Things to Do

I playbook VIST DFWC H I LD. COM FOR DAILY EVEN T S

WORDS ELIZABETH SMITH

RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER Through December 23

DECEMBER & JANUARY

➽ THE MOST MAGICAL EVENTS FOR A HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON

PADDINGTON SAVES CHRISTMAS December 5–23

DALLAS CHILDREN’S THEATER, DALLAS

In DCT’s first live production of the season, it’s all about Paddington Bear’s all-time favorite snack—marmalade jam. Things get sticky when the accident-prone bear runs out of sugar and asks to borrow some from the neighbor, but the chaos returns to order just in time for the holiday. Tickets from $17. 214/740-0051; dct.org

THE NUTCRACKER December 10–26 BASS PERFORMANCE HALL, FORT WORTH

For the ultimate classical Christmas experience, there’s no skipping the Texas Ballet Theater’s professionally produced and most extravagant production. Tickets from $25. For parents who want a less classical, more raucous Christmas, book your seats ASAP for the one-nightonly performance of The Nutty Nutcracker on Dec. 17. 877/828-9200; texasballettheater.org

THE ELF ON THE SHELF: A CHRISTMAS MUSICAL December 11

WINSPEAR OPERA HOUSE, DALLAS

These elves don’t sit idly on the shelf. Instead, they jump, sing and dance in a full chorus line in this live show with a story that expands on the original. Tickets from $34.20. For more fun with Santa’s Scout Elves, visit The Elf on the Shelf’s Magical Holiday Journey, open through Jan. 2 in Arlington. (See Winter Break on page 64 for more details). 214/880-0202; attpac.org

THE POLAR EXPRESS December 11

KLYDE WARREN PARK, DALLAS

OK, we will never support the idea of kids sneaking out of the house at night to hop on a train and skip town, but we will also never stop loving this Christmas movie or the darling children’s book on which it’s based. Let your littles play lawn games and in the Children’s Park playground until the movie starts after dark. 214/716-4500; klydewarrenpark.org

ARLINGTON HOLIDAY LIGHTS PARADE December 11

ARLINGTON CITY HALL, ARLINGTON

The Christmas parade steps off at 6pm and travels through downtown and University district. Follow the parade to Founders

➽ ENCHANT CHRISTMAS

Plaza, where the mayor flips the switch on the 65-foot Christmas tree. Stick around for “reindeer games” and to visit with Santa at the library. FREE holidaylightsparade.com

CANDLELIGHT December 11–12 DALLAS HERITAGE VILLAGE, DALLAS

The closest you’ll come to an authentic Victorian Christmas may be this 49th annual festival at Old City Park, where carolers dress up in period gowns and Father Christmas (not “Santa”) wears a green suit instead of red. Say hello to the resident donkeys Willie and Waylon and hop on a hayride around the village of restored buildings and homes circa 1840–1910. Adults 21 and up are welcome to join Cocktails by Candlelight on Dec. 10. 214/421-5141; dallasheritagevillage.org

GRAND HOLIDAY ICE SHOWS December 12

GALLERIA DALLAS, DALLAS

Mirai Nagasu, an Olympic figure skater and Dancing with the Stars alum, and the Galleria’s ice-skating Santa known as “Missile Toes” perform live on the ice around the nation’s tallest indoor Christmas tree. Families can rent their own private “pod” to view the show; they’re each $150 and hold up to six people. Proceeds benefit the Lakewood Early Childhood PTA. 972/702-7100; lecpta.org

HOLIDAYS AT THE HEARD December 17–18

HEARD NATURE SCIENCE MUSEUM & WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, MCKINNEY

Bundle up in your mittens and gloves to take a hike down the Heard’s half-mile nature trail for a holiday view of the animatronic dinosaurs lit up in holiday splendor. Then join the from Ebenezer? Witness him reach his epiphany—that life is short and you should be nice to people—in this musical version of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, presented by the Artisan’s Main Stage company. Choose your seats online for your preferred view of the theater-in-the-round. $28 adults; $15 children. 817/284-1200; artisanct.com

RUDOLPH THE REDNOSED REINDEER Through December 23

CASA MAÑANA, FORT WORTH

The performing arts theater party at the outdoor amphi- welcomes people of all ages theater with Father Christmas and with all types of noses and Mother Nature. $10 to join the reindeer games adults; $7 children; under 2 in this holiday musical free. 972/562-5566; starring Rudolph, heardmuseum.org/ Santa and Mrs. holidays Claus, and sidekicks LIGHTWIRE Hermey the THEATER’S Elf, Bumble A VERY the ELECTRIC Abominable CHRISTMAS Snow December 18 Monster, STRAUSS and Yukon SQUARE, DALLAS Cornelius. Follow Remember those their adventures “stick figure” costumes around the North Pole from Halloween? Imagine the and then around the world. completely black outfit with Tickets from $19. 817/332attached glow-in-the-dark 2272; casamanana.org sticks but exponentially more artistic and festive, and you LIGHTS ON THE FARM get Lightwire Theater’s elec- Through December 26 troluminescent holiday show HERITAGE FARMSTEAD starring Max, a young bird MUSEUM, PLANO who gets blown off course After the farm animals hit and ends up at the North the hay for the night, the Pole. $25 lawn tickets; $35 farmstead lights up for this and up reserved chairs; $55 new nighttime experience on table seating. 214/880-0202; weekends and select nights. attpac.org Snack on s’mores while

➽ HOLIDAYS AT THE HEARD

TEXAS WILD! WONDERLAND Through December 19

FORT WORTH ZOO, FORT WORTH

Come experience the zoo’s inaugural holiday fun with snowfalls every half hour, strolling characters, songs with Mrs. Claus and elf puppet shows on Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 19, and be sure to stop by Elephant Springs to catch a glimpse of the new Asian elephant baby, Brazos. Free with admission: $16 adults; $12 children; under 2 free. $20 for photos with Santa. 817/759-7555; fortworthzoo.org/wonderland

➽ THE TRAINS AT NORTHPARK

SCROOGE THE MUSICAL Through December 21 ARTISAN CENTER THEATER, HURST

What is the holiday season without our annual lesson exploring the quarter-mile trail of lights and stop by the farm shop for a Santa visit. Online in advance: $10 adults; $7 children. At the door: $15 adults; $10 children. 972/8810140; heritagefarmstead.org

ART STROLLER TOURS December 29 and January 26 DALLAS CONTEMPORARY, DALLAS

For a change of pace, take a stroll through the Dallas Contemporary’s current exhibitions during these monthly tours led by educators and designed specifically for parents of littles ones 24 months and younger. The next scheduled tours focus on Ilya + Emilia Kabakov’s Paintings About Paintings on Dec. 29 and Peter Halley’s Cell Grids on Jan. 26, each followed by age-appropriate activities in the galleries. FREE 214/821-2522; dallascontemporary.org

HOLIDAY AT THE ARBORETUM Through December 31

DALLAS ARBORETUM, DALLAS

This season of exhibits and special entertainment features the return of its glass-encased gazebos inspired by the “12 Days of Christmas” song, the European-style Christmas Village, and the new 50-foot-tall musical tree. Daytime admission: $17 adults; $12 children; under 2 free. Come on select evenings to see all the sparkle after dark: Adults from $15; children from $13. 214/5156615; dallasarboretum.org

A NASH FARM CHRISTMAS Through December 31

NASH FARM, GRAPEVINE

Get a small glimpse into how Grapevine’s earliest settlers celebrated the holidays by joining ornament making, cookie baking and Victorian card printing on select days during the Christmas season (fee varies by activity). But don’t miss the Farmstead Christmas Celebration on Dec. 11 for crafts, music and refreshments. $5. 817/4103185; grapevinetexasusa. com/christmas

ENCHANT CHRISTMAS Through January 2 FAIR PARK, DALLAS

Not seen in Dallas-Fort Worth since 2018, this holiday experience is back for more magical nights at the Fair Park Esplanade. Join the search for Santa’s missing gifts lost inside the Christmas Light Maze and slip on rented blades for a go around the ice-skating trail. Take note: This is no mere rink but a path that winds in and around the lighted forest. Tickets from $20 for adults; from $25 for children; under 2 free. 833/362-6445; enchantchristmas.com

THE TRAINS AT NORTHPARK Through January 2

NORTHPARK CENTER, DALLAS

This 34-year tradition continues with its dual purpose: entertaining children with an elaborate, 1,600-foot-track model train exhibit and raising vital funds for the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas. Stop by this second-floor exhibit on your next holiday shopping trip to NorthPark. $10 adults; $5 children; under 2 free. Hand-painted railcars also for sale. 214/631-7354; thetrainsatnorthpark.com

TEXAS CHRISTKINDL MARKET Through January 2

CHOCTAW STADIUM, ARLINGTON

Considering that many of our favorite Christmas traditions originated in Germany (nutcrackers, advent calendars, pickles hidden inside the Christmas tree—well, the pickle is debatable), there’s no better place to shop for traditional gifts and toys than this local market styled after the Rothenburg ob der Tauber Christmas Village. Snack on a bag of warm nuts coated in cinnamon sugar while you browse the shops for handcrafted collectibles. The market runs concurrently with The Elf on the Shelf’s Magical Holiday Journey (see Winter Break on page 64 for more details). FREE txchristkindlmarket.com

GINGERTOWN DALLAS Through January 3 NORTHPARK CENTER, DALLAS

NorthPark is one of the best destinations during the holidays, not only because it doubles as a shopping trip, but for the kid-friendly décor and entertainment like the Scrooge Puppet Theatre, the 28-foot-tall Bavarian clock, a giant LEGO Santa, and the annual Gingertown Dallas display. See the live build starting at 5pm on Tuesday, Dec. 7, and pick up your own take-home gingerbread cookie kit on Dec. 11 and 12. Proceeds benefit the Children’s Craniofacial Association. 214/363-7441; northparkcenter.com

SNOWDAY Through January 17 GALLERIA DALLAS, DALLAS

Spice up your family’s Christmas card by snapping silly photos inside a 1970s RV, a mirror maze or 20 other fun photo ops in this holiday exhibit. Tickets from $27 for adults; from $8 for children; under 3 free. Skip ahead in line with $65 VIP tickets that also include pictures with Santa in Santaland, available through Christmas Eve. 469/759-9323; snowdaydallas.com

PANTHER ISLAND ICE Through January 17 PANTHER ISLAND PAVILION, FORT WORTH

Make this your holiday family date night: Go ice skating in the late afternoon at this outdoor rink (open on all the holidays, too), grab a snack from the concession stand and stay to watch a drive-in movie at the Coyote Drive-In. $13 including skate rental. Movie tickets (charged separately): $8 adults; $5 children; under 4 free. 682/7047711; pantherislandice.com

JANUARY

FORT WORTH STOCK SHOW & RODEO January 14 – February 5

WILL ROGERS MEMORIAL CENTER AND DICKIES ARENA, FORT WORTH

Dairy cows, piglets, justhatched baby chicks, mus-

➽ GINGERTOWN

DALLAS

tangs, Texas longhorns and bucking bulls—they’re all returning for the annual stock show and rodeo. You’ll see even more live animals like hawks, turtles and quail and fish in the catch tank on Sunday, Jan. 23, for Kids Gone Wild day. General grounds admission: $12 adults; $6 children; under 5 free. Rodeo tickets sold separately. 817/877-2420; fwssr.com

POPOVICH

COMEDY PET

THEATER January 15

COPPELL ARTS CENTER, COPPELL

The dogs and house cats in this traveling act were once shelter pets. Now they costar in a live show once voted the Best Family Show in Las Vegas. Don’t miss your chance to see them along with geese, parrots and a Shetland pony, all trained by Gregory Popovich, a former Moscow Circus performer and second-generation dog trainer. $29. 972/304-7047; coppellartscenter.org

DRAGONS LOVE TACOS Opens January 23

DALLAS CHILDREN’S THEATER, DALLAS

It’s a likely story: A boy and his dog throw a taco party for a flock of dragons, but the party takes a fiery turn when the dragons accidentally eat spicy jalapeño pepper salsa. The silly story from the children’s book comes to the DCT stage on Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets from $15. 214/740-0051; dct.org

DINOSAUR SAFARI Through February 12 RIVER LEGACY LIVING SCIENCE CENTER, ARLINGTON

Welcome to the Jurassic jungle inside River Legacy’s Discovery Room. Its newest traveling exhibit, on loan from Omaha Children’s Museum, features animatronic dinosaurs including a T. rex, velociraptor and triceratops. Kids can hop inside a kid-size safari Jeep, uncover realistic fossils from the dig tables and climb on some of the dinosaurs, including the T. rex. $10 adults; $7 children; under 2 free. 817/860-6752 riverlegacy.org

➽ CIRQUE MUSICA'S HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR

CHRISTMAS CIRCUS

WE CAN’T PINPOINT WHY CIRCUS SHOWS

seem even more magical during the holidays (is it the twinkle lights?), but we think you’ll feel equally starry-eyed at these upcoming performances.

CIRCO METROPOLIS WINTER CIRCUS December 16–January 2

SAMUELL-GRAND AMPHITHEATER, DALLAS

Shakespeare Dallas and the Laughter League’s clown duo Slappy and Monday team up for this holiday circus under a traditional Bavarian big top. $20 adults; $15 children; under 2 free. $30 VIP tickets include popcorn and ring-side seating for the best view of the aerial acrobatics and Magic Mike Williams’ amazing tricks (OK, seriously, where did the card go?) circometropolis.com

A MERRY CIRQUE December 17–19 COPPELL ARTS CENTER, COPPELL

Lone Star Circus (which, side note, hosts classes and camps for kids and adults throughout the year) presents this family holiday spectacular of juggling jesters, daredevil acrobats and even four-legged performers on stage in the Main Hall. $29. 972/3047047; coppellartscenter.org

CIRQUE MUSICA’S HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR December 24 and 26

COMERICA CENTER, FRISCO

This touring company will ring in Christmas Day in North Texas, which means you have two chances to see the contortionists, tight rope walkers, and multi-talented performers of Cirque Musica before or after Christmas. Tickets from $30. VIP tickets include a preshow meet and greet, premium seating and a $30 credit toward merch. 214/387-5700; comericacenter.com

A MAGICAL CIRQUE CHRISTMAS December 24

TEXAS TRUST CU THEATRE AT GRAND PRAIRIE, GRAND PRAIRIE

Make your Christmas Eve even more magical with this afternoon show starring not only aerial silk artists and acrobats but magician Lucy Darling, who the famed David Copperfield has called “a true original.” Tickets from $29.99. 972/854-5076; texastrustcutheatre.com