Whether you are looking to start a new family tradition or just need a way to burn off some of that winter break energy, North Texas is packed with holiday magic and year-round fun.
We’ve rounded up the absolute best ways to celebrate the season and have fun with your kids in Plano, Frisco and beyond.
1. Tour Local Holiday Light Neighborhoods
Nothing beats a classic drive (or stroll) through North Texas’ most decked-out streets.
Deerfield, Plano: The gold standard for neighborhood lights. To avoid the stress, check out our guide on how to survive the Deerfield traffic. Don’t Miss: Be sure to stop by this specific Deerfield home, also known as Elf Town, at 4641 Penbrook Ct., which has become Plano’s most magical holiday stop, just recently featured on ABC’s The Great Christmas Light Fight.
The “Movie Experience” Home, Plano: Located at 3601 Brookshire Dr, this home takes decorating to a new level featuring scenes from movies such as The Grinch, 101 Dalmatians, The Wizard of Oz, Cinderella, Barbie and Star Wars.
Photo: Rebecca Silvestri | Local Profile
Biscayne Drive, Plano: Just off Independence Parkway, this community-driven display features moving trains, a horse and carriage, and interactive elements that flow from house to house.
Tucker Hill, McKinney: Known as McKinney’s “best-kept secret,” this is where nearly every home lights up with charming porches and thoughtfully styled holiday displays
The Burkman Holiday Home, Frisco: Located at 3809 Hazelhurst Drive, this home was famously featured on ABC’s The Great Christmas Light Fight.
2. Immersive Christmas Light Experiences
Photo: Tianyu Arts & Culture, Inc.
If you want to get out of the car and walk through a winter wonderland, DFW has more options than ever:
Classic Christmas: A massive new light park featuring larger-than-life sculptures and a snow tubing slide.
Tianyu Arts & Culture Festival: A stunning Chinese lantern festival at the Texas Trust CU Theatre grounds.
Lights on the Farm (Heritage Farmstead Museum): Explore over 2 million lights on a historic 19th-century farm in Plano.
The Light Park: A high-energy drive-thru experience at Riders Field in Frisco.
Miracle on 134th Street: A Celina favorite featuring an 8,500-square-foot walk-through Santa’s Workshop.
Astra Lumina Dallas: An “enchanted night walk” through the Trinity Forest Adventure Park that uses light, sound and projection to simulate falling stars.
Trains at NorthPark: A Dallas tradition for over 30 years, featuring elaborate model train layouts that benefit Ronald McDonald House of Dallas.
Photo:Â Merlin Entertainments
Perfect for the little ones, Peppa Pig Theme Park in North Richland Hills, has rides, shows, meet-and-greets, playgrounds, play areas, sandpits, a splash pad, a maze, a movie theater, a diner and a gift shop, featuring Peppa, her brother George, Mommy Pig, Daddy Pig and all their friends.
The Colony is now home to Fritz’s Adventure, an indoor “adventure playground” that is perfect for families with older kids who want to tackle ropes courses, climbing walls and zip lines away from the winter chill.
For high-energy fun, check out the Slick City locations in Frisco and Plano. It’s an “indoor dry-slide park”—no water, just fast slides and air courts for basketball and dodgeball.
6. Ice Skating
Check out our full guide to ice skating in Frisco, Grapevine and Dallas. Top spots include:
Skate the Square, Frisco: Frisco’s only real-ice outdoor rink, located right in the heart of Frisco Square.
Galleria Dallas: Skate around the tallest indoor Christmas tree in the country at this nationally recognized rink.
If you haven’t visited the Frisco’s massive public library yet, the holidays are the perfect time. Aside from the life-sized T. rex, the library also has themed areas, including the preschooler-geared Tiny Town, which has a little train, a train depot, a vet, a construction site and a grocery store. There is also a kids’ club with hands science, engineering and tech activities. Another themed area, called “The Pond,” has lily pads, turtles and fish and is aimed at toddlers.
8. Kaleidoscope Park
Butterfly Rest Stop by Janet Echelman. Photo: Kaleidoscope Park
Frisco’s newest gem, Kaleidoscope Park, features a world-class playground and stunning public art. It is walking distance to The Star, making it easy to grab lunch or dinner after playing. Plus, they have an incredible ongoing line-up of free events, check them out here.
The 30,000-square-foot-plus exhibition is a fully immersive, interactive journey through 25 different rooms showcasing the wizarding world (and yes, even the parts beyond), including the adventures of Fantastic Beasts and the celebrated stage play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
Note: This experience is scheduled to wrap up in January, so grab your tickets soon!
Now open at Galleria Dallas! Step into the worlds of Bridgerton, Squid Game and Stranger Things in this massive new permanent fan destination. It’s the perfect spot to geek out over your favorite shows during winter break.
Other Must-See Mentions:
Cosm Dallas: Experience “shared reality” in an 87-foot 12K+ LED dome. It’s an incredible way to watch sports or immersive films where you feel like you are actually on the sidelines or in another world.
Batbox: Now open in Addison, this is the “Topgolf of baseball.” It features 10 interactive batting bays with Strikezon technology where you can play full 9-inning games with friends.
PopStroke: Tiger Woods’ putting concept at Grandscape features two 18-hole courses, an upscale restaurant, and a dedicated playground for kids.
Active Arena: A digital sports arena in Frisco where you can paraglide, box, and play soccer in a high-tech environment.
National Videogame Museum: Located in Frisco, this is the only museum in the country dedicated to the history of gaming. It features rare consoles and a massive 80s-themed arcade.
Crayola Experience Plano: A 60,000-square-foot creative playground with 25 hands-on attractions.
Perot Museum: The Bug Lab exhibition ends in January — don’t miss your chance to see these fascinating creepy crawlies!
Bug Lab. Photo: Perot Museum of Nature and Science
Dinosaurs Live! at the Heard Museum: Head to McKinney for life-size animatronic dinosaurs on a half-mile nature trail.
La Parisienne Winter Wonderland & Brunch: This French bistro at The Star has transformed into a snowy wonderland. Check out their special kids’ brunch menu.
Andretti Indoor Karting & Games: This massive The Colony destination features multi-level electric go-karting, a state-of-the-art arcade, and professional-grade racing simulators.
iFLY Indoor Skydiving: Experience the sensation of freefall without needing a parachute. It’s located right in Frisco and is safe for kids as young as three.
Monster Mini Golf: A glow-in-the-dark, monster-themed indoor mini-golf course in Frisco that also features a DJ and a haunted house vibe (that isn’t too scary for the little ones).
National Videogame Museum: Explore the history of gaming in Frisco, where you can play on the world’s largest working Pong console and visit a 1980s-themed arcade.
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