Prairie Lights – DFW Drive Through Christmas Lights

Thank you TVStoreOnline.com for sponsoring my holiday attire.
This post includes updates for the 2023 event #GoGrandGP #GrandPrairie #GrandPrairieTX
Make the season magical with holiday lights and the perfect Ugly Christmas Sweater!

It’s not the holiday season with car rides to look at Christmas lights. I have wonderful memories of being a kid and driving around in the car with my family. My Mom always sang with us in the car, and during the holidays that means lots of Christmas carols. I remember learning all the words to the Twelve Days of Christmas and Good King Wenceslas. I remember learning how to sing in rounds and the different parts to It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas. (Does anyone else sing the verse that starts ‘pine cones and holly berries??)

I have to admit that I don’t sing in the car nearly as much with my own kids and my Mom did. Instead of singing our own Christmas music, we do listen to a lot of Christmas music (and sing along). Littlest in particular has been so excited for the holidays to start so he can listen to Christmas music non-stop. I love how many Christmas songs he already knows and sings. And just like my parents took my sisters and I to look at Christmas lights, now I get to create that magic for my boys.

One of our favorite places in the Dallas/Fort Worth area to look at Christmas lights is Prairie Lights.

Prairie Lights – Walk Through Area

This part is optional, you never have to get out of your car is you don’t want to, but it’s also my favorite. And the best spot for photos! Every year my kids love to get out, walk around, and are even willing to pose for a few photos. While I can’t always get them to wear a fun holiday outfit, you can bet that I will be wearing one! This year has been all about Harry Potter with Littlest. I even threw him a Harry Potter Birthday party. So it was fitting that for my Ugly Christmas Sweater I picked one with a Harry Potter theme.

The theme and lights change from year to year, but they are always beautiful. The path is gravel and makes a short loop, so it’s easy to see everything.

The last couple of years they have had lights depicting famous destinations, which my kids and I really enjoy. They have fun trying to name them all.

Prairie Lights – Santa

I am always impressed with the Santa at Prairie Lights. Photos with Santa, as well as some holiday items for sale, and a few carnival rides, are located right next to the lighted walk through area.

Some years the weather is colder than others (as you can see Littlest wearing sandals in his photo from a couple years ago). This year was a bit chillier and the kids had on jackets and I was proudly wearing my favorite new Harry Potter Christmas Sweater. While Santa is in a large tent with heaters, it’s not like it’s indoors and warm.

Prairie Lights – Driving Tunnel

Driving through this tunnel at the end of the visit is always my favorite part, it’s so beautiful!

Make sure you’re ready for all the photo opportunities at Prairie Lights with the perfect Ugly Christmas Sweater. For all the Harry Potter fans can you spot all the goodies on the sweater? Lightening bolt, glasses, Hedwig, snitch, Deathly Hallows, and more are all on there. I even made the Gryffindor scarf that I’m wearing with my sweater! It’s knit in a long tube and is incredibly warm. I bet even Harry would approve!

Notes for visiting Prairie Lights in 2023

• • • To avoid long wait times,  attend on a weeknight or non-holiday night, early in the run of the show. Consider visiting Monday-Thursday during the first two weeks of the event or the week between Christmas and New and Year’s Eve. Longer lines and wait times are anticipated on weekends and holidays, and on weeknights once schools dismiss for winter break. Early arrival is encouraged—guests are welcome to begin queueing up as early as 5 p.m.
    • Allow plenty of time to fully enjoy the park—at least 45 minutes on slower nights, and up to three hours on holidays and weekends.
    • Pre-purchase of tickets is highly recommended. Cash or credit cards are required for Photos with Santa or purchase of holiday concessions. (Screenshot your ticket purchase as cell service can be slow in the park.)
    • No vehicles will be allowed in line after 10 pm or when the park reaches capacity for the evening, whichever comes first. Once your vehicle is established in line, however, you can be assured of admission—Prairie Lights will remain open until the last guest has had a chance to drive through and enjoy the full Prairie Lights experience.
    • Make sure you have sufficient gas in your tank and have visited the restroom before getting in line.
    • Follow Prairie Lights on social media for special offers (such as the annual Prairie Lights “Cyber Monday” ticket sale the Monday after Thanksgiving) and for inclement weather announcements.
    • Check out the FAQ page before you go. 
    • For the best experience, turn off your lights once you enter the park. (Just don’t forget to turn them back on when you exit!) And put on your favorite holiday playlist to enhance your drive with festive seasonal music. You can also check out the official Prairie Lights playlist, available on Spotify.

Want more DFW holiday fun? See all the excitement you can find in Arlington!