Holiday Magic Ignites at Galleria Dallas With Festive Shows and Iconic Tree Lighting

Thursday, September 19, 2024

For over forty years, Galleria Dallas has remained a premier shopping destination for both local North Texans and global visitors. Highlighted by its magnificent 95-foot Christmas tree and the dazzling ice-skating Santa known as Missile Toes, who performs flips and shoots fireworks from his skates, the mall’s festive season is among the most spectacular in the country.

The festivities begin on November 10 with the setting up of the tallest indoor Christmas tree in America, adorned with cutting-edge Twinkly LED lighting that choreographs stunning, immersive light shows. Featuring 850 branches, each comparable to a small Christmas tree in size, over 15,000 ornaments, and 215,000 points of light topped with a massive 100-pound, 10-foot LED star, the tree will be fully assembled by the evening of November 13.

The holiday spirit continues with a variety of live shows and events running from November 22 to January 6.

Santa’s grand entrance is scheduled for November 22 at Santaland, positioned on Level I near Banana Republic. This year, Santaland will feature a technologically enhanced experience where families embark on a magical train journey from Dallas to the North Pole. With innovative wish list technology, Santa will know exactly what gifts each child dreams of. Special sessions will be available for pet owners, families with special needs children, and a Spanish-speaking Santa, with reservations recommended through SnowDayDallas.com.

Each season, SNOWDAY promises a unique, immersive holiday exhibit that transforms annually, becoming a cherished tradition among DFW families. The exhibit spans nearly 10,000 square feet with meticulously crafted Hollywood-grade sets depicting the secret village of Santa’s elves, complete with revolutionary, touch-free photo technology and, for the first time, AI-enhanced image processing for dreamlike holiday snapshots. New this year are multimedia displays that combine lights, sounds, and visuals, peaking with a magical snowfall, a vibrant Christmas Kaleidoscope photo opportunity, and the twinkling Christmas lights maze. Refreshments are available at The Tipsy Elf, a favorite hangout for Santa’s helpers.

Black Friday (November 29) marks the start of the shopping season, featuring extensive sales and new store openings including Texas’s first H&M Home, an expanded Lululemon, and others. The celebration continues at noon with a spectacular tree lighting ceremony and a free ice-skating exhibition by renowned skaters like Ashley Cain and Keegan Messing, culminating in fireworks as Missile Toes lights the tree.

On December 8, a special ticketed ice show will support the local charity Broadway Dallas, featuring 2022 Olympian Mariah Bell, with family pod tickets available in November.

Galleria Dallas will also observe Hanukkah on December 29 with a Menorah Lighting Ceremony led by Rabbi Andrew Paley and musical performances by Kol Shalom, with Sufganiyots for attendees.

Throughout the season, the Galleria dazzles from floor to ceiling with festive decorations, enhanced by the adjacent Westin Galleria Dallas hotel, providing guests with direct access to over 200 stores and dining options.

Moreover, the newly upgraded Outdoor Plaza will host the interactive art exhibit “Roseaux” from November 1 to January 2, inviting visitors to collaboratively light up large reed sculptures.

Local ensembles will perform seasonal music during weekdays at the center, with a full schedule available online. Other holiday initiatives include The Salvation Army Angel Tree starting November 1, and pet adoptions with Operation Kindness from November 29 to December 24.