Best Neighborhoods to View Christmas Lights in DFW

The holidays are filled with traditions and there are always those few things that no holiday season is complete without. Baking cookies, of course. Time spent with family. A fun cookie exchange or holiday party perhaps. And driving around town to look at Christmas lights.

I remember loading up in my parent’s minivan on Christmas Eve to go look at Christmas lights around town. My mom would make hot cocoa and pour it into a giant thermos. Then she would fill bags with popcorn and homemade cookies and bring them along too. All snuggled up with blankets, armed with snacks and Christmas music blaring on the radio we were ready to venture out to see all the bright lights and Christmas displays. It still remains one of my favorite holiday traditions.

I created this same tradition with my own family years ago, but this year we decided to go big and invite some friends to join us too. Armed with hot cocoa and snacks, we all piled in the 2019 Silverado LT Trail Boss, that my partners at Chevrolet loaned me for a week, and headed out to watch the twinkling lights and spectacular Christmas displays at one of our favorite neighborhoods, Deerfield.

This neighboorhood, located between Preston & Coit in West Plano has to be one of the very best around. They go all out with lights, carriage rides, carolers and even hot cocoa stands. People come from all over the metroplex to see the displays at Deerfield, so I suggest going early in the season (weeknights are ideal) and early in the night to avoid sitting in super long lines and traffic.

What I love about this neighboorhood, besides the fact that it’s also relatively close, is the history behind how it became a “go-to” destination for Christmas lights. When Deerfield was being built, it was considered “far too North of Preston” so to get more visitors to look at the homes, a $5K prize was offered to the house with the best light display. Homeowners loved the idea and went all out. When the following holiday season rolled around they had so many lights that everyone decorated again and the tradition started.

The kids put on their jammies, bundled up with cozy blankets and we headed off on our adventure.

We met friends at a church near the entrance of the neighborhood. We loaded the kids into the back of the Silverado LT Trail Boss and the adults piled into the comfortable cabin. The redesigned cabin is bigger in almost every way, offering more shoulder room, rear passenger space, and best-in-class front head and legroom.

The truck came equipped with in-car tech features like Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and 4G LTE Wi-Fi, which made it easy to stream our favorite holiday music as drove around looking at Christmas lights.

There are lots of great options for viewing Christmas lights in the DFW area, but I’ve rounded up some of the best neighborhoods to drive through and view Christmas Lights in DFW. So grab your hot cocoa, buckle up and enjoy the ride!

Deerfield

Located in West Plano between Preston & Coit this neighborhood is another perennial holiday favorite and one that’s likely to be busy. As I mentioned above it’s one of our favorites to drive through, but you can also book carriage rides, do a bike tour or walk through the neighboorhood to view this spectacular display. Check their site for more information.

Kessler Neighborhood Park

Located in north Oak Cliff Kessler Neighborhood Park is a historic neighborhood that overlooks the Downtown Dallas skyline and also lights up the night. Beautifully decorated homes display thousands of lights up and down the streets. You’ll know you are there when you spot the five gorgeously illuminated big trees.

Highland Park

This prestigious neighboorhood is bordered by the Tollway on the West, Preston on the East, Mockingbird on the North and Armstrong on the South. Your best bet is to start your light tour at Armstrong and Preston. This community is approximately 20 blocks long. They know how to decorate and show that they are one of the most prestigious areas around. The lights on Beverly, are a must see, so make sure you don’t miss them. Want more, make a stop at Highland Park Village to view even more breathtaking lights.

Timberhollow Circle

Located in Lake Highlands the homes on this cul-de-sac coordinate for a united “12 Days of Christmas” display. It’s just one street, but it’s a special one. Much of the surrounding neighborhood is also impressively decked out, and you can probably see some other worthwhile lights while you’re in the surrounding area.

Interlochen

Located in a neighborhood in North Arlington Interlochen is well known for their spectacular light display. If over 40,000 people drive through the streets of Interlochen each year to view their light shows, they must be pretty darn good. Almost every house in this neighborhood is lined perfectly with Christmas lights. Begin your route at Randol Mills at Westwood, west of Cooper Street. Due to the popularity of this show, plan to spend a few hours here and be patient.