Fort Worth Christmas and holiday events 2026: dates, free events and family picks
The season starts the week before Thanksgiving. Here it is week by week, with the free things marked, from someone who spent fifteen years performing in this city.
The short answer: Fort Worth's holiday season starts in earnest the week before Thanksgiving. Christmas in the Garden opens November 20, the Parade of Lights rolls downtown November 22, the Turkey Trot runs Thanksgiving morning, and Cowboy Santa arrives in the Stockyards November 27. Bass Hall stays busy the whole month. Here is the season week by week, with the free things marked.
I spent fifteen years performing in this city, and November is when it starts to feel like the holidays here. You do not need to do all of it. Pick one or two that fit your crew and keep the rest simple.
Fort Worth Christmas events 2026 at a glance
| Date | Event | Where | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 3 to 8 | Jersey Boys | Bass Hall | Ticketed |
| Nov 10 | The Carpenters Songbook | Bass Hall | Ticketed |
| Nov 13 and 14 | Oz with Orchestra | Bass Hall | Ticketed |
| Nov 14 | When Instruments Roamed the Earth | Bass Hall | Ticketed |
| Nov 17 | Lyle Lovett and His Small Large Band | Bass Hall | Ticketed |
| Nov 17 to Jan 3 | Stockyards Rodeo Rink | Exchange Lawns | Ticketed |
| Nov 20 to 22 | Copland, Dvorak and Rachmaninoff | Bass Hall | Ticketed |
| Nov 20 to Jan 3 | Christmas in the Garden | Botanic Garden | Ticketed |
| Nov 22, 6pm | Parade of Lights | Downtown | Free |
| Nov 26, morning | YMCA Turkey Trot | General Worth Square | Registration |
| Nov 27, 11:30am | Cowboy Santa's Grand Arrival | East Exchange Ave | Free |
| Nov 27, 6pm | Stockyards Tree Lighting | Livestock Exchange Lawn | Free |
| Nov 27 and 28 | Home for the Holidays | Bass Hall | Ticketed |
| Nov 28 | 'Twas the Night Before Christmas | Stockyards Station | Ticketed |
| Dec 5 | Christmas in the Stockyards | Stockyards | Free |
What is on at Bass Hall in November 2026?
The Fort Worth Symphony has four programs at Bass Hall in November, plus Jersey Boys, the Carpenters Songbook and Lyle Lovett. November is one of the Fort Worth Symphony's busiest months of the season.
- Oz with Orchestra, November 13 and 14. The orchestra plays the score live alongside the film.
- When Instruments Roamed the Earth, Saturday, November 14, in the morning. This one is part of the Symphony's family series and built for kids. If your child has never been inside Bass Hall, this is the low pressure way to start.
- Copland, Dvorak and Rachmaninoff, November 20 to 22. The classical program of the month.
- Home for the Holidays, November 27 and 28. The weekend after Thanksgiving, if you have family in town and need a plan.
Outside the Symphony, Jersey Boys runs November 3 to 8, The Carpenters Songbook plays November 10, and Lyle Lovett is in on November 17.
A tip from someone who spent years on the other side of the curtain: arrive 30 minutes early. Parking downtown on a show night takes longer than you think, and the building is worth looking at before the lights go down.
When does Christmas in the Garden open in 2026?
November 20, and it runs through January 3. The Fort Worth Botanic Garden's holiday light show is back, and the centerpiece is the Winter Cathedral, a tunnel of light about 110 feet long. There are 22 lit installations this year, including Texas-themed pieces like cowboy nutcrackers and lighted bluebonnets, plus Santa's Village most evenings through Christmas Eve.
Good to know: tickets are sold by night and prices change by date, so weeknights are the better deal. Buying at the gate adds a surcharge. On-site parking is $25 per car, with remote parking on some nights.
When is the Fort Worth Parade of Lights in 2026?
Sunday, November 22, at 6pm in downtown Fort Worth. It is the official start of the holiday season here. More than a hundred lit floats roll through, and standing along the route is free. Reserved seating is available if you want a sure spot.
Good to know: get downtown early. Streets close ahead of the parade, and the good curb spots go fast. Dress warmer than you think, because you will be standing still for a while.
When is the Fort Worth Turkey Trot in 2026?
Thanksgiving morning, Thursday, November 26. The Fort Worth YMCA Turkey Trot is one of the largest races in the state, and it starts at General Worth Square downtown. The 1K Gobbler Trot for kids starts at 7:45am, and the 5K and 8K start at 8:30. Costumes are encouraged. Net proceeds go to helping families in the community.
What is happening at the Fort Worth Stockyards for Christmas 2026?
Cowboy Santa arrives November 27, and the ice rink, the tree lighting and the lights are all part of a season that runs November 17 through January 3. A lot of it is free.
- Stockyards Rodeo Rink opens November 17 for ice skating on the Exchange Lawns, with views of the cattle drive at 11:30am and 4pm.
- Cowboy Santa's Grand Arrival Parade, Friday, November 27, 11:30am. Free, on East Exchange Avenue.
- Tree lighting, the same evening at 6pm. Free, on the Livestock Exchange Lawn.
- 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, Saturday, November 28, at 10:30am and 2:30pm. This is part of the Cliburn's family concert series: live music and a story for kids, in the Stampede Ballroom at Stockyards Station.
- Christmas in the Stockyards, Saturday, December 5, 10am to 8pm, with a parade at 4pm. Free.
- The Million Dollar Mile of Lights is up all season and free to walk.
When is the Nutcracker in Fort Worth?
Texas Ballet Theater brings the Nutcracker to Bass Hall in December. I spent fifteen Nutcracker seasons with that company, so I will have more to say about it next month, including how to pick a performance. If you want good seats, buying in November is not too early.
Your first holiday season in Fort Worth? Start here
If you moved here this year, the holidays are a good time to see the city at its best. Pick one downtown night (the Parade of Lights), one Stockyards day (the Santa parade and tree lighting are both free on November 27), and one night at Bass Hall. That is a good first Fort Worth holiday season.
And if you are renting and thinking about what comes next, I wrote a separate guide for that: Renting in Fort Worth, what to do before your lease ends.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Fort Worth Parade of Lights in 2026?
Sunday, November 22, 2026, at 6pm in downtown Fort Worth. Watching from the route is free.
When does Christmas in the Garden open in 2026?
November 20, 2026, at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden. It runs through January 3, 2027. Tickets are sold by date.
When does Cowboy Santa arrive at the Fort Worth Stockyards in 2026?
Friday, November 27, 2026. The Grand Arrival Parade starts at 11:30am on East Exchange Avenue, and the tree lighting is at 6pm. Both are free.
What free holiday events are there in Fort Worth this November?
The Parade of Lights on November 22, Cowboy Santa's Grand Arrival Parade and the Stockyards tree lighting, both on November 27, and the Million Dollar Mile of Lights in the Stockyards all season. Christmas in the Stockyards on December 5 is free too.
When is the Nutcracker in Fort Worth?
Texas Ballet Theater performs the Nutcracker at Bass Performance Hall in December 2026.
Sources
- Bass Hall and Fort Worth Symphony dates: Bass Performance Hall calendar · Fort Worth Magazine, "Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra unveils 2026 to 2027 season"
- Christmas in the Garden 2026 dates, installations, prices and parking: CultureMap Fort Worth, September 15, 2026
- Parade of Lights, November 22, 2026: PaperCity and DFW Child event listings
- YMCA Turkey Trot 2026 start times and location: NBC DFW community page
- Stockyards 2026 holiday lineup, dates, times and free events: Fort Worth Stockyards press release, September 30, 2026
Riley Moyano
Next, older article
Get in touch
Tell me where your story begins.
It might start with a number you are not sure about, or a street you keep driving down, or a lease that is up in March. Wherever it is, that is a fine place to begin, and none of it has to be figured out before you write to me.
Ask me the thing you think is too small to ask. Those are usually the ones worth asking, and if it turns out now is not your moment I will tell you that too.
Riley Moyano
REALTOR®, Williams Trew
630-303-1045
riley.moyano@williamstrew.com
2821 S Hulen St, Fort Worth, TX 76109