holiday(thanksgiving/xmas/new years) events in the dallas area? (Plano: city hall, houses)

[sheisaeval]

Just wondering if anyone had any suggestions for thanksgiving, christmas, or new years events in the Dallas/Plano area? Such as maybe parades, any areas with the best holiday lights, decorated/costumed events, festivals, etc anything.

Only requirement is that the Christmas event has to be after December 11, and some that I saw were before.

[TXTwizter]

This is the link to the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau. I hope this helps.

Event Calendar

[FarNorthDallas]

Here's a link to the New Years Parade downtown on Dec. 31.
AT&T New Year’s Parade - A Holiday Tradition Returns to Downtown Dallas!

The trains at Northpark are cool. Galleria Mall does something, too, during the holiday season, but I am drawing a blank.

You can take a carriage ride in Highland Park
Holiday Carriage rides in Highland Park at Belle Starre Carriages (Saturday, November 24, 2007) - Upcoming

Richardson does Santa's Village outside city hall and the library.
Santa's Village in Richardson, Texas (broken link)

[part_iv]

Highland Park does horse-drawn carriage rides around the neighborhood, and I've always thought that was really fun. They have blankets to wrap up in and hot chocolate on hand so you don't get too chilly.

[MaryS80]

The Adolphus parade in downtown.

[hamiltonpl]

Highland Park for Christmas lights. Especially Beverly Drive. Hunters Glen is good in University Park. Then the Adolphus Christmas parade in downtown Dallas.

Plano is the best place in the area to view cheap tract homes. Try counting the number of houses that look exactly alike, but with a different shade of red brick. It's super! Lot's going for it.

[Spree]

I have to give a shameless plug for The Night Before Christmas ballet program put on by the Dallas Metropolitan Ballet, December 15 & 16 at the McFarlin Theater on the SMU campus. This is put on by talented young ballet dancers from the community as well as guest artists. Tickets can be found at the Etgen-Atkinson ballet studio on Hillcrest in Snider Plaza, kitty-corner from SMU or through ticketmaster.

>>The Directors of the Dallas Metropolitan Ballet, Ann Etgen and Bill Atkinson, would like to share with you and your children the magical production of "The Night Before Christmas". This is a full length story of Clement E. Moore's "A Visit to St. Nicholas". This Christmas Extravaganza will have a cast of over 40 Dallas Metropolitan Ballet dancers with sets and props by Peter Wolf.

You will see: Santa Claus, The Christmas Fairy, Frosty the Snowman, Clowns, Jack-in-the Box, Raggedy Ann and Andy, Dancing Peppermint Sticks, Gingerbread Men and the very popular Mischief Dance and many, many more Christmas characters to delight everyone. Check out our Christmas Boutique.

Guest artist will be Julie Diana and Zachary Hench, Principals of Pennsylvania Ballet.<<

[Spree]

Also, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra will be at the AA Center, I believe the week after Christmas.

[Lakewooder]

I think the Turtle Creek Chorale has a Christmas Show each year at the Meyerson.

[lizziebeth]

Originally Posted by MaryS80

The Adolphus parade in downtown.

I agree...I've volunteered for the parade for a number of years and it's great! I think it's on December 1. It's from 10-11 and is televised on Channel 8. The bleacher seats may be sold out (contact Children's Medical Center for details) but there are plenty of places to sit. The parade starts west of the Adolphus on Commerce, turns right after 6 blocks or so and ends at City Hall. The closer to City Hall you sit, the later your view of the parade will begin and end.

They estimate 6 figures worth of people each year and that's probably accurate. Get there early for a curb seat! Or, as some people do, tailgate in one of the lots on the route streets and have breakfast, hot cocoa, etc.

It is a pretty good parade. There are lots of floats, dance teams and bands. Of course, Santa and Mrs. Claus make their debut at the end of the parade. I don't have kids so this is where I learned about Angelina Ballerina and Bob the Builder. My favorite groups are the Hardin-Simmons band and the Tap Dazzlers (women of a certain age who tap dance their way down the street).

The parade benefits Children's Medical Center and many of the kids on the floats and in the cars on the route are current or former patients at Children's.

Also, I love the carriage rides through Highland Park. Actually, for exercise, I walk the route through HP several times during the holidays. Armstrong and some other roads get pretty crowded so I often pass cars as I walk.