The holidays have arrived, and it’s time to make some plans. You’ll find plenty of options if you’re looking for family-friendly holiday activities in Plano. From charming Christmas villages to dazzling light displays to impressive orchestra performances, there’s no shortage of ways to celebrate this year.
Colorful Christmas at the Crayola Experience
Colorful Christmas at the Crayola Experience in The Shops at Willow Bend is a must-see this holiday season. The event focuses on an adventure to help Santa save Christmas, where guests meet characters such as Randy the Reindeer and Forest Green the Singing Christmas Tree. While they explore, children will have several opportunities to create holiday crafts, including a custom advent calendar, gingerbread ornament, and reindeer treat bag.
During your visit, you can enjoy the festive holiday music and snap some photos of the kids playing inside a life-sized snow globe. All activities are included in the general admission, and tickets are available online or at the door. Colorful Christmas runs through January 3.
Lights on the Farm at the Heritage Farmstead Museum
The Heritage Farmstead Museum is hosting the ever-popular Lights on the Farm again this year. The historic farmstead is decorated with a million twinkling lights and several animated holiday displays during this event. Guests are invited to take a quarter-mile walk through the property to admire a 20-foot Christmas tree ablaze in glittering lights and surrounded by holiday exhibits.
Treats, such as hot cocoa, kettle corn, and s’mores, are available for purchase, and pictures with Santa in his farm shop are offered for a $10 fee. Get your tickets online or in person, but note the museum recommends purchasing tickets in advance as this event often sells out. Lights on the Farm runs through December 30.
Home for the Holidays by the Plano Symphony Orchestra
The Plano Symphony Orchestra, in conjunction with The Plano Civic Chorus, presents “Home for the Holidays” again this year. The family-friendly performance includes many seasonal musical favorites, an audience sing-along, and a few fun surprises. In addition, Fela, a popular singer, and actress who starred in the Mexican production of “The Lion King,” will join the orchestra and chorus.
Productions take place on December 17 at Frisco High School and December 18 at Christ United Methodist Church. To ensure yourself a seat, purchase your tickets in advance.
Circo Metropolis
Circo Metropolis, a quirky, comical show conducted by a band of circus performers, takes place at the Samuell-Grand Theater this December. The performance is presented by Circus Kirkus in conjunction with The Laughter League and Shakespeare Dallas, two local non-profits. Enjoy the pop-up circus experience under the show’s Bavarian Big Top, where you’ll be entertained by hair-raising acrobatics, magic tricks, and slapstick comedy performances.
Proceeds from the show will benefit the Laughter League’s work in education-and-healthcare clowning in the Dallas area and beyond. Shows start December 16 and run through January 2. Tickets are available online or in person.
Christmas at the Gaylord Texan
The Gaylord Texan boasts an impressive amount of decor every holiday season, so hop in your car and make the 30-minute drive. When you arrive, stroll through the hotel’s interior and admire the acres of decorations and twinkling lights. Then, take advantage of the family-friendly activities offered, such as the Charlie Brown Christmas brunch and crafting at the Gingerbread Decorating Corner.
If you’d like to experience even more holiday cheer, check out Ice!, a winter wonderland display carved by artisans from two million pounds of colorful ice. Admire the larger-than-life sculptures inspired by “The Polar Express” and zip down ice slides in this 17,000-square-foot walk-through display. Ice! runs through January 1, and tickets are available online or in person.
Radiance! & Frozen in Frisco
Enjoy one of the largest holiday events in North Texas when you visit Radiance! and Frozen in Frisco at Riders Field. Radiance! is a dazzling, walk-through light display consisting of almost three million lights. After experiencing the lights, visit Frozen in Frisco, which consists of activities such as bumper cars, an ice-skating rink, a Christmas carousel, and a two-story, eight-lane ice hill for ice tubing.
While both Radiance! and Frozen in Frisco take place at Riders Field, each event requires its own ticket. Customize your evening by choosing one of four ticket bundles, and feel free to add attractions at any time. Both events run nightly through December 31, and tickets are available online or at the door.
Christmas in the Square
Christmas in the Square in Frisco is the largest synchronized light display and music show in North Texas and draws about 75,000 visitors every year. Featuring over 180,000 lights, the show runs from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. nightly and is free to the public. In addition to the light show, check out Park Place Plano Skate the Square, an ice-skating rink located nearby. Then, stop by Santa’s Village for a photo op with Santa Clause himself. Christmas in the Square runs through December 31.
Dallas Zoo Lights
Dallas Zoo Lights features more than a million lights and several larger-than-life animal lanterns. During your visit, enjoy festive holiday goodies, including a variety of drinks and snacks for both children and adults, as well as nightly musical performances at The Grove. Stop by the amphitheater to watch a programmed light show, and take some time to enjoy the various holiday crafts and activities, perfect for all ages.
During the event, enjoy after-hours rides on the carousel and train, and stop by Santa’s Workshop to get a picture with the man himself. Zoo Lights takes place every night through January 1, excluding December 25. Tickets are available online or in person, and zoo members get a discount.
We at Huffines Chevrolet hope you found this list of holiday activities for the family helpful. If we missed one of your favorite experiences, please let us know so we can add it. Just give us a call or send us an email. We would love to hear from you.