One million holiday lights? Yes!

By Terry Lendecker

Holiday at the Arboretum, presented by Reliant, returns with a garden transformed to get people into the holiday spirit with The Christmas Village, The 12 Days of Christmas and the 50-foot-tall Dazzling Musical Tree. These three large scale outdoor displays are perfectly designed for the 66-acre garden and are open to the public both in the daytime and evening. In the historic DeGolyer House, the Dallas Arboretum debuts The Artistry of Faith & Culture that features the three world holidays celebrated during the season: Christmas, Hannukah and Kwanzaa. The holiday festival opens November 10 and runs through December 31. 

 Holiday at the Arboretum also showcases live, seasonal performances from local schools, churches, community groups and local professionals in The Christmas Village. Other special events include a special Bishop String Quartet concert (Nov. 29 and 30) holiday tea (daily), vendor markets (select weekends) and more. Check the website and social media for the latest schedule.

 “Holiday at the Arboretum is the perfect way to celebrate the season with something for everyone,” said Dallas Arboretum board chairman Jim Ryan. “It’s a great place to bring the children and grandchildren to meet Santa Claus, learn about other holiday traditions at The Artistry of Faith & Culture exhibit and sip hot chocolate while strolling the garden. It’s magical in the evening with a million lights, too!”

 Holiday at the Arboretum opens November 9 with an official tree lighting for members only from 6 to 9 p.m., in front of the Marilyn and Ben Weber Family Christmas Pyramid Lighting at 7 p.m. Then, on Wednesday, November 10, Holiday at the Arboretum opens to the public during the daytime and nighttime. The garden opens during the evening hours until 9 p.m. Check the website for details and to purchase advance tickets.

 “At Reliant, we’re passionate about supporting the communities we serve, and lighting up the holidays is one of our favorite ways to do that,” said Andrea Russell, vice president at Reliant. “We’re excited to partner with the Dallas Arboretum to spread holiday cheer to the North Texas community and encourage everyone to get in the holiday spirit with a visit to see this spectacular display.”

Holiday at the Arboretum features more than a million lights throughout the garden, trimming the historic homes and the 30-foot-tall spruce tree in the center of the garden. It’s the perfect place for getting into the holiday spirit. 

For more information, visit dallasarboretum.org/events-activities/holiday-at-the-arboretum. The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is located on the southeastern shore of White Rock Lake at 8525 Garland Road in Dallas. 

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