Holiday at the Arboretum
Featuring the 12 Days of Christmas and Christmas Village.
About
Holiday at the Arboretum returns with a garden transformed for the magic of the season including the return of our beloved Christmas Village, the 12 Days of Christmas and our Dazzling Musical Tree! We also invite you to visit our historic DeGolyer House, elaborately decorated by renowned designer Michael Hamilton, with a NEW exhibit, The Artistry of Faith & Culture, that celebrates the diversity of the holiday season in our city. This new seasonal exhibit, open each day, and every Monday–Wednesday evening, beginning November 10, prominently features the three world holidays celebrated during the run of our festival: Christmas, Hannukah and Kwanzaa. We invite you to explore the artistry of these traditions in our historic home!
A Winter Celebration Featuring:
- Over One Million Lights
- Our Renowned Christmas Village
- Cooking Demos
- Children’s Activities
- Music & Entertainment
- + More!
Texas’ Best Christmas Event
– Southern Living Magazine
More Details
We kick off the season November 9 with a members-only Marilyn and Ben Weber Family Christmas Pyramid lighting event from 6-9pm in the crowd-favorite Christmas Village. This event is your first chance to see the entire Holiday at the Arboretum experience this year.
Our Pauline and Austin Neuhoff Family Christmas Village is an attraction unparalleled in the city. Santa Claus has his own house and a sleigh for photo opportunities. He is with us select nights in November and then after Thanksgiving he will be here every night and Saturday and Sunday afternoons. In addition, we’re offering exclusive private photo opportunities with Santa for the entire family throughout the festival with Ivey Photography.
Our German-built authentic Christmas Pyramid includes animation on every level and returns along with our tavern for festive food and drinks with our biergarten and performance area featuring live entertainment and special events throughout the season.
Then, on Thursday, November 10, Holiday at the Arboretum kicks off during the day and at night continuing throughout the season for everyone. In addition, we’ll officially open the Artistry of Faith & Culture display in the DeGolyer House this evening with special guests and the community members that helped bring our exhibit to life.
Holiday at the Arboretum also features the return of our Dazzling Musical Tree, a fifty-foot-tall tree animated with over 42 thousand lights and merry holiday tunes, presented on the hour, each half hour of the day and evening on the Martin Rutchik Concert Stage.
The Dazzling Musical Tree is joined by our much loved 12 Days of Christmas gazebos, which include updated characters as well. Stroll the entire main garden with the entire family, as the beloved holiday song is brought to life by our spectacular Victorian-style, animated exhibit.
The gazebos come to life at night, daily beginning November 9 from 6-9pm, except for Thanksgiving Day (closed) and December 24 (open daytime only). We invite you to enjoy our holiday tradition, featuring over a million lights throughout the Arboretum, trimming the historic homes and our 30-foot-tall spruce tree in the center of the garden.
Early Bird Admission
November 9–12
Includes admission to Holiday at the Arboretum and our Christmas Village. Both members and non-members are required to reserve tickets in advance.
| Admission Price |
|
| Members (All Ages) | $10 |
| Non-members (All Ages) | $10 |
| Groups (15 or More) | $10 |
Daytime Admission
November 13–December 31
Includes admission to Holiday at the Arboretum and our Christmas Village. Both members and non-members are required to reserve tickets in advance.
| Admission Price |
|
| Adult (13-64) | $20 |
| Senior (65+) | $16 |
| Child (2-12) | $12 |
| Members | Free |
Nighttime Admission
November 10–December 30
Includes admission to Holiday at the Arboretum at Night and our Christmas Village. Both members and non-members are required to reserve tickets in advance.
Sunday—Tuesday | 6–9pm
| Admission Price |
|
| Member Adult (13-64) | $12 |
| Member Child/Senior (2-12, 65+) | $10 |
| Non-Member Adult (13-64) | $15 |
| Non-Member Child (2-12) | $13 |
| Non-Member Senior (65+) | $15 |
Wednesday—Thursday | 6–9pm
| Admission Price |
|
| Member Adult (13-64) | $13 |
| Member Child/Senior (2-12, 65+) | $11 |
| Non-Member Adult (13-64) | $25 |
| Non-Member Child (2-12) | $13 |
| Non-Member Senior (65+) | $18 |
Friday—Saturday | 6–9pm
| Admission Price |
|
| Member Adult (13-64) | $15 |
| Member Child/Senior (2-12, 65+) | $11 |
| Non-Member Adult (13-64) | $35 |
| Non-Member Child (2-12) | $15 |
| Non-Member Senior (65+) | $18 |
An Elegant & Festive Holiday Dining Experience
Special Plated Holiday Menu
December 5, 7, 11–14, 18–22, 26–29
$79 per person
Seatings at 6pm & 7:30pm
Special Holiday Dinner Buffet
December 17 and 23
$75 per adult and $45 per child 2-12
Seatings at 6pm & 7:30pm
Event Overview
Daily Programming
With beautiful sights and free and repeating activities happening daily, the Dallas Arboretum is your home this winter.
Holiday Tea
Daily 11am & 2pm
November 7–December 31
Bring your family and friends together and create an annual tradition—Holiday Tea at Restaurant DeGolyer, lavishly decorated for the season. Reservations required.
Register
Holiday at the DeGolyer House – The Artistry of Faith & Culture
November 10–December 28
Sunday–Saturday | 10am–4pm; Monday–Wednesday Evenings | 6–9pm
Explore the artistry of the season’s three holidays. The DeGolyer House is transformed to celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa in a collaborative community-sourced exhibit.
CC Young Senior Living Thursdays
November–December
9am–5pm
Seniors 65 and older get in for $1 off general garden admission and always receive a 20% discount in the Hoffman Family Gift Store.
Demonstration Cooking & Expert Talks in A Tasteful Place
Dallas College Cooks
Every Monday at 11am
A Tasteful Place
Dallas College alum Chef Chastity Alexander takes a break from her daily duties at Hardwood’s Elephant East, to create healthy and delicious seasonal dishes your family will love again and again!
November: Roasted Cauliflower Pasta
December: Potato and Leek Soup and Brussels Sprout salad with charred scallion vinaigrette
Tasteful Tuesdays Floral Demos
Every Tuesday at 11am
A Tasteful Place
Local floral experts provide how to demos, hands on tips and tricks and design inspiration with seasonal color.
Learn more
Daily Tastings Demo with Chef Isabel
Every Tuesday at 1 pm
A Tasteful Place
Resident Chef Isabel Snetsinger shows you how she creates the seasonal recipes you enjoy each week at the Ruthie Pack Tasting Plaza.
Learn to Grow Fridays
Every Friday at 11am
A Tasteful Place
Presented by the Dallas County Master Gardeners, the Dallas Arboretum Horticultural Staff, and local experts. Enjoy special tips and presentations on summer plants and gardening topics.
Seasonal Programming
Come to one of our many seasonal activities happening this holiday season!
Visits with Santa
Santa is back at the perfect Holiday setting – The Christmas Village. Share your Christmas wish with the jolly old man and take a photo to commemorate the occasion. Keepsake family photos are available for a donation to the Volunteer Advisory Board on Saturday and Sunday afternoons from 12-3pm beginning November 26 through December 24.
Santa Experience with Chris Ivey Photography
Enjoy an experience with Santa in this exclusive encounter in his North Pole workshop! Choose from two different experiences ranging from a 15 to 30 minutes with Santa. Each one with more time to find your name on the nice list or help him in his workshop.
All Santa Visits include our professional, real beard Santa, professional photography, hand-finished digital art, and an online ordering gallery.
Chef-Tastic Cooking Demos
Most Wednesdays and Thursdays at 11am
A Tasteful Place
Complimentary Tastings
2–4pm
Three Sisters Overlook
A Tasteful Place
21+
Join local breweries and wineries on select dates to sample and learn about their local selections. Complimentary with garden admission.
More details
Holiday Goods & Décor Vendor Market
November 19–20 | 10am–3pm
Main Entry Plaza
Join us for our Holiday Market, featuring over two dozen local vendors selling an array of holiday themed goods and décor. Enjoy holiday at the arboretum while shopping for ornaments, accessories, home goods, holiday treats and more.
Bingo Night
December 13 | 6:30–8:30pm
Christmas Village
Grab your Bingo dauber and get ready for a fun night of Holiday Bingo in The Christmas Village! We will provide Bingo cards and pens, just show up and enjoy the fun in our festive Biergarten. Free with paid evening admission.
Holiday Magician
November 22 & December 27 | 6:30–8:30pm
Christmas Village
Enjoy the magic with Dal Sanders as he strolls through the Christmas Village performing close up magic!
Holiday Karaoke Night
November 29 & December 20 | 6:30–8:30pm
Christmas Village
Start warming up those vocal cords and head out to The Dallas Arboretum for Holiday Karaoke night in The Christmas Village! All the Holiday classics are ready for you to sing loud and proud from our performance gazebo in our cozy biergarten. Free with paid evening admission.
Holiday Gift Vendor Market
December 3–4 | 10am–3pm
Main Entry Plaza
Get your holiday gift shopping done while enjoying a stroll through the stunning Dallas Arboretum garden. We will have over two dozen local vendors featuring apparel, home goods, fine art, and other amazing gifts for your loved ones.
Family Fun Weekend
Kelley Family Days
November 11–13
Each Family Fun Weekend features your family favorites: Country Critters Petting Zoo joins us with a variety of farm animals (10am-2pm), Window to the Wild will return with their bird flight show at the Martin Rutchik Concert Stage (10:30am Saturday) and Holiday story time (10am and 10:30am). Plus, vendor markets, special guests and activities for the whole family. And, of course, live Holiday entertainment.
Learn more
Paid Classes & Entertainment
Register for these delightful & interactive seasonal classes!
Asian Cooking Class with Chef Nikky Phinyawatana from Asian Mint
November | 11am–1:30pm
Adult member $79
Adult guest $89
Dallas Arboretum Food & Wine Festival alum Chef Nikky Phinyawatana from Asian Mint will teach how to make some Asian favorites: Crispy Egg Rolls with sweet and sour sauce and Thanksgiving Thai Fried Rice. Awarded 2019 Best of Big D Readers’ Choice Award for Best Thai, Dallas Eater’s #1 Best Thai Food, and Culture Map’s Top 100 Restaurants, Chef Nikky will inspire with her flavor-packed plates!
Registration coming soon
Eataly “Sip & Savor”
November 17 | 5–6pm
Adult member age 21+ $70
Adult guest 21+ $75
Eataly is back with “Sip & Savor” wine tasting class in the Alex Camp House, with a view of the Dazzling Musical Tree. Learn about four different wines, each paired with a traditional Italian aperitivo small bite. Admission to Holiday at the Arboretum included with class purchase.
Registration coming soon
Winter Winederland
November 19 | 1–3pm
Adult member age 21+ $40
Adult guest 21+ $50
Jess the Wine Lady returns with a wine cocktail class focused on holiday mixology. Learn to create a Spicey Pear White Wine cocktail, a Merry Mulled Wine, and a Christmas Cheer Coffee cocktail.
Registration coming soon
Kids Holiday Truffle Class with Yelibelly Chocolate
December 21 | 11am–1pm
Child member age 8+ (with an adult) $50
Child guest age 8+ (with an adult) $60
Additional Child 8+ $35
Kids, get ready for a hands-on truffle making class with Yelibelly Chocolates. We bring everything you need to make fun and delicious hand rolled truffles. We bring a variety of toppings to make your truffles even more irresistible. Once you get your truffles home, you can share them as gifts or simply enjoy them together as a family!
Registration coming soon
Noche Buena with Chef Mollie G
December 22 | 11am–1pm
Adult member $69
Adult guest $79
Food and Wine alumna and MasterChef contestant Chef Mollie G returns to the Arboretum with a showcase of tamales to celebrate Noche Buena. Noche Buena, which translates to “the good night”, is a yearly holiday in which communities celebrate Christmas on the night of Dec. 24 rather than Dec. 25.
Registration coming soon
Holiday Strings with Bishop String Quartet
November 29 & 30 | 7:15–8:15pm
A Tasteful Place
Members $69
Nonmembers $79
By popular demand, the Bishop String Quartet is back at the Dallas Arboretum! Join us in A Tasteful Place for an exclusive Holiday event featuring the classical sounds your Holiday favorites. Included with your ticket, enjoy a stroll through the garden and Christmas Village. Entrance through Goodwin Gate provides VIP access to the garden, opening 1 hour before the performance. Beer and wine are also available for purchase. Ticket includes full access to Holiday at the Arboretum before and after the show.
Registration coming soon
Music & Entertainment
Enjoy these performances and live music!
Holiday Entertainment in the Christmas Village
Enjoy live, seasonal performances from local schools, churches and community groups as well as local professionals in The Christmas Village!
Holiday Entertainment in the Entry Plaza
Holiday Entertainment at Jeanne’s Pavilion
Join us at Jeanne’s Pavilion during Holiday at the Arboretum for seasonal acoustic and choral performances! Enjoy a picnic as you listen to these intimate performances from the Shadow Garden.
2022 Sponsors
12 Days of Christmas Sponsors
Day 1: Partridge in a Pear Tree
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.