Dallas

This weekend

Things to do in Dallas with kids this weekend (Nov 13–15, 2026)

Updated Nov 3, 2026

4 events for Dallas families, Friday to Sunday.

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Top 5 picks

  1. Photo: Bibiscal / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

    1. Holiday at the Arboretum: The 12 Days of Christmas

    When
    Wed, Nov 11 – Sun, Jan 3 · Nov 11, 2026–Jan 3, 2027. Daytime 9 AM–4 PM; Holiday at Night 5–10 PM; Night Owl 8:30–10 PM. Closed during the day on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day, but open those nights.
    Where
    Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden · East Dallas / White Rock
    Price
    Daytime: adults $21.95–$25.95, children 3–12 $17.95–$21.95, under 3 free. Holiday at Night: $35–$40 (under 3 free; walk-up +$4). Night Owl (8:30–10 PM): $15. "Holiday Cheer" $12 pricing on Nov 26, Dec 24, Dec 25, Dec 31 and Jan 1. Parking $15.
    Ages
    Babies–17 yrs

    "The 12 Days of Christmas: One Final Chorus" is the last season of the Arboretum's 12 Days gazebos. There's also a Christmas Village and the decorated DeGolyer House. Visit during the day, or at night when the lights are on.

  2. 2. Dallas Zoo Lights

    When
    Fri, Nov 13 – Sun, Jan 3 · Select nights Nov 13, 2026–Jan 3, 2027, 5:30–9 PM. Check the calendar for open nights.
    Where
    Dallas Zoo · Oak Cliff / South Dallas
    Price
    General admission from $19 (varies by date). Combo ticket (daytime zoo from 2:30 PM + Zoo Lights) costs $10 more. Parking $15, not included. Private igloos from $200.
    Ages
    Babies–17 yrs

    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.

  3. 3. Little Adventurers at the Children's Adventure Garden

    When
    Tue, Nov 3 – Tue, Nov 17 · Mondays and Tuesdays through Nov 17, 2026, 10 AM–2 PM.
    Where
    Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden · East Dallas / White Rock
    Price
    Program price not posted; Arboretum daytime admission applies (children 3–12 $17.95 Mon–Thu; under 3 free; adults $21.95 Mon–Thu). Parking $15. Check the Arboretum site.
    Ages
    Babies–5 yrs

    Mondays and Tuesdays for kids 5 and under in the Rory Meyers Children's Adventure Garden: KinderLabs, Mini-Movement, a Monday puppet show and Tuesday storytime with Dallas Public Library.

  4. 4. The Trains at NorthPark

    When
    Sat, Nov 14 – Sun, Jan 3 · Nov 14, 2026–Jan 3, 2027. Mon–Sat 9 AM–8 PM; Sun 12–6 PM. Opens 10 AM on Nov 14. Closes early on Thanksgiving Eve (6 PM), Christmas Eve (4 PM) and New Year's Eve (4 PM). Closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
    Where
    Ronald McDonald House Dallas · North Dallas
    Price
    Adults $13; children $11; seniors $8; under 2 free.
    Ages
    Babies–17 yrs

    A miniature train exhibit with hundreds of trains on 1,600 feet of track, rolling past tiny cityscapes and landmarks from across America. It benefits Ronald McDonald House Dallas.

All events this weekend

Friday, Nov 13

Little Adventurers at the Children's Adventure Garden

When
Tue, Nov 3 – Tue, Nov 17 · Mondays and Tuesdays through Nov 17, 2026, 10 AM–2 PM.
Where
Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden · East Dallas / White Rock
Price
Program price not posted; Arboretum daytime admission applies (children 3–12 $17.95 Mon–Thu; under 3 free; adults $21.95 Mon–Thu). Parking $15. Check the Arboretum site.
Ages
Babies–5 yrs

Mondays and Tuesdays for kids 5 and under in the Rory Meyers Children's Adventure Garden: KinderLabs, Mini-Movement, a Monday puppet show and Tuesday storytime with Dallas Public Library.

Holiday at the Arboretum: The 12 Days of Christmas

When
Wed, Nov 11 – Sun, Jan 3 · Nov 11, 2026–Jan 3, 2027. Daytime 9 AM–4 PM; Holiday at Night 5–10 PM; Night Owl 8:30–10 PM. Closed during the day on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day, but open those nights.
Where
Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden · East Dallas / White Rock
Price
Daytime: adults $21.95–$25.95, children 3–12 $17.95–$21.95, under 3 free. Holiday at Night: $35–$40 (under 3 free; walk-up +$4). Night Owl (8:30–10 PM): $15. "Holiday Cheer" $12 pricing on Nov 26, Dec 24, Dec 25, Dec 31 and Jan 1. Parking $15.
Ages
Babies–17 yrs

"The 12 Days of Christmas: One Final Chorus" is the last season of the Arboretum's 12 Days gazebos. There's also a Christmas Village and the decorated DeGolyer House. Visit during the day, or at night when the lights are on.

Dallas Zoo Lights

When
Fri, Nov 13 – Sun, Jan 3 · Select nights Nov 13, 2026–Jan 3, 2027, 5:30–9 PM. Check the calendar for open nights.
Where
Dallas Zoo · Oak Cliff / South Dallas
Price
General admission from $19 (varies by date). Combo ticket (daytime zoo from 2:30 PM + Zoo Lights) costs $10 more. Parking $15, not included. Private igloos from $200.
Ages
Babies–17 yrs

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.

Saturday, Nov 14

The Trains at NorthPark

When
Sat, Nov 14 – Sun, Jan 3 · Nov 14, 2026–Jan 3, 2027. Mon–Sat 9 AM–8 PM; Sun 12–6 PM. Opens 10 AM on Nov 14. Closes early on Thanksgiving Eve (6 PM), Christmas Eve (4 PM) and New Year's Eve (4 PM). Closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
Where
Ronald McDonald House Dallas · North Dallas
Price
Adults $13; children $11; seniors $8; under 2 free.
Ages
Babies–17 yrs

A miniature train exhibit with hundreds of trains on 1,600 feet of track, rolling past tiny cityscapes and landmarks from across America. It benefits Ronald McDonald House Dallas.

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FAQ

Questions parents ask

What are the top things to do with kids in Dallas this weekend?

Our top picks for Nov 13–15, 2026: Holiday at the Arboretum: The 12 Days of Christmas, Dallas Zoo Lights, Little Adventurers at the Children's Adventure Garden and The Trains at NorthPark.

What's free this weekend?

No free events are posted for Nov 13–15, 2026 yet.

Where do these details come from?

We gather details from organizers' public websites. We're independent and not affiliated with the organizers listed. Times and prices change, so always verify before you go.

Details come from each organizer and can change — check the listing link before you go. Only free events →