December in DFW is one of our favorite times of the year. Every city, big or small, seems to come alive with parades, tree lightings, hot cocoa, hometown charm, and more twinkle lights than any of us can count. Whether you’re looking for a family night out, a nostalgic small-town celebration, or an early-morning parade with a cozy blanket and coffee in hand, there’s something happening almost every weekend this month.
Here are some of the most charming, festive, and totally free events around North Texas this December:
⭐ Grapevine’s 46th Annual Parade of Lights
📅 December 4th at 7:00 PM
📍 Historic Main Street, Grapevine
Grapevine is the “Christmas Capital of Texas” for a reason. The Parade of Lights features more than 100 sparkling floats and marching bands, all traveling down the beautifully decorated Historic Main Street. This year’s theme is Storybook Parade, and of course, Santa closes the show on the final float. Arrive early — this one fills up fast!
🔗 Event details
⭐ Christmas in Burleson
📅 December 6th
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6:00 PM Parade
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8:00 PM Tree Lighting + Drone Show
📍 Burleson Plaza
This free hometown celebration starts with a festive parade, followed by live entertainment on the Plaza stage. After the show, the tree lighting kicks off alongside a holiday drone performance — a fun, modern twist to the classic small-town Christmas event.
🔗 Event details
⭐ Dickens in Downtown Plano
📅 December 6th from 4:00–9:00 PM
📍 Downtown Plano Arts District
Step into a charming, old-fashioned winter village right in the heart of Plano. Dickens features photos with Santa and the Grinch, a snow slide, cocoa walk, kids crafts, local vendors, mural painting, a Polar Express reading, and a tree lighting ceremony. It’s cozy, festive, and completely free.
🔗 Event details
⭐ Dallas Holiday Parade
📅 December 6th at 8:30 AM
📍 Downtown Dallas
A long-standing Dallas tradition, this parade transforms downtown into a big-city holiday spectacle with giant balloons, marching bands, dancers, and elaborate floats. Bring coffee, a jacket, and a blanket — it’s an early one, but worth it.
🔗 Parade info
⭐ Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting in Wylie
📅 December 7th — Parade at 6:00 PM, Tree Lighting Immediately After
📍 Historic Downtown Wylie (Ballard Avenue)
Historic Downtown Wylie always feels like a Hallmark movie set in December. Their evening parade leads right into the tree lighting celebration — a sweet, small-town event perfect for families.
🔗 Event details
⭐ Plano Holiday Parade
📅 December 13th at 2:00 PM
📍 Downtown Plano
Plano’s second parade of the season takes place during the day and features floats, community groups, marching bands, and plenty of holiday cheer. It’s run by the Rotary Clubs of Plano and draws a great crowd every year.
🔗 Parade route
Wherever you go this month, we hope you find a little sparkle, a little joy, and a whole lot of holiday magic in DFW.
Bundle up, grab some cocoa, and make some memories!
