Dallas is reputed for its endless amount of entertainment events, even more so around the holidays.

Klyde Warren Park, located above Woodall Rogers Freeway in the heart of downtown Dallas, is the host of many of these festivities. Along with the regular food trucks and “boot camps,” there are series of Christmas concerts performed by Booker T. Washington High School students, and other series performed by various artists from around the Metroplex.

The Arboretum’s Twelve Days of Christmas, available to attend both night and day, has been reputed as an annual family tradition for years. This year, the festive aura has been elevated to the next level; complete with 25 foot Victorian gazebos filled with favorite Christmas characters, 500,000 lights, and a 30 foot Christmas tree at the center of it all.

In addition to Twelve Days of Christmas, the DeGolyer Estate is hosting a Christmas tea and the Artistry of Nativity, with over 300 créches from around the globe. This is the perfect holiday activity to do with grandparents and other family members. Stop by the Holiday Bazaar to pick up last minute stocking-stuffers of artisan crafted products while you’re there.

Highland Park Village, with the rows of white-lit trees glowing, are the perfect place to rent a horse-drawn carriage for a ride to see Christmas lights. The route through old Highland Park, passing by the best decorated houses in the city and the Armstrong tree, is sure to impress.

Dallas is known for its shopping malls, but a well-known “must-do” is ice-skating at the Galleria. With a massive, decorated tree in the center of the rink and great shops and restaurants on the outside, you have to take friends and family, especially since its only ten dollars for admission, and three dollars for skates.

Nestled on the corner of Armstrong Parkway and Preston Road, this big pecan tree has been lit every year since 1927, except for the years during World War II and the 1973 energy crisis. It takes four men a week to decorate ‘Armstrong’ with over 5,000 LED orange, red, blue and green lights. This year, the lighting ceremony will take place on Thursday, December 7th, and will be commemorated as the oldest Christmas tradition in Dallas.

Bishop Arts, in the heart of North Oak Cliff is home to over 60 independent boutiques and restaurants. Grab a “Pig Smiley” pizza from Eno’s Pizza Tavern and after, head over to Emporium Pies for delicious, Christmas pies like “Merry Berry,” “Father Christmas,” “Snowball” and “Buttermilk Blitzen.” Bishop Art’s one-of-a-kind stores make gifts significantly more personal and unique, and the perfect spot to find a white-elephant gift that will be remembered.

For those of us who are native to Dallas, there’s absolutely no way your parents didn’t drag you to Northpark for a picture with Santa. Although, you probably didn’t realize that their “Santa” has been “Santa” for our whole lives; proven by his red beard. So, as a suggestion, give your mom the ultimate tear-worthy gift before you go to college, and recreate your Santa picture with your siblings.