4 calling birds at 12 days: courtesy the dallas arboretum
1 The ‘12 Days of Christmas’ — literally
The Dallas Arboretum takes the traditional tune to new heights. Want to see nine ladies dancing or seven swans swimming? The botanical garden sets up fanciful scenes with painstaking attention to detail, right down to the rhinestone-encrusted pears. Called “12 Days of Christmas at Night,” the event offers a rare chance to tour the arboretum after dark. Tickets are $12, and the event is held from 6-9 p.m. on Nov. 9-Dec. 30, excluding Christmas Eve and Christmas. Get all the details at dallasarboretum.org.
2 A forest of twinkling lights
Just up the Tollway, Addison’s Vitruvian Park transforms into a winter wonderland with hundreds of sparkling lights and unlimited holiday cheer. The celebration begins Nov. 25 with visits from Santa Claus and his reindeer, an elf balloon artist, toy drive and a performance by the John Kahn Orchestra. Musical performances continue Saturday evenings, Dec. 3, 10 and 17, respectively. The Vitruvian Lights create holiday magic until Jan. 1. Get all the details at vitruvianpark.com.
Galleria Dallas
3 The biggest tree in Dallas
You want a bigger tree? The biggest indoor Christmas tree in the country? It’s just outside our neighborhood, at Galleria Dallas at I-635 and Dallas Parkway. The mall annually showcases a 95-foot, ornament- and light-laden faux fir encircled at its base by ice that becomes a wildly popular winter break destination. Friday, Nov. 25, at noon marks the first lighting of this season’s tree, but the month of December includes Olympian Johnny Weir and skating champs Ricky Dornbush and Ryan Bradley performing Saturdays, Dec. 3, 10 and 17, respectively. All shows are free, begin at 6 p.m. and feature young local and regional athletes. Each production closes with the flashy back-flipping Missile Toes lighting the Galleria Dallas Christmas Tree with what promoters call “pyrotechnic flourish.” Learn more at galleriadallas.com.
4 On the run
Not every holiday tradition is centered on shopping or Christmas treats. Sometimes the winter months means lacing up your sneakers, pulling on a warm hat and pounding the pavements with hundreds of other people. The BMW Dallas Marathon, as well as the Half Marathon and Behringer Relay, are celebrating 46 years of athletes running the city course. This year’s event happens on Dec. 11 with races stepping off at 8:05 a.m. Find out more at bmwdallasmarathon.com.
Dallas Marathon (Photo by Danny Fulgencio)
