Don’t Miss The 6+ Best Winter Activities in Dallas

📷 Frisco Square

Nothing makes winter more magical than the twinkling lights covering homes and buildings around the city. Take a drive around one of the many neighborhoods or light shows that decorate the Metroplex.

Enjoy over 180,000 choreographed lights just north of Dallas at Frisco’s Christmas in the Square. Visit Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth to view the Gift of Lights show. Drive or take a carriage through Highland Park’s Christmas Lights Celebration. Holiday lights are one of our favorite winter activities in Dallas!

When you think winter activities, what do you think of? We bet ice skating is one of the first things that comes to mind, and Dallas has plenty of places to enjoy this sport!

Whether you can land a triple-axel or just want to hold onto the wall, skating at Galleria Dallas is a must-do. This large indoor rink features the largest indoor Christmas tree in the nation.

If you’re in the not-so-confident camp, sign up for skate lessons to really get the hang of one of our favorite winter activities in Dallas!

Each winter, the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden transforms into a festive, enchanting land for their Holiday at the Arboretum. The garden is filled with holiday-themed decor, including the beloved Christmas Village, the 12 Days of Christmas and the Dazzling Musical Tree.

Together with your friends, family or significant other, admire the over one million twinkling lights and listen to the seasonal music as you move through the gardens. Check out their online calendar of daily and periodic activities to not miss events like cooking and floral demonstrations, holiday tea, and more!

Their numerous activities and magical decor make this a top must-see winter activity in Dallas!

Another one of our favorite winter activities in Dallas is located in Galleria Dallas! A premier holiday experience, Snowday is an immersive photo experience centered around all things winter! This explorable adventure is filled with Instagrammable photo ops ready for you to strike a pose.

If you have some young ones in your group, add on the Santaland experience to get them in the holiday spirit! This multi-sensory immersive train experience will enchant young riders, especially when Santa knows their names and exactly what they want for Christmas!

A luxurious holiday tradition, you won’t want to miss Holiday Tea at the Adolphus as you check off your list of winter activities in Dallas! The hotel’s typical tea offering gets a seasonal facelift with elaborate decor, seasonal music and inspired menus sure to give you a memorable experience.

Winter is the time for gift giving, which means gift shopping is one of our favorite winter activities in Dallas! If you are still searching for the perfect gifts for all of the people on your list, the Dallas Farmers Market’s holiday markets are the perfect place to shop for unique, artisan crafts while supporting local small businesses.

Every weekend, visit their Holiday M.A.D.E. (Makers, Artisans, Designers, Eats) Market to browse their curated selection of gifts and wares. We love shopping small and your gift recipients will too!

You can’t let a winter season pass you by without enjoying a delicious cup of hot chocolate, and there’s no better place to do it than Chocolate Secrets. Located on Oak Lawn Avenue, this shop’s superior chocolate treats are no secret and have been perfected since the shop’s opening in 2003.

Order a classic, rich dark chocolate hot chocolate to warm you up in the winter months. For something more unique, order their English toffee, white chocolate peppermint or Mexican spice hot chocolates. Don’t pass up one of the most quintessential winter activities in Dallas with this delicious cup of hot chocolate.

📷 Gaylord Texan

With Texas weather, there’s no way of knowing whether we’ll get snow this year — or even ice – but you can definitely get your cold weather fix at ICE! This annual event at the Gaylord Texan features the classic story of the Polar Express.

Bundle up in the signature blue parka and explore a winter wonderland carved by expert artisans out of two million pounds of colorful ice. This is one of our favorite winter activities in Dallas for fun with the whole family!