Holidays in HARWOOD

5 magnificent holiday happenings in the HARWOOD District

It doesn't get much more magical during the holidays than the wonderland that is Dallas' HARWOOD District. From the festive atmosphere at Happiest Hour to the cozy coffee at Magnolias: Sous le Pont to the delicious menus at Dolce Riviera, Mercat Bistro, and Saint Ann Restaurant & Bar, this Dallas destination has a calendar full of fun events.

But you can revel in the wonder at Marie Gabrielle Restaurant and Gardens anytime this month, where the tallest holiday tree in Uptown is on display. It stands 80 feet tall and features more than 9,000 lights and 3,000 ornaments. Pose for a pic in front of it and share your photos through the month of December with the hashtag #HARWOODHoliday.

Cookies with Santa presented by Frost
December 14
Grab your camera and get your list ready, because from 3:30-6:30 pm you can visit with the Man in Red himself at this exclusive photo op. Share a cookie (or two) with Santa at Frost's HARWOOD offices, and reserve your free spot here.

Coffee, Carols + Calligraphy
December 16
Cozy up with a Minty Matcha at Magnolias: Sous Le Pont for holiday card-making magic with local creative She, in the Making. Supplies are included with your ticket, and a special live music showcase will make things extra festive beginning at 6:30 pm. Whether you’re a beginner or a skilled artist, the handlettering workshop is sure to be a good time.

Christmas Eve Dinner at Dolce Riviera
December 24
Indulge in a one-night-only menu of decadent, holiday-inspired specials, with reservations beginning at 5 pm. Courses include an apricot salad with winter truffle, braised endive, and goat cheese mousse; pan-seared scallops with butternut squash puree and broccoli Calabresi; langoustine ravioli; almond-crusted veal filet; peach semifreddo; and orange tart with honey sauce.

New Year's Eve dinners at Dolce Riviera, Mercat Bistro, and Saint Ann Restaurant & Bar
December 31
Enjoy New Year's Eve dinner at any of these HARWOOD District restaurants and you can receive complimentary tickets to the Happiest Hour Megaparty (see below). Each of the restaurants has a special menu prepared to help you send out 2017 on a delicious note. Tickets are limited to Happiest Hour's NYE Megaparty, so be sure to mention the event when making your reservation at the restaurant of your choice.

Megaparty at Happiest Hour
December 31
Raise a glass to the happiest New Year ever at the city's largest patio bar and lounge, located just steps from the American Airlines Center. Don't miss out on multi-bar access, balloon drops, city views, confetti cannons, and champagne. Starting promptly at 9 pm, you'll dance the night away with two of Dallas' best DJs playing all your favorite jams from 2017. When the clock strikes midnight, everyone will toast to the New Year as the revelry ensues with more than five balloon drops going until 2 am.

Close out 2017 and ring in 2018 in style.

Photo courtesy of HARWOOD District

Close out 2017 and ring in 2018 in style.

event-planner dinner promoted holidays

The Joke Has Landed

New comedy club at Toyota Music Factory in Irving gets set for laughs

Photo by Anna Dolmany

This is the fifth Punch Line location.

It's almost time for Punch Line Irving to open its doors, and Dave Chappelle is at the ready. The famous comedian will christen the new comedy club with four sold-out shows on December 17 and 18, but there's plenty more funny business in store for 2026.

First announced in November, this is Punch Line's fifth location — and second in Texas, the first opened in Houston in 2024 — and it's taking up residence at the Toyota Music Factory. The 240-seat club plans to host more than 350 shows and private events annually, featuring a blend of high-wattage celebrity and homegrown talent.

Its decor nods to the brand's belief that comedy is a sport, with feature wall showcasing punching bags and boxing bells signed by "heavy hitter" performers.

The menu also echoes the theme, with such cocktails as the Bellringer (bourbon, lemonade, and Liquid Death half-and-half iced tea), Ringside Ranch Water (blanco tequila, hibiscus, lime, and soda), and the Espresso All-Star, their take on the espresso martini. Food includes Punch Line favorites like the Mic Drop Burger, Punch Line Nachos, and Homemade Punch Pop Tarts in bourbon apple or strawberry cream.

There is also a second, more flexible space outside the main showroom called The Callback Bar that's designed to host smaller performances, as well as a furnished patio.

Punch Line Irving The Callback Bar.Photo by Anna Dolmany

Photo by Anna Dolmany

This is the fifth Punch Line location.

The talent gets treated as well as the audience, with a private comics lounge in place of a traditional dressing room. Designed as a shared gathering space, it sports a custom media wall showing the live-show feed, a dressing table, a private ensuite restroom, and a hospitality station.

Punch Line makes it a point to support the local comedy scene, and its Irving location will be no exception. Twenty-five cents from each ticket at participating shows benefits Comedy Gives Back, a nonprofit organization providing financial grants and resources to stand-up comedians in need. The club also hosted its first open mic on December 9 to welcome the community, with participating comics donating nonperishable items to the North Texas Food Bank.

Don't fret if you didn't snag tickets to Dave Chappelle — big names like Leslie Jones, Tone Bell, Pete Holmes, and Christina P. all have shows scheduled in the first few months of 2026 and tickets are on sale now.

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