With Christmas approaching and the weather getting chilly, it’s hardly surprising that the weekend has lots of holiday events in store. There are also some cool museum exhibits. And, if you throw Monday into the mix, you can take a fun, holiday-themed trolley ride through the heart of Dallas. 

All Weekend 

Ultimate Dinosaurs at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science is a must-see exhibition entering the last month of its run. Did you know a whole new breed of dinosaurs has been discovered? Discover them for yourself with 15 casts, more than a dozen prehistoric specimens, lifelike recreations, touchable fossils and more.

While you’re there, head over to the Gems and Minerals Hall to check out Illuminate, an amazing exhibit exploring the stunning colors of minerals. See your friends and family lit up by a giant kaleidoscope. Check out the illuminated T. rex in the Life Then and Now Hall. Any DART Rail line will get you to Akard or West End stations. The Perot Museum is a short walk from either. 

Slavery at Jefferson’s Monticello: Paradox of Liberty is another fascinating exhibit you have a limited time left to catch. The African American Museum displays 300 artifacts, works of art and documents from Jefferson’s plantation. Since its popular run at the Smithsonian in 2012, the program has been updated with new content. The African American Museum is the first to show it. Take the Green Line to Fair Park Station to see it for yourself. 

Saturday, Dec. 8 

Santa on the Square is a yearly event in Historic Downtown Carrollton featuring a “Kids' Santa Dash,” which lets little ones chase Santa through the streets. (Parents can participate, too; you can even bring along your stroller or wagon.) You’ll get a chance to take photos with Santa after the run. There will even be a live reindeer! You also can whittle your shopping list down to size at the surrounding shops and boutiques. The event takes place from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the Downtown Carrollton Square, a short walk from the Green Line’s Downtown Carrollton Station. 

CityLine Merry Market & Festival puts you in the holiday spirit with 25 local artists and vendors. From 12-7 p.m. in the plaza, there will be live music, hot cocoa and cookies, kids’ activities and an outdoor artisan market. You’ll also get discounts and special offers at participating stores and restaurants. Take the Red Line to CityLine/Bush Station.

Hometown Celebration Holiday Parade sees the Village of Rowlett Downtown come to life with music, dance and festive floats. The event is from 5-8 p.m. If you can’t make it, stop by between now and Dec. 15 for “Shop Small Through the Holidays.” Main Street boutiques are hosting local pop-up shops selling handmade goods and sustainably sourced items. The Village of Downtown Rowlett is a very short walk from the Blue Line’s Downtown Rowlett Station. 

Sunday, Dec. 9

Bishop Arts District's Poinsettia Walk shows off the historic neighborhood's creative flair with awesome lights lining the streets; usually there are some surprises in store. A poinsettia in this case is champagne with cranberry juice. Participating stores provide the beverage, and the Dallas Streetcar puts you a few blocks from the merrymaking. Get off at the Bishop Arts stop.

The Nutcracker gets its last performance today by the Dallas Ballet Company. The show features guest artists from the New York City Ballet and the San Francisco Ballet. The matinee is at 2 p.m. at the Granville Arts Center in Garland – right next to the Downtown Garland Station on the Blue Line. 

Monday, Dec. 10 

The M-Line Trolley Holiday Express takes you on a vintage trolley through the heart of Uptown Dallas and into the Arts District. There’s holiday music, as well as hot chocolate and cookies, to go along with the neighborhood’s holiday lights. Kids can participate in a scavenger hunt and receive a small holiday gift. The ride starts and ends at Cityplace/Uptown Station, on the Red, Blue and Orange lines. Check out the M-Line’s website for times and ticket info.

With Christmas approaching and the weather getting chilly, it’s hardly surprising that the weekend has lots of holiday events in store. There are also some cool museum exhibits. And, if you throw Monday into the mix, you can take a fun, holiday-themed trolley ride through the heart of Dallas. 

All Weekend 

Ultimate Dinosaurs at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science is a must-see exhibition entering the last month of its run. Did you know a whole new breed of dinosaurs has been discovered? Discover them for yourself with 15 casts, more than a dozen prehistoric specimens, lifelike recreations, touchable fossils and more.

While you’re there, head over to the Gems and Minerals Hall to check out Illuminate, an amazing exhibit exploring the stunning colors of minerals. See your friends and family lit up by a giant kaleidoscope. Check out the illuminated T. rex in the Life Then and Now Hall. Any DART Rail line will get you to Akard or West End stations. The Perot Museum is a short walk from either. 

Slavery at Jefferson’s Monticello: Paradox of Liberty is another fascinating exhibit you have a limited time left to catch. The African American Museum displays 300 artifacts, works of art and documents from Jefferson’s plantation. Since its popular run at the Smithsonian in 2012, the program has been updated with new content. The African American Museum is the first to show it. Take the Green Line to Fair Park Station to see it for yourself. 

Saturday, Dec. 8 

Santa on the Square is a yearly event in Historic Downtown Carrollton featuring a “Kids' Santa Dash,” which lets little ones chase Santa through the streets. (Parents can participate, too; you can even bring along your stroller or wagon.) You’ll get a chance to take photos with Santa after the run. There will even be a live reindeer! You also can whittle your shopping list down to size at the surrounding shops and boutiques. The event takes place from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the Downtown Carrollton Square, a short walk from the Green Line’s Downtown Carrollton Station. 

CityLine Merry Market & Festival puts you in the holiday spirit with 25 local artists and vendors. From 12-7 p.m. in the plaza, there will be live music, hot cocoa and cookies, kids’ activities and an outdoor artisan market. You’ll also get discounts and special offers at participating stores and restaurants. Take the Red Line to CityLine/Bush Station.

Hometown Celebration Holiday Parade sees the Village of Rowlett Downtown come to life with music, dance and festive floats. The event is from 5-8 p.m. If you can’t make it, stop by between now and Dec. 15 for “Shop Small Through the Holidays.” Main Street boutiques are hosting local pop-up shops selling handmade goods and sustainably sourced items. The Village of Downtown Rowlett is a very short walk from the Blue Line’s Downtown Rowlett Station. 

Sunday, Dec. 9

Bishop Arts District's Poinsettia Walk shows off the historic neighborhood's creative flair with awesome lights lining the streets; usually there are some surprises in store. A poinsettia in this case is champagne with cranberry juice. Participating stores provide the beverage, and the Dallas Streetcar puts you a few blocks from the merrymaking. Get off at the Bishop Arts stop.

The Nutcracker gets its last performance today by the Dallas Ballet Company. The show features guest artists from the New York City Ballet and the San Francisco Ballet. The matinee is at 2 p.m. at the Granville Arts Center in Garland – right next to the Downtown Garland Station on the Blue Line. 

Monday, Dec. 10 

The M-Line Trolley Holiday Express takes you on a vintage trolley through the heart of Uptown Dallas and into the Arts District. There’s holiday music, as well as hot chocolate and cookies, to go along with the neighborhood’s holiday lights. Kids can participate in a scavenger hunt and receive a small holiday gift. The ride starts and ends at Cityplace/Uptown Station, on the Red, Blue and Orange lines. Check out the M-Line’s website for times and ticket info.

With Christmas approaching and the weather getting chilly, it’s hardly surprising that the weekend has lots of holiday events in store. There are also some cool museum exhibits. And, if you throw Monday into the mix, you can take a fun, holiday-themed trolley ride through the heart of Dallas. 

All Weekend 

Ultimate Dinosaurs at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science is a must-see exhibition entering the last month of its run. Did you know a whole new breed of dinosaurs has been discovered? Discover them for yourself with 15 casts, more than a dozen prehistoric specimens, lifelike recreations, touchable fossils and more.

While you’re there, head over to the Gems and Minerals Hall to check out Illuminate, an amazing exhibit exploring the stunning colors of minerals. See your friends and family lit up by a giant kaleidoscope. Check out the illuminated T. rex in the Life Then and Now Hall. Any DART Rail line will get you to Akard or West End stations. The Perot Museum is a short walk from either. 

Slavery at Jefferson’s Monticello: Paradox of Liberty is another fascinating exhibit you have a limited time left to catch. The African American Museum displays 300 artifacts, works of art and documents from Jefferson’s plantation. Since its popular run at the Smithsonian in 2012, the program has been updated with new content. The African American Museum is the first to show it. Take the Green Line to Fair Park Station to see it for yourself. 

Saturday, Dec. 8 

Santa on the Square is a yearly event in Historic Downtown Carrollton featuring a “Kids' Santa Dash,” which lets little ones chase Santa through the streets. (Parents can participate, too; you can even bring along your stroller or wagon.) You’ll get a chance to take photos with Santa after the run. There will even be a live reindeer! You also can whittle your shopping list down to size at the surrounding shops and boutiques. The event takes place from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the Downtown Carrollton Square, a short walk from the Green Line’s Downtown Carrollton Station. 

CityLine Merry Market & Festival puts you in the holiday spirit with 25 local artists and vendors. From 12-7 p.m. in the plaza, there will be live music, hot cocoa and cookies, kids’ activities and an outdoor artisan market. You’ll also get discounts and special offers at participating stores and restaurants. Take the Red Line to CityLine/Bush Station.

Hometown Celebration Holiday Parade sees the Village of Rowlett Downtown come to life with music, dance and festive floats. The event is from 5-8 p.m. If you can’t make it, stop by between now and Dec. 15 for “Shop Small Through the Holidays.” Main Street boutiques are hosting local pop-up shops selling handmade goods and sustainably sourced items. The Village of Downtown Rowlett is a very short walk from the Blue Line’s Downtown Rowlett Station. 

Sunday, Dec. 9

Bishop Arts District's Poinsettia Walk shows off the historic neighborhood's creative flair with awesome lights lining the streets; usually there are some surprises in store. A poinsettia in this case is champagne with cranberry juice. Participating stores provide the beverage, and the Dallas Streetcar puts you a few blocks from the merrymaking. Get off at the Bishop Arts stop.

The Nutcracker gets its last performance today by the Dallas Ballet Company. The show features guest artists from the New York City Ballet and the San Francisco Ballet. The matinee is at 2 p.m. at the Granville Arts Center in Garland – right next to the Downtown Garland Station on the Blue Line. 

Monday, Dec. 10 

The M-Line Trolley Holiday Express takes you on a vintage trolley through the heart of Uptown Dallas and into the Arts District. There’s holiday music, as well as hot chocolate and cookies, to go along with the neighborhood’s holiday lights. Kids can participate in a scavenger hunt and receive a small holiday gift. The ride starts and ends at Cityplace/Uptown Station, on the Red, Blue and Orange lines. Check out the M-Line’s website for times and ticket info.