- When
- Select nights Nov 13, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027
- Earliest start
- 5:30–9pm
- Price
- From $19; Patron members and above free; Dual-Passport members 20% off
Checked Oct 26 on the official page
Report a problemLights 2026 · Dallas–Fort Worth
Christmas lights in Dallas–Fort Worth for little kids, picked for early bedtimes.
Eight Christmas light displays in and around Dallas–Fort Worth have 2026 dates: 1 drive-thru and 7 walk-throughs. Two are free. For an early bedtime, the earliest evening start is 6 p.m. at GM Financial Parade of Lights. They’re spread over five areas, with the most in Dallas.
8displays with dates
1drive-thru
2free
6 pmearliest evening start
Last checked · How we choose
All 8 displays
Pick tonight’s lights
Tap a filter to narrow it down. Every card has hours, price and what it’s like with a little one.
Walk-through
Holiday at the Arboretum
Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden · 8525 Garland Rd., Dallas, TX 75218
- When
- Nov 11, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027
- Earliest start
- Daytime 9am–4pm; Holiday at Night 5–10pm
- Price
- Night $35–$40 (adults and kids 3–12); daytime $17.95–$25.95; under 3 free
- 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
Little-kid take: Has daytime hours, so it works before nap. Stay until dusk to see the lights come on.
Checked Oct 26 on the official page
Report a problem
- When
- Sun, Nov 22, 2026
- Earliest start
- 6pm
- Price
- Free to watch; reserved street seats sold
- Downtown streets start closing at 3pm
- TEXRail runs every 30 minutes that evening
Little-kid take: Free, so it’s an easy one to try for a short visit.
Checked Oct 26 on the official page
Report a problem
Walk-through
Grapevine Parade of Lights
Historic Main Street, Grapevine · Main St., Grapevine, TX 76051
- When
- Thu, Dec 3, 2026
- Earliest start
- 7pm
- Price
- Not listed
- More than 100 lighted floats and marching bands
Checked Oct 26 on the official page
Report a problem
Drive-thru
Prairie Lights
Lynn Creek Park at Joe Pool Lake · 5610 Lake Ridge Pkwy, Grand Prairie, TX 75052
- When
- Nightly Nov 26–Dec 31, 2026
- Earliest start
- Opens 6pm; line closes 10pm or at capacity
- Price
- $50 per car
- 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
Little-kid take: Stays in the car: the easiest pick with a baby or a toddler who may fall asleep. PJs on, car seat buckled, no stroller needed.
Checked Oct 26 on the official page
Report a problem- When
- Nightly Nov 20, 2026–Jan 4, 2027
- Earliest start
- 6–10pm
- Price
- Free
- A free choreographed lights-and-music show
- Walk the square or tune your car radio to 107.3 FM
Little-kid take: Free, so it’s an easy one to try for a short visit.
Checked Oct 26 on the official page
Report a problemWalk-through
Holiday in the Park at Six Flags Over Texas
Six Flags Over Texas · 2201 E. Road to Six Flags St., Arlington, TX 76011
- When
- Select days Nov 22–Dec 30, 2026
- Earliest start
- See the park calendar
- Price
- Park admission
- The park's holiday season, open on select days
- Check the park calendar before you go
Checked Oct 26 on the official page
Report a problemWalk-through
Frostival at Howell Family Farms
Howell Family Farms · 4016 W. Division St., Arlington, TX 76012
- When
- 24 nights, Nov 28 – Dec 27, 2026
- Earliest start
- Entry 5:30–8pm through Dec 10, 5:30–8:30pm from Dec 11
- Price
- Kids 4–11 from $16, ages 12 and up from $21, family pass from $60; 3 and under free; parking $10
- 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
Checked Oct 30 on the official page
Report a problemNov 1 – Jan 4
When each one is open
Nothing is lit yet. Holiday at the Arboretum opens first, on Nov 11. Holiday at the Arboretum, Dallas Zoo Lights and Christmas in the Square run into the new year.
Holiday at the Arboretum Nov 11 – Jan 3
Dallas Zoo Lights Nov 13 – Jan 3
Christmas in the Square Nov 20 – Jan 4
GM Financial Parade of Lights Nov 22
Holiday in the Park at Six Flags Over Texas Nov 22 – Dec 30
Prairie Lights Nov 26 – Dec 31
Frostival at Howell Family Farms Nov 28 – Dec 27
Grapevine Parade of Lights Dec 3
Nov 1Dec 1Jan 1
Early bedtime plan
Lights before bedtime
In early December the sun sets around 5:20 p.m. in Dallas–Fort Worth (the dashed line). Here’s when each display opens, on a scale from 4 to 9 p.m.
Holiday at the Arboretum
From 9 a.m. · stay until dusk
Daytime 9am–4pm; Holiday at Night 5–10pm
GM Financial Parade of Lights
6 p.m. start · about 30 min
6pm
Prairie Lights
6 p.m. start · plan about an hour
Opens 6pm; line closes 10pm or at capacity
Grapevine Parade of Lights
7 p.m. start · plan about an hour
7pm
Frostival at Howell Family Farms
8 p.m. start · plan about an hour
Entry 5:30–8pm through Dec 10, 5:30–8:30pm from Dec 11
Dallas Zoo Lights
9 p.m. start · plan about an hour
5:30–9pm
Drive-thru or walk-through?
Which is better for little kids?
🚗 Stay in the car
- Babies and toddlers stay warm and buckled, PJs and all
- No stroller, no mitten battles, no lost hats
- A car-seat nap can turn straight into bedtime
- Check the listing for timed slots and refund rules
Pick: Prairie Lights
🚶 Get out and walk
- Kids 3 and up love running ahead to the next display
- Bring the stroller where the venue allows it (see each card)
- Plan a snack stop and a bathroom break
- Check sensory notes for bright lights and crowds
Picks: Dallas Zoo Lights, Holiday at the Arboretum, GM Financial Parade of Lights, Grapevine Parade of Lights and 3 more
Bring along
The little-kid lights kit
Mittens on a stringLittle hands get cold fast after dark.
Warm drink in a thermosA treat to look forward to at the halfway point.
Hat and a blanketFor the stroller, or the car once the heat is off.PJs before you goSo a car-seat nap can turn straight into bedtime.2026 prices
Prices at a glance
From each venue’s own page. Check whether a price is per car or per person before you book.
| Display | Price | Little kids | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas Zoo Lights | From $19; Patron members and above free; Dual-Passport members 20% off | See the venue | Walk-through |
| Holiday at the Arboretum | Night $35–$40 (adults and kids 3–12); daytime $17.95–$25.95; under 3 free | under 3 free | Walk-through |
| GM Financial Parade of Lights | Free to watch; reserved street seats sold | See the venue | Walk-through |
| Grapevine Parade of Lights | Not listed | See the venue | Walk-through |
| Prairie Lights | $50 per car | See the venue | Drive-thru |
| Christmas in the Square | Free | See the venue | Walk-through |
| Holiday in the Park at Six Flags Over Texas | Park admission | See the venue | Walk-through |
| Frostival at Howell Family Farms | Kids 4–11 from $16, ages 12 and up from $21, family pass from $60; 3 and under free; parking $10 | 3 and under free | Walk-through |
Also this season
Want Santa with your lights?
See all 9 Santa outings in and around Dallas–Fort Worth: breakfasts, photo spots and evening visits, with 2026 prices.
Santa in Dallas–Fort Worth →
Good questions
Christmas lights in Dallas–Fort Worth: questions parents ask
Are there free Christmas lights in Dallas–Fort Worth?
Yes. GM Financial Parade of Lights and Christmas in the Square are free in 2026.
What’s the cheapest Christmas light show in Dallas–Fort Worth?
Going by the lowest posted 2026 price: Frostival at Howell Family Farms (Kids 4–11 from $16, ages 12 and up from $21, family pass from $60; 3 and under free; parking $10); Holiday at the Arboretum (Night $35–$40 (adults and kids 3–12); daytime $17.95–$25.95; under 3 free); Dallas Zoo Lights (From $19; Patron members and above free; Dual-Passport members 20% off). Check whether a price is per car or per person before you compare.
Drive-thru or walk-through: which is better with little kids?
With a baby or a sleepy toddler, a drive-thru is easiest: they stay buckled in and warm. One of the 8 displays can be driven: Prairie Lights. Walk-throughs (seven here) are better for kids who want to run around.
What time do the Christmas lights start in Dallas–Fort Worth? We have an early bedtime.
The earliest evening starts: GM Financial Parade of Lights at 6 p.m., Prairie Lights at 6 p.m. and Grapevine Parade of Lights at 7 p.m. The first hour after opening is the easiest with an early bedtime. For no-late-night options, Holiday at the Arboretum works in the daytime.
Which light shows are best for kids under 3?
Little ones get in free at Holiday at the Arboretum (under 3 free); Frostival at Howell Family Farms (3 and under free). With a baby, a drive-thru keeps everyone warm in the car.
How do you check these Christmas lights listings?
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page, and links to it. We list dates, times and prices only when that page shows them for 2026; anything without posted dates goes in “Dates not posted yet” instead. These were last checked Oct 30, 2026, and we recheck them in early November and again in early December. How we choose and check.
Keep planning: This week in Dallas–Fort Worth · Dallas–Fort Worth city guide · Visiting Dallas–Fort Worth
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Every year
Light displays that come back every year
Each of these comes back every year. Its page keeps the last confirmed dates, and the new ones go up there once they’re posted. Every year in Dallas–Fort Worth
Holiday at the ArboretumBy month
More dates for little kids in Dallas–Fort Worth
Things to do with kids in Dallas–Fort Worth in November · Things to do with kids in Dallas–Fort Worth in December
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The Nutcracker with kids in Dallas–Fort Worth: 7 shows with 2026 dates, run times, ages and sensory-friendly performances. Christmas markets in Dallas–Fort Worth: 5 markets and winter wonderlands with 2026 dates, hours and stroller notes.