- Loading the family into the car and driving around, looking at Christmas lights, is a cherished holiday tradition. But, where to go?
Recent rains (especially on weekends) gave some homeowners a slower start in decking their halls. Still, point your car in any direction in the Dallas area, and you'll find individual homes and entire neighborhoods aglow with holiday spirit.
Below is a list of top local homes and neighborhoods for Christmas lights this season. Check back often as it'll grow and grow as the holidays draw near.
For a larger list of spectacular Christmas lights around Dallas, including drive-thrus and commercial displays, click here. Headed toward Fort Worth? The biggest, brightest homes and neighborhoods are listed here.
Homes with over-the-top displays and shows
Electric Lizzyland, Old East Dallas
Liz Simmons has brought the Lakewood-area favorite back for 2022. Fans look forward to seeing her creative and eclectic displays, from a front lawn is aglow with tens of thousands of lights, to vignettes that can include Santa and his reindeer, an Abominable Snowman, a glittery mural adorning the house, and much more. Walk through the spectacle from about 6-8:30 pm (weather permitting) for one week only, December 18-25. Find it at 714 Newell Ave., Dallas, 75223. Follow their Facebook page for updates.
Former Penson House, Highland Park
Per Candy's Dirt, the new homeowners at 3756 Armstrong Ave. commissioned a landscaping lights firm to install a display that's become the buzz of the Park Cities this year. A full 3,500 strings of lights (170,000 total) are installed on about 130 trees and shrubs, illuminating the property in "Technicolor forest" of blue, orange, purple, and multicolor hues. It's being called an homage to the historic house that was designed on the property for Nancy and John G. “Jack” Penson in 1954. Find it shining bright each night at 3756 Armstrong Ave., Dallas.
Santa House, University Park
Once hailed "the single best Christmas light display in Dallas," this perennial favorite fills the front lawn with hundreds of lighted blow-mold decorations that homeowner Wayne Smith has amassed over the years. But look up — way up to the roof — and you'll find his distinctly "Dallas" touch: the head of the State Fair's very first Big Tex, restored to his original form as St. Nick in 1949 and donning a Santa hat. Find it nightly at 3629 Southwestern Blvd., Dallas.
Burkman Holiday Home, Frisco
A year after their appearance on ABC’s The Great Christmas Family Light Fight, the most famous "Christmas light family" in DFW will be lighting up its over-the-top display of 70,000 LED lights that typically includes a 400-piece train village, gingerbread house, and many selfie stations. They encourage people to get out of their car, walk around, and take photos. They're also collecting donations for The LiyanaStrong Foundation. Parking can be tight, so be prepared to park and walk a block or two. The home is at 3809 Hazelhurst Dr., Frisco, on the Frisco/Little Elm border. Follow their Facebook page for updates; runs through December 26.
Marlowe Home, Plano
According to WFAA, the Marlowe family, who put up an award-winning display for more than 25 years in Lewisville, has moved to Plano and brought the lights with them. Some 75,000 Christmas lights - spanning trees and figures like elves and gingerbread people - are synched to music that visitors can hear on 89.9FM in their cars. The show runs nightly, 6-11 pm. Find the house at 1000 Clinton Dr., Plano.
The Browne Family Holiday Light Show, Parker
This family has a tradition of turning their home into a destination. The Browne Family Holiday Light Show is a full light show synchronized with music taking place throughout the Christmas season. While the show is free, it is an official drop-off point for Toys For Tots; visitors are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate. The show runs from dark to 9 pm Sundays through Thursdays, and dark to 10 pm on Fridays and Saturdays, at 2701 Dublin Park Dr. (in Dublin Park Estates), Parker. Runs through January 5.
Lights on Oak Bluff, Sachse
This fantastic lights display consistently wins awards from the City of Sachse and the neighborhood HOA. Expect 14,000 individually computer-controlled lights, a 13-foot Megatree, Singing Faces, snowflakes, yard decorations, and synchronization to music, on 92.9 FM. New this year is a second megatree with a 2,400-light skirt, a waving, singing snowman, and more. The show runs 6-10 pm nightly, at 4310 Oak Bluff Ln., (in the Woodbridge subdivision) Sachse, 75048. Follow their Facebook page for updates.
Santa House, Grapevine
The Murillo family has filled their front yard in Grapevine with more than 1,000 lighted Santa decorations as a beacon of awareness for local nonprofit Grace Grapevine's Christmas Cottage program. The Grapevine Santa House is a "Where's Waldo?" maze of Santa statues, which visitors can walk among and snap photos with for free, then make an optional donation to Grace online. The lights go on every night from dusk-to-10:30 pm, Sundays through Thursdays, and dusk-to-11 pm, Saturdays and Sundays. The home is on a cul-de-sac in the Western Oaks neighborhood, and visitors can park along the street. The exact location is 3373 Spruce Lane, Grapevine. Follow the Grapevine Santa House Facebook page for updates; ends December 29.
‘Stay in the Light’ display at Hughes Home, Rockwall
Homeowners Brenda and David Hughes reportedly have strung 60,000 lights outside their home in a festive display. They call it "Stay in the Light" in memory of their son, Nathanielle, who suffered from depression and passed away in 2019 at the age of 29. The couple is accepting donations of new blankets and non-skid socks, as well as monetary contributions, for Meals on Wheels Senior Services of Rockwall County via a donation box in front of their home, 1655 Plummer Dr., Rockwall, in The Shores neighborhood.
'Movie House,' Allen
This family home north of Dallas has a fun theme: favorite holiday movies. Thousands of lights and props are set to a choreographed show, complete with music and movie quotes from classic characters like Clark, Buddy, Ralphie and more. About 30 films are represented. You'll find it at 1600 Wagon Wheel Dr., Allen. The show runs nightly.
Black Family Lights, Keller
A computer-controlled Christmas light show syncs to music. The family uses about 45,000 channels of control to make over 1 million possible colors. This year they're playing their favorite songs from shows over the past five years, with a fresh update. The show lasts about 20 minutes and plays on a continuous loop. Showtimes are 6-10 pm nightly, through New Year's Eve. Find it in the Heritage subdivision, at 8944 Manana St. Keller, 76244.
Curry Christmas Chaos, North Richland Hills
Three houses annually collaborate to present a lights show synchronized to music that's anything but the "chaos" that the name implies. From start to finish, it's typically over an hour long, and features a mix of pixels and standard LED lights "dancing" to music. Visitors can tune in to 89.9 FM to listen as lots of Christmas trees light up on the lawn. The show runs every night (unless Mother Nature decides differently), 6-11 pm. Find it at 3506 Reeves St., NRH. Follow the Facebook page for more information and updates.
Kulesz Light Display, Dalworthington Gardens
Homeowner Dave Kulesz started a neighborhood tradition when he lit up his property with hundreds of thousands of twinkling lights. Surrounding homes got into the fun and now attract visitors from miles around. Kulesz uses the exposure to raise awareness of Alzheimer's disease, to which he lost his mother. A sign in his front yard encourages people to make gifts to the Alzheimer's Association. See the lights every night from 5:45-11 pm. Find it on Rushing Meadow Court in Dalworthington Gardens.
Also recommended:
- 1511 Nightingale Ln., Corinth 76210: Now 10 years strong, the Steelman Christmas fully synchronized light show runs every night 5:30-11 pm. Visitors can tune to 99.7 to listen along. (Watch it here.)
- The Bailey House in Bedford, 76022: Aka, The Parthenon House, 20 years strong this year. Over-the-top lights display at 1200 Circle Ln., Bedford.
- 8301 Greylock Dr., far north Fort Worth: The Foley family home in the Park Glen neighborhood plays a lights show each night from 6-10 pm. It features over 20,000 LED lights and approximately 30 songs. Listeners can tune to 100.1 FM to hear the music from their car.
- Red Brangus Trail in Fort Worth, 76131: The whole street has a synchronized music show.
Neighborhoods filled with holiday spirit
Deerfield neighborhood, Plano
The Deerfield neighborhood of northwest Plano hosts a top-rated winter wonderland you can walk or drive through. You can even book carriage rides in advance to see dancing Santas, millions of twinkling lights, and larger-than-life displays. Deerfield subdivision is located between Preston Road and Coit Road. Check the website for maps and important information about traffic flow and parking. The free event runs 7 pm-10 pm on weekdays and 7 pm-11 pm on weekends through December 30.
Interlochen Lights, Arlington
The Interlochen neighborhood will present Interlochen Lights for just one week and weekend during the holiday season. Known as the best neighborhood light show in Texas, the event allows guests to drive through the neighborhood and pick out favorite displays while they tune into holiday music on radio stations 102.1 FM or 98.7 FM. This is one of the busiest spots in Dallas-Fort Worth during the holiday season, and it's free. The route will be the same as previous years; find the map here. Watch for updates on their website and Facebook page. Runs December 16-25.
Glenbrook Christmas, Bedford
The Bedford neighborhood will once again light up to tell the story of “The Night Before Christmas in Texas That Is” — along with other festive displays. The entrance to Glenbrook is on Brookside Drive located between Cummings and Forest Ridge. The displays will be on nightly 6-10 pm. Follow the Facebook page for updates. Through December 31.
Browne Family Holiday Light Show in Parker.
Regents Park Luminary Event, McKinney
This Stonebridge Ranch neighborhood takes advantage of its layout to host a magical event every year. Residents hand fold over 2,500 paper bags each year and line the streets and central park area with luminaries for families to enjoy. Grab a cup of hot chocolate or apple cider and drive or walk through streets lined with traditional luminaries and enjoy the Christmas lights that adorn these Craftsman-style homes. Rumor has it that a certain special guest in his red suit even loves this event so much that he makes a special trip just to enjoy it himself. Say hello as he passes out candy canes at the exit for your little ones. For updates, follow the Facebook page (highly recommended as this is a weather dependent event). Runs December 17-18.
Diamond Loch, North Richland Hills
This North Richland Hills neighborhood has dressed up for the holidays for decades. Drive through the cul-de-sac slowly to check out adjacent houses that join forces to present a massive computerized show. The rest of the street decorates nicely to make an enchanted "Whoville" Christmas experience. They grow the show every year, and The Grinch himself may actually pop in occasionally; follow their Facebook page (and search #nrhgrinchlights) to keep up. It's open daily, 5:30-10 pm Monday-Thursday and 5:30-11 pm weekends through December 25. To find it, navigate to the address 6217 Windsor Ct., NRH, 76180.
Morrisdale Estates, Euless
Morrisdale Estates neighborhood in Euless is known for great light displays. The Morrisdale tradition is for everyone in the neighborhood to put up the same red lights on their curbs to create a sea of red as you drive through the neighborhood. Bonus that it's still a bit of an undiscovered gem, so there's not as much traffic as other neighborhoods. Find the neighborhood between Pipeline Road and Hurst Blvd., 76040.
The Park Cities
The gorgeous homes in the Park Cities neighborhoods of Dallas shine with beautiful light displays, many of which are professionally installed; pick just about any street where you see houses lit top to bottom in twinkling lights, and there are bound to be a dozen more. Be sure to check out Highland Park Village and its 1.5 million lights while you're in the area, and don't pass by SMU without driving down the campus' main drag, Bishop Boulevard, toward the fountain and back.
Kessler Park
Historic Kessler Park goes all out, with lots of holiday lights on homes and trees against a backdrop of the Dallas skyline. The holiday decorations are coordinated on various traffic islands in the neighborhood each year. From downtown Dallas, go west on Interstate 30. Take the Sylvan exit, turn south on Sylvan, drive about a half a mile, and turn west on Colorado. You can't miss some of the most majestic oak trees in Dallas, shining bright for the holidays.
Elderoaks Lights, Oak Cliff
A Dallas tradition over 30 years strong, Elderoaks sees 96 percent of the homes in the neighborhood participate in a dazzling display. Located along three streets just south of the old Oak Cliff Country Club (Elderoaks Lane, Elderleaf Drive, and Elderoaks Place), the neighborhood scenes celebrate Christmas with homemade decorations that span medieval times to present day. Don't miss the streaming show of Christmas carols. There's no fee to watch, and lights go on at dusk each night.
---
Know of another spectacular lights display in DFW? Email stephanie@culturemap.com. Please include a website or link to social media page with your recommendation.
Christmas lights in the Interlochen neighborhood will only be on until Christmas. Photo courtesy of the City of Arlington 
The Grinch might just greet you at\u00a0Diamond Loch in North Richland Hills. Facebook/Diamond Loch news 
David and Melissa Loder's Elf Town is on Penbrook Court in the Deerfield subdivision of Plano. Photo courtesy of David and Melissa Loder 
Burkman Holiday Home of Frisco. Photo courtesy of Burkman family