Dallas dazzles as the No. 2 most festive city in America this year

Dallas' holiday spirit is shining extra bright: The city was just named the No. 2 most festive city in the nation according to a recently released annual report by home services provider Thumbtack.

This is the third year in a row that Dallas has prevailed, hanging onto the coveted No. 2 spot since 2022, with only Austin in its way for total list dominance.

The study compiled data from millions of holiday light installation requests across all 50 states between October 2023 to October 2024 to reveal their list of the most festive cities in the nation.

Dallas residents have plenty of citywide light displays to pull inspiration from for their own homes, including the new Coca-Cola Classic Christmas experience in Arlington, Dallas Zoo Lights, and many more.

Texas cities are far merrier than many other places in the country. Austin leads the nation as the No.1 most festive city for the third year in a row, but Houston ranks just behind Dallas in the No. 4 spot. Poor San Antonio saw a drop this year, coming in at No. 10, after previously ranking No. 5 in the 2023 report.

Texans living in Dallas-Fort Worth will have to get creative when it comes to their holiday decorating, as the weather doesn't always cooperate with the classic "White Christmas" theme. But that's to be expected from the No. 3 top warm-weather travel destination nationwide.

"In the milder climates, you probably won’t find a winter wonderland, but you might see plenty of twinkling lights, tinsel, and bold colors outside the traditional red, green, and white palette," the report's author wrote. "Neon baubles, vintage plastic Santa molds, and playful LED lights keep properties festive and bright. Native eucalyptus, olive branches, and succulents are used as greenery in place of traditional pine and fir."

Outsourcing that outdoor holiday decorating will cost a pretty penny, according to Thumbtack's analysts. The study said the average cost to hire a holiday lighting specialist can range from $168-$300, depending on the scope of the project and home size. Thumbtack also recommends Dallasites avoid hiring a lighting specialist during Thanksgiving weekend, which is the time period that sees the highest demand.

Thumbtack's top 10 most festive U.S. cities in 2024 are:

• No. 1 – Austin, Texas
• No. 2 – Dallas, Texas
• No. 3 – Seattle, Washington
• No. 4 – Houston, Texas
• No. 5 – San Francisco, California
• No. 6 – Atlanta, Georgia
• No. 7 – Sacramento, California
• No. 8 – Charlotte, North Carolina
• No. 9 – Raleigh, North Carolina
• No. 10 – San Antonio, Texas