighborhoods

Burkman Holiday Home of Frisco, now-December 26
Fresh off their appearance on ABC’s The Great Christmas Family Light Fight, the most famous "Christmas light family" in DFW has lit up its over-the-top display for the public. The interactive display of 70,000 LED lights includes a 400-piece train village in the garage, a gingerbread house that looks and smells like real gingerbread baking, and many selfie stations. They encourage people to get out of their car, walk around, and take photos. They're also collecting donations for their new foundation and other charitable causes. The lights are on 6-11 pm nightly. Parking can be tight, so be prepared to park and walk a block or two. The home is at 3809 Hazelhurst Dr., Frisco, on the Frisco/Little Elm border. Follow their Facebook page for updates, special photo opps, charity info, and more.

The Browne Family Holiday Light Show, Parker, now-January 5
This family has a tradition of turning their home into a destination. The Browne Family Holiday Light Show is a full light show synchronized with music taking place throughout the Christmas season. While the show is free, it is an official drop-off point for Toys For Tots; visitors are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate. The show runs from dark to 9 pm Sundays through Thursdays, and dark to 10 pm on Fridays and Saturdays, at 2701 Dublin Park Dr. (in Dublin Park Estates), Parker.

Lights on Oak Bluff, Sachse, now-December 31
This fantastic lights display consistently wins awards from the City of Sachse and the neighborhood HOA. Expect over 14,000 individually computer-controlled lights, a 13-foot Megatree, Singing Faces, snowflakes, yard decorations, and much more. The Christmas show is synchronized to music; tune to 92.9 FM to enjoy from your car. It's free to visit, but they welcome donations to the Cure Sanfilippo Foundation to help a neighbor's son and other children with the disease. The show runs nightly from 6-10 pm, at 4310 Oak Bluff Ln., (in the Woodbridge subdivision) Sachse, 75048. Follow their Facebook page for updates.

Deerfield neighborhood, Plano, now-December 30
The Deerfield neighborhood of northwest Plano hosts a holiday decorating contest that yields magical results: a top-rated winter wonderland you can walk or drive through. You can even book carriage rides in advance. Deerfield subdivision is located between Preston Road and Coit Road. Check the website for maps and important information about traffic flow and parking. The free event officially runs 7 pm-10 pm on weekdays and 7 pm-11 pm (but most homes turn on their lights at sunset) on weekends through December 30.

Biscayne Drive, Plano
While in Plano, head over to Biscayne Drive off Independence Parkway and the George Bush tollway (75075). Three consecutives homes have joined together for a massive display of lights and characters. They call it the Biscayne Winter Wonderland.

Timberhollow Circle, Lake Highlands, now-late December
On this Lake Highlands street, "The 12 Days of Christmas" come alive on Timberhollow Circle. The display has been a tradition for more than two decades. Each home is decorated as one of the days, from a partridge in a pear tree to 12 drummers drumming. Several residents have moved over the years, but they’ve passed along the decorations to the new homeowners to keep the tradition alive. While you drive by, tune in to 87.7 FM to listen to different versions of “The 12 Days of Christmas.” The entrance is located one block south of Royal Lane off Abrams Road on Moss Haven Drive, 75231. The lights stay on nightly until 11 pm through the end of December. And while you're meandering through Lake Highlands, be sure to hit Lake Highlands Estates — specifically the streets from Vistadale, south to Church Road — to see some amazing trees decked for the holidays.

Santa House, University Park, now-late December
Once hailed "the single best Christmas light display in Dallas," this perennial favorite fills the front lawn with hundreds of lighted blow-mold decorations that homeowner Wayne Smith has amassed over the years. But look up — way up to the roof — and you'll find his distinctly "Dallas" touch: the head of the State Fair's very first Big Tex, restored to his original form as St. Nick in 1949 and donning a Santa hat. Find it nightly at 3629 Southwestern Blvd., Dallas.

Interlochen Lights, Arlington, December 17-25
The Interlochen neighborhood will present Interlochen Lights for just one week and weekend during the holiday season. Known as the best neighborhood light show in Texas, the event allows guests to drive through the neighborhood and pick out favorite displays while they tune into holiday music on radio stations 102.1 FM or 98.7 FM. This is one of the busiest spots in Dallas-Fort Worth during the holiday season, and it's free. The route will be the same as previous years; find the map here. Watch for updates on their website and Facebook page.

DFW Christmas Light Show — Araujo Family, Grapevine, now-January 1
After taking the year off in 2020, the Araujo family of Grapevine is back and bigger than ever. There's a choreographed light show in front and a new, extra surprise in the backyard: a "birthday party" setup with dozens of vintage animatronic characters and even more lights. Visitors are welcome to get out, explore, and take photos in front and back. The whole display is on, with different songs playing, from 6-10 pm nightly. Find it at 4341 Woodglen Dr., Grapevine, 76051. Follow the Facebook page for updates.

Wisdom Way Lights, Haltom City, now-January 1
The "Selena house" that debuted as a sensation last year is back. The Gonzalez family's 10th annual choreographed show of 8,300 LED lights features a six-minute tribute to pop icon Selena. Clips of Selena concerts are projected on an LED screen while music and snippets of interviews are played over speakers and lighted Christmas trees on the lawn "dance" along. Then, an eight-minute light show features characters from The Simpsons. Visitors can view both shows from from their cars and listen on radio channel 89.7 FM. Wisdom Way Lights runs nightly from 6-10 pm, and until 11 pm on Friday and Saturdays. Find it at 4521 Wisdom Way, Haltom City, and follow Wisdom Way Lights on Facebook and YouTube for updates.

Curry Christmas Chaos, North Richland Hills, now-January 1
Three houses collaborate to present a lights show synchronized to music that's anything but the "chaos" that the name implies. From start to finish, it's just over an hour long, and features a mix of pixels and standard LED lights "dancing" to music. Visitors can tune in to 89.9 FM to listen as lots of Christmas trees light up on the lawn. The show runs every night (unless mother nature decides differently), 6-11 pm, through January 1. Find it at 3506 Reeves St., NRH. Follow the Facebook page for more information and updates.

Diamond Loch, North Richland Hills, now-January 1
This North Richland Hills neighborhood has dressed up for the holidays for decades. Drive through the cul-de-sac slowly to check out adjacent houses that join forces to present a massive computerized show. The rest of the street decorates nicely to make an enchanted "Whoville" Christmas experience. They grow the show every year, and The Grinch himself may actually pop in occasionally; follow their Facebook page (and search #nrhgrinchlights) to keep up. It's open daily, 5:30-11 pm. To find it, navigate to the address 6217 Windsor Ct., NRH, 76180.

Rushing Meadow Court and Harder Drive, Dalworthington Gardens, now-January 1
Homeowner Dave Kulesz started a neighborhood tradition when he lit up his property with hundreds of thousands of twinkling lights. Surrounding homes got into the fun and now attract visitors from miles around. Kulesz uses the exposure to raise awareness of Alzheimer's disease, to which he lost his mother. A sign in his front yard encourages people to make gifts to the Alzheimer's Association. See the lights every night from 5:45-11 pm. Find it on Rushing Meadow Court in Dalworthington Gardens.

Miracle on West Fork at Alesio Urban Center, Las Colinas, now-December 30
Each Christmas, the Gonzales family in the Penthouse at Alesio Urban Center, an upscale residential community on Lake Carolyn, goes big. This holiday season, they are hosting the second annual of Miracle on West Fork "Winterland," a holiday drive-thru light show that will showcase festively decorated windows and balconies. The spectacular light display is left on at the penthouse daily from 6-10 pm. They play an outdoor light show with Christmas music, and it even "snows." The Grinch will stop by the balcony at 7 pm December 10 and 11, and Santa will stop by from 6-8 pm December 18. Miracle on West Fork will host their annual toy drive under the balcony. Find the community at 387 West Fork, Irving.

The Park Cities
The gorgeous homes in the Park Cities neighborhoods of Dallas shine with beautiful light displays, many of which are professionally installed; pick just about any street where you see houses lit top to bottom in twinkling lights, and there are bound to be a dozen more. Be sure to check out Highland Park Village and its 1.5 million lights while you're in the area, and don't pass by SMU without driving down the campus' main drag, Bishop Boulevard, toward the fountain and back.

Kessler Park
Historic Kessler Park goes all out, with lots of holiday lights on homes and trees against a backdrop of the Dallas skyline. The holiday decorations are coordinated on various traffic islands in the neighborhood each year. From downtown Dallas, go west on Interstate 30. Take the Sylvan exit, turn south on Sylvan, drive about a half a mile, and turn west on Colorado. You can't miss some of the most majestic oak trees in Dallas, shining bright for the holidays.

Elderoaks Lights, Oak Cliff
A Dallas tradition over 30 years strong, Elderoaks sees 96 percent of the homes in the neighborhood participate in a dazzling display. Located along three streets just south of the old Oak Cliff Country Club (Elderoaks Lane, Elderleaf Drive, and Elderoaks Place), the neighborhood scenes celebrate Christmas with homemade decorations that span medieval times to present day. Don't miss the streaming show of Christmas carols. There's no fee to watch, and lights go on at dusk each night.

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Know of another spectacular lights display in DFW? Email stephanie@culturemap.com. Looking for lights in Fort Worth? That list is here.

Christmastime in Texas is a new drive-thru light park in Joshua.

Photo courtesy of Christmastime in Texas

Christmastime in Texas is a new drive-thru light park in Joshua.