Dallas

Things to do in Dallas with kids this weekend

Photo: Kevin1086 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Cover storyThis weekend

Dallas Zoo Lights

More than 2 million lights at the Dallas Zoo on select nights. There's Santa, a Holiday Maze and Destination: Dinosaurs. Most animals will be asleep. It runs rain or shine.

Updated Nov 3, 2026

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Perot Museum of Nature and Science building in Dallas

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How to Plan Thanksgiving Break in Dallas with Kids (2026)

Dallas ISD Thanksgiving break is Nov 23-27, 2026. Plan museum days, the Turkey Trot, The Trains at NorthPark and know what closes on Thanksgiving Day.

Right now in Dallas

Perfect day to get outside

Parks, playgrounds and fresh air

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Weather: Open-Meteo

Get out there

This weekend

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Photo of Little Adventurers at the Children's Adventure Garden

Story timeTue, Nov 3 – Tue, Nov 17

Little Adventurers at the Children's Adventure Garden

Babies–5 yrs$$

Photo of Holiday at the Arboretum: The 12 Days of Christmas

EventWed, Nov 11 – Sun, Jan 3

Holiday at the Arboretum: The 12 Days of Christmas

Babies–17 yrs$$

Photo of Dallas Zoo Lights

EventFri, Nov 13 – Sun, Jan 3

Dallas Zoo Lights

Babies–17 yrs$$

Photo of The Trains at NorthPark

EventSat, Nov 14 – Sun, Jan 3

The Trains at NorthPark

Babies–17 yrs$

Zero dollars

Free this week

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Photo of Klyde Warren Park & Children's Park

PlaygroundsArts District

Klyde Warren Park & Children's Park

Babies–12 yrsFree

Photo of Dallas Museum of Art & C3 family space

MuseumsArts District

Dallas Museum of Art & C3 family space

Babies–17 yrsFree

Photo of White Rock Lake Park

Parks & trailsEast Dallas / White Rock

White Rock Lake Park

Babies–17 yrsFree

Stay dry

Rainy-day picks

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Photo of Perot Museum of Nature and Science

MuseumsArts District

Perot Museum of Nature and Science

Babies–17 yrs$$

Photo of Build Your Own Gingerbread House at the Perot

EventSat, Dec 12

Build Your Own Gingerbread House at the Perot

Babies–17 yrs

Photo of Children's Aquarium Dallas at Fair Park

Animals & farmsFair Park

Children's Aquarium Dallas at Fair Park

Babies–12 yrs$

Photo of Dallas Museum of Art & C3 family space

MuseumsArts District

Dallas Museum of Art & C3 family space

Babies–17 yrsFree

Photo of Dallas World Aquarium

Animals & farmsDowntown

Dallas World Aquarium

Babies–17 yrs$$

Photo of The Trains at NorthPark

EventSat, Nov 14 – Sun, Jan 3

The Trains at NorthPark

Babies–17 yrs$

In season

Seasonal: happening now

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Photo of Thanksgiving Break in Dallas with Kids

Seasonal guidefall

Thanksgiving Break in Dallas with Kids

Thanksgiving week is Nov 21–29, 2026. Start Thursday at the Dallas YMCA Turkey Trot, then fill the other days with indoor museums, The Trains at NorthPark and free time at Klyde Warren Park. Several big attractions close on Thanksgiving Day itself, so check each one before you go.

Photo of Holiday Lights in Dallas: Zoo Lights, the Arboretum & More

Seasonal guidewinter

Holiday Lights in Dallas: Zoo Lights, the Arboretum & More

Dallas lights up in mid-November. The Arboretum's 12 Days of Christmas starts Nov 11, Zoo Lights starts Nov 13 and The Trains at NorthPark opens Nov 14. Saturday, Dec 5 brings the free Dallas Holiday Parade in the morning and the Klyde Warren Park tree lighting in the afternoon. Weeknights early in the season are usually calmer.

Plan ahead

Heads up: school breaks & camps

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Dallas ISD

In 12 days

School break

Thanksgiving break

Nov 23–27

Top 5 most viewed

Trending with Dallas parents

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  1. Parks & trailsDallas Arboretum & Rory Meyers Children's Adventure GardenPhoto of Dallas Arboretum & Rory Meyers Children's Adventure Garden
  2. Animals & farmsDallas ZooPhoto of Dallas Zoo
  3. EventDallas Zoo LightsPhoto of Dallas Zoo Lights
  4. EventHoliday at the Arboretum: The 12 Days of ChristmasPhoto of Holiday at the Arboretum: The 12 Days of Christmas
  5. PlaygroundsKlyde Warren Park & Children's ParkPhoto of Klyde Warren Park & Children's Park

Ranks 6–15

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Photo of Perot Museum of Nature and Science06

MuseumsArts District

Perot Museum of Nature and Science

Babies–17 yrs$$

Photo of Build Your Own Gingerbread House at the Perot07

EventSat, Dec 12

Build Your Own Gingerbread House at the Perot

Babies–17 yrs

Photo of Children's Aquarium Dallas at Fair Park08

Animals & farmsFair Park

Children's Aquarium Dallas at Fair Park

Babies–12 yrs$

Photo coming soon
09

EventSat, Dec 5

Dallas Holiday Parade

Babies–17 yrsFree

Photo of Dallas Museum of Art & C3 family space10

MuseumsArts District

Dallas Museum of Art & C3 family space

Babies–17 yrsFree

Photo of Dallas World Aquarium11

Animals & farmsDowntown

Dallas World Aquarium

Babies–17 yrs$$

Photo coming soon
12

EventThu, Nov 26

Dallas YMCA Turkey Trot

Babies–17 yrs$$

Photo of Klyde Warren Park Tree Lighting Celebration13

EventSat, Dec 5

Klyde Warren Park Tree Lighting Celebration

Babies–17 yrsFree

Photo of Little Adventurers at the Children's Adventure Garden14

Story timeTue, Nov 3 – Tue, Nov 17

Little Adventurers at the Children's Adventure Garden

Babies–5 yrs$$

Photo of The Trains at NorthPark15

EventSat, Nov 14 – Sun, Jan 3

The Trains at NorthPark

Babies–17 yrs$

Fresh on the guide

New & updated

See all
Photo of Dallas Arboretum & Rory Meyers Children's Adventure Garden

Parks & trailsEast Dallas / White Rock

Dallas Arboretum & Rory Meyers Children's Adventure Garden

Babies–12 yrs$$

Photo of Dallas Zoo

Animals & farmsOak Cliff / South Dallas

Dallas Zoo

Babies–17 yrs$$

Photo of Dallas Zoo Lights

EventFri, Nov 13 – Sun, Jan 3

Dallas Zoo Lights

Babies–17 yrs$$

Photo of Holiday at the Arboretum: The 12 Days of Christmas

EventWed, Nov 11 – Sun, Jan 3

Holiday at the Arboretum: The 12 Days of Christmas

Babies–17 yrs$$

Photo of Klyde Warren Park & Children's Park

PlaygroundsArts District

Klyde Warren Park & Children's Park

Babies–12 yrsFree

Photo of Perot Museum of Nature and Science

MuseumsArts District

Perot Museum of Nature and Science

Babies–17 yrs$$

Photo of Build Your Own Gingerbread House at the Perot

EventSat, Dec 12

Build Your Own Gingerbread House at the Perot

Babies–17 yrs

Photo of Children's Aquarium Dallas at Fair Park

Animals & farmsFair Park

Children's Aquarium Dallas at Fair Park

Babies–12 yrs$

Photo coming soon

EventSat, Dec 5

Dallas Holiday Parade

Babies–17 yrsFree

Photo of Dallas Museum of Art & C3 family space

MuseumsArts District

Dallas Museum of Art & C3 family space

Babies–17 yrsFree

From the editors

Guides & stories

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Photo of Thanksgiving Break in Dallas with Kids

Seasonal guidefall

Thanksgiving Break in Dallas with Kids

Thanksgiving week is Nov 21–29, 2026. Start Thursday at the Dallas YMCA Turkey Trot, then fill the other days with indoor museums, The Trains at NorthPark and free time at Klyde Warren Park. Several big attractions close on Thanksgiving Day itself, so check each one before you go.

Photo of Holiday Lights in Dallas: Zoo Lights, the Arboretum & More

Seasonal guidewinter

Holiday Lights in Dallas: Zoo Lights, the Arboretum & More

Dallas lights up in mid-November. The Arboretum's 12 Days of Christmas starts Nov 11, Zoo Lights starts Nov 13 and The Trains at NorthPark opens Nov 14. Saturday, Dec 5 brings the free Dallas Holiday Parade in the morning and the Klyde Warren Park tree lighting in the afternoon. Weeknights early in the season are usually calmer.

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Family-friendly events and anytime spots around Dallas. Free, unsubscribe anytime.

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4 things to do this weekend

Photo of Little Adventurers at the Children's Adventure Garden

Story timeTue, Nov 3 – Tue, Nov 17

Little Adventurers at the Children's Adventure Garden

Babies–5 yrs$$

Photo of Holiday at the Arboretum: The 12 Days of Christmas

EventWed, Nov 11 – Sun, Jan 3

Holiday at the Arboretum: The 12 Days of Christmas

Babies–17 yrs$$

Photo of Dallas Zoo Lights

EventFri, Nov 13 – Sun, Jan 3

Dallas Zoo Lights

Babies–17 yrs$$

Photo of The Trains at NorthPark

EventSat, Nov 14 – Sun, Jan 3

The Trains at NorthPark

Babies–17 yrs$

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The weekend list for Dallas parents — family-friendly events and anytime spots, in your inbox every Thursday. Free, unsubscribe anytime.

Coming up

Later dates and weekday regulars.

Photo coming soon

EventThu, Nov 26

Dallas YMCA Turkey Trot

Babies–17 yrs$$

Photo coming soon

EventSat, Dec 5

Dallas Holiday Parade

Babies–17 yrsFree

Photo of Klyde Warren Park Tree Lighting Celebration

EventSat, Dec 5

Klyde Warren Park Tree Lighting Celebration

Babies–17 yrsFree

Photo of Build Your Own Gingerbread House at the Perot

EventSat, Dec 12

Build Your Own Gingerbread House at the Perot

Babies–17 yrs

FAQ

Questions parents ask

What is Zippy Guide: Dallas?

Zippy Guide is the weekend list for Dallas parents: an independent, family-friendly guide to things to do in Dallas — story times, museums, parks, farmers markets, classes and open gym times. We gather details from organizers' public websites so you can plan your weekend in minutes.

How do I find things to do with kids in Dallas this weekend?

This weekend (Nov 13–15, 2026) we list 4 events for families. See the full list with times, places, prices and ages on This weekend.

Are there free things to do with kids in Dallas this weekend?

No free events are posted for Nov 13–15, 2026 yet. Check Free this weekend for free anytime spots.

How do I add or claim my event?

Use the form on For businesses to claim your listing or add your event — we'll verify and get back to you.