It’s the most wonderful time of the year: Holiday at the Arboretum! It’s no secret that I adore the Dallas Arboretum year round but there’s something extra special about the Christmas festival.

12 Days of Christmas

This is the ten year anniversary of the 12 Days of Christmas, the exhibit that started the magic. The magical 25-foot-tall gazebos are spread out throughout the garden and feature gorgeous depictions of each line of the classic Christmas carol. They’re marvelous day or night and take you on a beautiful garden stroll amongst twinkling lights and acres of pristine landscaping.

It’s hard to choose favorites but I’m particularly fond of the snow scene set for six geese a’laying and the vibrant red hues of the two turtle doves.

Christmas Village

The Christmas Village opened in 2019 and is included with your garden admission. The adorable village is the Arboretum’s take on a German Weihnachtsmarkt. It’s the closest you’ll get to a European Christmas market right here in Texas!

I took my nieces this year and had so much fun experiencing the Christmas village through their eyes. There are tons of family-friendly photo ops – you even get to meet Santa! – plus a scavenger hunt throughout the village that delighted my four-year-old niece. Some stalls even give out little gifts like small ornaments and delicious pumpkin bread.

We even stopped in the Biergarten for enormous, soft, fluffy pretzels with beer cheese sauce. I also got hot mulled wine, aka Glühwein, to sip as we strolled through the 12 Days of Christmas. Other items available include bratwurst, beer cheese soup, apple strudel, hot chocolate, and more.

Details

Tickets range from $15-$35. You can choose to visit during the day or at night during the holiday season. Plan on at least two hours in the garden. I highly recommend going twice because there’s so much to see and it’s a totally different experience depending on what time you go! You can even enjoy a lovely holiday tea in the garden or tour the historic DeGolyer house.