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    Light and Magic

    Dazzling new event illuminates Fair Park this holiday season

    CultureMap Create
    Nov 21, 2017 | 12:45 pm

    A few years back, Fair Park lit up with the larger-than-life creations of the Chinese Lantern Festival. Now the same team behind those impressive handmade beauties is back with Holiday Wonder, a walk-through winter wonderland that's casting a festive glow over Dallas.

    Here are a few cool things to know about this outdoor event, which runs November 21, 2017-January 7, 2018 at the historic lagoon at Fair Park.

    It takes holiday light displays to a whole new level
    You'll see more than two million lights across Holiday Wonder's 17 acres, all helping bring to life 23 stunning winterscapes, beautiful floating swans, perennial holiday favorites (yes, that includes Santa Claus), and more. Walk through an enchanting snowflake corridor, spot playful polar bears and penguins, and snap a family picture in front of the 48-foot-tall Christmas tree. All of the handmade displays were created especially for this festival, by artisans whose specialized skills in lanterns go back generations.

    Festive activities abound
    Sprinkled among the lighted displays are several fun things to do, whether you're still a kid or just a kid at heart. For those who want to feel the winter wind in their hair, coast down Santa's Artic Slide, which measures two stories tall. A snowball throw allows visitors to get hands-on with the cold stuff, trying their hand at hitting targets with real snowballs. And anyone looking for a quieter way to celebrate can write a letter to the Big Guy in Red and drop it in his mailbox.

    Enjoy the sights, sounds, and tastes of the season
    Several times each evening, guests can enjoy a world-class acrobatics show and holiday celebrations of music and dance. Take home a piece of the magic courtesy of the Holiday Wonder Market, where booths filled with toys and souvenirs will make it even easier to stock the stockings. Give into cravings with authentic, delicious food from around the world, including countries such as China, Germany, and Mexico. Who knows? You might just taste a new holiday tradition.

    Purchase tickets to Holiday Wonder here.

    More than two million lights are displayed throughout Holiday Wonder's 17 acres.

    Holiday Wonder maidens display
      
    Photo courtesy of Holiday Wonder
    More than two million lights are displayed throughout Holiday Wonder's 17 acres.
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    park news

    Dallas-area parks top the list for best Texas parks in 2025

    Amber Heckler
    May 21, 2025 | 10:51 am
    Frisco park
    Play Frisco - Parks & Recreation/Facebook
    Frisco made its debut in the 2025 Parkscore Index report.

    More bragging rights for Plano as a desirable place to live: The city has the No. 1 best park system in Texas this year, a new report says. Dallas and Frisco aren't far behind.

    So says the Trust for Public Land's 2025 ParkScore report, which annually rates park systems in 100 of the largest American cities based on accessibility, equity, acreage, investment, and amenities.

    Plano has maintained its place atop the rankings in Texas for several years. The city ranked 17th nationally after ranking 16th for the last two years, and earning No. 15 in 2021 and 2022.

    Most Plano residents (81 percent) live within a 10-minute walk of a park in the city, which is more than the national median (76 percent). Within the city limits, 10.4 percent of the area is dedicated to parkland. The city spends $198 per resident on its acclaimed park system, compared to the national median $133 per resident.

    Dallas' parks moved up four spots from last year to claim No. 34 nationally and No. 2 statewide. The report says this marks five years of improvement for Dallas, in part thanks to community efforts and organizations.

    "Dallas’ recent rise in park access is due largely to initiatives like the Cool School Community Parks program, which opens school playgrounds and other school-based facilities to community use after school hours, and programs like the Dallas Greening Initiative to transform vacant lots into neighborhood greenspaces across the city," the report said.

    The upcoming opening of the Judge Charles R. Rose Park on June 7 will also increase accessibility for other Dallas residents.

    Judge Charles R. Rose Community ParkThe Judge Charles R. Rose Community Park will span 40 acres of land.Photo courtesy of Trust For Public Land

    Frisco makes its Parkscore Index debut this year, coming in at No. 3 in Texas and No. 37 nationwide. A majority (70 percent) of residents living within a 10-minute walk of a park in the city, the report says. About five percent of the entire Frisco area is reserved for parkland, and the city spends $258 per resident to maintain its park system.

    "We’re seeing inspiring momentum across the Dallas metroplex, and it reflects what we at Trust for Public Land believe at our core: everyone deserves access to the healing, unifying power of the outdoors," said Molly Morgan, Texas State Director of the Trust for Public Land. "When we invest in parks — especially in neighborhoods that have long gone without — we’re investing in healthier families, stronger communities, and a deeper sense of belonging."

    Elsewhere across the Metroplex, Fort Worth rose through the ranks to claim No. 72 nationally this year, previously landing in the No. 91 spot in 2024. The city has put a big focus on park investment, increasing funding by nearly 50 percent over the last five years, and the report says there are over 80 ongoing park construction projects.

    Arlington moved up one spot as No. 46 nationwide, and Garland moved up seven spots as No. 67. Irving maintained its rank as No. 99 for the second year in a row.

    Here's how other Texas parks ranked nationally in 2025 in comparison to 2024:

    • No. 54 – Austin, down from No. 44 last year
    • No. 57 – San Antonio, down from No. 53 last year
    • No. 66 – Houston, up from No. 68 last year
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