It's beginning to look a lot like - well, nothing resembling Christmas around Dallas-Fort Worth. But local bars, restaurants, and entertainment venues are hauling out the holly anyway because here, in the sweltering days of July, we need a little Christmas right now.

With the holidays barely five months away, these "Christmas in July" events will bring merry little cocktails, festive feasting, seasonal movies, and photo ops with Santa. (Hint, hint: Family Christmas card prep.) If you dream hard enough, those screeching cicadas outside might even start to sound like jingle bells.

Here are some holly jolly events for your enjoyment in July:

Bars and restaurants

Holly Jolly Bar at Hotel Vin, Grapevine, July 1-31
Hotel Vin's Harvest Hall food hall brings back last year's smash-hit Holly Jolly Pop-up Bar for one month only. Throughout July, the Third Rail entertainment venue will be filled with kitschy holiday decorations, festive craft cocktails, and live music. Special seasonal sips include the Peppermint Bark Martini and Santa on the Beach. Kids can get in on the holiday fun with Christmas Craft Parties (July 10-12) and a Santa Meet-and-Greet event, 1-3 pm July 14.

Cedar Springs Christmas in July Wine Walk, July 6
The Cedar Springs Merchant Association hosts "Wine Walk: Christmas in July." It will start at the lighted tent in front of the Round-Up Saloon, where participants can purchase a $10 CSMA wine glass. Stroll around and enjoy free wine from all participating merchants, then head back to the Round-Up at 9 pm for a chance to win raffle gift baskets filled with a treasure trove of gifts from Cedar Springs retailers. Proceeds benefit neighborhood beautification projects.

Christmas in July at False Idol Brewing, July 7-8
The North Richland Hills craft brewery offers special, barrel-aged, "Christmas Eve" and "Christmas Day" flights, plus a big cellar sale to fill Santa's bag. Friday, July 7 is the "Hear the Bell" Christmas Eve flight: Karloff Imperial Stout, Onibaba Imperial Stout, Wolf's Bane Imperial Stout, and King Snacks Imperial Stout. Saturday, July 8 is the Christmas Day "Grinch's Heart Grew 3 Sizes" flight: Murda She Wrote Imperial Stout, Warriors Imperial Stout, Magni's Rejoice English Barleywine, and Oogie Boogie Barrel Aged Peanut Butter Cookie Imperial Stout. For more information and a list of beers included in the cellar sale, go here.

Christmas in July Drink Walk at Grandscape in The Colony, July 20
Grandscape's Topo Chico Hard Seltzer Stage & Lawn transforms into a holiday drinking destination for this first-ever event. Have yourself a merry little tropical Christmas-themed cocktail or two from favorite Grandscape restaurants. The event will include more than 10 drink samples and a free gift with purchase from the Homestead (see website for rules and restrictions). The event takes place 6-9 pm and tickets are $25.

Aussie-style Christmas in July at Isla & Co., July 22
The Australian-owned restaurant-bar in Dallas' Bishop Arts District (408 W Eighth St.) is taking guests down under for Christmas, Aussie style. They'll serve a traditional Australian Christmas feast - featuring cherry-glazed smoked ham and pavlovas for dessert - plus ice-cold beers and Aussie wines. Summer Santa will appear, and there'll be outdoor games, a table gift of Aussie treats, and a raffle benefiting The Variety Children’s Foundation. Be sure to dress your holiday best. It all takes place 3-7 pm, with an afterparty with a DJ to follow. Tickets (starting at $99 for adults, $39 for kids) are available here.

Arts and entertainment

Fort Worth Museum of Science and History presents "Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown!," through August 20
The Fort Worth museum steps into the world of winter with "Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown!" The summer exhibition, which opened June 17, goes behind the scenes of the iconic 1965 animated holiday movie A Charlie Brown Christmas. Organized by the Charles M. Schulz Museum, it includes original comic strips, videos, and even a station for writing letters to Santa. The exhibition is included with museum admission. Read more about it in this story.

Saturdays on the Square: Christmas in July in Historic Downtown Carrollton, July 8
Historic Downtown Carrollton throws a family-friendly Yuletide celebration as part of its monthly Saturdays on the Square series. It'll include a human snow globe, festive crafts, and a special appearance from summertime Santa. The free, unticketed event takes place in downtown Carrollton (1106 S. Broadway St.) and runs 6-8 pm.

Holiday in the Heat at the Dallas Arboretum, July 12
Santa will be at Dallas Arboretum's main gate at Rosine Hall for a special members-only holiday celebration. Summer Santa will be available for photos from 6-7:30 pm, followed by a concert on the Martin Rutchik Concert Stage featuring Emerald City's Party Machine, from 7-9 pm. All participants will receive a complimentary freezer treat to beat the heat. Tickets are $5 for member adults and $5 for kids (free for children under 2).

AT&T Performing Arts Center Presents Christmas in July at Sammons Park, July 22
"Does Santa wear shorts in the summer? We’ll find out," teases the website for this event. Taking place in Sammons Park in the Dallas Arts District (2403 Flora St.), the free, family-friendly festivities will include screenings of The Muppet Christmas Carol and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation; holiday-themed drinks from G.Texas; and photo ops with Santa. It all gets started at 7 pm.

Christmas in July at the Dallas Arboretum, July 23
Open to members and non-members alike, this afternoon holiday celebration will include photos with Santa from 10 am-2 pm at the Wishing Well (donations collected will go to the Dallas Arboretum Volunteer Advisory Board); Story Time with Mrs. Claus at 11am in Pecan Grove; and cool treats from Big D Kona Ice, available from 11am-3pm. The event is included with garden admission or membership.

Know of a Christmas in July event? Email stephanie@culturemap.com.