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Fort Worthies’ Holiday Spectacular 2023
In most issues of Madeworthy, we shine a spotlight on people and organizations that make Fort Worth better in our Fort Worthies feature. For our celebrations and holiday issue, we’re focusing on holiday celebrations around town.
What began in 1983 with a crowd of only 25,000 spectators and 25 floats has grown to become Fort Worth’s most beloved holiday tradition and Texas’ largest illuminated holiday parade. The GM Financial Parade of Lights returns to the streets of downtown Fort Worth for its 41st year on November 19. Year-after-year, North Texas families gather to experience the lights on 100+ professionally designed floats, energetic marching bands, sparkling antique cars, precision equestrian units, festive horse-drawn carriages, and carolers spreading Christmas cheer along the 1.59-mile parade route. The night will conclude with Santa and Mrs. Claus appearing on the specially designed, LED-lit, grand finale float. In honor of TCU’s Sesquicentennial, head football coach Sonny Dykes will serve as the 2023 Parade of Lights’ Grand Marshal.
Lightscape returns for a second year to the Fort Worth Botanic Garden to dazzle audiences with more than one million holiday lights and never-before-seen artistic installations from around the world throughout a 1.2-mile-long winding walking trail. Beginning Nov. 17th and running select nights through Jan. 1st, this year’s Lightscape will feature all-new, custom-designed installations that will come alive with color, imagination, and sound, each of which is expertly choreographed to holiday-themed music in a completely transformed magical atmosphere. Lightscape 2023 will also feature an all-new “Christmas Village,” complete with fire pits, s’more-roasting, hot cocoa, holiday music, and photo opportunities with Santa Claus.
Grand Prairie’s Prairie Lights has become one of North Texas’ most beloved holiday traditions. With over five million lights and two miles of trails, Prairie Lights, located in Lynn Creek Park on the shores of Joe Pool Lake, is a winter wonderland, even if it doesn’t always feel like winter here. Opening on Thanksgiving, this year’s Prairie Lights will astound even the most grinchiest of Grinches with with one-of-a-kind custom displays and brand-new indoor and outdoor attractions. Photos with Santa and concessions will be available for purchase at the Holiday Village!
One of the most popular festivals in Hinduism, Diwali celebrates the victory of good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and light over darkness. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is home to a large and vibrant Hindu community. With the support of the Dallas Fort Worth Indian Cultural Society, the DFW Diwali Mela [a mela is a community fete] is the largest Diwali celebration in the United States. A grand festival of food, cultural shows, and a market, the DFW Diwali Mela takes place on November 4th at the Cotton Bowl. There will also be a kids’ zone, a Bollywood concert, laser shows, and fireworks.
Giddy up and glide! The hugely popular Rodeo Rink returns to the Fort Worth Stockyards for the second year. From November 20th through January 7th, your family can exchange their cowboy boots for skates and enjoy the ice. There are lots of yummy concessions for everyone, including Yeungling Flight Nights on Fridays and Saturdays. In addition to the ice, there’s always so much going on in the Stockyards for the holidays. From live concerts to photos with Cowboy Santa to the twice-daily cattle drives featuring the famous Fort Worth Herd which you can view as you skate, the Stockyards is the place for the holidays!
The city of Grapevine has not one but TWO holiday treats for you in 2023! On December 2nd, 9th, and 16th, the third annual Merry & Bright Christmas Drone Show will take place over Main Street. Two hundred drones will create holiday magic in the Grapevine sky that will take your breath away. And from November 24th through December 23rd, you can join Santa’s elves on a Christmas Elf Adventure! Explore Grapevine’s enchanting past as you tour Historic Grapevine. Collect stamps in your official Grapevine Elf Adventure Christmas Passport as you capture the magic of holidays past and take home your very own handmade projects.
On December 2nd, support local artisans and artists while checking off your Christmas list at the annual Clearfork Holiday Market. This free outdoor, family-friendly event will feature Santa, live music, activities, and more! Find the perfect gifts and holiday treats from your favorite weekly vendors from the Clearfork Farmers Market, along with some exciting holiday additions, all under one of the largest Christmas trees in Cowtown at The Shops at Clearfork!
Gather your family and head north for an unforgettable holiday experience. The perennially popular ICE! returns to the Gaylord Texan Resort from November 10th through December 31st. Step inside a holiday showplace like no other as you wind your way through the larger-than-life sculptures of ICE! featuring Dr. Seuss’ “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!”, zoom down thrilling frozen slides, and traverse awe-inspiring tunnels. Be sure to bundle up because this immersive, story-driven holiday showpiece really is made of, you guessed it, ICE!
No season of any ballet company could be considered complete without seeing a production of The Nutcracker. First performed in St. Petersburg in 1892 and not considered a success (!), this beloved ballet is based on E.T.A. Hoffman’s short story “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King.” Texas Ballet Theater’s (TBT) version was choreographed by their Artistic Director Emeritus, Ben Stevenson, O.B.E. While TBT will not present “The Nutty Nutcracker” as in years past, they do have a few tricks up their sleeve to delight patrons. The Nutcracker runs from December 8th through 24th at Bass Performance Hall.
The annual Candlelight Christmas in Ryan Place takes place this year on December 2nd and 3rd. This Fort Worth holiday traditions offers a mix of homes from mansions to bungalows that represent the architectural range found within the Historic Ryan Place Neighborhood. This year’s theme is “New Beginnings,” and all the houses on the tour are, in keeping with the theme, recently remodeled. Proceeds from the Tour support Ryan Place neighborhood historic preservation, infrastructure, and fellowship initiatives.
Celebrate the holidays like the Texas settlers did at Log Cabin Village. On December 2nd, you can explore historic holiday traditions with your family at Holidays at the Hearth. There will be traditional games and crafts for the whole family to enjoy, as well as an opportunity to visit with and take photos with Santa. Reservations are not required for this delightful trip back in time.
Enjoy holiday lights without ever leaving the comfort of your car at the annual Gift of Lights at the Texas Motor Speedway. From November 23rd through January 7th, your family will gasp in wonder as you drive through two miles of sparkling lights. You can play your own playlist of holiday favorites, and pets are certainly allowed (providing you keep them in the car with you). Pro tip: The shortest wait times are Sundays through Wednesdays, so plan accordingly!
