What to do with kids in Dallas–Fort Worth over Christmas break, from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day. We read the holiday hours posted by three museums, zoos and play places: three say they’re open on Christmas Day and three on New Year’s Day. Plus nine dated outings on Christmas Eve and the days in between.
Dec 24 · Dec 25 · Jan 1
Holiday hours from each place’s own page, side by side. Many are standing rules (“closed Christmas Day”) that hold year to year, but a quick check that morning is worth it.
“Not posted” means the place’s own page doesn’t say. Call or check the morning of.
Day by day
Pick a day to see what’s on. Many places close early on Dec 24 and Dec 31, so check each card’s times.
Gaylord Texan Resort, Retail Corridor · 1501 Gaylord Trail, Grapevine, TX 76051
Good to know: Book a time slot online.
Dallas Zoo · 650 S. R.L. Thornton Fwy., Dallas, TX 75203
Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden · 8525 Garland Rd., Dallas, TX 75218
Good to know: The final season of the 12 Days of Christmas gazebos. Night tickets are online only; Holiday Cheer nights (Nov 26, Dec 24, 25 and 31, Jan 1) are $15.
Lynn Creek Park at Joe Pool Lake · 5610 Lake Ridge Pkwy, Grand Prairie, TX 75052
Good to know: More than 5 million lights on a two-mile drive. Halfway through is Holiday Village with a walk-through forest, carnival rides and photos with Santa.
Frisco Square · 6101 Frisco Square Blvd., Frisco, TX 75034
Good to know: A free choreographed lights-and-music show. Walk the square or tune your car radio to 107.3 FM.
Six Flags Over Texas · 2201 E. Road to Six Flags St., Arlington, TX 76011
Good to know: The park's holiday season, open on select days. Check the park calendar before you go.
Howell Family Farms · 4016 W. Division St., Arlington, TX 76012
Good to know: A trail of lights on a working farm with a 200-foot tubing slide, a snowman show and real reindeer. A Santa visit comes with every ticket through Dec 24. It is closed some nights early on, so check the calendar.
Main Street Garden · 1902 Main St, Dallas, TX 75201
Frisco Square · Main St at Coleman Blvd, Frisco, TX 75034
Good to know: Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas. The rink is at the corner of Main and Coleman.
Fort Worth Museum of Science and History · 1600 Gendy St, Fort Worth, TX 76107
Good to know: Photos, crafts and New Year’s activities, then a confetti drop in the atrium at noon.
Dallas Arboretum, Children’s Adventure Garden · 8525 Garland Road, Dallas, TX 75218
Good to know: The ball drop happens at noon in the Exploration Center Plaza.
McKinney Public Library – John & Judy Gay Library · 6861 W. Eldorado Pkwy, McKinney, TX 75070
Good to know: An all-ages, kid-friendly party with crafts, activities and a countdown to noon.
Cozby Library & Community Commons · 177 N. Heartz Road, Coppell, TX 75019
Good to know: Activities and a countdown to noon, planned for families with young children. All ages are welcome.
Bedford Public Library · 2424 Forest Ridge Drive, Bedford, TX 76021
Good to know: A kids' party with crafts, music and dancing, ending with a balloon drop at noon. It's in the library's North and South meeting rooms and aimed at babies through age 12.
Harrington Library (Plano Public Library) · Plano
Good to know: Babies, toddlers and preschoolers can come in pajamas for hands-on activities and a countdown to 12:00 noon.
Dallas Zoo · 650 S. R.L. Thornton Fwy., Dallas, TX 75203
Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden · 8525 Garland Rd., Dallas, TX 75218
Good to know: The final season of the 12 Days of Christmas gazebos. Night tickets are online only; Holiday Cheer nights (Nov 26, Dec 24, 25 and 31, Jan 1) are $15.
Frisco Square · 6101 Frisco Square Blvd., Frisco, TX 75034
Good to know: A free choreographed lights-and-music show. Walk the square or tune your car radio to 107.3 FM.
Open on New Year’s Day: Perot Museum of Nature and Science, Fort Worth Zoo, Dallas Zoo.
Rainy-day backup
These don’t post holiday hours yet, so check before you go. More on our indoor play page.
Keep planning
November: things to do in Dallas–Fort WorthEvery dated listing for the month, by weekDecember: things to do in Dallas–Fort WorthEvery dated listing for the month, by week
Free things to do in Dallas–Fort WorthFree days, free events and places that never charge
Free museum days in Dallas–Fort WorthFree days, Museums on Us and EBT discounts, with who gets inIndoor play in Dallas–Fort WorthIndoor playgrounds, toddler times, museums and classes, with prices
Library storytimes in Dallas–Fort WorthBaby, toddler and preschool storytimes by day and branch
Ice skating in Dallas–Fort WorthHoliday and indoor rinks, skate aids and prices
Thanksgiving weekend in Dallas–Fort WorthParades, turkey trots and what’s open on Thursday
Noon Year’s Eve in Dallas–Fort WorthKid-friendly countdowns, home by nap
Christmas parades in Dallas–Fort WorthParades and tree lightings with dates and start timesThe Nutcracker in Dallas–Fort WorthBallet and touring shows, sensory-friendly flagged
Christmas markets in Dallas–Fort WorthChristkindlmarkts and winter wonderlands with hoursBirthday party places in Dallas–Fort WorthStarting prices, ages and what’s included
This week in Dallas–Fort WorthDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday
Good questions
Perot Museum of Nature and Science (Dec 24: 10am–3pm; Dec 25: closed), Fort Worth Zoo (Dec 25: noon–4pm), Dallas Zoo (Dec 25: closed) post that they’re open on Christmas Day.
On the calendar: Photos with Santa at Gaylord Texan.
Perot Museum of Nature and Science (Not listed), Fort Worth Zoo (Jan 1: 10am–4pm), Dallas Zoo (Not listed).
On the calendar for Jan 1: Dallas Zoo Lights, Holiday at the Arboretum and Christmas in the Square. Check each one’s own page before you go, since holiday hours can change.
Dallas Zoo Lights, Holiday at the Arboretum, Prairie Lights, Christmas in the Square and Holiday in the Park at Six Flags Over Texas. Check each one’s calendar for the exact nights; some close on certain days.
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 26, 2026, and we recheck them in early December and again the week before Christmas. How we choose and check.
One short email every Thursday evening with the best things to do with little ones in Dallas–Fort Worth, through the holidays.
