Jo Ann Holt
Holiday at the Arboretum brings the magic of Christmas back to the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden November 7-December 31. Reliant presents the traditional event, featuring the 12 Days of Christmas as depicted in the beloved carol by 25-foot tall Victorian-style gazebos.
The Pauline and Austin Neuhoff Christmas Village is returning in an expanded version, featuring 14 old world European-style shops in a magical setting. A 23-foot-tall, German-built, authentic Christmas Pyramid is new this year, with dazzling lighted motion on every level. An Edelweiss Haus serving delicious food and drinks, a Chocolate Shop, and a Toy Shop are also new additions.
Andrea Russell, Reliant Vice President and General Manager, said, “At Reliant, we love sharing the joy of the holidays with our family, friends and customers. Regardless of the distance between us this year, let’s join together and celebrate the season at Holiday at the Arboretum, presented by Reliant.”
Holiday at the Arboretum
Photo: Dallas Arboretum
The Arboretum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Every night starting November 27, the Arboretum extends hours for The 12 Days of Christmas at Night and The Christmas Village. Timed tickets and advance registration are required, and no walk-ups are available. To purchase tickets, visit dallasarboretum.org or call 214-515-6615.
Alan Walne, Dallas Arboretum board chairman, said, “We welcome everyone to see two major exhibits in our garden with room to spread out. The 12 Days of Christmas is a holiday tradition, whether you see it during the day or nighttime. Be sure to take photos at the 30-foot-tall spruce tree, and check out the expanded Christmas Village to admire the handcrafted Christmas Pyramid, a true work of art created by Germans for us Texans. Bring your children or grandchildren to take photos with Santa Claus, who is practicing social distancing, and make us part of your holiday traditions. A special thanks to Reliant for their continued support.”
12 Days of Christmas
Photo: Dallas Arboretum
The gazebos in the 12 Days of Christmas exhibit come to life at night beginning Nov. 11, and can be seen Wednesday through Sunday evening from 6-9 p.m. until Thanksgiving. After Thanksgiving, beginning Nov. 27, the garden reopens to extended hours every night until Dec. 30. Sunday through Wednesday evenings, the Arboretum is open from 6-9 p.m. and from 6-10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday nights. Visitors enjoy more than a million lights throughout the Arboretum. They light up the historic homes and 30-foot-tall spruce tree in the center of the garden.
The Christmas Village is inspired by European Christmas Markets, or Christkindlmarket. It is comprised of charming shops and façades representing a quaint European hamlet. After the debut of 12 delightful shops and façades in 2019, even more will be added this year. Measuring 16 to 19 feet tall, each house or shop is large enough for several children and adults to enter at a time.
Children can learn about the shops in the daytime from the murals on their walls and explore them as they would a playhouse. At night, The Christmas Village shines with a holiday glow of lights strung throughout the trees and outlining the roof of each shop.
German artisans from the Erzgebirge region (Ore mountains) created the octagon-shaped Christmas Pyramid. Carving each figure by hand, 15 workers spent 2,150 hours to design and build this unique pyramid. Each of the four levels spins and is illuminated by four candles.
The Christmas Village
Photo: Dallas Arboretum
The Christmas Village is donated by Pauline and Austin Neuhoff as a gift to the city and the Dallas Arboretum. The Marilyn and Ben Weber Family Christmas Pyramid is also a generous contribution this season.
Santa Claus has his own house and a sleigh for photo opportunities after The Christmas Village opens. He’ll be in the garden November 11, 18 and 25, and after November 27, he is available for photos nightly plus Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Updated schedules are online.
Visit dallasarboretum.org/holiday for more information and a full listing of holiday events.
