In November, a vast swathe of Dallas magically transforms into a Hallmark Christmas scene. Gigantic spinning gazebos and a village packed with quaint shops spring up in a beautiful botanical garden. This is the start of the “Holiday at the Arboretum,” a special Christmas-themed event at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden.
Visiting during the daytime, especially later on toward closing hours, offers a beautiful, tranquil experience as soon as one begins walking through the tunnel to the main gates of the gardens. The yellowish coloring is warm and inviting, with a bright light at the end. To the right and left are beautiful mural art pieces showcasing the best of the botanical gardens, like the flowers and monarch butterflies by Allikdesign that lead you through the path. Blue, pink, white and orange flood the tunnel.
The journey into Christmas begins with immediate access to signs leading one through to the 12 Days of Christmas gazebos and Christmas Village. Along the path, the gardens are spaced out to showcase the full landscape with multiple sightseeing stops along the way. A view of White Rock Lake framed by huge trees greeted me — a shocking sight, especially after going through the concrete jungle to get inside. The visitors there were lying down on blankets, walking their dogs and having photoshoots for their quinceañeras.
The sounds of cheerful music led me to one of the first 12 gazebos, this one themed after the tenth day of Christmas as per the famous song, “ten lords a-leaping.” It was an impressive animated piece of art, with ten men skating while holiday music played. Continuing on, I found “eleven pipers piping” easily, if not with my eyes, then my ears as bagpipe song poured out around me.
My next stop after weaving through a few gazebos, the Christmas Village, was near empty during the weekday evening of my visit, but it was an introvert’s dream. In the middle of the village was a Christmas Pyramid from the Marilyn and Ben Weber family, who are major contributors to the Dallas Arboretum. The German-themed village offered photo opportunities with the chance to go inside little shops and buildings. A bakery offered cheap delicious food, a toy shop with nutcrackers stationed outside loomed tall and a tavern opened its doors to weary travelers.
Outside the village, more gazebos were scattered around, with a rainbow of flowers in between them. They were like checkpoints to unlock, slowly counting down until you reached number one. I had reached the “Five Golden Rings,” depicted by seals doing circus tricks with the rings. The light from the setting sun highlighted the golden rings spinning around in the gazebo, which also led me to more secluded parts of the garden.
While walking through the botanical gardens, although mostly focused on Christmas celebrations, the regular views were still breathtaking. The Women’s Garden proved this: “seven swans a-swimming” were featured in the women’s garden, and behind the gazebo was an infinity pool and a statue of a woman seemingly taking in the view of White Rock Lake. Even without that gazebo, the quiet overview was powerful enough.
After the Women’s Garden, there were a few of the gazebo art installations left to see, with a massive, decorated Christmas tree in the middle of the gardens to greet visitors. The exit is welcoming after a brief journey, and it doesn’t feel like just a one-and-done event. The botanical gardens consistently host events to offer a new experience and their holiday event always presents something new each year. This year’s experience outdid itself with beautiful decorations and a scenic view you can’t find anywhere in the DFW concrete jungle.
The Dallas Arboretum offers two special admission options for the event: a nighttime event and regular day admission to the area. Although the nighttime event boasts higher crowds and beautiful fairy lights illuminating the gardens, the day admissions are an amazing way to experience the gardens at your own pace with fewer crowds and at a cheaper cost.
Winter at the Arboretum runs until Jan. 4 and is open for daytime admission from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Holiday at Night admission runs from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. An adult ticket varies from $21.95 to $40, depending on dates and ticket type. More information can be found on its website. UTD students may purchase discounted tickets to visit the gardens in the Comet Card Office.
