Weekend Event Planner

These are the 9 best things to do in Dallas this Christmas weekend

With Christmas falling on a Monday this year, the number of new events over the long holiday weekend is significantly diminished. There are holiday events wrapping up their runs, a special holiday race, a national tour of a beloved musical, two comedians, a big soccer match, a holiday drag show, a holiday-themed circus, and a chance to get a little crazy at an iconic sports venue.

Below are more best ways to spend your precious free time this weekend before Christmas. Want more options? Lucky for you, we have a much longer list of the city's best events. Looking for the best Christmas lights to see this weekend? Find those lists here and here.

Thursday, December 21

Ongoing holiday events
There are plenty of great holiday events continuing this weekend and beyond in and around Dallas, including Holiday at the Arboretum, The Trains at NorthPark, Christmas at the Anatole, Vitruvian Lights, Prairie Lights, and Dallas Theater Center's A Christmas Carol. Check out the full calendar for all ongoing holiday events.

$National tour of Les Mis\u00e9rables$

Photo by Matthew Murphy & Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade

The national tour Les Misérables will be at the Music Hall at Fair Park through December 31.

Dallas Jingle Bell Run
The Jingle Bell Run is a festive family-friendly event with a nighttime 5K run/walk, 1 Mile walk, and a huge afterparty. Participants are encouraged to run dressed up in their favorite holiday attire. The afterparty includes live entertainment, complimentary food and beverages, and more. The run takes place at the Hilton Anatole.

Broadway Dallas presents Les Misérables
Set against the backdrop of 19th century France, Les Misérables tells an enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption - a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. The epic and uplifting story has become one of the most celebrated musicals in theatrical history. The production runs through December 31 at the Music Hall at Fair Park.

Improv Arlington presents Mark Curry
Mark Curry is an American actor, comedian, and host best known as the star of the ABC sitcom Hangin' with Mr. Cooper and as one of the various hosts of the syndicated series It's Showtime at the Apollo. He'll perform five times through Saturday at Improv Arlington.

The Match: FC Barcelona vs Club America
FC Barcelona is one of the most accomplished ~~soccer~~ football teams in the world, having won 27 La Liga titles, 31 Copa del Rey titles, and five UEFA Champions League titles. Club America has been equally dominant in Mexico, winning 14 Liga MX titles, six Copa Mexico titles, and seven CONCACAF Champions Cup titles. The two storied franchises will play a special match at Cotton Bowl Stadium to support the victims of Hurricane Otis in Acapulco.

Friday, December 22

Dallas Comedy Club presents Myles Weber
Myles Weber has racked up over 60 million views across all platforms, was featured on MTV’s Greatest Party Story Ever Told, and had a top 10 Special on the Dry Bar Comedy App in 2021, leading to a second upcoming special with the company. He'll perform four times through Saturday at Dallas Comedy Club.

Murray & Peter present A Drag Queen Christmas
For the ninth consecutive year, Murray & Peter present A Drag Queen Christmas, the longest running drag tour in America. Host Miz Cracker and other favorite queens will perform live on stage, joined by special guest Todrick Hall. The event takes place at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory in Irving.

Cirque Musica: Holiday Wonderland
Cirque Musica: Holiday Wonderland is a musical journey that will transport audiences to a magical land far away for a holiday-themed show experience. The show will feature acrobats, aerialists, hijinks, and holiday cheer. The show blends the spellbinding grace and daredevil athleticism of today’s greatest circus performers with a musical mix of timeless seasonal favorites. There will be three performances through Saturday at Winspear Opera House.

Saturday, December 23

Jared's Epic Blaster Battle: Holiday Edition 2
Jared's Epic Blaster Battle will hold a "Holiday Edition" version of the largest foam dart blaster battle of all time. The event will feature an all-new theme, music, special guests, and special battles. Visitors can join team red or team green and get ready to have a blast on the climate-controlled turf of AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

holidays kids families theater races music comedy sports event-planner

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