Dallas–Fort Worth, TX weekend events for tweens & teens (11+)

Holiday at the Arboretum

Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden — Dallas · Dallas Co. · Dallas

The final year of the 12 Days of Christmas gazebos, plus Holiday at Night lights.

• Ages 0-2
• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Big outing
• Paid: Separate daytime and Holiday at Night tickets; walk-up Holiday at Night adds $4

Daytime 9am–4pm; Holiday at Night 5–10pm (online only).

BalloonaPalooza GLO

Gomez Western Wear Arena Grounds — Mesquite · Dallas Co. · Dallas

Weekend festival with carnival rides, games, food, live music and a nightly hot-air balloon glow at 8:30 PM.

• Ages 0-2
• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Big outing
• Paid

Gates Fri 5 PM, Sat and Sun 3 PM. Balloon glow nightly at 8:30 PM, weather permitting. Sunday only: meet Adassa, the voice of Dolores from Encanto.

Christmas at Gaylord Texan: ice! featuring Harry Potter

Gaylord Texan Resort — Grapevine · Tarrant Co. · Dallas

Resort-wide Christmas with ice! featuring Harry Potter sculptures carved from 2 million pounds of ice, ice tubing, snowball blasting, Santa photos and a Christmas Village.

• Ages 0-2
• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Big outing
• Paid: Activities ticketed separately; activity passes available
• Indoors

Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow-N-Fire

Ariat Arena — Fort Worth · Tarrant Co. · Fort Worth

Arena monster truck show with glow-in-the-dark trucks and fire effects, plus an optional pre-show party.

• Ages 0-2
• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Big outing
• Paid
• Indoors

Shows Fri 7 PM; Sat 11:30 AM and 6:30 PM; Sun 1:30 PM. Loud: ear protection recommended for little kids.

Dallas Zoo Lights

Dallas Zoo — Dallas · Dallas Co. · Dallas

Holiday light trail through the zoo with festive displays.

• Ages 0-2
• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Big outing
• Paid: Public tickets start at $19; members 20% off

Select nights; closed Dec 24 and 25.

The Trains at NorthPark

NorthPark Center — Dallas · Dallas Co. · Dallas

Texas's most elaborate miniature toy train exhibit, with hundreds of trains on 1,600 feet of track through detailed miniature scenes, benefiting Ronald McDonald House Dallas.

• Ages 0-2
• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Big outing
• Paid
• Indoors

Across from Kona Grill inside NorthPark Center.

Fort Worth Parade of Lights

Downtown Fort Worth — Fort Worth · Tarrant Co. · Fort Worth

Fort Worth's lighted holiday parade through downtown (presented by GM Financial).

• Ages 0-2
• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Big outing
• Free

Holiday at the Arboretum

Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden — Dallas · Dallas Co. · Dallas

The final year of the 12 Days of Christmas gazebos, plus Holiday at Night lights.

• Ages 0-2
• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Big outing
• Paid: Separate daytime and Holiday at Night tickets; walk-up Holiday at Night adds $4

Daytime 9am–4pm; Holiday at Night 5–10pm (online only).

Christmas at Gaylord Texan: ice! featuring Harry Potter

Gaylord Texan Resort — Grapevine · Tarrant Co. · Dallas

Resort-wide Christmas with ice! featuring Harry Potter sculptures carved from 2 million pounds of ice, ice tubing, snowball blasting, Santa photos and a Christmas Village.

• Ages 0-2
• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Big outing
• Paid: Activities ticketed separately; activity passes available
• Indoors

Dallas Zoo Lights

Dallas Zoo — Dallas · Dallas Co. · Dallas

Holiday light trail through the zoo with festive displays.

• Ages 0-2
• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Big outing
• Paid: Public tickets start at $19; members 20% off

Select nights; closed Dec 24 and 25.

The Trains at NorthPark

NorthPark Center — Dallas · Dallas Co. · Dallas

Texas's most elaborate miniature toy train exhibit, with hundreds of trains on 1,600 feet of track through detailed miniature scenes, benefiting Ronald McDonald House Dallas.

• Ages 0-2
• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Big outing
• Paid
• Indoors

Across from Kona Grill inside NorthPark Center.

Holiday at the Arboretum

Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden — Dallas · Dallas Co. · Dallas

The final year of the 12 Days of Christmas gazebos, plus Holiday at Night lights.

• Ages 0-2
• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Big outing
• Paid: Separate daytime and Holiday at Night tickets; walk-up Holiday at Night adds $4

Daytime 9am–4pm; Holiday at Night 5–10pm (online only).

Christmas at Gaylord Texan: ice! featuring Harry Potter

Gaylord Texan Resort — Grapevine · Tarrant Co. · Dallas

Resort-wide Christmas with ice! featuring Harry Potter sculptures carved from 2 million pounds of ice, ice tubing, snowball blasting, Santa photos and a Christmas Village.

• Ages 0-2
• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Big outing
• Paid: Activities ticketed separately; activity passes available
• Indoors

Dallas Zoo Lights

Dallas Zoo — Dallas · Dallas Co. · Dallas

Holiday light trail through the zoo with festive displays.

• Ages 0-2
• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Big outing
• Paid: Public tickets start at $19; members 20% off

Select nights; closed Dec 24 and 25.

The Trains at NorthPark

NorthPark Center — Dallas · Dallas Co. · Dallas

Texas's most elaborate miniature toy train exhibit, with hundreds of trains on 1,600 feet of track through detailed miniature scenes, benefiting Ronald McDonald House Dallas.

• Ages 0-2
• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Big outing
• Paid
• Indoors

Across from Kona Grill inside NorthPark Center.

The Nutcracker (Texas Ballet Theater)

Winspear Opera House — Dallas · Dallas Co. · Dallas

Texas Ballet Theater's holiday Nutcracker.

• Ages 0-2
• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Big outing
• Paid: Tickets required
• Indoors

Dallas run Nov 27 – Dec 6; Fort Worth (Bass Hall) Dec 11–27. Opening shows: Fri Nov 27 8pm; Sat Nov 28 2pm & 8pm; see site for full schedule.

Holiday at the Arboretum

Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden — Dallas · Dallas Co. · Dallas

The final year of the 12 Days of Christmas gazebos, plus Holiday at Night lights.

• Ages 0-2
• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Big outing
• Paid: Separate daytime and Holiday at Night tickets; walk-up Holiday at Night adds $4

Daytime 9am–4pm; Holiday at Night 5–10pm (online only).

Christmas at Gaylord Texan: ice! featuring Harry Potter

Gaylord Texan Resort — Grapevine · Tarrant Co. · Dallas

Resort-wide Christmas with ice! featuring Harry Potter sculptures carved from 2 million pounds of ice, ice tubing, snowball blasting, Santa photos and a Christmas Village.

• Ages 0-2
• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Big outing
• Paid: Activities ticketed separately; activity passes available
• Indoors

Dallas Zoo Lights

Dallas Zoo — Dallas · Dallas Co. · Dallas

Holiday light trail through the zoo with festive displays.

• Ages 0-2
• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Big outing
• Paid: Public tickets start at $19; members 20% off

Select nights; closed Dec 24 and 25.

The Trains at NorthPark

NorthPark Center — Dallas · Dallas Co. · Dallas

Texas's most elaborate miniature toy train exhibit, with hundreds of trains on 1,600 feet of track through detailed miniature scenes, benefiting Ronald McDonald House Dallas.

• Ages 0-2
• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Big outing
• Paid
• Indoors

Across from Kona Grill inside NorthPark Center.

The Nutcracker (Texas Ballet Theater)

Winspear Opera House — Dallas · Dallas Co. · Dallas

Texas Ballet Theater's holiday Nutcracker.

• Ages 0-2
• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Big outing
• Paid: Tickets required
• Indoors

Dallas run Nov 27 – Dec 6; Fort Worth (Bass Hall) Dec 11–27. Opening shows: Fri Nov 27 8pm; Sat Nov 28 2pm & 8pm; see site for full schedule.