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Dallas-Fort Worth has been decking the halls since before Halloween, and some places are ready to flip the switch on their dazzling holiday displays.

Here’s our guide to the biggest, brightest, most spectacular Christmas light displays in the area for 2023, listed by attraction type and start date (yep, some start already the first weekend of November). Bookmark and check back often because the list will grow and grow the holidays approach.

Make plans now to pour some hot chocolate, load the family into the car, turn on festive tunes, and revel in these illuminated wonderlands.

Drive-thru displays

The Light Park, Frisco and Arlington, November 3-January 1
The Light Park is a mile-long, drive-thru spectacular that takes guests through millions of lights – including “the longest light tunnel in the world” – synchronized to a music mis by DJ Polar Ice. For the first time it’s in two DFW locations: the parking lot of Hurricane Harbor waterpark in Arlington and the parking lot of Riders Field in Frisco. 5:30-10 pm (weekdays), and 5:30-11 (weekends and Christmas week). Priced per vehicle starting at $29. More information here.

Sugar Lane Lights, Haslet, November 10-December 31
Returning for its second year, this drive-thru display features 1,200 props, including a 50-foot tall Christmas tree decorated with 90,000 lights, a 25-foot tall gingerbread house, and a 16-foot tall snowflake. Guests can also purchase battery-charged LED bracelets that are synced to the show’s music. 12452 Willow Springs Rd, Haslet. Open 5:30-10 pm Sunday-Thursday and 5:30-11 pm Friday-Saturday. Tickets start at $39 per vehicle, available online.

Santa’s Country Christmas, Seagoville, November 11-January 1
(Cars with veterans get in free on Veterans Day, November 11)
Now in its sixth year, Santa’s Country Christmas drive-thru lights experience is located on Hwy. 175 in Seagoville, 20 minutes from downtown Dallas. The two-mile park includes lights, animals, and music, plus a Christmas Village. Admission is $30 per vehicle, purchased at the door. Open 6-10 pm nightly. For more information, visit their Facebook page.

Radiance at the Ranch, Weatherford, November 17-December 30
The four-year-old drive-thru event at the Parker County Sheriff’s Posse is a “cavalcade” of 2 million sparkling lights and lanterns animated to favorite holiday tunes across a two-mile path. Actual address is 2251 Mineral Wells Hwy., Weatherford. Hours are 6-9 pm Sunday-Thursday, 6-10 pm Friday-Saturday. Tickets: $25.99-$30.99 per vehicle.

Prairie Lights, Grand Prairie, November 23-December 31 (Sneak peek run/walk-through events: November 18-19)
At the famed Prairie Lights at Lynn Creek Park in Grand Prairie, visitors drive through a dazzling 4 million lights set along two miles of path. Hundreds of displays in shapes of all kinds line and arch over the roads. Concessions and photos with Santa are offered in the Holiday Village at the halfway point. The second half of the drive ends with an always-popular light tunnel. Address is 5610 Lake Ridge Pkwy., Grand Prairie. Openly nightly at 6 pm. Admission starts at $50 per car, more information and tickets here.

ChristmasTime in Texas, Joshua, November 23-December 31
(Sneak peek walk-through event: November 18)
This three-year-old drive-thru Christmas light park is filled with hundreds of displays spread out across a winding road a mile-and-a-half long. A tent event includes Santa, vendors, concessions, and more. Open nightly, 6-10 pm. The park’s address is 5801 County Road 904 Z, Joshua (near County Road 904 & Chisholm Trail Parkway). Admission starts at $35 per vehicle. For more information, visit the website.

Gift of Lights at Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, November 23-January 7
Texas Motor Speedway opens its gates to the public for the annual drive-thru holiday lighting spectacular around the track. The experience will include over two miles of light displays, with almost 3 million lights, while visitors stay in their warm cars. Note that there is no Santa’s Village or radio synchronization; guests are encouraged to tune in to their favorite holiday music. 3545 Lone Star Circle, Fort Worth. Hours: 6-9 pm Sunday-Thursday, 6-10 pm Friday-Saturday.) Tickets start at $35 per vehicle. Check the website for tickets and special themed nights, such as Pajama Night (November 27) and Pet Night (November 29).

Radiance at the Ranch is back for a fourth year in Weatherford.
Photo courtesy of Radiance

Immersive experiences and attractions

Holiday at the Arboretum, November 9-January 5
In addition to the Dallas Arboretum’s beloved “12 Days of Christmas” Gazebos, one of the highlights of its magical holiday wonderland is the Dazzling Musical Tree, a 50-foot-tall tree animated with more than 42,000 lights and merry tunes. Guests can also visit the twinkling European-style Christmas Village and its 23-foot Marilyn and Ben Weber Family Christmas Pyramid, decorated with lighting and character movement on every level, and more. Special holiday nighttime hours, 6-9 pm daily. Tickets, $13-$35, are here.

Christmas at Gaylord Texan, November 10-December 31
The Gaylord gussies up with a Texas-sized holiday extravaganza that includes a sparkling array of larger- than-life holiday décor and state-of-the-art light element, snow tubing down frozen slides, a Cirque holiday show, and more. The Grapevine resort’s signature ICE! Experience will feature 2 million pounds of ice carved into How the Grinch Stole Christmas-themed sculptures (adults $28.99; kids, $19.99). For a complete rundown of events, scheduling, tickets, and more, visit the website.

Dallas Zoo Lights, November 17-January 2
Highlights of this walk-through experience include more than 2 million lights across most of the zoo; larger-than-life animal lanterns, elaborate displays, and lighted photo opps; visits to Santa’s Workshop; concessions; musical performances, and more. Open on select nights, 5:30-10 pm. Tickets run $15-$22, with discounts for zoo members; more information and tickets here.

Galleria Dallas, November 17-January 7
The Galleria’s 95-foot tree in the middle of the ice rink is getting a makeover this year that will include new branches, LED lighting, and the ability to play animated light shows. The Galleria’s popular Santaland and Snowday immersive experience arrive November 17. (For the first time this year, it’ll actually snow.) As usual, holiday festivities will really rev up on at 12 pm Black Friday (November 24) with the Grand Tree Lighting Celebration on the ice rink, featuring Olympic figure skaters and a fireworks finale starring Missile Toes, the famed ice-skating Santa. (The celebration will repeat at 12 pm November 25.) Hanukkah will be celebrated on its first night, December 7, with a Menorah lighting led by Rabbi Andrew Paley from Temple Shalom.

Holiday at the Arboretum runs through January 5.
Photo courtesy of Dallas Arboretum

Commercial displays and districts

Vitruvian Lights, November 18-January 1
Addison’s Vitruvian Park transforms (a week earlier than usual this year) into one of North Texas’ most spectacular holiday destinations during Vitruvian Lights, an annual celebration in which 1.5 million sparkling LED lights are wrapped around 555 trees to create a blazing wonderland. A free special kickoff event, with Santa and the Dallas men’s choir Vocal Majority, will take place 6-10 pm November 18. Then the lights will remain on every evening through New Year’s Day, 5-11 pm, and it’s free to view. The park is at 3966 Vitruvian Way, Addison, west of Midway at Spring Valley.

Omni PGA Resort, Frisco, December 1-January 1
The luxe 660-acre development in Frisco is debuting its holiday wonderland this year. The resort will be decorated with miles of garland and lights, and 35 different lit-up trees across the property and inside the resort. The most magical of these, they say, will be a 35-foot tree in the Monument Realty PGA District, featuring a custom animated light display set to classic holiday music. An event and hotel package called “Home on the Range for the Holidays” includes live reindeer, festive holiday characters, a photo opportunity with a real longhorn, trips on the Fields Ranch Holiday Express train, and more. A tree lighting starring Dude Perfect will kick off the season December 1. For more information, visit the resort website.

Historic Main Street, Grapevine, November 20-January 7
The Christmas Capital of Texas’ historic downtown area will be shining bright with thousands of lights and holiday events. It all kicks off with the 35th annual Carol of Lights and street lighting at 6:30 pm November 20. Then comes the Parade of Lights on December 7. In a little holiday lights twist, there’s even a Merry & Bright Christmas Drone Show (December 2, 9, and 16). For a self-guided lights tour, start at Grapevine City Hall, 200 S Main St., Grapevine, park, and go from there. And don’t miss the Peace Plaza Ice Rink, opening November 20. Consult a complete schedule on the website.

Fort Worth Stockyards, November 20-January 7
The Fort Worth Stockyards rides in with a whole host of holiday events. The historic district will light up with holiday spirit, beginning with a special tree lighting celebration with Santa at 6 pm November 24. The annual Christmas in the Stockyards Celebration will take place December 3. Returning for its second year: Stockyards Rodeo Rink, a professional ice skating rink, open to the public November 20-January 7.

Christmas at Campo Verde Mexican Restaurant, Arlington, ongoing through January 2024
It’s rare for a restaurant to make a “best Christmas lights” list, but this spectacle deserves a listing. Enter for the Tex-Mex food (don’t miss the white queso dip), stay for the 120,000 lights, 3,000 yards of colorful garland, 50 Santa Clause figures, 30 Christmas trees, and two model trains that chug around the restaurant. Just be prepared for a wait of two hours or more at peak times. Find it at 2918 W Pioneer Pkwy., Arlington.