Dallas County Living Well Magazine November/December 2018 | Page 15

DART FOR THE HOLIDAYS
N
orth Texas goes all-out when it comes to
spreading holiday cheer. Whether you’re with
kids, friends, or solo, DART can help you get
in the spirit – instead of in traffic.
DART’s free GoPass ® app, available in the App Store or
Google Play, makes it easier to discover these holiday fes-
tivities:
Historic Downtown Carrollton has a vibrant display
of holiday lights, decorations and “snow”-flocked store-
fronts in the town square. Dec. 8 is the perfect time to
catch St. Nick at the annual Santa on
the Square event. For an unusual selfie,
head to the square on Dec. 15, when you
can snap yourself with a giant, inflatable
snow globe. Stick around to browse the
unique shops, or to eat at Babe’s Chicken
Dinner House. It’s all a short walk from the
Green Line’s Downtown Carrollton Station.
www.historicdowntowncarrollton.com
iday-themed displays. The Holiday Extravaganza on
Dec. 1 starts with a parade through the historic town center
and finishes with a tree lighting at City Hall. The gorgeous
display will be up through Dec. 26 – while you’re there,
take in the vintage architecture and quaint restaurants of
the neighborhood, served by Downtown Irving/Heritage
Crossing Station on the Trinity Railway Express (TRE). www.
cityofirving.com
Downtown Rowlett gets you in the holiday spirit Dec.
8, when it comes to life with music, dance and festive floats
at the Hometown Celebration Holiday Parade. You
Downtown Garland also is big on
nostalgic charm. At Christmas on the
Square, 100,000 lights adorn the neigh-
borhood – they even “dance” to music.
The event kicks off with a Square Tree
Lighting Ceremony on Nov. 29 and runs
throughout December. The first three Satur-
days of the month, Santa will be there, along
with carolers, hot chocolate and free movies
at the Plaza Theatre. Take the Blue Line to
Downtown Garland Station to enjoy the fam-
ily fun. www.christmasonthesquare.com
Bishop Arts District is Dallas’ own small-
town-in-the-city, and it does the holidays
right. The historic neighborhood shows its
creative flair in the awesome lights lining the
streets; usually there are some surprises in store. On Dec. 2,
ring in the season at the Poinsettia Walk – a poinsettia in
this case being champagne with cranberry juice. Participating
stores provide the beverage, and the Dallas Streetcar’s Bishop
Arts stop puts you a few blocks from the merrymaking. www.
bishopartsdistrict.com
Dallas Zoo Lights also has a satchel-full of creativity. From
Nov. 16 through the end of the year, more than a million lights
outline the trees, walkways and sculptural decorations. The
two-dozen animal-shaped lanterns are especially cool. The
spectacle is on display on select evenings; check before tak-
ing the Red Line to Dallas Zoo Station. www.dallaszoo.com
Downtown Irving does a knockout job of dressing up
Centennial Park with beautiful lights and a series of hol-
also have a unique chance to go local with your gift-buying
at “Shop Small Through the Holidays.” From Nov.
24 through Dec. 15, Main Street boutiques host a series
of pop-up shops selling handmade goods and sustainably
sourced items. Get there by taking the Blue Line to Down-
town Rowlett Station. www.villageofrowlettdowntown.com
The Downtown Plano Arts District is rich in holiday
tradition, starting with Dickens in Downtown Plano
on Nov. 30, when the district transforms into a picture-book
wonderland. There’s caroling, a visit from Santa and a tree
lighting in Haggard Park. The festive feeling continues
throughout the holidays – you can even get a traditional
Italian “Feast of 7 Fishes” at Urban Crust on Christmas
Eve. Take the Red Line to Downtown Plano Station and
you’re right there. www.visitplano.com.
DALLAS COUNTY Living Well Magazine | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018
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