Carry On the Merry in Downtown Arlington

Arlington families know to gather in Downtown Arlington for many of their favorite holiday events, and this year’s sure to carry on the merry. Topping the list, of course, is the annual Holiday Lights Parade and Christmas tree lighting ceremony on Saturday, December 9, followed by pictures with Santa Claus. This beloved tradition, coupled with Interlachen’s rousing neighborhood displays and the all new Enchant Christmas light maze and market, are making Arlington a first-choice holiday destination for families throughout North Texas and beyond.

Downtown remains the epicenter of holiday traditions in Arlington, particularly when great live music is involved. In addition to Symphony Arlington’s Dec. 14 Holiday in Vienna concert, Arlington Music Hall is reprising its ChristmasSpectacular! from Dec. 1-10 and hosting three more holiday concerts: The Texas Tenors, Crystal Gayle and The Chris Milyo Big Band.

At UT Arlington, Casting Crowns and For King & Country headline at the UTA College Park Center on Dec. 3 for an exclusive, one-night only Christmas show, A Glorious Christmas. On Dec. 8, the Friends of the UTA Libraries present a carol sing-along with Manny Triana as Elvis!

For more family-friendly fun, get your tickets now to see Theatre Arlington’s merry, musical production of Plaid Tidings. If you’re planning to attend the Holiday Lights Parade (of course you are), come early for the entertainment on the Levitt Pavilion stage and stay after for a free screening of Elf.

December Events

We’ve made a list and checked it twice for all of the events – holiday and otherwise - taking place in Downtown Arlington this December. Have we missed any? Let us know in the comments section.

December 1

Arlington Music Hall presents ChristmasSpectacular!

An exclusive and original magical, musical celebration of the holiday season.

Various times and dates through December 10

Arlington Music Hall

Theatre Arlington presents Plaid Tidings

Filled with Christmas standards that have all been "Plaid-erized," the boys are back for their one-of-a-kind Christmas special.

Various times and dates through December 17

Theatre Arlington

Legal Draft Tavern Carols

Join in singing timeless carols and celebrate the start of the Christmas season.

8:00 p.m.

Legal Draft Beer Co.

December 2

40^th Annual Zetnick Arlington Winter Run

Help support the Arlington-Mansfield Area YMCA by participating in this fundraising 1K, 2-mile or 10K race, hosted by The Runner.

7:15 a.m.

Maverick Activities Center, UTA

UT Arlington Symphony Orchestra concert

7:30 p.m.

Irons Recital Hall, UTA

December 3

Casting Crowns and For King & Country: A Glorious Christmas

These Grammy Award winning Christian artists will perform original Christmas songs, beloved Christmas classics and many of their #1 hits.

7:00 p.m.

College Park Center

December 7

Craft Party at Arlington Yoga Center

Create beautiful conversation pieces for your tree or home at this fun and festive BYOB crafting event.

2:00 p.m.

Arlington Yoga Center

Crystal Gayle: A Crystal Christmas

Inducted into the Grand Ole Opry this January by her sister Loretta Lynn, Crystal Gayle has been wow-ing country and pop music fans for decades.

7:30 p.m.

Arlington Music Hall

December 8

Friends of the UTA Libraries present Manny Triana as Elvis!

Sing carols with “The King” at this one-of-a-kind Friends event.

7:30pm

Central Library, Sixth floor Parlor

Maverick Dance Company presents VIA DANCE

Thought-provoking and entertaining performances with dance styles ranging from post-modern, contemporary hip hop, musical theatre, and folklorico.

December 8-10, times vary

Mainstage Theatre, UTA

December 9

Holiday Celebration and Annual Holiday Lights Parade

The City of Arlington gets the holidays started with entertainment on the Levitt Pavilion stage, the Holiday Lights Parade and the lighting of the city’s Christmas tree by Santa himself.

Entertainment throughout the day; parade begins at 6:00 p.m.

Levitt Pavilion and Downtown Arlington

Holiday Movie at the Levitt: Elf

With the help of a new friend, a department store elf, Buddy the Elf tries to teach his dad and the world the true meaning of Christmas and to prove that Santa really exists. Rated PG.

7:15 p.m.

Levitt Pavilion

December 13

The Texas Tenors

With their Emmy Award-winning PBS special now airing across the country, and Billboard chart-topping albums, it’s easy to see why The Texas Tenors are America’s favorite new tenors.

7:30 p.m.

Arlington Music Hall

December 14

Symphony Arlington presents Holiday in Vienna

Don’t miss the Symphony’s annual Carol Sing-along and plenty of holiday favorites.

7:30 p.m.

Arlington Music Hall

December 20

The Chris Milyo Big Band Swingin’ Christmas

The playlist includes Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite in its entirety, along with other selections to warm your heart and get your toes tapping!

7:30 p.m.

Arlington Music Hall

Ongoing

Salvador Dali: Visions of Eternity

This exhibition features Dali’s full series of Dante’s The Divine Comedy, for which each of the lithographs presented required as many as 35 colors.

Various times and dates through January 21, 2018

Arlington Museum of Art

UT Arlington Men and Women’s Basketball

Go Mavericks!

Various times and dates

College Park Center

UTA Planetarium

Various shows, times and dates

Chemistry-Physics Building, UT Arlington

Walking the Line: The Diverse History of Organized Labor in Texas

The exhibit, which celebrates the 50th anniversary of UTA Special Collections, includes labor materials including pictures, letters, badges, posters, cartoon sketches, garments and more.

Various times and dates through December 30

Special Collections, UTA Central Library

Becoming the Beast: Animal Identity in Cultural Masquerade

This exhibit features masks representing a variety of cultures and traditions.

Through January 19, 2018

Visual Resource Commons & Gallery

700 Greek Row Drive, UT Arlington

UT Arlington Bachelor of Fine Arts Exhibition

A showcase for recent work created by graduating seniors of the UTA Department of Art and Art History.

December 4-8

The Gallery at UTA

But wait! There’s more!

For more holiday fun, check out the special offers and events at Downtown Arlington restaurants, pubs and retail shops.

Bookmark downtownarlington.org and stay up to date on Downtown events throughout the holidays and year-round. Visit the Arlington Convention and Visitors Bureau events calendar for more holiday fun around the City of Arlington. When you post and tweet, tag us with #authenticallyArlington and @dtArlington.

About Downtown Arlington

An official State of Texas Cultural District, Downtown Arlington, Texas blends a unique mix of activities, sights, tastes and sounds that attract visitors and locals alike. Within its less than a two-mile radius, Downtown is home to a top tier public research university, prolific fine and performing artists and arts institutions, live entertainment, exciting NCAA and professional athletics, one-of-a-kind dining and retail, and a supportive business climate.