Weekend Event Planner

These are the 8 best things to do in Dallas this Christmas weekend

With Christmas falling on a weekend this year, it's holiday events galore. There's also a new pop-up exhibit, college football bowl game, concert from a hometown group, screening of a classic holiday film, holiday circus, and stand-up comedy.

Below are the best ways to spend your precious free time this weekend. Note: All of the events are happening as of press time, but COVID-19 is rapidly changing the events landscape. Best to check a venue's website for updates before heading out.

Thursday, December 23

Holiday events
If you haven't had a chance to check out a holiday event this year, there is no shortage of options. You can go the Instagram-route with Snowday and Santaland at Galleria Dallas; the Dallas traditional route with The Trains at NorthPark; the outdoor route with Holiday at the Arboretum; and many more. You can check out all the options on our event calendar.

Christmas lights
Some of the biggest displays around will be on for just a few more days, including the TV-famous Burkman Holiday Home of Frisco, which is ending its run early. Here is a complete list of the top drive-thru, immersive, commercial displays, and more. And here are the best neighborhoods to cruise through to see dazzling lights. Heading to Fort Worth this weekend? That list is here.

Sweet Tooth Motel presents Holiday Pop Up
Sweet Tooth Motel/Hotel is an Instagram-friendly exhibition that has been popping up all over Dallas-Fort Worth (Rewind is currently open in Allen). For the holidays, they'll present a special pop-up at AT&T Performing Arts Center. Guests can step inside the bright pink container on the Center’s campus between the Center Cafe and the Winspear Opera House and be transported to a magical winter wonderland. The free pop-up will be open on December 23, 26, and 30.

Frisco Football Classic: Miami (Ohio) vs. North Texas
Frisco is a prime location for the college football bowl season this year. Two days after the 4th annual Tropical Smoothie Cafe Bowl comes the inaugural Frisco Football Classic at the same location, Toyota Stadium. The game will have a local feel as the North Texas Mean Green will take the short trip down from Denton to take on Miami (Ohio) RedHawks from the Mid-American Conference.

Pentatonix in concert
Arlington's own Pentatonix got their big break when they won the third season of NBC's The Sing-Off in 2011. Since then, the a cappella group has gone on to release five regular albums and five Christmas albums, including the brand-new Evergreen. You can expect the full spectrum of those Christmas albums during this concert, taking place at Texas Trust CU Theatre at Grand Prairie.

Majestic Theatre presents It's a Wonderful Life
You could stay home and watch holiday movies or you could watch a classic movie in a historic theater. The Majestic Theatre, which opened to the public in 1921, is teaming up with the Texas Theatre to host a special screening of 1946's It's a Wonderful Life, starring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed. An angel will get its wings when the people of Bedford Falls get together to support George Bailey.

December 24

A Magical Cirque Christmas
A Magical Cirque Christmas is a holiday production that features a variety of fantastic circus performers. Audiences at Texas Trust CU Theatre at Grand Prairie can experience the enchantment of Christmas as Magical Hostess Lucy Darling takes them through an evening of breathtaking cirque artists, accompanied by favorite holiday music performed live.

December 26

Sal Vulcano & Chris Distefano - A Night of Standup Comedy, Babes
Comedians Sal Vulcano and Chris Distefano will team up for a special night of post-Christmas fun. Vulcano is best known as a member of The Tenderloins, a comedy troupe that stars in the TruTV series Impractical Jokers. Distefano, who starred in the MTV shows Guy Code and Girl Code, co-hosts the podcast Hey Babe! with Vulcano. They'll perform at Texas Trust CU Theatre at Grand Prairie.

Pentatonix will perform at Texas Trust CU Theatre at Grand Prairie on December 23.

Photo courtesy of RCA Records

Pentatonix will perform at Texas Trust CU Theatre at Grand Prairie on December 23.

holidays event-planner concerts

Big Tex Wrap-Up

State Fair of Texas bounces back with 2.1 million attendees in 2026

Crowds around Big Tex at 2026 State Fair of Texas

Photo courtesy of State Fair of Texas

Almost 2.1 people attended the 2026 State Fair of Texas, up from 2025.

After experiencing its lowest total attendance numbers in seven years in 2025, the State Fair of Texas bounced back in 2026, welcoming nearly 2.1 million visitors, according to an official release.

That represents a slight bump up from the 2,020,064 that came through the gates in 2025. Both numbers are still down significantly from the highs of 2019 and 2022, when more than 2.5 million people attended the State Fair.

The uptick in attendance could be attributed to the concerted effort to make the Fair more affordable this year, including lowering ticket prices, making games and rides cheaper, expanding days for free student tickets, and offering a free day of parking.

As usual, the busiest day of the State Fair was Saturday, October 10, the date of the annual Texas-Oklahoma football game, with more than 203,000 fairgoers in attendance, including the 92,100 fans in the Cotton Bowl.

The average attendance for the other 23 days of the fair was around 82,500.

“We are grateful to every fairgoer who joined us this year, as well as the team members, vendors, and volunteers who worked tirelessly to make this season possible," said State Fair of Texas President Mitchell Glieber in a statement. "As a nonprofit organization, a successful Fair helps fuel our work throughout the year, and we are proud of the impact we continue to make through agriculture, education, and community.”

Other notable numbers from the 2026 State Fair of Texas include:

An all-new look for Big Tex, standing 55 feet tall, sporting a 95-gallon Resistol cowboy hat, a Cavender’s shirt measuring 245 by 192 inches, Levi’s 501 jeans measuring 380 inches wide by 290 inches long, size 96 Lucchese boots, and a Shiner belt buckle.
The unveiling of an official State of Texas Historical Marker from the Texas Historical Commission for Big Tex, honoring his enduring legacy as a beloved Texas icon and symbol of State Fair tradition.
An estimated 110,655 pounds of food were collected and donated to the North Texas Food Bank.
More than 28,600 members of the military and their families visited the Fair over 24 days, utilizing the special discount offer in gratitude for their service.
Approximately 500,000 prizes, valued at an estimated $1.8 million, were won at the State Fair Midway, enough stuffed animals and prizes to fill approximately 90 semi-trucks.
Approximately 450,000 Fletcher’s Original Corny Dogs were enjoyed by fairgoers.
The State Fair of Texas is estimated to generate more than $600 million in economic activity each year, serving as one of the most impactful annual events in the Dallas-Fort Worth region.

state fair of texas fairs-festivals