Dallas–Fort Worth, TX family weekend: Friday, November 20 – Sunday, November 22

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Top picks this weekend

Big outings first: festivals, farms, shows and attractions, mixing free and paid, for a range of ages.

Sun, Nov 22 · 6pm

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

Details at Fort Worth Parade of Lights ↗

More big outings

Nov 11 – Jan 3

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).

Details at Dallas Arboretum ↗

Nov 13 – Jan 3

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

Details at Gaylord Texan Resort ↗

Nov 13 – Jan 3 · 5:30pm–9pm

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.

Details at Dallas Zoo ↗

Nov 14 – Jan 3

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.

Details at Ronald McDonald House Dallas ↗

Museums, gardens & more

Sat, Nov 21 · 10am–12pm

3 Melts of Christmas

Dallas Arboretum: A Tasteful Place — Dallas · Dallas Co. · Dallas

Celebrate the season with comfort, creativity, and plenty of melted goodness.

Cost not listed

Details at Dallas Arboretum ↗

Library storytimes & programs (75, free)

From Dallas, Fort Worth, Plano and Denton public libraries. Some need registration; check the library page.

Friday, Nov 20

9:30amBaby Basics · Preston Royal Branch, Dallas 0-2 · 3-5 · Free

9:30amBaby Basics Storytime · Lochwood Branch, Dallas 0-2 · 3-5 · Free

Fri, Nov 20–Sat, Nov 21 · times varyBaby Story Time · At 3 Dallas, Fort Worth, Plano and Denton branches 6-10 · 0-2 · Free

See all 3 branches

North Branch Library Fri, Nov 20 · 9:30am
Northwest Library Fri, Nov 20 · 10:30am
Golden Triangle Library Sat, Nov 21 · 10:30am