Inspired by the European Christmas Markets, or Christkindlmarket, The 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 close to 1 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.

Christmas Village Shops

• Bandstand
• Bakery
• Bookstore
• Butcher
• Candy Shop
• Carpenter
• Clock Tower
• Cobbler
• Doctor’s Office
• Flower Shop
• Hat Shop
• Music Shop
• Post Office
• Santa’s House

In the historic DeGolyer House elegantly decorated for the holidays, the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden debuts “Christkindlmarket Treasures,” a collection from Sustainers of the Junior League of Dallas members and Mary Templeton from November 23 to December 31. Displayed together for the first time, the Dallas Arboretum showcases more than 500 nativities, angels and nutcrackers, wooden Santas and Christmas trees. Each room in this historic home showcases a collection of treasures typically found in European Christmas markets. The elaborate décor provides a unique and magnificent experience for guests to enjoy daily and on Wednesday evenings, beginning November 23.   

Bring your family and friends together and create an annual tradition – holiday tea at the Restaurant DeGolyer, lavishly decorated for the season! Reservations required. Call 214-515-6511 to reserve your seat now.

The 12 Days of Christmas
Daily, 9am – 5 pm, November 9 – December 31
Adults: $17, Seniors (65 or older): $14, Children (ages 2 – 12): $12

Enjoy elaborately decorated Victorian-style gazebos on display every day during the holiday festival.

The 12 Days of Christmas at Night
Featuring More Than One Million Lights
Sponsored by Reliant
November 23 – December 29, 6 – 9pm
Adults: $23, Seniors (65 or older): $18, Children (ages 2 – 12): $11
Ages 2 & under: Free

The garden is open late five nights a week for a special, lighted night-time experience. In special celebration, Restaurant DeGolyer is open for reservation-only dinners on December 4, 11, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, and 29 at 7pm.

Café on the Green
Daily, 11am – 3pm

Enjoy special holiday drinks including pumpkin lattes, frosted mints, mulled wine and Mexican Hot Chocolate, as well as holiday eats, which include pumpkin bars, holiday paninis and soup.

Holiday Tea
November 29 – January 3, 11am & 2pm

Holiday Tea is served inside the charming and historic DeGolyer House lavishly decorated for the holidays, where guests can indulge in a seated, three-course tea experience. Tea prices begin at $49 per person and include parking and admission. Raise a glass to the most wonderful time of the year by adding champagne service for $59 per person. Reservations are required. Call 214.515.6511. Ages 13 and up are permitted in the tea room.

Every Day, 10am – 4pm

Try three free different samples featuring a dish using a vegetable, fruit or herb growing in the garden. Click here for past, current and future recipes.

DEMONSTRATION COOKING

El Centro College Cooks, Every Monday, 11am –12pm

Participate in this popular cooking demonstration, taught by talented chefs from El Centro’s nationally recognized culinary school. Two recipes are demonstrated each month followed by samples.

December

Kale and Fruit Salad and
Warm Leeks with Pecan Vinaigrette 

Daily Harvest

Every Tuesday & Thursday, 10:30am

Join our Horticulture staff as they harvest produce in the garden and provide tips.

Join experts from local florist shops as they show creative ideas to make floral arrangements, wreaths and more.

December 31: McShan Florist

Day 1: Partridge in a Pear Tree

Given in the name of 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.