Month: November 2020

Christmas Bucket List 2020

Safe and Sound ways to spend a wonderful Christmas Season in 2020

Social distancing-approved Christmas events in Dallas and surroundings and inspiring activities to try at-home.
Create your own Christmas Bucket List 2020 and enjoy Holiday season to the fullest!

Social Distancing-Approved
Christmas Events in DFW

15 outdoor and drive-thru events to get into the Holiday spirits in Dallas and surroundings.

At-Home
Christmas Activities

10 delightful Christmas activities to try at home and bring Christmas joy every day in December.

Fun and safe ways to enjoy Holiday season? Check our Christmas Bucket List 2020!

Dallas Holiday season has just started and Christmas events are popping up everywhere!

Time to enjoy the best time of the year – but with safety in mind.

Discover in our Christmas Bucket List 2020 all safe and sound Holiday-themed things to do in Dallas and surroundings, and amazing activities to try at home to bring some much-needed Christmas cheer.

Ready to jump on the Christmas train?

Check our posts, select your favorite activities and events, and create your very own Christmas Bucket List 2020.

More things to do in Dallas on Holiday season?

Check our ‘Things to do in Dallas’ page.

There you will find tons of ideas, including social-distancing approved outdoor things to do.

Discover 60 outdoor things to do in Dallas and surroundings. 14 State Parks less than 1h30 from the city. 52 fun things to do in Dallas to keep you entertained all year long. DFW must-sees and hidden gems. And more.

All you need to know to make the most of your Christmas staycation in Dallas and have a blast through the end of the year!

Time to have fun!

Here you will find tons of fun ideas on how to enjoy Holiday season in Dallas and surroundings.

Now it is your turn: use them to guide you through the season and take Holiday fun to a whole new level!

And don’t forget to come back here and share your experiences.

Do you know of any other social distancing-approved Christmas events or at-home fun Holiday activities not mentioned in these posts? What are your favorite Christmas traditions?

Leave a comment below and help to spread Christmas joy!

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10 At-Home Christmas Activities for the Best Season Ever!

Fun and cozy Christmas activities to bring Holiday cheer home

From the most beloved Christmas traditions to winter-themed cozy activities, here are some delightful ideas to enjoy Holiday season safely at home.

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.”
– Clark More

10 Christmas Activities to Try at Home this Holiday Season

‘Tis the season to build everlasting memories. And 2020 calls for an especially good one!

Opportunities to celebrate Christmas at home are endless, really. But here I share with you some of my favorite Holiday-themed activities to try this year.

From America’s most beloved Christmas traditions to winter-inspired inviting activities to enjoy with friends and family, discover 10 fun ideas to celebrate Holiday season at home.

Dig into this post, make your own Christmas bucket list and dive into the Christmas spirit from the comfort of your own living room!

Looking for safe and sound things to do outside as well? Check this post for social distancing approved Christmas things to do in Dallas and surroundings.

1. Start an Advent Calendar

Advent calendars are a great Christmas tradition and a sure way to make the Christmas joy present every day throughout December. You can make your own, or choose a beautiful reusable one to be added to your annual Christmas decor.

Here are some of my favorite options. You can personalize them all, adding daily Christmas-themed small gifts, actions and activities, and bring Holiday joy to every single day of the month!

2. Decorate Gingerbread Houses and Cookies

Kids go crazy with this one! (me too, I confess)

This is a fun way to spend a cold December afternoon doing something different and that screams Christmas to me.

If you are (really) talented in the kitchen, you can dive head first into this one and make your own gingerbread houses and cookies. 

As cooking skills are not exactly one of my strengths, I usually (ok, always) go for the pre-made kits. These are my favorites:

3. Light a fire on the backyard and make s'mores under the stars listening to Christmas songs...

Making s’mores under the stars wintertime is a must. Pair it with Christmas songs (and a good glass of wine, I won’t tell anyone) and you have the best Holiday activity ever!

No firepit? No problem? This inexpensive portable firepit will do the trick. I’ve had it for about a year know and it more than does the job – great memories are being made around it!

I also recommend you getting extendable marshmallow sticks. I didn’t even know they existed until recently (shame on me) and they were a game changer in my s’mores skills .

4. ...or take the fun indoors and do the same in front of the fireplace!

If all you want for Christmas is to stay cozy and warm INSIDE the house, lit your firepit and make some s’mores in the comfort of your living room.

Go mess free with this electric s’mores maker from Nostalgia.

I also prefer to use ceramic logs indoors. They give you the look and the heat without the toxic fumes and are my newest Holiday season inversion – I would say it is a pretty good one!

5. Have the best Christmas decor ever

Because IMHO 2020 simply asks for that!

But no need to go bankrupt to do so. Being creative and doing a lot of research, you can find inexpensive ways to give your home a Holiday facelift on a budget.

You can find a lot of cool basic stuff on discount stores. For more elaborated – and usually expensive – items,  Amazon offers some excellent Christmas decor deals.

Here are some of my favorite findings for this season:

6. Have a small fondue and wine gathering.

This is another winter favorite: fondue. If you have never tried it, it is time to fix this huge anomaly lol.

Here you can find some simple recipes (WARNING: don’t click on them if you are hungry . Just did. Big big mistake):

Classic Swiss Cheese Fondue Recipe
Coq Au Vin Meat Fondue Recipe
Chocolate Fondue Recipe

You can go mess-free and try an electric fondue set. What is a great option specially if you have little ones around. You cannot go wrong with this one from Cuisinart, I’ve actually worked with this brand eaons ago and it is super high quality:

But I really LOVE the traditional fondue sets. I love the cast iron look and there is something mesmerizing about the flame under the pan, it brings me some very good old memories:

Tip: we are in the era of small gatherings. But if you have more people coming, you can always buy inexpensive extra fondue forks to increase the capacity of your fondue set:

Invest in good wine tumblers for the perfect fondue and wine gathering. If you know a little about wine, Riedel is a brand that needs no introduction:

7. Welcome the Elf on the Shelf home.

This is one of my favorite American Christmas traditions. And one that I really make a point in doing every single year for my kiddos.

Because well, you are only a kid once, and the look in their faces when they wake up and see something silly “the Elf” did the night before truly pays off EVERY effort (yes, I eventually always run out of creative ideas and get sick of the poor little Elf by the end of the season lol).

 

You find the original Elf on the Self in many retail stores, and it comes with a book telling his whole story, prefect to read to the kids and get them into the fairytale vibe. 

It usually sells out virtually every year before Christmas. So, if you cannot find it around, you mind consider this kit from Amazon that comes with some cute extras and, at least in the day I wrote this post, was the only one still available for next day delivery:

If the Elf on the Shelf tradition is something new to you, here is the whole story and how it works. 

8. Write a letter to Santa and hang Christmas stockings

Here is the deal: Santa will need to know WHAT you want for Christmas to decide wether you deserve it or not according to the Elf reports…

And then he will need a PLACE to leave these presents on Christmas night!

Keep the magic going by writing Christmas letters with the little ones and leaving them by the Elf – without touching him or he will loose his magic – to be delivered to Santa.

Then get yourself some beautiful stockings and stocking holders to complete your already awesome Christmas decor.

9. Have a Christmas Movie Marathon in your xmas jammies

Watching Rudolph in your jammies, eating popcorn and drinking hot cocoa, is a must during Holiday season. And probably one of the easiest ways around to get into the Christmas spirits.

For all-time classics, make sure to include  Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964), A Christmas Carol (1938), It’s a Wonderful Life (1946), and Miracle on 34th Street (1947) in your list.

For the “new-classics”, A Christmas Story (1983), Home Alone (1990), The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992), The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), and Elf (2003) are musts.

I also absolutely love the much more recent Klaus (2019) and The Christmas Chronicles 1(2018) and 2 (2020).

And new titles abound and will be available in every stream platform starting right now!

10. Read Christmas stories to your kids every night in December

Have little ones who love to hear a story before going to bed? Transform it into a Christmas activity reading Holiday-inspired tales, sure to bring Christmas joy every night in December.

This is an easy yet meaningful Christmas activity, and a great way of assuring sweet dreams and keeping the spirits high from sunrise to dawn.

You can get one book with several short stories like this one:

Or invest in a small Christmas library. Here are some of the recommended Holiday-themed books to consider:

Summing Up

The Grinch will NOT steal Christmas!

This year things are a little different. But it doesn’t mean we cannot have fun and a heartwarming Holiday Season. It is actually quite the opposite: we need that now more than ever!

Being creative it is still absolutely possible to have the time of your life while keeping safe, by engaging in fun Christmas activities at home or in outdoor social-distancing approved activities.

Here you found 10 cheerful ideas on how to enjoy Christmas Season in your house and have a blast in the upcoming weeks.

Choose your favorites and go create memories with your loved ones to be cherished forever!

Do you have a favorite Christmas tradition not mentioned here? Share your fun ideas in the comments section below.

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Christmas in Dallas 2020: Social Distancing Approved Things to Do

Dive headfirst into the Holiday spirit and light up the year!

Discover 18 social distance approved Christmas things to do in Dallas Fort Worth in 2020 and warm up to the season.

“Peace on earth will come to stay,
When we live Christmas every day.” 

― Helen Steiner Rice

Top things to do this Christmas in Dallas Fort Worth

The best time of the year is just around the corner. Time to put our Santa’s hats on and do some serious work to build everlasting and forever cherished memories!

This year has been a little “different” – to say the least – and the new normal requires a lot of creativity to enjoy Christmas season safely.

Luckily, Dallas offers super cool Holiday-themed outdoor attractions and social distance-friendly events. And knowing where to go you can still have the time of your life while keeping safe.

18 safe and sound Christmas events and activities in Dallas and surroundings

Ready for some – much-needed – Holiday cheer? 

In this post you will find 18 ideas on how to safely enjoy Christmas in Dallas. 

Superb drive-thru experiences to admire the best Christmas Lights Displays in Dallas Fort Worth. Cozy and heartwarming outdoor events. The best neighborhoods to drive around and see the Christmas lights for free. Drive-in theaters featuring Christmas movies. And even Christmas tree farms to choose and cut your own pine tree.

Chose below your favorites and have a holly jolly Christmas! 

 

Christmas Lights Drive-Thru Displays in DFW

The Dallas Zoo Lights Christmas event goes100% drive-thru this year. An amazing and safe way to get into the Christmas vibe in DFW. Photo courtesy by the Dallas Zoo.

Dallas traditional drive-thru Christmas Lights Displays are trendier than ever. Guaranteed to wow you and 100% social distancing-approved, they are a sure way of getting into the Christmas vibe while keeping safe.

Dallas Zoo Lights, Gift of Lights, Radiance Christmas Lights, Prairie Lights and Magic of Lights are this year top pics.

Check their website below for detailed info to plan your visit and buy tickets online in advance (most places require that as part of the safety measures implemented to avoid the spread of COVID-19).

Take with you some inexpensive Magic Christmas Glasses for cool 3D effects while seeing the Christmas lights. I discovered those in a Thanksgiving trip to Arizona last year and fell in love with them!

Here are details on the 5 most amazing drive-thru Christmas Lights Displays to experience this Holiday season in Dallas Fort Worth:

1. Dallas Zoo Lights

When
Nov. 20th – Jan 3rd, 2021 │36 select nights: 6:30 – 9:30 pm

Where
Dallas Zoo – 650 S. R. L. Thornton Freeway, Dallas, TX  75203

Prices
USD 65.00 per car (members USD 50.00 per car)

More Info and Tickets

2. Gift of Lights @ Texas Motor Speedway

When
Nov 26th – Jan 3rd, 2021 │ Friday & Saturday: 6pm-10pm / Sunday – Thursday 6pm-9pm

Where
Texas Motor Speedway – 3545 Lone Star Cir, Fort Worth, TX 76177

Prices 
USD 30.00 to USD 60.00 per vehicle

More info and tickets

3. Radiance Christmas Lights @ Dr. Pepper Ballpark

When
Nov 11th – Jan 3rd, 2021 │ Every night from 5:30 pm (closes at 10pm or 11pm depending on the day, check their calendar)

Where
Dr. Pepper Ballpark – 7300 Roughriders Trail, Frisco, TX 75034
Locations also in Decatur and Weatherford, about one hour away from Dallas.

Prices
Regular Admission: USD 30.00 per vehicle/ VIP Admission: USD 50 per vehicle (includes hot chocolate, dedicated VIP line and magic glasses for kids). 

More Info and Tickets

4. Prairie Lights

When
Thanksgiving Night through New Year’s Eve 2020 │ Every night: 6pm-10pm

Where
Lynn Creek Park – 5610 Lake Ridge Pkwy, Grand Prairie, TX 75052

Prices
USD 30.00 and up per vehicle/ Fast Pass: USD 99 and up per vehicle

More Info and Tickets

5. Magic of Lights

When 
Nov 20th – Jan 2nd, 2021 │ 6pm – 10pm (closed on Dec. 31st)

Where 
Little Elm Park – 701 West Eldorado Parkway, Little Elm, TX

Prices
USD 26.00 to USD 100.00 per vehicle

More Info and Tickets

Christmas Lights Walkthrough Outdoor Events in Dallas

Looking for something more active but still safe? Put your fancy winter coat on, grab a hot chocolate and walk-through Dallas most beautiful outdoor light displays!

Considered one of the best Christmas events in Texas, the Holiday at the Arboretum is a must-visit in Dallas. Beautiful Holiday-themed gazebos, an adorable Christmas Village and tons of lights transform the already gorgeous botanical garden into a Holiday wonderland and one of the most popular Christmas attractions in DFW.

The traditional Lone Star Christmas at Gaylord Texan features for the first time a 100% outdoor attraction, especially designed with social distance in mind. The Yuletide Bright is a light and lantern walkthrough event, that will take you through 50,000 square feet of pure Christmas magic!

And finally, for an outstanding free and pet-friendly alternative, try the famous Vitruvian Lights, a beautiful Christmas Lights display at Vitruvian Park, perfect for a winter leisure walk.

Be prepared for awesome photo-ops and create instant memories with family and friends.
👇👇👇

Here you find detailed information on the best outdoor Christmas events in Dallas to check on this Holiday season:

6. Holiday at the Arboretum

When
Daytime:
Nov. 7th – Dec. 31th, 2020 (Christmas Village opens on Nov. 27th) │ 9am – 5pm
12 Days of Christmas at Night: 
Nov 11-25: Wed–Sun 6–9pm │ Nov 27-Dec 30: Sun–Wed 6–9pm;  Thu–Sat 6–10pm

Where
Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens – 8525 Garland Road, Dallas, Texas 75218

Prices
Daytime admission: USD 12.00 to USD 17.00 per person (members free)
Night admission: USD 10.00 to USD 25.00 per person 

More Info and Tickets

7. Yuletide Bright @ Gaylord Texan

When
Nov. 13th – Jan. 3rd, 2021

Where
Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center – 1501 Gaylord Trail, Grapevine, Texas 76051

Prices 
$15.00 per Adult/ $10.00 per Child (4-11)

More Info and Tickets

8. Vitruvian Lights

When
Nov. 27th – Jan. 3rd, 2021│ At night

Where
Vitruvian Park in Addison – 3875 Ponte Ave, Addison, TX 75001

FREE EVENT

More Info

Best Dallas Neighborhoods for Holiday Light Displays

Most neighborhoods and home owners in Texas do an outstanding job decorating their houses and great Christmas lights displays can be found in virtually any neighborhood in Dallas and surroundings.

But if you want to go big, choose traditional Dallas locations, known for presenting jaw-dropping Christmas light displays year after year.

The best part? These are totally free Christmas lights displays! Simply choose the closest to you, grab your hot cocoa and go enjoy.
👇👇👇

Here are some of the best Dallas neighborhoods to drive during Holiday season for Christmas lights:

9. Highland Park Christmas Lights, Dallas

The most traditional and impressive neighborhood Christmas lights displays in Dallas.

Drive the area within Armstrong Pkwy, Preston Rd, Mockingbird Ln and surroundings to admire the awe-inspiring Christmas decor. Or go fancy and take a carriage ride.

10. Interlochen Christmas Lights Displays, Arlington

Beautiful lights, among the best in the Dallas area. Interlochen neighborhood homeowners do an outstanding job decorating their homes and keeping alive the Christmas magic.

Start your driving tour at 2001 Westwood Drive, in Arlington and just follow the flow. Prepare for some traffic, especially on weekends.

11. Deerfield Neighborhood Holiday Lights Display, Plano

In Northwest Plano between Preston Rd. and Coit Rd, Deerfield is another neighborhood offering a gorgeous Christmas light display.

A popular destination during the Holidays and free Christmas attraction in the Dallas surroundings, Deerfield can also be experienced through carriage tours. For more info check the Deerfield Homeowners Association page.

Outdoor Christmas Movies at Drive-in Theaters in DFW

If you’ve never watched a movie from the trunk of your car, ’tis the season’ to finally fix it! 

Enjoying a movie outdoors under the stars in a local drive-in theater is an amazing experience year-round. But Christmas makes it even more special. 

Head to the nearest drive-in movie theater to enjoy a Christmas movie. Use blankets and some pillows to turn your trunk into the coziest movie theater ever. 
👇👇👇

Order popcorn and some treats and voila: you have the most amazing Christmas activity and a memory to treasure forever.

Here are some of the coolest drive-in theaters in DFW to try this Holiday season. 

12. Drive-In at the Central

Where 
2999 N Carroll Ave, Dallas, TX 75204

Prices
USD 28.00 to USD 35.00 per car

Movies Schedule and Tickets

13. Coyote Drive-In

Where 
223 NE 4th Street, Fort Worth, TX 76164

Prices 
$8 Adults (age 12+)/ $5 Kids (5 – 11)/ Ages 4 & under are Free

Movies Schedule and Tickets

"Choose and cut your own Christmas tree" pine tree farms near Dallas

It doesn’t matter if you are creating a new Holiday tradition or keeping one alive: cutting your own Christmas tree as a family is a neat experience and a sure way to bring Christmas bliss to you and your loved ones life.

Several Christmas tree farms in Dallas Fort Worth and surroundings offers this opportunity. Here you find some recommendations to try right after Thanksgiving. 

Handsaw, assistance, hayrides to and from the field and tree wrap are usually provided without extra cost. Some of these places offer fun activities for the family besides the Christmas tree experience itself, click on the links for more information. And bring money! – some places will only take cash and check.

Plan ahead and make it a family Christmas day: have your ornaments ready for when you get back home carrying your beautiful pine tree, and spent the rest of the day decorating, it listening to Christmas carols and drinking hot cocoa.

This are the recommended Christmas tree farms in the Dallas surroundings to go cut your own pine tree:

14. Lone Star Pines

Where
10706 CR-350, Terrell, Texas 75161

When 
Saturdays and Sundays – from Friday, Nov 27 through Dec 13th, 2020

Prices 
$7.75 per foot

More Info

15. Elves Christmas Tree Farm

Where
601 Harvey Ln., Denison, Texas – 75020

When
From Nov 27, 2020  
Weekdays 3pm-5pm (except the first day, open from 10 am-5pm)/ Sat 10am-5pm/ Sun 1pm-5pm

Prices
$8.00 per foot according to size and shape

More Info

16. Walls Family Farm

Where
11051 Co Rd 2312, Terrell, TX 75160

When
Open from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday after Thanksgiving and before Christmas

Prices
$8.00 per foot

More Info

17. 4D Farm

Where
3900 Upper Denton Rd, Weatherford, TX 76085

When
Open from November 28th, 9-4 on Saturdays and 1-4 on Sundays

Prices
Varies per type of tree. Check their website for more info.

More Info

18. Kadee Christmas Tree Farm

Where
5054 US-69, Greenville, TX 75402

When
Closed Thanksgiving Day
Open Saturday and Sunday, November 21-22, 2020 10AM – 7PM
Open Mon – Fri 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM/ Sat – Sun 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM

Prices
From $ 44.00 for a 6ft Scotch Pine Tree. Check their website for other varieties and sizes prices. 

More Info

Summing Up

Holiday vibes in Dallas and surroundings

In this post I shared with you 18 places to enjoy Christmas season in Dallas and surroundings while keeping safe.

Holiday-themed things to do in DFW and its suburbs, including the best Christmas Lights Displays – paid and free, Christmas tree farms, and open-air drive-in theaters to watch Christmas movies without leaving your car.

I hope it helps you to have the time of your life in the upcoming weeks and create some much-needed good memories for 2020.

Merry Christmas and may 2021 bring us renewed hope and faith! 

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