Happy holidays

Dallas lands on list of best cities to celebrate Christmas in 2023

Photo courtesy of Downtown Dallas Inc.

Dallas loves the holidays and now a report confirms its status as a festive place to be: According to this list of Best Cities for Christmas, Dallas comes in on the top 50 of best cities for to celebrate the holiday.

The report by WalletHub identifies the most festive and affordable cities for Christmas celebrations, ranking the 100 most populous cities across five categories: Christmas traditions, holiday observance, generosity, shopping, and costs.

Dallas came in at No. 34, which also made it the most festive city in Texas.

The city earned its spot in the top 50 thanks to its heap of holiday happenings. From local restaurants putting their all into creating the most festive holiday dinners, to the most spectacular lighting displays all over North Texas, there's plenty to enjoy.

Dallas restaurants are also hustling towards 2024 with a plethora of New Year's Eve dinners and New Year's Day brunches.

Despite inflation woes, Dallas households have bigger holiday budgets this year ($943) than they did in 2022 ($845), according to another WalletHub study.

"Inflation is weighing heavily on consumers’ minds as well as their budgets this holiday season, but it doesn’t have to spoil the occasion," said WalletHub analyst Cassandra Happe. "Whether you find yourself in what amounts to a humble modern-day manger or one of the best cities for budget-friendly Christmas celebrations, the most important thing is to spend quality time with loved ones and create lasting memories. By doing so, you can find joy and inspiration in the true spirit of the season."

Elsewhere in North Texas, Fort Worth ranked No. 50, Plano earned No. 63, Irving came in at No. 86 with Garland (No. 87) right behind, and Arlington ranked No. 92.

The 10 best cities to experience Christmas are:

No. 1 – Atlanta, Georgia
No. 2 – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
No. 3 – Orlando, Florida
No. 4 – Las Vegas, Nevada
No. 5 – San Francisco, California
No. 6 – St. Louis, Missouri
No. 7 – Seattle, Washington
No. 8 – Chicago, Illinois
No. 9 – Miami, Florida
No. 10 – Birmingham, Alabama

The full report can be found on wallethub.com.

wallethub reports holidays christmas

Turn Cancer Upside Down

Figure skating legend Scott Hamilton brings holiday ice show to DFW

Scott Hamilton & Friends Benefiting The Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation

Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images

Scott Hamilton will emcee the ice show.

Scott Hamilton, the 1984 Olympic gold medal-winning figure skater known for his signature backflip, is coming to Dallas-Fort Worth for a holiday ice show and "Frozen 5K" fundraising mega-event.

The fundraiser portion ties into Hamilton's public battle with testicular cancer in the 1990s, which led him to found the Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation in 2014. The nonprofit's mission is to fund innovative, patient-centered, targeted treatments that fight cancer while preserving quality of life.

One of its fundraising events is the Sk8 to Elimin8 Cancer ice shows, which bring Hamilton and other world-class athletes to rinks around the country.

NYTEX Sports Centre in North Richland Hills is hosting a holiday version on Saturday, December 20 at 7 pm, where Hamilton will emcee and Olympians Mariah Bell, Ashley Cain, and Polina Edmunds will perform.

Tickets range from $32.75 to $79, with proceeds benefiting UT Southwestern Medical Center in addition to the Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation.

Mariah Bell, figure skating, Olympian Figure skater Mariah Bell. Getty Images

"This isn’t just an ice show - it’s a celebration of hope, resilience, and community," the city of North Richland Hills says in a Facebook post. "Expect breathtaking performances, holiday cheer, and the chance to see world-class athletes light up the ice, all while supporting a cause that will touch so many."

If you'd like to get out on the ice yourself, you can register for the Frozen 5K on December 21 and skate 35 laps to honor and remember those impacted by cancer. The $35 registration fee includes a T-shirt, or you can donate extra to receive other Sk8 to Elimin8 Cancer swag.

DFW-only fundraising incentives include an autographed program ($500), a VIP meet-and-greet plus autographed program ($1,000), or the chance to perform at the holiday ice show (top fundraisers only — see more info here). Better start stretching.

It's the perfect time for Hamilton to bring his ice show to North Texas. Ice rinks are a huge holiday trend for 2025, with kids of all ages gliding and spinning on special pop-up rinks from Grapevine to Garland to the all-new CultureMap City Rink in downtown Dallas.

scott hamilton cancer research fundraising olympians mariah bell ashley cain polina edmunds scott hamilton cares foundation ska8 to elimin8 cancer frozen 5k ice skating city rink