5 Tips for a Dazzling Date Night at the 12 Days of Christmas Exhibit
Holiday at the Arboretum comes at the perfect time for a romantic Friday or Saturday evening under the lights of the 12 Days of Christmas at Night – presented by Reliant. Here are six tips to plan a magical visit full of holiday cheer for your special someone.
1. Check the weather.
This is Texas. The weather is legendary for being unpredictable, and the 12 Days of Christmas is an outdoor exhibit in a garden. It’s always good to check your favorite weather app an hour or so before you arrive. Don’t let the unpredictable weather in Texas put a damper on your date night when an extra jacket or a waterproof blanket (for the picnic) could make all the difference.
2. Dress comfortably.
If you’ve visited the Dallas Arboretum before, this is a no-brainer. But first-timers might not know that we are a 66-acre garden – covered with 500,000 illuminating lights, winding pathways, a giant, 30-foot Christmas tree, and hidden and intimate pocket gardens, not to mention the actual 12 Days of Christmas exhibit itself. It features 12 beautiful glass gazebos that extend all the way to the opposite end of the entrance on a .75-mile walk.
Don’t miss out on all of the marvelous Christmas magic happening throughout the gardens just because you wanted to show off your new pair of high-heeled ankle booties or didn’t think to change clothes after work. It’s worth the pain-free walk. I pinky promise.
3. Pack a picnic.
Pack a picnic dinner and bring a blanket and a bottle of wine if you’d like. Yes, the Arboretum is happy to have guests BYOB. At night, Café on the Green serves apple cider, warm cookies, light snacks, wine and beer, which make it a fabulous dessert option, whether or not you bring your own, but it doesn’t offer traditional dinner items.
Here are some of the best picnic spots at the Arboretum at night.
- The fountain at Camp House. This option doesn’t work if you’re dying to use a blanket, but the ledge of the fountain makes a great spot to sit and enjoy a picnic. The fountain features lights, the trees surrounding the fountains are wrapped in tons of Christmas lights, and the Camp House also has Christmas lights. This spot gives me all the giddy holiday feels.
- Behind the DeGolyer House above A Women’s Garden. There are some nice cushy grass spots where you can lay a blanket down, plus a view of White Rock Lake making it one of my favorite “snuggle spots” to go to with my husband.
- Jonsson Color Garden. This garden has the most holiday gazebos, so it is well lit and offers that perfect spot for a “holiday selfie” with your date, plus plenty of space to stretch out and enjoy a meal.
4. Bring a camera.
A cell-phone camera can work, but you’ll be happier if you put your phone away so you can focus on your date. Plus a, a normal camera that lets you capture beautiful photos in poor lighting will help you remember the night, and taking the photos together can be fun too. Trust me. You won’t want to miss all of the fabulous photo ops in the garden, including our “Merry Kissmas” Kissing Booth.
5. Save on Admission by planning ahead.
Get 50 percent off admission for two with our Groupon. This is a great deal so you can spend a bit more on the picnic.
It can be tough to plan an exciting, unique weekend date night – follow these tips for a festive, holiday evening at the Arboretum that you’ll remember for years!
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