What's There to Do for the Holiday?

I just got an email from Ticketmaster and on their calendar was a show called Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. It is showing in Ft. Worth and they have lots of dates to choose from. The ticket prices were very reasonable, too.

Green Meadows Petting Farm in Grand Prairie this month is fun. They have a (very short) hay ride and a small pumpkin patch in addition to the animals.

I just went with my four year-old son yesterday on a field trip to Mainstay Farm in Burleson. If you're not too familiar with the area, it's far Southwest Ft. Worth, probably 30-40 minutes from Haltom City. It's really neat out there right now, though because they have a pumpkin patch and you can watch a video about pumpkins, go on a great Hayride, roast marshmallows around a fire pit, etc. They have a big play area for kids that is just a bunch of bales of hay that they can run across, slide down, etc. They also have a 3 story tree house, maze gift shop and large screened-in porch with picnic tables for eating. I thought it was very fun and also educational--they teach about growing pumpkins and on the hayride, you get to see their beehives that pollenate the pumpkins and learn about that process. A little further into the season, you can go out for their Christmas Tree Farm, choose your own tree and have hot chocolate. This was our first time out, but I would like to take the whole family to do the Christmas tree thing.

Also, if you travel east on I-20, midway between Dallas and Shreveport is The Magic Forest, or Santa Land. We have not yet done this either, but have passed it on the highway. It's basically a 2 1/2 million Christmas Light show that you drive through. I am not sure what else they offer, but you can find them on the internet at www.santalandtexas.com

Have fun!

Here are just a few thing that I know of that you can do.
Have a great time and welcome to the area.

http://www.flowermoundpumpkinpatch.com/home.html

http://flowermoundchristmastrees.com/

http://www.mainstayfarm.com/

http://www.whistlestopchristmas.org/

Interlochen (Northwest Arlington Neighborhood)
http://www.ci.arlington.tx.us/events/

Last year we went to Celebrate Christmas in Trinity Park, Fort Worth. I am not sure if it is a annual event but is was great.

the city of Waxahachie is famous for their live nativity scene! and it's a cute downtown shopping experience there. it's called Bethlehem Revisited.... Open Friday-Sunday the first two weekends of December from 6 pm -9 pm. Located behind Central Presbyterian Church, at 402 North College Street.
http://www.waxahachiechamber.com/attractions/index.php

And Prestonwood Baptist in Plano puts on amazing Christmas shows! It's a huge production! Worth the drive for you to see!! Buy your tickets early. They sell out fast because it's so popular!
www.prestonwood.org/christmas

There's a downtown Dallas Neiman Marcus Adolphus children's parade --- on Dec. 6. Cute floats for kids! http://www.childrens.com/parade/index.cfm

Just about every suburb city here has a lighting of their downtown tree ceremony. Check your water bill for news about that in your area. Fort Worth also has a tree lighting ceremony in downtown Ft. Worth. You'll be hearing about these things as the Christmas season approaches... all over the news, in the newspapers. The friday Dallas Morning News has a GuideLive section -- and I'm sure the Ft. Worth Star Telegram has a similar weekend section that comes out on friday --- that tells you all that's going on in the metroplex for that weekend.

Try getting on the web & looking for events. I know www.fortworth.com has some info, but I'm sure there are lots of other sites also. As far as craft making goes, there is a wonderful place in Grapevine called Art & Clay that offers some really fun things to do for parents/kiddos. Here is their website: www.artandclayonbarton.com. We have had alot of fun & made several really cool crafty pieces that now bless our home there. I hope this helps just a bit. I am from a little town about 50 miles West of Fort Worth, but these are just a few things I thought I could help with. Have fun!

go to aroundtownkids.com its a wonderful resource of what is going on in the local communities!! I use it all the time!

you can pick up a Fort Worth Child magazine at any Barnes & Noble store. they have great ideas for every day of the month. In October, check out Pumpkin Express in Argyle (you'll find it online) and Boo at the Zoo in Fort Worth. Fort Worth has a great Thanksgiving parade the day after Thanksgiving, with a grand entrance by Santa Claus. The Gaylord (Grapevine) is decorated beautifully in Decmber.
Good luck!

If you want to drive over to Dallas for a day (or take the TRE from Fort Worth, and then ride DART, which is fun), you can visit the Dallas Arboretum and see the pumpkin patch, which is really cool. There is also a pioneer village with houses and a covered wagon that my daughter has loved since she was first able to walk.

On Oct. 25, if you head over here, you can take part in Sam's Family Fun Day, which raises money for muscular dystrophy research. It's a great party for a great cause. http://www.samsdaytexas.org/

You've gotten so many fun ideas, you and your family are going to stay very busy!

We really enjoy heading over to the Gaylord hotel in Grapevine for some great holiday light displays, crafts, and Santa. There are even real reindeer that you can get your picture with. Get the kids dressed nicely as there will be tons of great photo opp's! It is free to the public, well except for parking, Santa or reindeer photos, and any cookies etc that you buy. There is also a big ice sculpture show there at the same time, which is costly, but we have never braved it with our young children. Good luck making some fun memories!! ~A.~

There is a pumpkin patch on Green Oaks (just west of Cooper Street) at St John the Apostle United Methodist Church in South Arlington. This year will be our 5th year to go there and take pictures and buy a pumpkin for our grand daughter.

You can goggle St. John the Apostle UMC Pumpkin Patch to get more information.

Just this morning, I read about "After Dark in the Park" at River Legacy Park in North Arlington, for this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It says there is Storytelling, Karaoke, Pumpkin Patch, Bounce House, Ballon Arlists, Face Painting, Crafts and Games, Hayride Shuttle, Great Food and much more. Go to www.riverlegacy.org for more info.

There are two fabulous pumpkin patches in Flower Mound, one of which is free. The have hay rides, bounce houses, obstacle courses and a huge selection of pumpkins and they even have snacks available. There is a charge for the pumpkins or snacks, but very reasonable. They are located side by side on F.M. 1171 and Lusk.

S.,
I think ft.Worth has the lighting of the Christmas tree. There are lots of pumpkin patch places to go every where. We have one in Arlington that is run by a family. Geniser Farm. think i spelled it wrong. You can go online and goodle or do ask.com and type in where to pick your own fruit in the DFW area or Family owned Farms for picking fruit. Six Flags has holiday in the park starting after Thanksgiving. Grapevine has parades all the time on Main Street. Hope this helps

Churches usually provide safe and fun social events.
Gateway CHurch lists some events. Try other churches in your area. You can go to your city's website for local info.
It takes awhile to find out info!
Blessings to you!
Sincerely,
C. N.

Holiday in the Park at 6 Flags is always wonderful!!!

You can find activities/events around Dallas area in this free magazine
http://www.dallaschild.com/

QA

Look at the Dallas Morning News Guide... or maybe the Ft. Worth newspaper has an entertainment section.

Lots of good ideas on here - I'm glad you asked - I've found some new ideas too! Our church, Harvest Church (on 377 at Basswood/Hightower near McDonald's) has a big night on October 31st. We have lots of bounce houses, candy you get after playing small carnival type games and lots of fun for the family and it is all FREE!! It all starts at 6pm and the kiddos can wear their costumes if they want!

at Thanksgiving, the city of Fort Worth has a holiday lighting of the big Christmas tree near the convention center and a Christmas parade. There is a drive thru nativity-type live people scenes at Trinity Park put on by a group of churches....watch the newspaper for the announcement of these. Hope you enjoy our Tarrant County Christmas celebrations!