Have family and friends in town for the holidays? Want to get off your couch and get in the holiday cheer? We've compiled a go-to list that will keep you merrily busy from December 1 through the Chanukah celebration and up until Christmas day, with a New Year's Eve bonus. We know there is much more to do, so feel free to share more holiday events in the comments sections.
Events with a 
have additional dates. Check the event's website for details.
Sat Dec 8 | Sun Dec 9 | Mon Dec 10 | Tue Dec 11 | Wed Dec 12 |
Thu Dec 13 | Fri Dec 14 | Sat Dec 15 | Sun Dec 16 | Mon Dec 17 |
PART II (DAYS 8-17)
DECEMBER 8 / SATURDAY (FIRST DAY OF CHANUKAH)
CHANUKAH MENORAH CELEBRATION AND LIGHTING AT THE GALLERIA DALLAS: Chew on some Chanukah gelt, chocolate coins, as the first lighting of a 15-foot Menorah takes places. Kids will receive complimentary Chanukah "refreshments and goodies" with a side of entertainment. Another candle on the Menorah will be lit nightly after the initial celebration at 5 p.m. through December 8. The first lighting and celebration will take place at 7:30 p.m. on level one of the Galleria Dallas near the guest reception. (7:30 P.M. DALLAS / FREE)
HOLIDAY TASTING: This one's for adults, so if you have children, call your babysitter! The Ginger Man in Dallas is ready to give your taste buds a taste of the holiday season with seasonal beers paired with "a traditional spread of holiday treats." (2:30 P.M. / BUY TICKETS $35 IN ADVANCE; $40 ON DAY OF EVENT)
RADIO CITY CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR STARRING THE ROCKETTES: Do you remember being mesmerized as Annie got her first look at the Radio City Rockettes kicking in perfect unison as they danced to "Let's Go to the Movies"? Now, it's your chance to be awed in person. The Rockettes will perform five new numbers in addition to the favorites "Parade of the Wooden Soldiers" and "Living Nativity" during their "Christmas Spectacular" at Verizon Theatre in Grand Prairie. (GRAND PRAIRIE / BUY TICKETS STARTING AT $19.95)
BREAKFAST WITH SANTA AT THE DALLAS ZOO: Lions, tigers and .... Santa? He may have a full events calender in December, but that didn't stop Santa Claus from scheduling in a breakfast at the Dallas Zoo. Children can share their wish list and create holiday crafts at this event. (9 A.M. TO 5 P.M. DALLAS / FOR COST AND RESERVATIONS CALL 469-554-7470)
THE WINNETKA HEIGHTS 26TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY HOME TOUR: Want to get a look at what Santa gets to see? Get a look inside some Winnetka Heights Historic District holiday-decorated homes as residents open their doors for the annual home tour. Winnetka Heights was Oak Cliff's first designated historic district. Sixth homes in the district will participate in the event. (NOON TO 6 P.M. OAK CLIFF / BUY TICKETS $12 IN ADVANCE; $15 AT TURNER HOUSE)
LOVERS LANE JAZZ BAND: JINGLE AND SWING: Check out some jazz this season with a big band performing at the Snider Plaza Tree Lighting Ceremony. The Lovers Lane Jazz Band will perform Christmas favorites at the Lovers Lane United Methodist Church's Asbury Hall. (9:30 A.M. DALLAS / FREE)
THE BRUCE ROBISON & KELLY WILLIS CHRISTMAS: Or make it a twangy Christmas with country music couple Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis at the McDavid Studio in Fort Worth's Sundance Square. (7 P.M. FORT WORTH / BUY TICKETS $35.20)
MY MOTHER'S ITALIAN, MY FATHER'S JEWISH AND I'M HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS: A little comedy can be good for you when the holiday frenzy brings on the stress. Steve Solomon serves up some laughs about the chaos that comes from getting together with the family in the celebration of Chanukah and Christmas at the Charles W. Eisemann Center. (2 P.M. RICHARDSON / BUY TICKETS STARTING AT $38)
SANTA'S HELPERS: FRISCO CENTRAL FIRE STATION AND SAFETY TOWN: This is the second of five toy collections for our very own WFAA's Santa's Helpers. Come say hello and see some familiar faces while helping a good cause, putting a smile on a child's face. Bring your new unwrapped toy and we'll be sure it gets to a happy little one. (5 P.M. TO 10 P.M. FRISCO)
MICHAEL MARTIN MURPHEY COWBOY CHRISTMAS: Make it a very Cowboy Christmas with some holiday tunes from Michael Martin Murphey, who will also recite poetry at the Bass Performance Hall. (7 P.M. FORT WORTH / BUY TICKETS STARTING AT $34.65)
BLOCK PARTY WITH BURNING HOTELS: Well, there may not be an obvious holiday-theme here, but as we said before, music brings the merry! (7 P.M. DALLAS / BUY TICKETS STARTING AT $30)
THE ROMEROS WITH CONCERTO MALAGA: How about listening to the "The Little Drummer Boy" performed by a 13-piece Spanish chamber orchestra at the Charles W. Eisemann Center? Holiday classical guitar sounds pretty magical to us. (8 P.M. RICHARDSON / BUY TICKETS STARTING AT $45)
NORTHPARK CHANUKAH CONCERT: It's Tuesday, so you probably want to get home early to rest up for the next day up work. Good news, you can squeeze in this event in only an hour. The Temple Emanu-El choir performs at NorthPark. (6 P.M. TO 7 P.M. / FREE)
THE GIFT OF CHRISTMAS AT PRESTONWOOD BAPTIST CHURCH: Watch the story of Jesus Christ's birth in a production that creates a virtual view of the Christmas story at Prestonwood Baptist Church. The production brings the nativity scene to life with camels, flying angels and the manger, of course. (7 P.M. PLANO / BUY TICKETS STARTING AT $14)
SANTA'S HELPERS: GRAPEVINE TRAIN DEPOT: This will be the third collection for WFAA's Santa's Helpers and will mark the mid-point of the events! Bring the family to meet some of our crew and don't forget to bring a new unwrapped toy! (5 P.M. TO 10 P.M. GRAPEVINE)
HOLIDAY LIGHTS AT INTERLOCHEN: One of the largest holiday lights displays in north Texas continues to shine bright in Arlington. The annual display in the Interlochen neighborhood starts Friday, December 14 and continues every night through Christmas Day. This year, the popular holiday attraction is 12 days of bright lights and holiday-themed displays involving more than 200 homeowners. Admission into the area is free, but you'll need to follow an established route. Click to download PDF map. (7 P.M. TO 11 P.M. ARLINGTON / FREE)
DALLAS SYMPHONY CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION: We're big fans of "It's A Wonderful Life," which is the inspiration for the 2012 "Christmas Celebration" with the Dallas Symphony Chorus and Christmas Celebration Children's Choir at the Meyerson Symphony Center. Bring the whole family for this one. Hot dog! (7:30 P.M. DALLAS / BUY TICKETS STARTING AT $36)
HOW THE EDGE STOLE CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION: Bring on the joy with seven bands at the Verizon Theatre. The concert include the Silversun Pickups, Fun, Metric, Grouplove, Passion Pit, The Joy Formidable and IAMDYNAMITE. Here's the Grinch news, tickets have sold out. But, you can still listen to 102.1 The Edge to win tickets. (GRAND PRAIRIE)
DAVE KOZ AND FRIENDS CHRISTMAS:We like a little sax in our holiday! Multi-GRAMMY nominee and saxophonist Dave Coz will be joined with musical friends to bring a Christmas show with some holiday favorites at the Bass Performance Hall. (FORT WORTH / BUY TICKETS STARTING AT $27.50)
CHRISTMAS IN THE SQUARE: This is the real deal with holiday lights, carriage rides and tubing down a snowy slope. And what better way for Santa Claus to drop in than by parachute? There will be a lot to do and a lot to eat to get you in a jolly mood. (5 P.M. TO 10 P.M. FRISCO)
HOLIDAY CELEBRATION IN THE PARK: KLYDE WARREN: Frisco won't be the only North Texas spot with a large celebration this day. Klyde Warren Park will be celebrating the holidays with music, a ballet performance, kids crafts and other activities. Those who want to take a picture with Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus and the North Pole elves can do so for free by bringing four cans of food to donate to the North Texas Food Bank. (NOON TO 6 P.M. DALLAS / FREE)
DECEMBER 16 / SUNDAY (LAST DAY OF CHANUKAH)
KXT 91.7 HOLIDAY CONCERT WITH BRIAN SETZER ORCHESTRA CHRISTMAS ROCKS! EXTRAVAGANZA:Put a little rockabilly and swing into your holiday plans. Setzer will perform original tunes, such as "Jump Jive An' Wail," sprinkled in with some holiday standards at the Allen Event Center. (7 P.M. ALLEN / BUY TICKETS STARTING AT $56.11)
HOLIDAY CARRIAGE RIDES IN SOUTHLAKE: Sit back and enjoy the view during a picturesque carriage ride at the Southlake Town Square. The Workhorse Ranch & Olde Thyme Carriage Co. will take you on the ride that can accommodate as many as 12 passengers. (AFTER 4 P.M. / BUY RESERVATIONS STARTING AT $25)
CHRISTMAS BEER TASTING: Idle Rich is a pretty cozy place to grab a seasonal beer with some friends. On this day, they're making it easy for you with various brews to taste as part of their Christmas Beer Tasting. With purchase of the tasting, the pub serves up cheeses and giveaways as well. ($25 / FOR RESERVATIONS E-MAIL MAIL@IDLERICHPUB.COM)
SANTA'S HELPERS: THE HISTORIC FORT WORTH STOCKYARDS: The Fort Worth Stockyards is the perfect site for our fourth WFAA's Santa's Helpers event. Once again, familiar faces will host the collection! And after you drop off your new unwrapped toy, enjoy the restaurants and other sights at the Stockyards. (5 P.M. To 10 P.M. FORT WORTH)
