Weekend Event Planner

Holiday events galore dominate the best things to do in Dallas this weekend

December naturally brings lots of holiday-related events, but few weekends this year have had as many big events happening as this one does. Even with the presence of a few top entertainers, holiday events dominate the landscape. Consequently, we'll be breaking down the massive list into categories instead of by day to underscore the number and variety of options available to you.

Below are the best ways to spend your free time this weekend. Want more options? Lucky for you, we have a much longer list of the city's best events.

Theater

Broadway Dallas presents Shucked
The lone non-holiday theater offering will be the national tour of Shucked, a Tony Award-winning musical comedy featuring songs by Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally. The corn-fed, corn-bred American musical is about a small-town girl who must travel to the big city in order to try to save the corn that sustains her community. The production runs December 5-15 at the Music Hall at Fair Park.

CenterStage Theatre Works presents Elf the Musical
Based on the beloved 2002 movie, Elf the Musical is a feel-good, ultra-silly, heartwarming show. Buddy the Elf’s larger-than-life antics light up New York City with childlike wonder. The production runs December 5-15 at Frisco Discovery Center.

The Firehouse Theatre presents Annie
With equal measures of pluck and positivity, little orphan Annie charms everyone's hearts despite a next-to-nothing start in 1930s New York City. A ward of a New York City orphanage run by the cruel Miss Hannigan, Annie escapes to New York, going on adventure after fun-filled adventure. The production runs December 5-22 at The Firehouse Theatre in Farmers Branch.

Bishop Arts Theatre Center presents Black Nativity
Inspired by Langston Hughes's 1960 Broadway production, Black Nativity returns with hand-clapping, toe-tapping, and finger-snapping theatrical wonderment for the 20th anniversary production at Bishop Arts Theatre Center. The holiday favorite is the heartwarming retelling of the Nativity story that includes Gospel music, dramatic dance, and biblical narrative. The production runs December 5-22.

Garland Civic Theatre presents Little Women
Based on Louisa May Alcott's 1868-69 semi-autobiographical novel, Little Women focuses on the four March sisters: traditional Meg, wild and aspiring writer Jo, timid Beth, and romantic Amy. They are with their beloved Marmee at home in Concord, Massachusetts, while their father is away serving as a Union Army chaplain during the Civil War. The production runs December 6-22 at Granville Arts Center in Garland.

Theatre Arlington presents Holiday Inn
Holiday Inn, the beloved film classic, comes to the stage in a charming crowd-pleaser featuring one glorious Irving Berlin number after another, each celebrating a different festivity. The production runs December 6-22 at Theatre Arlington.

Lewisville Playhouse presents Forever Plaid
In Forever Plaid. the dreams of a quartet of high-school chums of recording an album ends in death in a collision with a bus filled with Catholic schoolgirls on their way to see the Beatles' American debut on The Ed Sullivan Show. The revue begins with the Plaids returning from the afterlife for one final chance at musical glory. The production runs December 6-22 at Lewisville Playhouse.

Uptown Players presents A Queer Carol
A Queer Carol, an LGBTQ+ adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic, is a contemporary retelling set in modern-day Manhattan. It follows "Ben" Scrooge, a prominent interior decorator, and his assistant Bob Cratchit, who endures the abuses of Scrooge while simultaneously trying to take care of his lover, Tim. The production runs December 6-15 at Kalita Humphreys Theater.

Richardson Theatre Centre presents Rockabilly Christmas: A Christmas Radio Play
It's 1958, and America's favorite radio station is celebrating the Yuletide with that crazy new sound sweeping the country - Rockabilly. The whole town is abuzz, and why not; the live lineup features a dark-haired, hip-swinging young singer from Memphis. Rockabilly Christmas: A Christmas Radio Play will feature local performers singing Christmas songs and producing an old-fashioned radio play. The production runs December 6-22 at Richardson Theatre Centre.

Theatre Coppell presents A Christmas Carol
Scrooge hates Christmas and despises any sentimentality that leads to good will and charity, even toward his own family. It takes ghosts with a dire prophecy to convince him that mankind should be everyone’s business. The production runs December 6-22 at Coppell Arts Center.

Holiday festivals

The City of Garland presents A Garland Christmas on the Square
The City of Garland will present their annual tree lighting ceremony as part of their festive celebration, Christmas on the Square. Visitors can enjoy live music from Q the Band alongside Christmas carolers, real reindeer, and a snow hill. They can also capture memories with Santa Claus, savor treats from local vendors and restaurants, and explore artisan crafts at the Urban Market. The event, taking place in Downtown Garland, will include a lighted tunnel, synthetic ice-skating rink, and train rides. The event takes place on December 5.

Klyde Warren Park presents Tree Lighting Celebration
Klyde Warren Park's annual Tree Lighting Celebration includes an afternoon of family-friendly activities, an array of food trucks serving holiday-inspired treats, and culminates with the lighting of "The Mayor’s Tree" in the heart of the park. That event, taking place on December 7, is just the prelude to...

AT&T Performing Arts Center presents Reliant Lights Your Holidays
Visitors to Klyde Warren Park can walk across the street to Sammons Park on the AT&T Performing Arts Center campus for Reliant Lights Your Holidays, also on December 7. The event will feature performances by Jackopierce, NRG Party Band, and more; a holiday vendor market; thousands of LED lights; a Christmas-themed drone show; a wintery snow playground; and more. For long lists of spectacular local Christmas lights, go here and here.

City of Farmers Branch presents A Christmas Carnival
The Farmers Branch Historical Park will transform into A Christmas Carnival, featuring holiday treats and eats; carnival rides; live entertainment from Stargazer, Lady Diamond, and local school shows; Dasher’s Silent Disco; roaming holiday characters; and Santa Claus. For the finale, the event - taking place on December 7 - will include a holiday drone show and fireworks display.

Dance

Dallas Black Dance Theatre presents Black on Black
Black on Black is an intimate evening with Dallas Black Dance Theatre and DBDT: Encore!, an exhibition of never-before-seen premiere works choreographed exclusively by DBDT dancers, for the dancers. Guests can enjoy a pre-show reception featuring light bites and refreshments, and an afterparty with a live DJ set. The event takes place on December 6 and 7 at the Dallas Black Dance Theatre studios.

Avant Chamber Ballet presents The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker, performed with a live orchestra, tells the story of Clara and her adventures with the Nutcracker Prince as they journey through the Land of Sweets. Featuring vibrant costumes, stunning choreography, and a professional cast of dancers, the production from Avant Chamber Ballet is a holiday tradition. The production will have four performances, December 6-8, at Moody Performance Hall.

Ballet Ensemble of Texas presents The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker rings in the holiday season with humor, tradition, and splendor. Guest artists will include alumni Breanne Granlund and Carlos Gonzalez, soloists with American Ballet Theatre. More than 200 young dancers from the Ballet Academy of Texas will also be part of this production, which will have four performances on December 7 and 8 at Irving Arts Center.

Music

Justin Timberlake in concert
In any other weekend, a visit from Justin Timberlake would be the undisputed highlight. Part of The Forget Tomorrow World Tour, Timberlake's first tour in five years, this concert will feature the pop singer performing songs from his latest album, Everything I Thought It Was, his first new album since Man of the Woods in 2018. The concert takes place at American Airlines Center on December 6.

Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents Christmas Pops
The tradition of Christmas Pops continues with the Dallas Symphony Chorus performing anthems, classical holiday favorites, and sing-along carols. Vocalists will join the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and the Dallas Symphony Chorus to bring a bit of Christmas magic to Meyerson Symphony Center. The main event takes place December 6-15; parents can also choose the shorter Family Christmas Pops on December 7 and 14, a one-hour long performance featuring the Children’s Chorus of Greater Dallas.

Fantasia in concert
Former American Idol winner Fantasia has not been as hugely successful as fellow champions Kelly Clarkson or Carrie Underwood, but she has firmly established herself in the R&B genre. She's also been a big part of The Color Purple musical, starring on Broadway, a national tour, and the 2023 film adaptation. She'll perform at Texas Trust CU Theatre in Grand Prairie on December 6, joined by special guest Avery Sunshine.

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Charged up

Magical Plano Elf Town to compete on ABC's Great Christmas Light Fight

Elf Town, Loders, Deerfield Plano, Great Christmas Light Fight

Photo courtesy of David and Melissa Loder

David and Melissa Loder's Elf Town is in on Pembroke Court in the Deerfield subdivision of Plano.

A family from one of Dallas-Fort Worth's most famous Christmas-light neighborhoods is stepping into the national spotlight: Melissa and David Loder, who present a spectacular "Elf Town" display in Plano's Deerfield subdivision, will compete on ABC's holiday competition show The Great Christmas Light Fight on Thursday, December 18.

The Loders will be one of three U.S. families battling for a trophy, $50,000, and major holiday-light bragging rights; co-host Taniya Nayak is the judge.

Photo courtesy of David and Melissa Loder

David and Melissa Loder's Elf Town is in on Penbrook Court in the Deerfield subdivision of Plano.

The episode will air at 9 pm (CDT) on ABC stations, but unfortunately for local viewers, WFAA will pre-empt it for the Dallas Mavericks basketball game. Light Fight will stream on WFAA+ channel 8.2 at 9 pm and later on WFAA / Channel 8 at 3:11 am. It will be available to stream on Hulu beginning Friday, December 19.

"[Filming the show] was surreal at times, but we also knew we had created something special with Elf Town," says Melissa Loder.

Elf Town, Loders, Deerfield Plano, Great Christmas Light Fight The Elf Town Depot, with mayor Elfus standing guard.Photo courtesy of David and Melissa Loder

Exploring Elf Town
The Loders, who moved to Deerfield in 2008, have been creating and evolving Elf Town since 2011. They use it as a platform to raise money for the Susan G Komen Foundation, an organization especially dear to Melissa, a breast cancer survivor.

They call Elf Town "a place where holiday elves live, work, and play."

"Like any town, we have a Main Street with a school, shopping, a bakery and a tavern all leading to a mega tree in the town center," Melissa says. "New this year is the Elf Town Museum that has photos of the evolution of Elf Town."

"We also have industry - the toys travel via train, and there is a train depot for the elves to get their tickets and wait for the train," she adds. "We also have an entertainment area with a Ferris wheel and a disco for the elves."

Standing guard over it all is The Mayor of Elf Town, a 20-foot elf named Elfus. And for the show, they created an all-new special feature: Santa's Spa in the backyard - "an area where no elves are allowed," she says.

David and Melissa, who call themselves the "head elves" of Elf Town, work all year on their DIY display. "Woodworking, welding, painting, design and installation," they say, "are all done on site by our little band of elves," which include their daughter and son-in-law Alex and Joel Loper and their grandsons, Kade (8) and Tristan (5); nieces and nephews Sophie Polma (25), Maxine Polma (23), Beckett Polma (21), and identical twins Marlowe Polma and Julian Polma (19).

"We also have amazing friends who materialize when we are putting up and taking down the display," they say. "Additionally, friends Roger and Rita Reynolds made guest appearances [on the show] as a famous couple from the North Pole."

Getting on the show
The Loders light their display up nightly for the public each holiday season. They were "discovered" by The Great Christmas Light Fight when a casting producer tracked them from a stranger’s TikTok video in spring 2022.

Dallas-Fort Worth is a popular location for the show. The Loders now join the ranks of other Light Fight-famous homes, including the Burkman Holiday Home of Frisco (2021); the Ward family of Sky Elements Drone Shows in Keller (2023); the Hugheses' "Stay in the Light" in Rockwall (2024); the Joules-Cornettis' "Gift of Light" in McKinney (2024); and the Mach Christmas Display in Ennis (2024).

"Of course we had seen the show from its first season, but since our focus is less about just lights and more about creating a magical world, we didn’t think we were a fit," Melissa says.

Elf Town, Loders, Deerfield Plano, Great Christmas Light Fight The Loders have been presenting Elf Town since 2011.Photo courtesy of David and Melissa Loder

They shot an audition video in 2023 and soon found out they made the cut. The show filmed at their house over three days in November 2024.

"The process was three very long days of filming with a very sharp learning curve," Melissa says. "Our on-site producer was an amazing asset in the process. Her tips and tricks helped us all embrace the process, relax in front of the cameras, and hopefully come off well in the show; it was a whirlwind but so much fun.

"I think the best part of filming was getting to learn so much about another industry that was so foreign to us. I am a clinical psychologist in private practice, and David is in sales with Porsche Plano, so we aren’t 'performers.'"

Fighting on
The Loders can't reveal whether they won the Great Christmas Light Fight, of course. (They'll be watching Thursday at a big party at Legacy Social Room.) But they can say with certainty that their display will continue to aid in the fight against breast cancer.

"We participate in the 3 Day 60 Mile walk each year and the money donated goes to our 3 Day fundraising accounts," Melissa says. "Collectively, our little family of elves have raised over $180,000 to help fund vital cancer research and contribute to patient care and advocacy."

Elf Town will light up daily from 5:30 pm to midnight through New Year's Eve 2025, with special nights offering hot cocoa, candy canes, or photos with Santa. While it's free to view and experience, visitors are invited to donate via fundraising links on their Facebook page and through Melissa's Susan G. Komen 3 Day fundraising page.

"I think the most important part of our display is that David and I do this together as a hobby and a gift to the community," she says. "We love that we were able to do The Great Christmas Light Fight, but our true motivation for the time, energy, and money that we pour into the display comes from the stories we hear year after year of families who count on us to be part of their tradition."

She says those include visitors finding the display as solace in hard times, along with marriage proposals, baby's first visit with Santa, and more.

"We have even been brought to our knees by a woman who brought her infant daughter and took photos all around the display because she had a terminal cancer diagnosis and wanted her daughter to have 'magical' pictures with her so 'when she was an angel,' her daughter 'will know I believed in magic,'" Melissa says. "All of these stories and so many more are part of the legacy of Elf Town. These are our 'why' to the question we are often asked 'Why would you do this?'"

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The Great Christmas Light Fight will air at 9 pm December 18 on ABC and will stream December 19 on Hulu. Find Elf Town at 4641 Penbrook Ct., in the Deerfield subdivision of Plano. It's open nightly, 5:30 pm-midnight, through December 31. Follow the Elf Town Facebook page for updates. Visitors are encouraged to park on a less busy street, or at the elementary school off Quincy, and walk through the neighborhood.

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