Last updated: November 11, 2024
Plan your festive fun in Garland with our comprehensive event guide. From Garland residents to wandering souls, our guide unveils the city's holiday charms.
One of the standout attractions during the season is Gaylord ICE, where visitors can marvel at stunning ice sculptures and experience the art of ice carving in a winter wonderland. With enchanting lights and a lively atmosphere, the Christmas Capital of Texas embraces the joy of the holiday season. And the North Pole Express is something you definitely don’t want to miss, offering a magical train ride that brings the spirit of Christmas to life. Check out the rest of the page for more details on these and other fun events and activities!
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Garland Holiday Light Displays
Christmas Capital of Texas
- What to Expect
- Extensive holiday light displays and festive activities.
- Description
- Grapevine transforms into a vibrant holiday destination with over 1,400 festive events, featuring millions of lights, larger-than-life decorations, and animated characters.
- Where
- Grapevine | More Info : Christmas Capital of Texas
Garland Holiday Markets and Shopping
Christmas Sip and Stroll
- What to Expect
- Seasonal-inspired sips and shopping at multiple venues.
- Description
- Celebrate the holiday season with festive sips, Christmas music, photo moments, and gift shopping at The Star District. Enjoy seasonal-inspired sips, exclusive offers, and hot cocoa while exploring 15 participating shops and restaurants.
- Where
- Frisco | More Info : Christmas Sip and Stroll
Grapevine Christmas Market
- What to Expect
- Unique, handcrafted gifts from Texas artisans.
- Description
- The Grapevine Christmas Market is located in Town Square Gazebo, offering handcrafted and Texas-made gifts. Meet artisans and vendors to find unique items for everyone on your list. It's a great place to bring the whole family and learn about Texas products while shopping local.
- Where
- Grapevine | More Info : Grapevine Christmas Market
Cityline Merry Market
- What to Expect
- Unique shopping experience with local, handmade, and vintage goods.
- Description
- CityLine Merry Market is a two-day event featuring 100 local makers and vendors offering handmade and vintage treasures, unique gifts, and holiday-themed crafts. Enjoy live music, holiday joy, and a Hot Cocoa Crawl with local restaurants.
- Where
- Richardson | More Info : Cityline Merry Market
Mistletoe Market
- What to Expect
- Holiday shopping event supporting local mission partners.
- Description
- Mistletoe Market is a holiday shopping event supporting mission partners at Direction 613, offering meaningful holiday shopping experiences.
- Where
- McKinney | More Info : Mistletoe Market
Garland Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Gaylord ICE
- What to Expect
- Immersive ice sculptures and thrilling frozen slides.
- Description
- At Gaylord Texan's ICE!, witness larger-than-life ice sculptures and thrilling frozen slides as you explore scenes from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. The exhibit features hand-carved ice sculptures from over two million pounds of ice, kept at a chilly 9 degrees.
- Where
- Grapevine | More Info : Gaylord ICE
North Pole Express
- What to Expect
- Immersive holiday experience with festive decorations and special treats.
- Description
- Board the Grapevine Vintage Railroad's North Pole Express for a 45-minute holiday adventure. Enjoy classic Christmas decorations, cozy vintage coaches, and special moments with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Each ticket includes a homemade chocolate chip cookie, Frosty Chocolate Snow Milk, and a souvenir memory mug.
- Where
- Grapevine | More Info : North Pole Express
Santaland
- What to Expect
- Special wishlist technology ensures Santa knows each child's name and wish.
- Description
- Visit Santaland for a simulated train ride to the North Pole, where your child can meet Santa who already knows their name and wish list. Explore a magical moonlit forest filled with starry lights and polar bears before venturing into SNOWDAY.
- Where
- North Dallas | More Info : Santaland
Grand Holiday Ice Show
- What to Expect
- Private ice rink pods with family-friendly activities.
- Description
- The Grand Holiday Ice Show at Galleria Dallas features a breakfast buffet, face painting, and family-friendly activities leading up to a magnificent ice skating show. Each private pod overlooking the ice rink holds six people and is assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. All proceeds support the Give Kid a Seat fundraising campaign, providing free Broadway show tickets to underserved students.
- Where
- North Dallas | More Info : Grand Holiday Ice Show
Barnhill Country Christmas
- What to Expect
- Live music performance by Jingle in a rustic barn setting.
- Description
- Celebrate the holiday season at Barnhill Vineyards with live music by Jingle, hayrides, s'mores, and Santa. Enjoy an evening filled with Christmas classics and Texas wine in a rustic country setting.
- Where
- Anna | More Info : Barnhill Country Christmas
Magical Candlelight Christmas-Town
- What to Expect
- Holiday celebration with live Nativity and Father Christmas.
- Description
- Join Garland's Historic Magic for a festive evening of holiday cheer. Stroll through beautifully lit streets, visit with Father Christmas, and enjoy live music and entertainment.
- Where
- Garland | More Info : Magical Candlelight Christmas-Town
Trains at Northpark
- What to Expect
- Elaborate model train displays in a dynamic indoor setting.
- Description
- A delight for train enthusiasts and families alike, this event features an impressive display of model trains winding through intricate landscapes. Visitors can marvel at the craftsmanship as the trains traverse through detailed scenes, all while enjoying the festive atmosphere of the Northpark Center. Children and adults will find joy in watching the miniature world come to life.
- Where
- North Dallas | More Info : Trains at Northpark
Garland Other Holiday Activities
Snowland
- What to Expect
- Immersive holiday activities and visits from Santa.
- Description
- Great Wolf Lodge's Snowland is an annual holiday celebration transforming the lodge into a winter-themed event with daily snow showers, visits from Santa, seasonal crafts, and holiday stories.
- Where
- Grapevine | More Info : Snowland
Snowday
- What to Expect
- High-quality, studio-lit photo opportunities for guests.
- Description
- SNOWDAY is an immersive holiday experience at Galleria Dallas, featuring endless photo opportunities, interactive set designs, and unique photo moments with integrated cameras and studio lighting.
- Where
- North Dallas | More Info : Snowday
Santa at the Star
- What to Expect
- Cowboys-themed Santa experience with exclusive gifts.
- Description
- Visit Santa Claus at his Cowboys-themed set in the heart of The Star District. Schedule an appointment to take a photo with Santa and receive an exclusive Cowboys gift for each child. Photo packages include a printed 5x7 photo.
- Where
- Frisco | More Info : Santa at the Star
Naughty or Nice Holiday Crawl
- What to Expect
- Holiday-themed bar crawl with multiple stops.
- Description
- Join Dallasites101 for a holiday bar crawl in Legacy West, featuring a series of festive bars and venues.
- Where
- Plano | More Info : Naughty or Nice Holiday Crawl