While some events got a head start last week, Thanksgiving is when holiday events truly kick into high gear. In fact, only two events featured this weekend aren't holiday-related, and even those will likely include some references to the season. Among your options are several lights events and two holiday theater productions.
Below are the best ways to spend your free time over the long weekend. Want more options? Lucky for you, we have a much longer list of the city's best events.
Wednesday, November 22
Holiday Wonder at Fair Park
Holiday Wonder is a new family-friendly event at Fair Park featuring magical lights, interactive attractions, performances, and food from around the world. The event will showcase more than 2 million lights, a holiday wonderland with a snowflake corridor, playful polar bears and penguins, and a 48-foot-tall Christmas tree. There will also be a two-story slide for kids and adults, a snowball throw where visitors can aim for targets with real snowballs, and a world-class acrobatics show. The event will be open every day through January 7.
Dallas Theater Center presents A Christmas Carol
Dallas Theater Center will present its annual family-friendly holiday production of A Christmas Carol. In this delightfully re-imagined take on Dickens’ enduring classic, the audience is surrounded by the actors, with magical ghosts flying above, scary ghosts bursting out of the floor, and snow falling on everyone. The production, running through December 28, is full of traditional Christmas hymns and songs in fresh, toe-tapping musical arrangements, joyful bursts of choreography, and eye-popping special effects.
AT&T Performing Arts Center presents Gobsmacked!
Featuring the reigning world-champion beatboxer, Ball-Zee, and an international cast of world-class vocalists, Gobsmacked! weaves stories through all forms of a cappella from traditional, street corner harmonies to cutting-edge, multitrack live looping. Playing the second of two nights at Majestic Theatre, the show not only showcases modern a cappella at its best but also tells an urban tale of love, loss, and redemption.
Friday, November 24
Enchant: The World's Largest Christmas Light Maze & Market
A world of Christmas wonder awaits as Enchant: The World's Largest Christmas Light Maze & Market makes its U.S debut at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Guests can get lost in the world's largest light maze, take photos around the largest Christmas tree in North Texas, glide around the ice-skating pond, or waltz through the Enchant Christmas Market with over 85 vendors, including Arlington favorite Texas Christkindl Market Lane, now a part of the Enchant experience. The event will go on through December 31.
Vitruvian Lights
Vitruvian Park in Addison will once again be transformed into a dazzling and magical holiday wonderland during Vitruvian Lights, with over 1.5 million sparkling LED lights wrapped around more than 550 trees. The lights will be turned on during a lighting ceremony on November 24 as Addison Mayor Joe Chow flips the switch. Guests can enjoy live music by the Jordan Kahn Orchestra, photos with Santa, an elf balloon artist, gourmet food trucks, delicious desserts, and retail booths for gift browsing. Once the switch is flipped, the lights remain on every evening through January 1.
Cowboys Christmas at the Star
Cowboys Christmas at The Star gives fans an opportunity to enjoy free, family-friendly events throughout the holiday season, including the official Christmas tree lighting, the Cowboys Christmas Spectacular, and the opportunity to book a photo with Santa. The inaugural lighting of The Star’s 52-foot Christmas tree will take place on Friday, November 24, followed by the first Cowboys Christmas Spectacular, a weekly holiday performance showcasing the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, Dallas Cowboys Rhythm and Blue Dancers and Drumline, appearances by Santa, and more.
Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents Alisa Weilerstein
Under the direction of maestro Jaap van Zweden, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra will welcome cellist Alisa Weilerstein to play selections including Prokofiev’s “Sinfonia Concertante,” and Schumann’s "Symphony No. 3, Rhenish.” The concert will have three performances through Sunday at the Meyerson Symphony Center.
Texas Ballet Theater presents The Nutcracker
Texas Ballet Theater will once again welcome a beloved holiday tradition with The Nutcracker. Travel with Clara to a dreamland of heroic battles and breathtaking beauty in a ballet classic for all ages. There will be eight performances through December 3 at Winspear Opera House before the production moves to Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth, starting on December 8.
Saturday, November 25
Light Up Lowest Greenville
The inaugural Light Up Lowest Greenville will launch the holiday season with Lowest Greenville Collective member businesses from Belmont Street to Ross Avenue, featuring a sparkling glow of light on trees and a special celebration. This event will feature an appearance by Tim DeLaughter and The Polyphonic Spree as the Grand Lighters of the Lowest Greenville Christmas tree, a holiday food drive, and more.
Vitruvian Lights in Addison will be turned for the season starting on November 24.
