Holiday season in full swing as North Texas Christmas events kick off

FORT WORTH (UKTN) — Thanksgiving may be over, but the holiday fun continues tonight and all weekend. North Texas Christmas celebrations and light shows are opening up for the season.

The Fort Worth Stockyards is expecting about 30,000 visitors Friday to mark the start of the holiday season.

Cowboy Santa made his grand entrance earlier in the day and will light the 40-foot tree in a special ceremony at 6 p.m.

“We are officially kicking off our Christmas celebrations,” said Ethan Cartwright of Stockyards Heritage Development.

The first annual Stockyards Rodeo Rink, a professional ice rink spanning over 4,000 square feet, will take over the lawn of the Livestock Exchange Building from November 25 through February 5 and will feature celebratory programming such as photos with Cowboy Santa, live music, Cocoa Corral , a picnic area, fire pits, spectacular fairy lights and a 12-foot Christmas tree.

“Nothing beats the Stockyards,” said Cartwright. “Our lights are spectacular.”

But if you’re looking for a Christmas event with some German roots, Arlington is the place to be for the 2022 Texas Christkindle Market.

“It’s like a little village where you can shop, enjoy food, smell the smells and even visit Sinterklaas,” says the market manager, Henry Lewczyk.

The free outdoor market is open daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. through December 23. The opening ceremony and the lighting of the Christmas tree will take place on Friday evening at 7 p.m

“It’s fun to go to a lot of events,” said Holly Nguyen, who took her four-month-old son to Christkindle Market to take pictures with Santa. “Especially for his first Christmas.”

Dallas and McKinney all host holiday parties as well.

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

• Historic Center of McKinney
• Free entrance
• Friday November 25, 10:30 AM to 9:00 PM • Tree lighting at 6:15 PM
• Saturday, November 26 from 10:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m
• Sunday, November 27 from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm
• For more information, visit their website.

ENCHANT DALLAS

• Fair Park in Dallas
• Holiday light experience spans 10 acres and includes the installation of over 4 million sparkling, multicolored lights
• Open Friday, November 25 at 6 p.m
• Will shine every night on New Year’s Day
• For more information, visit their website.