– Bedford
Until recently, only locals knew about the quaint themed displays in this tiny, hard-to-find Bedford subdivision. The secret's out, and it's well worth a cross-county jaunt. "The Night Before Christmas ... In Texas, That Is" features 10 floodlighted custom signs, each with a Tex-ified verse of the famous holiday poem, strewn along a short four-street route. Expect to see 10-gallon-hat wreaths, multicolored picket fences and Santa's Flying Armadillo Express. Don't miss the snowman-populated ice rink and animatronic "Santa's Workshop" at 3500 Huntington Lane: It's in a cul-de-sac just before the tour's end. Nearly every lawn is outlined in red lights, making the presentation impressively cohesive. Finally, make the trip an early one as some residents extinguish their displays well before 10 p.m.
WHEN: Every night from 6 to 9 through Jan. 2.
WHERE: From Airport Freeway, exit at Central Drive and go north to Cummings Drive (one stoplight north of Harwood Road). Then go west to Brookside Drive and turn south to enter the neighborhood. From there, follow the "This way, partner" signs. Fort Worth Mapsco Page 54-K, F and B, then Page 40-X.
ADMISSION: Free.
– Mike Daniel
SPRINGPARK
– Garland
This Garland neighborhood, with its greenbelts and ponds, knows how to twinkle and shine for the holidays. Many of the cul-de-sacs take on themes, such as "Winter Wonderland" on North Spring Court and "Gifts of the Season" on Cross Timbers Lane. In "Hawaiian Christmas" at Wheatfield and Cross Timbers, pink flamingos mingle with reindeer donning sunglasses and leis, and Santa lounges in his captain's hat, champagne in hand. The kids will particularly enjoy the story of Frosty the Snowman on Cottonwood Court.
WHERE: From Jupiter Road, go east on Springpark Way and weave in and out of the surrounding streets. Dallas Mapsco Page 8-R.
ADMISSION: Free.
– Deborah Voorhees
HIGHLAND PARK
– Dallas
The 21-block area bordered by Preston Road on the east, Armstrong Parkway on the south and west, and Mockingbird Lane on the north has been a long-standing destination for seeing exquisite, tasteful holiday displays. Even with home tear-downs pockmarking the area, you'll still find enough festive figurines, green garland with red trimmings and color-coordinated light themes to make this trip memorable. The majestic "Prince of the Parkway" pecan tree at Armstrong and Preston still reigns supreme as a touchstone of holiday tradition.
WHERE: Mapsco Page 35-J, K, N, P.
ADMISSION: Free.
PRESTON HOLLOW
– Dallas
Older homes in this 1950s neighborhood feature retro, multicolored C-9 bulbs along rooflines. From Forest Lane, go south on Preston Haven Drive, south on Royalshire, east on Northaven Road, south on Edgemere to the side streets south of Royal Lane, west of Hillcrest Road, east of Preston Road and north of Meadow Road. Mapsco 15-X, then Mapsco 25-B, C, G and L. Newer homes on Waggoner Drive west of Hillcrest Road feature trees tightly wrapped in twinkle lights (Mapsco 25-M). Look for a Western Santa at Desco Drive and Edgemere (Mapsco 25-Q) and an animatronic panda bear band at Deloache Avenue and Preston Hollow Lane (Mapsco 25-T).
ADMISSION: Free.
– Nancy Moore
FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS
– Arlington
High Point Church marks its second year of hosting the drive-through playground of lights. The course includes more than 5 million twinkling lights on more than 120 moving displays and 100 decorated trees in all colors. Glowing scenes include holiday toys, a dinosaur village, sports, trains, cars and a candy land. There are also a petting zoo, a food court and a holiday market. A live Nativity scene is presented on the weekends.
WHEN: Sundays through Thursdays from 6 to 10 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 6 p.m. to midnight. Through Dec. 31.
WHERE: High Point Church, 2500 E. Arbrook Blvd. (northwest corner of Interstate 20 and State Highway 360), Arlington. From Interstate 30, take Highway 360 south and exit at Mayfield Road. Stay on the access road to the main entrance, which is south of Arbrook. Or from Interstate 20, take Highway 360 north and exit at Mayfield Road. Loop underneath 360 to head south on the access road. Fort Worth Mapsco Page 98-E and J.
ADMISSION: Free, donations accepted.
PHONE: 817-394-3131.
WEB SITE: www.churchunusual.com
– Toni Edwards
INTERLOCHEN
– Arlington
The bright lights in Arlington's northwest neighborhood have been packing in lines of traffic for more than 25 years. The residential lighting display kicks into high gear on Friday, and many people come from all around North Texas to take in the gleaming spectacle. The tour takes one to two hours, depending on traffic, and officers will help direct visitors in their vehicles through the streets. Your best bet is probably to plan a visit during the week rather than on the weekend. The area also has canals, which are decorated in the holiday spirit. Houses include elaborate displays with lighted train sets, golden reindeer, large inflatable characters, nativity scenes, and, of course, Santa Claus. One house features a mechanical version of the man in the red suit that looks incredibly lifelike.
WHEN: The community is usually aglow from 6 to 11 p.m. through Dec. 25.
WHERE: Enter at Westwood Drive from Randol Mill Road, south of Interstate 30 and west of Fielder Road. Look for Findlay, Portofino and Loch Lomond drives, and Crowley Road. Fort Worth Mapsco Page 82-A, then Page 81-D and C.
ADMISSION: Free.
– Toni Edwards
DEERFIELD NEIGHBORHOOD
– Plano
This 700-home planned community's holiday lighting contest is a perennial favorite. At least half the houses feature elaborate setups using large cutouts, front-yard displays (a large inflatable Grinch and Nativity scene made entirely of lights are particularly festive) and, of course, scores of colored lights.
WHERE: Take the Dallas North Tollway to Legacy Drive, go east for 2.5 miles (across Preston Road) and turn north on Archgate Drive into the neighborhood. Dallas Mapsco Page 555-R, then Page 556-N, T, U and V.
ADMISSION: Free.
– Gary Dowell
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HIDDEN COVE PARK
– The Colony
Local businesses decorate Hidden Cove Park for the Christmas Lights at the Lake event, which runs daily from 6 to 10 p.m. through Dec. 21. Highlights include a Nativity scene, Santa and a snowman on a moving teeter-totter, and a gingerbread house. More unusual displays include flamingos and dolphins. Hidden Cove is an appropriate name for the park – it's tucked away on the east central shore of Lewisville Lake, and you have to navigate some twisting, bumpy roads to get there. Santa and carolers are scheduled to make appearances on weekends.
WHERE: From State Highway 121, go north on FM423 and west on Hackberry Road. From Hackberry, follow the signs to Hidden Cove Park. Dallas Mapsco Page 554-W; Page 553-Z, V, R, M, H, D; Page 454-W, S, N and J; Page 453-M, L, K, J and N.
ADMISSION: Free (contrary to the signs that say to stop and pay to enter), although a donation of food, a toy or cash is requested. Donations will go to the Denton County Friends of the Family.
INFORMATION: www.hiddencovepark.com or 972-292-1001.
– Ann Pinson
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
ARLINGTON Wimbledon area: Take Cooper Street south from Interstate 20, then go west on Bardin Road, south on Racquet Club Drive. Good streets include Coventry Lane, Wimbledon Drive, Bridgewater Drive and River Ridge Road. Fort Worth Mapsco Page 96-P, N, S and T.
COLLEYVILLE Woodland Hills neighborhood: Take Glade Road west from State Highway 121, then go south on Martin Parkway. Good side streets include Queensbury Way, Crossgate Circle and Eaton Circle. Fort Worth Mapsco Page 41-P and N, then Page 40-R.
FARMERS BRANCH Christmas Tour of Lights starts at Valley View Lane and Interstate 35. Follow the candy canes east to City Hall and to the Farmers Branch Historical Park, 2540 Farmers Branch Lane. Dallas Mapsco 12-V. Friday through Sunday and Tuesday through Dec. 21, Dec. 23-24, 26-28 and 30-31 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. 972-919-2631.
FORT WORTH Downtown: Fourth and Main streets. From Highway 287, exit Fourth Street west to Main Street. Fort Worth Mapsco Page 63-W.
• Stockyards: Exchange Street off North Main Street. From Interstate 35, exit Northeast 28th Street west, then go south on North Main Street. Fort Worth Mapsco Page 63-F and E, then Page 62-H and G.
• Ridglea area: From Interstate 30, exit Camp Bowie Boulevard south, then head north on Ridglea Avenue. Good streets include Rosemont, Kenwick and Locke avenues and Edgehill Road. Fort Worth Mapsco Page 74-M, L and K.
• River Crest: From Camp Bowie, go west on Crestline Road, north on Hillcrest Street, West on West Seventh Street and south on Alta Drive. Mapsco Pages 75-D and C.
FRISCO Prestmont area: From the intersection of State Highway 121 and Preston Road, go north on Preston, east on Prestmont Place, north on Fairfield Place, east on Max Lane, north on Bryson Drive, and east on Mallory Drive. Dallas Mapsco Page 556-F, B and C, then Page 456-Y and Z.
GRAND PRAIRIE Westchester area: From Interstate 20, exit Carrier Parkway south, then go east on Westchester Drive or Bardin Road. Good side streets include Clayton and Winston. Dallas Mapsco Page 61-R and V.
GRAPEVINE Downtown historic district: From State Highway 114, exit Main Street and go north about one mile. Fort Worth Mapsco Page 27-V, R and M.
GREENVILLE Brown family property: Some 350 trees holding 300,000 lights are decorated. Head east on Interstate 30 from Dallas, and take exit 97. Go north on Lamar Street, east on FM499, and north on County Road 4101 for about half a mile. The decorations will be on the left.
MCKINNEY From U.S. Highway 75, go west on Eldorado Parkway, north on Country Club Drive and west on Valley Creek Trail. Dallas Mapsco Page 360-V, U, T, P and Q.
MEADOWS FOUNDATION WILSON HISTORIC DISTRICT From Hall Street at Swiss Avenue, go west on Swiss to Texas Street. Early 1900s houses occupied by charitable organizations, such as Preservation Dallas, feature picket-fence-style Victorian trimmings, lighted gazebos and a lifesize Nativity scene. Dallas Mapsco Page 45-H and M.
MESQUITE Drive among the streets on both sides of Barnes Bridge Road between Galloway Avenue North and Northwest Drive. From Interstate 30, exit south on Galloway Avenue North, then go east on Barnes Bridge. Dallas Mapsco Page 39A, squares N, P, Q, T, U and V.
SOUTH DALLAS COMMUNITY TREE Annual display with 37-foot lighted tree and Nativity sponsored by Clean South Dallas. Stage with live music; call for schedule of events. Through Jan. 1. 214-421-1662. Southwest corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard at Malcolm X Boulevard. Dallas Mapsco 46-T.
SOUTHLAKE Take Southlake Boulevard (FM1709) west from State Highway 114 for four miles, then north on Southridge Lakes Parkway. Loop around Brazos Drive to the east of Southridge Lakes and take Pecos Drive west. Fort Worth Mapsco Page 27-K and J, then Page 26-M, L, K and J, then Page 25-H, G and F.
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