Holiday at the Arboretum
Holiday at the Arboretum is Dallas’ Favorite Holiday Tradition.
Presented By
The Pauline and Austin Neuhoff Family Christmas Village
November 29 through December 31
From November 29 to December 31, the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden will debut a brand new Christmas Village as part of Holiday at the Arboretum. Inspired by the European Christmas Markets, or Christkindlmarket, The Pauline and Austin Neuhoff Family Christmas Village is comprised of charming shops and façades that represent a quaint European hamlet.
The village houses vary in size, and the heights range between 16 to 19 feet. Each house is themed and large enough so that several children and adults can enter at a time and experience that particular business. The interior walls of each house feature illustrations and embellishments appropriate for that business. For example, the bakery walls show baked goods and a wood burning stove, and the music shop features paintings of shelves filled with instruments.
During the day, children can learn, have fun and explore these houses at their own pace. At night, the Christmas Village is lit by a holiday glow of lights, which are in addition to the half-million lights decorating the Arboretum. During the weekends and evenings, there are also volunteers dressed as the shopkeeper in each store, many of whom will pass out a sample of their wares, such as a piece of candy at the candy shop.
The 12 Days of Christmas
November 9 through December 31
Holiday at the Arboretum features the magnificent The 12 Days of Christmas outdoor exhibit, as well as 500,000 lights throughout the garden at night, trimming the architecture of the historic homes and lighting the canopies overhead—including a 30-foot-tall tree at the center of the property. The outdoor exhibit features 25-foot-tall Victorian-style gazebos that come to life, depicting scenes from the traditional carol.
Each gazebo features movement to depict the different beloved characters such as the Three French Hens, Twelve Drummers Drumming and Seven Swans a Swimming, to name a few. The historic DeGolyer House is also lavishly decorated in a European style with greenery and fruit, along with a collection in each room items one finds at Christmas markets such as angels, hand-carved wooden Santas, nativity scenes or snow globes.
The garden re-opens for evening hours for the 12 Days of Christmas at Night exhibit from November 13 through December 31, Wednesday through Sunday from 6-9pm. With 500,000 lights illuminating throughout the garden, trimming the architecture of the historic homes and lighting the canopies overhead-including a 30-foot-tall tree at the center of the property, this display is sure to warm the hearts of guests this season.
12 Days Daytime Admission
| November 1-8 | November 9-27 | November 29 – December 31 Return to Festival Pricing | |
| Admission | $5 | $12 | — |
| Groups | $4 | $10 | $12 |
| Adults | — | — | $17 |
| Seniors | — | — | $14 |
| Children 2-12 | — | — | $12 |
12 Days Night Admission
| November 12 *Tree Lighting Ceremony | November 13-27 | November 29 – December 29 | |
| Members | $5 | $12 | $12 |
| Non-Members | $7 | $20 | $23 |
| Senior Members | — | $10 | $10 |
| Senior Non-Members | — | $15 | $18 |
| Children 2-12 | — | $10 | $11 |
| Group | — | — | $12 |
Purchase Early Bird Tickets Beginning August 15
Discounts
Here is the pricing plan for discounts and timing: **Dates in bold are the “go on sale” dates for each
- July 15-August 14-$5 member only pricing on select Wednesday and Thursday nights during 12DOCAN ONLY
- August 1– Group Sales every night available for groups of 15+, $12/adult – $10/senior – $8/child
- August 15-September 15-$10 early bird pricing on same Wednesday and Thursday nights ONLY during 12DOCAN
Santa Visits
Santa visits every Wednesday night and Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 4pm (through December 22). Keepsake Santa photos are provided by the Dallas Arboretum’s Volunteer Advisory Board, noon to 4 pm and donations are appreciated.
Local Choirs
- White Rock United Church, December 5 and 8 at 7pm
- Mesquite Children’s Chorus, December 13 at 7pm
- Lakewood Victorian Chorus December 14 at 7pm
Sponsors
12 Days of Christmas Sponsors
Day 1: Partridge in a Pear Tree
Sponsored by Jeanne R. Johnson
The Pear Tree has gold branches sprinkled with rhinestones, green mirrored leaves, and gold, rhinestone encrusted pears. The partridge sits “center stage,” intricately painted and adorned with rhinestones. The tree revolves with the partridge in it.
Day 2: Two Turtle Doves
The Two Turtle Doves cuddles on an arrow that pierces a heart-shaped cage suspended from the roof of the gazebo. The feather-tailed turtle doves are intricately painted and covered with rhinestones. The outer cage of crystal beading is decorated with fleur de lis banding on top and bottom.
Day 3: Three French Hens
Day three reflects the native countryside of the Three French Hens. White and gold oval French mirrors bolster Victorian perches for the hens, and this base turns. The hens, black-and-white with red accents,sits in gold straw nests.
Day 4: Four Calling Birds
Sponsored by A Friend of the Dallas Arboretum
The Four Calling Birds sit on filigreed, jeweled, Victorian hanging bird perches within an inner oval cage made of iridescent bead strands. The calling birds are multi-colored, with feather plumes and long tails.
Day 5: Five Golden Rings
In honor of Great Grandparents Dolph and Evelyn Bosley and their 5 Gold Rings
The Five Golden Rings feature a Victorian circus with a ceiling draped in red and white fabric to mimic a circus tent. The center circus ring has a pedestal with oval mirrors on which a white bear wearing a vest and collar balancing a spinning gold ring on his nose. The bear is surrounded by four seals wearing ruffled collars that are seated and balancing spinning bedazzled gold rings on their noses.
Day 6: Six Geese A-Laying
The Six Geese A-Laying is set in a snow-covered forest. Snow-flocked trees of varying sizes sit on a mirrored floor that turns. Snow and rhinestone “rocks” are piled high around the edges of the gazebo. Two geese are sitting on nests, two are standing in their nests to reveal golden eggs, and two are nested in the trees. The geese have feathered and rhinestones heads and necks, and feathered bodies.
Day 7: Seven Swans A-Swimming
Sponsored by Phyllis and Tom McCasland
The seven swans float in a snowy, ice crystal palace. The gazebo feature a pond with a tiered fountain and frozen water and icicles in the center of a mirror, or “frozen” pond. The swans, six white and one with black feathers with small crowns on their heads, are around the fountain.
Day 8: Eight Maids-A-Milking
Sponsored by Kathy and Gene Bishop
This gazebo feature a truly spectacular English barn divided into four wedge-shaped stalls. There are four intricately painted cows and four beautifully costumed maids sitting on stools while milking. Four other maids are carrying pails.
Day 9: Nine Ladies Dancing
In Honor of Chloe Simone Shea. Given by Holly & Tom Mayer, Maile and Charles Shea
Nine Ladies Dancing feature a Victorian ballroom. The ladies are costumed in beautiful Victorian beaded gowns and have elegant period hair styles. All of them move around the gazebo, and four make complete turns.
Day 10: Ten Lords A-Leaping
This gazebo features ten ice-skating lords. The mirrored floor is a frozen pond. The lords are dressed in Victorian outerwear and ice skates, and all will be skating.
Day 11: Eleven Pipers Piping
Sponsored by a Friend of the Dallas Arboretum
The pipers are dressed as Scottish bagpipe players in red and green tartan plaid. Each piper plays bagpipes. The ceiling is draped in green and red tartan to match the pipers’ kilts, and a circle of horns adorned with roping and tassels will suspend from the ceiling over the pipe major. The pipers also move in this gazebo.
Day 12: Twelve Drummers Drumming
Sponsored by Myron K. Martin
This gazebo is a spectacular choice to the exhibit. The drummers are dressed in white pants with red and gold piping, red jackets and red hats with gold trim. They move in concentric circles, with one set moving clockwise and another set moving counterclockwise.
Holiday Village Sponsors
The Butcher – Pat and Jon Christiansen
The Carpenter – Astrid Merriman
The Candy Store – M. R. & Evelyn Hudson Foundation
The Bakery – M. R. & Evelyn Hudson Foundation
The Book Store – M. R. & Evelyn Hudson Foundation
The Music Store – M. R. & Evelyn Hudson Foundation